Q: What is Progress Is...?

A: A nonpolitical grassroots movement for change that has united over Mayor Kip Holden’s revised bond issue.

Betz, Elizabeth Ann "Liz"

Elizabeth Ann "Liz" Betz
Executive Director
Capital Area CASA Association
Hometown: Baton Rouge

A [Southern] Star is born

A new Baton Rouge-based company signs a deal with Nickelodeon to redevelop the shuttered Six Flags New Orleans theme park.

StartUp

July 28, 2009 issue

Top 100 private companies

Business Report's annual issue featuring Baton Rouge's Top 100 private companies and more.

Do ends justify the means?

When it comes to asking voters to decide really, really, really important stuff in East Baton Rouge Parish, the Metro Council is perfectly OK with stacking the deck to make sure that government gets what government wants.

Obama’s health plan creates monopoly

President Barack Obama's health care plan would create another government run monopoly that won't work and isn't good for the free enterprise system or America. Plus: New school superintendent makes a positive first impression and more good news for the Baton Rouge and Louisiana economy.

A game of legal chicken

The SEC files a motion to strip the Stanford receiver of any authority to pursue lawsuits against investors.

Work, live, play, grow

Downtown reaches the beginning of its final stage—the ability to sustain a thriving residential population.

A hard day’s night

The lack of a 24-hour market is a challenge for retailers and restaurateurs trying to succeed in downtown Baton Rouge.

Let’s get together

Local businesspeople ‘Meetup’ to talk about networking, business promotion strategies, client relations and improving presentation skills.

Piling on

FDIC special assessments and pending federal regulations penalize community bankers, critics say.

In the pipeline

A project to carry carbon dioxide from Louisiana to Texas ties together economic development and energy exploration.

H2 uh-oh

Officials from Baton Rouge Water Company and West Feliciana Parish support a plan to preserve the Capital Region’s pristine, but vulnerable, groundwater supply.

A more brawny Brawny

Georgia-Pacific rebrands its paper towels, produced at the Port Hudson operations plant, based on value.

A storm in the port

Critics complain—but not too loudly—that the Cargill-run grain elevator at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge is underutilized and pays less-competitive prices to farmers.

LANO’s new chief

Ann Williamson calls for collaboration and innovation to ensure nonprofits maintain their responsibility to the community.

Cuts like a knife

Capital Region nonprofit agencies face uncertain futures at a time when donations have decreased and needs have increased.

Head of the class

Teach for America corps members are helping the region’s economy through their achievements as well as those of their students.

Not [big] boxed in

The impact of successful big-box retailers can’t be discounted, but some small businesses don’t mind the competition.

Coverage conundrum

With premiums rising and revenues falling, small businesses are choosing between letting employees go and dropping their insurance.

It’s not rocket science

An award-winning Baton Rouge boutique marketing agency takes advantage of its small size by building close relationships with its clients.

Going batty

Move over, Louisville Slugger. Some of Major League Baseball’s best hitters are loyal customers of Jack Marucci’s custom bats.

Islands of adventure

A Baton Rouge-based business teams with researchers to test ‘floating islands,’ which remove pollutants and rebalance bodies of water.

The bucket list

From standing on top of mountains to standing in the pits during a race, Window World CEO Jim Roland is ready for adventure.

Heart of glass

Jack Korfhage makes glassblowing a legacy of art and science in his job with Albemarle Corporation.

Changing of the guard

Percy Singleton becomes the general manager ?of Cortana Mall after serving for years in its housekeeping and security departments.

A shrinking market

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION companies

A Wink and a nod

No. 40: WINK COMPANIES

Risky business

No. 26: WORLEY CATASTROPHE RESPONSE

A very good year

OVERVIEW

The buddy system

For some time, mentoring programs have become an effective means of building the capacity of women in business.

Letters

July 28, 2009 issue

Company News

July 28, 2009 issue

Occupational Licenses

July 28, 2009 issue

Moving Up

July 28, 2009 issue

Entrepreneur: Paul Salvant

When Paul Salvant and his brother started their pest-control company in the late 1970s, they solicited business by knocking on doors.

GOP eyes Vitter's fate

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Before South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's romantic disappearance in Argentina and Nevada Sen. John Ensign's fling with a campaign aide, there was Sen. David Vitter's "serious sin" involving an escort service.