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…

Real estate is one of the largest sectors of the Baton Rouge economy. In the world of Baton Rouge real estate you don’t get any bigger than Mike Wampold. Over the past three decades Mike’s Wompald Companies has established itself as the premier developer in Baton Rouge, with a portfolio that includes an extraordinary list of apartments,…

Sports today is big business in the United States, and Baton Rouge is no exception. Since 2006, sporting events that have been lured here over have generated an economic impact of more than $304m.   Stephanie’s guests on Out to Lunch are two of the leading lights growing Baton Rouge’s sports sector. Pat Fellows is…

To be a great city you have to have great performing arts organizations. For nearly 70 years, the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra has been delighting audiences in the Capital Region with performances that rival those found in any major market in America. The organization’s Executive Director is Cary Byrd. Cary started out as a French…