Baton Rouge Business Report

The modern-day library has reinvented itself from the silent study hall of the past to a vibrant center of learning, innovation, and community connection ... and the East Baton Rouge Parish Library is a shining example of this kind of transformation. Busier than ever, the EBRP Library is brimming with activities, events, and opportunities in a way—and at a pace—that’s...

“Any Time a company grows, you want to hang on to your core values and the mission of the credit union,” says Jeffrey Conrad, Pelican Credit Union CEO. “While becoming a larger institution, we don’t want to forget where we came from.” For 10 years in a row, the Baton Rouge-based credit union has closed all 18 branches for a...

When Mitch Rotolo first opened his Tigerland-based pizzeria in 1996, he never imagined that he’d go on to celebrate his 30th anniversary with over 35 locations across the country, but that’s his reality. Rotolo and the president of his company, Brad Mire, have been working together diligently to expand Rotolo’s not only on a national scale, but also from a...

Gainey’s Concrete in Holden has taken a strategic and methodical approach to growth over the last 20 years or so, and it’s made all the difference. It wasn’t always that way. For several years after its founding in 1981, the company served a primarily residential clientele with needed, but widely available, precast concrete products with limited growth potential. Following the...

A decade ago, synthetic turf football fields were a luxury reserved for elite high schools and well-funded universities. Today, they’re rapidly becoming the standard across Louisiana and beyond, and one Baton Rouge-based engineering firm has positioned itself at the forefront of this transformation. Simpson Sports Engineering, a licensed civil engineering firm owned by Jesse Simpson, has carved out a niche...

This year marks an exciting new chapter for Ochsner Health’s commitment to patient care in the Greater Baton Rouge area. The first of several improvements will be going online, made possible through a strategic $50 million investment that will help Ochsner meet the region’s growing demand for accessible, high-quality healthcare by expanding facilities and hiring more providers where they...

At Kenworth of Louisiana (KWLA), business truly is a family affair. The 57-year old trucking dealership began in Houma in 1968 with President Scott Oliphant’s father-in-law, Joe Teuton, Jr. Today, many of KWLA’s leaders have been with the company long-term—Oliphant for 23 years, co-founder and Vice President Jodie Teuton for 29 years, their COO for 17 years, and a...

Many companies talk about customer experience. Fewer are willing to say—out loud—that employee experience deserves equal weight. Advanced Office Systems has built its business on a belief that may sound simple but proves difficult to execute: customers are the most important to our business, and employees are the most important in our business. That distinction matters. CONNECT WITH US Top Executives: Paul...

From launching a business to navigating growth and long-term strategy, the moments that shape your company come with complex financial decisions—and trusted guidance can make all the difference. That’s where the CPAs and consultants at Ericksen Krentel can help. Built on the legacy of two hard-working family men, Ericksen Krentel has been guiding Louisiana institutions through memorable milestones for over...

Richard Nelson’s leadership as president of Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges (LCTC) comes at a pivotal time. Billions of dollars are being invested in Louisiana as a result of recent reforms, with projects expected to create more than 100,000 new jobs. Nelson is positioning LCTC to fill these jobs by preparing students for high-wage careers in tech, logistics, manufacturing,...

Frost-Barber has helped shape the spaces where Louisiana works, learns and heals. Locally owned and long-standing, the company is a trusted partner for organizations across corporate, education and healthcare environments. Its reputation is built on relationships, and its team is grounded in experience, knowledge and a commitment to getting the details right. CONNECT WITH US Top Executive: Chris Laderer, President & CEO Address:...

Jack Pou has spent the last several years building success by building relationships in south LA and beyond. His company, JR Construction, is a subcontractor that provides wood framing and a turnkey concrete service to general contractors from Lake Charles to the Northshore, as well as Jackson, Miss., and (in the future) southern Alabama. The company recently expanded into the...

