I’ve Got a Good Idea – Out to Lunch – It’s Baton Rouge
When it comes to entrepreneurship, you won’t find many people who know more than John Elstrott.
Recently retired as professor of entrepreneurship and director of the Levy Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship at Tulane, John is chairman of the board of directors of Whole Foods, originator of Celestial Seasonings, and runs Elstrott, Maurer and Hunnewell, a consulting practice that advises start up businesses. John also serves on the boards of several public and private corporations as well as nonprofit community service organizations. In the entrepreneurial world, John Elstrott is a superstar.
Charlie D’Agostino knows a thing or two about entrepreneurship. He also knows John Elstrott – they’re old friends dating back to their days at LSU. Maybe it was something in the water back then. Charlie heads LSU’s Innovation Park—a technology-based research park — the LSU Business and Technology Center, a business incubator which is within innovation park, and three other incubators – one for biomedical-based start ups, one for student ventures and one for food companies. Charlie has been recognized for his expertise in entrepreneurship and economic development.
Gaye Sandoz is director of the LSU Ag Center Food Incubator, a division of Charlie’s Innovation Park. Gaye is a chef, a cookbook author and for the past six years has worked with startup food businesses to help them get off the ground. And she’s not talking from a textbook, Gaye has a super successful product of her own on QVC.
Photos at Mansur’s on the Boulevard by Ken Stewart.