Hansel Harlan has taken the hook-fanged scourge of Louisiana’s disappearing wetlands and turned it into a dog’s best friend. Hansel is the co-founder of Marsh Dog, creators of doggy treats in the form of biscuits and jerky, made out of nutria.  If you think giving your dog nutria treats is a little unusual, meet Niki…

One thing you hear a lot from people who come to Baton Rouge after having been a way for awhile is how different it is. How much the city has grown, improved, and special mention is most often made about the rebirth of downtown and revitalization in other up-and-coming neighborhoods. All this redevelopment didn’t happen…

Whether you live in Baton Rouge, work in Baton Rouge or just pass through Baton Rouge every now and then, you have experienced the Capital Region’s notorious gridlock. Baton Rouge ranks among the very worst mid-sized cities in the nation for traffic congestion. Business leaders last year in a Chamber survey listed traffic as the…

In the age of Internet shopping, retail is an increasingly difficult way to make a living. When shoppers don’t care if you’re local and, no matter where they live, want current fashion and accessories at a fair price, how does a local business compete? Scott Berg says it starts with service. Scott has other strategies too,…

Many of us have a creative streak, or like to think we do, but for most of us it remains an outlet, a hobby. Some of us, though, have the courage and the determination to turn our creative passion into a business enterprise – even if only a small one. It can be a dream…

In 2000, an LSU engineering professor named Kevin Kelly got an idea – to build compact, efficient heat exchangers that would help engines perform better. Today, Mezzo is one of the leading companies in the country in the area of micro tube heat exchanger technology, and the company’s products are used in dozens of applications…

If you drive around Baton Rouge, chances are you’ve had your car washed at Benny’s Car Wash. The locally owned company has 14 locations around the area and is as well known for its quick oil changes and B Kwik convenience stores as it is for its automated car washes, which can be had for…

South Louisiana is one of the true food capitals of the world, known for both its Creole and Cajun fare, and, more recently, it’s contemporary twist on classic southern dishes. And though New Orleans often gets top billing for its famous restaurants and innovative chefs, Baton Rouge has a growing food scene that is vibrant…

When the State created the tax incentive program in the early 2000s to attract movie and TV producers to Louisiana, the hope was to turn Louisiana into Hollywood South. 15 years later, more movie and TV shows are shot in Louisiana than in almost any other state in the country. A big chunk of those…

We live in a world today where content is king, everyone can be an expert on the Internet, and building your own personal brand is the secret to success in our post-modern digital age. While all of that may be second nature to those who were born during the Clinton presidency, some of us need…