The infrastructure that powers modern industry is largely invisible; it’s buried in conduit, tucked behind control panels, threaded through the walls of refineries and data centers and chemical plants. Building that infrastructure, and keeping it running, is the unsung work that makes everything else possible. It’s also MMR Group’s specialty. Founded in Baton Rouge by James “Pepper” Rutland, MMR designs,...

  When clients of Gulf Coast Office Products are in the market for a new copier or need an existing machine serviced, they don’t have to worry about a hassle. Instead, the process is more like catching up with an old friend. That’s because Gulf Coast Office Products prides itself on an experienced staff that has nurtured relationships with customers...

After running a loan and deposit production office in Baton Rouge since September 2022, JD Bank has opened its first full-service local branch. The new branch offers a variety of personal and commercial lending and deposit products through both physical and digital delivery channels as well as both trust and investment services.  Founded in Jennings nearly 80 years ago, JD...

Infrastructure improvements, a deepening river draft and inter-port collaborations are setting a new, and potentially transformational, course for the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.  The port has always been closely aligned with the U.S. agricultural market. Given its rail infrastructure and barge accessibility, it’s ideally suited as a destination for outbound shipments of grain, oil seeds, sugar, wood pellets and...

With over 50 years of experience supporting education, healthcare, economic development and job creation across Louisiana, the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority (LPFA) is using its legacy to support the future of Louisiana.  Established in 1974 as a nonprofit statewide public trust and a conduit issuer of tax-exempt and taxable bonds, the LPFA has financed over 850 Louisiana projects totaling $32.5...

  Delta Machine & Ironworks didn’t grow into a major industrial player by accident. It did it by designing its business around one promise: deliver exactly what customers need, exactly when they need it. In industrial construction, delays are often accepted as inevitable—and pipe supports are frequently a bottleneck. Delta builds on its success by rejecting that assumption and delivering...

  For 115 years, our ministry has served the Gulf South with faith, compassion and clinical excellence. In 2025, we made that strength unmistakable.  We aligned under one name: FMOL Health, the Gulf South’s leading Catholic healthcare system and a close to $5 billion nonprofit organization serving Louisiana and Mississippi with more than 20,000 team members.  This is not simply a rebrand....

LUBA’s journey has been a blessing to watch. We have grown dramatically but our employees still treat each other like family, and our clients and vendors feel it too. During the 1980s, due to a number of factors, the Louisiana’s Workers’ Compensation system declined and began to spiral downward to a point where most of the large national insurance companies...

  Several years ago, Ironman finishers and coaches Matt and Jesse Naquin found themselves in a unique situation. The certified nurse practitioner and certified registered nurse anesthetist worked out regularly and intentionally ate to fuel their activities, but were still putting on inexplicable weight. “I went to various doctors, but no one could pinpoint anything,” says Jesse. “No one could...

Thirty-six years ago, Jerry del Rio transitioned from nursing to real estate, trading her scrubs for a real estate license. In those early days before the Internet, locating homes involved driving around to spot “for sale” signs and compiling lists for clients, relying solely on printed materials that quickly became outdated.  This career shift was essential for del Rio, a...

For nearly five decades, Plant Machine Works, LLC has stood as a pillar of strength, service and innovation in Louisiana’s industrial landscape. What began as one man’s vision has evolved into a multi-generational story of resilience, craftsmanship and leadership that is still being written today.  When Claude Barber purchased PMW in 1977, his goal was to deliver exceptional workmanship with...

  The merger of LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors (LaPorte) and Mauldin & Jenkins (M&J) marks the beginning of a new chapter in client-focused excellence. By combining LaPorte’s deep regional roots with M&J’s century-long legacy and national reach, they have created an accounting powerhouse of over 800 professionals across 19 offices. This strategic alignment isn’t just about scale; it’s about...

  Baton Rouge’s past, present and future is deeply intertwined with water. Yet, as climate pressures intensify, population grows and development patterns evolve, the city’s relationship with water is changing.  Moffatt & Nichol, an infrastructure advisory and engineering firm that is marking the 20th anniversary of its office in Baton Rouge, works at the center of that challenge. It helps cities...

