Necessity is the mother of invention. If you’ve spent any time in the kitchen, you’ve no doubt thought, more than once, about building a better gizmo or gadget to help you cook, clean or organize your kitchen. Perhaps you’ve even done it. But have you been able to get your invention before 250 million eyes…

Behind every successful business is a great idea, but just having a great idea doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. What are the keys to going from concept to successful operation? And what are some of the pitfalls? Stephanie Riegel’s guests on this edition of Out to Lunch have interesting perspectives on this topic. Trey Williams is…

Baton Rouge is a city that loves its sports. While Tiger Football dominates the headlines, baseball has a large following too, as do soccer and basketball. And there’s a vibrant and growing outdoor community, active in running, cycling, swimming and rowing. That homegrown passion for sports and athletics hasn’t just resulted in some of the most…

You don’t have to spend much time driving around Baton Rouge to notice that the local real estate economy is booming. New construction is going up in the residential, commercial, multifamily and office markets. Todd Waguespack has been in the industry for nearly two decades and is the managing partner for Level Homes, a residential…

As our economy has become more specialized, so have the consultants who come into our companies and help us improve performance, from the loading dock to the boardroom. In the digital economy it gets even more interesting: consulting firms don’t have to rely on local or regional clients. On this edition of Out to Lunch,…

People in most places eat to live. Here in south Louisiana we live to eat. For those who make their living in the culinary world that means the stakes are high and the competition intense. Daniel Thompson knows this only too well. He is the executive chef and co-owner of D’Agostino Pasta, a Baton Rouge-based…

Some of us are fortunate enough to be born with a creative flair or a sense of style. Suppose you are one of the fortunate few, now you are posed with a problem: how do you turn your talents into something that can sustain you?   Grace Emden is a Baton Rouge artist, more specifically,…

Technology has enabled us to accomplish all sorts of things that we never thought possible. And it’s not only world-renowned experts in Silicon Valley who are accomplishing these feats. Scientists and engineers right here in South Louisiana are creating amazing technologies and products, and building successful businesses around them. Craig Billings is co-owner of Acadian…

Though the world of retail fashion has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, the art of good salesmanship never changes. And it continues to be the key to many a successful business. Hans Sternberg is something of an expert on this topic. For 30 years Hans had a successful career in retail with his…

When you sit down to search the internet for something, you’ve probably noticed the advertisers vying for your attention. What you may not be aware of is that all those helpful blogs and lists of 10 things you gotta know are often carefully crafted marketing pieces designed to draw you in. And, eventually, sell you…