Duane L. Mizell, 36
President and CEO, Stuart & Company General Contractors
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Earning an ownership stake in Stuart & Company General Contractors at the age of 29, partnering in 2011 with Christopher Stuart.
- Having business be included in the LSU 100: Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses four of the past five years.
- Stuart & Company General Contractors making Business Report‘s Top 100 Private Companies list in 2016 and 2017.
COMMUNITY:
Chairman of the Board for University Preparatory Elementary, chairman of the Building/Industrial Division for Louisiana Associated General Contractors, Board of Directors for Contractors Educational Trust, and member of Sunrise Rotary.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman—This book has been very helpful with the growth of our team.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I was always infatuated with the garbage guys that got to ride on the back of the truck!
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
My first job was as a cart collector at Winn-Dixie. I was 15 and learned quickly that I wasn’t going to settle for minimum wage for the rest of my life.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
When I was younger, I had family members that were in the livestock and dairy business. When needed, I would help do anything from bottle feeding fawns to helping milk cows and clean up their mess.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
The cedar plank redfish from French Market Bistro
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Meeting my wife, Anna, in 2001, marrying her in 2011 and our two sons, Tucker (4) and Maverick (2)
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
The purchase of Stuart & Company General Contractors and becoming the majority shareholder
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Most of the lessons I’ve learned have been the hard way; the key is not to make them twice.
WHAT GIVES YOU PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION?
The success of our employees. I enjoy nothing more than hearing about them purchasing their first house and other personal successes.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Yes, Twitter is my most active platform.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Texts, 35; Emails, 40; Phone calls, 40
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
30%
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
0
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Mint
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
The iPhone
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Emails
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
5 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Breakfast at my desk
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
While participating in the Baton Rouge Area Chamber Leadership Class in 2013, I was disturbed by the local public-school options. As a result, I got involved with a local charter school, University Preparatory Elementary, as a board member. I have served as the chairman of the board for the last two years. I’m proud to report that we are almost complete with own temporary campus and have future plans of a brand-new facility.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When my wife and I had our first child
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Every fall, my wife and I take a trip for our anniversary. I don’t give her any details on the destination, only the weather forecast. They are always the best getaways!
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
I was my grandmother’s favorite, and she would always give me extra presents once the other grandchildren weren’t around. She always gave me the best gifts: shotguns, baseball bats, etc.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Immortality. I love life and wish it went on forever.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
“D”
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTICIOUS ABOUT?
I don’t really believe in superstitions
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
President Donald Trump
WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
Robin Hood
FAVORITE DRINK?
Water
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
George Strait
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Gladiator
PETS?
Two dogs, 11 chickens, one rabbit and one swan
HOBBIES?
Anything associated with being outdoors and LSU sports
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
Meeting my wife, Anna, in 2001. I was young and dumb prior to her entering my life—She helped me grow up!
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
To continue the growth of Stuart & Company
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
The time clock that we are all on…
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
My faith and confidence in our youth and the opportunities that they have compared to previous generations.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
You control your own destiny. It’s all in how you approach life daily.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes, this is where we have planted our roots and we look forward to continuing our involvement in the Baton Rouge community.
IF NAMED KING FOR A DAY, WHAT IS ONE CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE IN BATON ROUGE?
I would approve the funding needed to improve the local infrastructure.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BATON ROUGE; WHAT WORKS AND WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT?
I would consider it a seven on the scale of one to 10. The culture, food, people and being a college town are what makes it special. The current challenges with diversity, public school options and infrastructure need drastic improvement.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
No bucket list. I just want to travel the world with my family.
See the entire 2017 Forty under 40 class