  Baton Rouge’s past, present and future is deeply intertwined with water. Yet, as climate pressures intensify, population grows and development patterns evolve, the city’s relationship with water is changing.  Moffatt & Nichol, an infrastructure advisory and engineering firm that is marking the 20th anniversary of its office in Baton Rouge, works at the center of that challenge. It helps cities...

“This is our 65th year in business, which is pretty remarkable when you look at the rate in which industry changes,” says Forte & Tablada President and CEO Joey Coco. “We’ve completed many thousands of projects through two generations of ownership before me. The age, the legacy of this firm, it’s something to respect and to be immensely proud...

Founded in 1927, Gallagher has grown into a global enterprise with nearly 71,000 employees, more than 1,300 offices and clients in over 130 countries. This sustained growth reflects the company’s expansive capabilities, consistent client focus and long-standing commitment to supporting organizations worldwide with responsive, insight‑driven solutions.  As one of the world’s largest insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms, Gallagher...

“This is our 65th year in business, which is pretty remarkable when you look at the rate in which industry changes,” says Forte & Tablada President and CEO Joey Coco. “We’ve completed many thousands of projects through two generations of ownership before me. The age, the legacy of this firm, it’s something to respect and to be immensely proud...

While the name is new, JRE is built on more than three decades of experience in commercial real estate. Today, the Baton Rouge–based firm has evolved into a full-service company offering brokerage, property management, development and capital investment services. The firm traces its roots to 1989, when Donnie Jarreau founded Donnie Jarreau Real Estate. Over the following decades, the company...

Embarking on 65 years of providing trusted communications systems, Executone of Louisiana embraces its past while looking forward to a promising future with new management at the helm. “As a locally owned and operated company in Baton Rouge, we’ve developed a reputation for reliable, innovative communication solutions backed by exceptional service,” says Chad Coppola, Executone’s new owner, president and...

At the end of every tax season, the CPAs and advisors at EisnerAmper take a break from crunching numbers to peel some crawfish. Hundreds of team members, some flying in from out of state to experience their first boil, gather to share over 1,000 pounds of mudbugs, corn and potatoes. The annual crawfish boil started over three decades ago, when...

There's a new bank in town, and it’s 102 years old. First National Bank of Louisiana, which opened in Crowley in 1924, has expanded into Baton Rouge as part of its long history of steady and consistent growth. “The Capital Region has so much to offer,” says Jordan Hultberg, Capital Market President. “With Louisiana State University, the seat of state government,...

  This year marks a milestone for Investar Bank, as the institution celebrates its 20th anniversary while also completing the largest acquisition in its history. The combination of growth, innovation and community commitment reflects the bank’s ongoing mission to deliver strong financial services while maintaining the personal relationships that have defined it since the beginning. One of the most significant developments...

It's easy to find Deep South Equipment’s Lafayette location; just look for the gorilla. The Louisiana-based equipment dealer and service provider opened at 122 Southpark Road in late 2024 and decided to keep the well-known gorilla statue from the previous owner, George’s Lift Trucks. CONNECT WITH US Top executives: John Parsons, Owner & President; Patrick Parsons, VP of Used Truck Sales...

At 19 years old, Floyd Degueyter became one of CLM Equipment’s first five employees, quickly moving up the ranks to parts manager. With a goal of moving into sales, Floyd got permission to take the company’s tractor-trailer after hours and on weekends to demonstrate how their tractor and bush hog could meet potential customers’ needs. “I saw some tall grass...

Celebrating 75 years in business is a reflection of the trust this community has placed in us for generations “I never wanted to be the biggest car wash, I wanted to be the best-run car wash,” reflected Benny’s co-owner, Benny Alford. “When my father started this business in Pensacola, Florida, we couldn’t imagine what it would one day become. After...

The West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce uses its strategic plan as a guide to create a robust business environment, promoting smart growth and development that attracts businesses and investors. “By narrowing our focus, reinforcing our position, and being more selective about the type of work we take on, we are able to work with more people,” says Executive Director...