We’re excited to be a part of the Metairie/New Orleans community. Microsoft is here to provide the best choice, value and service to every customer that walks through the door and to reach out to the community and develop positive relationships.
Vanessa Louque, manager of the first Microsoft store in the New Orleans area – and second in the state of Louisiana – which opened at Lakeside Mall on Friday, Nov. 14. It is Mircrosoft’s 108th storefront.
RECENT BUSINESS RANKINGS
No. 1 in Patient Safety
East Jefferson General Hospital (2015 Care Chex® rating)
175 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings
Baker Donelson (2015 U.S. News – Best Lawyers, “Best Law Firms” list)
Labor and Employment Litigation Law Firm
of the Year
Fisher & Phillips LLP (2015 U.S. News – Best Lawyers,
“Best Law Firms” list)
Top 100 Fastest-Growing Inner City Businesses
– QCS Logistics (Fortune magazine’s 2014 Inner City 100)
Top 200 Healthiest Banks in America
– Hibernia Bank – No. 48 (DepositAccounts.com 2014)
MOVING ON UP
Site Selection magazine has ranked Louisiana No. 2
in the U.S. in its Annual State Business Climate survey – it’s Louisiana’s highest ranking to date.
The top five states are as follows:
1. Georgia
2. Louisiana
3. North Carolina
4. Texas
5. Ohio
Just five years ago, Louisiana was No. 25. Since 2008, the state has secured over 83,000 new jobs and over $54 billion in investment.
The intensity of flu season varies year by year. So far, this season is light, but history tells us that seasonal influenza can progress slowly, or explode suddenly. It’s quite unpredictable,” says Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich, chief medical officer at MHM Urgent Care. “An influenza outbreak in the office can quickly get out of control and cripple operations. Because of this, many businesses offer vaccinations to their staff – that’s a very smart move!
ENTREPRENEURS APPLY NOW!
NEW ORLEANS – Applications are being accepted until Dec. 12, 2014, for JEDCO’s third-annual entrepreneur pitch competition, JEDCO Challenge. The competition takes place every year during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (Monday, March 23, 2015). The winner of the JEDCO Challenge typically receives $20,000 in direct capital and additional in-kind business services to help the company grow and find success locally. Applications are available at JEDCO.org.
Local Streetlights Go Solar
HARAHAN – Founded in 2011, ClearWorld, located in Harahan, La., designs and retrofits alternative energy lighting solutions for traditional utility light poles.
“Forty-five to 55 percent of a municipal’s overall yearly budget goes to street lighting,” says ClearWorld Founder Larry Tittle. “Our product costs the developer less than installing traditional infrastructure and, on the city’s part, means no electric bills or maintenance for 10 years. This translates into millions in savings over the life of our lights.”
ClearWorld’s lighting is currently used in Jefferson Parish and will soon be installed in areas of Orleans Parish. The company has recently started offering other services, including: security cameras, traffic control devices, weather and emission control monitoring, back-up power for mission critical systems and ancillary services for utilities (frequency regulation, load shaving and demand/fast response).
“From smart grid to smart cities, the future is here,” says Tittle.
For more information, visit ClearWorld.us.
ABWA Returns to New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS – Following a nine-year absence after Hurricane Katrina, the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) – a 65-year-old national organization based out of Overland Park, Kan. – is returning to New Orleans as the ABWA Crescent City Connections Express Network.
“Before Katrina there were six ABWA leagues in New Orleans,” says Wendy Dolan, vice president of public relations and marketing for the network. “With a lot of help from the Baton Rouge group, including a cash contribution, we’re now able to get back on our feet.”
The professional women’s group is devoted to personal development, continuing education, networking and philanthropy.
Annual membership costs are $115 in national dues and $35 in local dues.
On the second Thursday of each month, the group holds a networking luncheon.
“All of our luncheons are at Ralph Brennan Heritage Grill,” Dolan says. “But our December luncheon is going to be extra fun – more like a party.”
The luncheon will feature Charlee Williamson, executive vice president of the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, who will speak about her road to success and offer holiday entertaining tips.
The luncheon is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Registration is highly encouraged, though walk-ins are allowed ($35).
To register for the luncheon, visit abwanola.eventbrite.com
For information about membership, visit abwa.org or contact Membership Chair Lyndsey Graham at Lyndsey.Graham@e-hps.com.
