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SPOTLIGHT
BRANDON CRAFT
Owner/Realtor, Craft Realty | Interiors | Homes
“Most people I know see Baton Rouge through one of two lenses. They either focus on the challenges – crime, traffic, poverty – and feel discouraged; or they recognize the people and efforts working to overcome those issues and feel hopeful. My wife Cherith and I chose the second lens. About 10 years ago, we became foster parents because we wanted to be part of the solution. And over that decade, we’ve seen something powerful take root – through churches, businesses, and mentorship programs, there’s a growing movement of people investing in this city in meaningful ways. Looking 25 years ahead, I believe Baton Rouge has the potential to be transformed – not just economically, but socially – if more energy and investment keep flowing into those efforts. That kind of change creates stronger neighborhoods, more opportunity, and more stability. And that’s exactly the kind of foundation great real estate markets – and great businesses – are built on.”
BECKY WALKER
Owner/Principal Designer, The Design Studio
“I’m super excited about the future because the last several years have been a challenge, and we’re coming out of that cycle. Our business is picking up – which means the flooring people’s business is going to pick up, which means the tile installers and the construction teams are going to improve their bottom lines, and the consumers are going to start making money and spending money. When I see a company, a restaurant, a small business owner closing their doors it just kills me. Because I know everything in our business is cyclical, and I know we’re entering the upside of the cycle in Baton Rouge. I think that should excite everyone – consumers, businesses, commercial, residential, multifamily. The future in this area is very bright.”
MIKE RICCI
Principal & Director, Rampart/Wurth Holding, Inc.
NAI Rampart
“Rampart/Wurth Holding, Inc. and NAI Rampart have the ability to create opportunities, create jobs, build wealth, and help people develop and grow this state. Our company can lead in every aspect of real estate – management, sales, leasing, development, and investment. There’s nothing we believe we can’t do right now, and we aim to prove that as we move forward. Having a hub in Baton Rouge – one of the most important areas of the state, and frankly, an area I believe holds some of the greatest opportunity in Louisiana – is extremely important to us. We do want to expand outside the state, but the difference between our company and many others is that we’re not looking to grow just to sell to someone else or a bigger company from outside Louisiana. We want to be a Louisiana success story. We want to be the company that’s strategically acquiring others outside the state – so that when people look at us, they say, “That’s a Louisiana company that made it.” I believe we can make that happen.”
JACKLYN GALLO
Owner/Principal Designer, The Design Studio
“We have nearly an 80-year history on the other side of the Atchafalaya Basin. We came to Baton Rouge in 2022 with a loan production office, and we have purchased property on Jefferson Hwy across from the Baton Rouge Country Club that we plan to open in Q4 of this year with a full-service retail bank. We’re here to stay. We don’t get wrapped up in political dramatics. We keep our eyes focused on where JD Bank and the communities we serves are going. We are also not looking to expand outside of Louisiana. We want to focus our resources on this footprint and be the best community bank in the state. We look forward to sharing that with Baton Rouge and being an active participant in the growth of this area.”
LANCE FAUCHEAUX
Operations Manager, Level Homes
“We’ve always focused on building a better product. That doesn’t change, no matter what’s going on in the economy or the news. What does change is how we design and plan. There’s more intention behind every home and every neighborhood we build. We’re moving beyond the “build fast” mindset of the boom years and creating communities that are smarter and more in tune with how people actually want to live. That’s exciting to us – and we’re proud it’s happening right here in southeast Louisiana.”
