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Business
Dave Smith and Matt Snyder
Launching and growing a new business comes with its share of unpredictable challenges — but it doesn’t have to be a lonely journey. Get ready to ride the wave of entrepreneurship with the On The Cusp Podcast! We're here to educate Northwest Louisiana by shining a spotlight on the voices and untold stories of our vibrant community. From passionate activists to innovative entrepreneurs and dedicated small business owners, our podcast dives deep into the heart of NWLA. Tune in to discover the inspiration, challenges, and triumphs that define our local trailblazers. With On The Cusp, you're always just one episode away from the next big idea!
Wins & Losses
On this week's episode of On The Cusp, we're sitting down with William Bradford, an Attorney at Blanchard, Walker, O'Quin & Roberts, and discussing the unique qualities of our North Louisiana Community.Tune in!
21:4614/09/2023
Adjust Your Focus
Kicking off Season 4 of On The Cusp is Ivy Brightwell French with Ivy B. Photography. Putting the Bright in Brightwell, it doesn't take long to realize why and how Ivy is killing it in the photography space here in north Louisiana. Tune in!
19:0106/09/2023
Haul Yeah!
On this week's episode of On The Cusp, we're speaking to Cyrus Morrison of Haulage, a local transportation solution based in North Louisiana providing local pick-up trucks to move residential cargo.Tune in!
15:0519/07/2023
All About Lifestyle
On today's episode, Dave & Matt are talking with William O'Brien about why north Louisiana is one of the easiest places to live, and why doing business here is a good thing.Tune in!
18:3012/07/2023
The Social Circle
This week's episode features a local entrepreneur, Sylvester Marshall, owner of The Social Circle of Louisiana, LLC, a quality event company catering to diverse young professionals in northwest Louisiana.Sylvester, together with his team, successfully plans, produces and manages events for organizations in the business and public sectors with varying budgets and needs.Tune in!
17:5607/07/2023
East Bank Mafia
On this week's episode we're speaking with Aaron “Peanut” Hanning and Beau Hays of BeauxJax Crafthouse and Frozen Pirogue in the East Bank District. Tune in!
23:4828/06/2023
Expanding The Market
On this episode of On The Cusp, Dave & Matt sat down with Shreveport serial entrepreneur and community champion, Grant Nuckolls.From locally grown to franchise businesses, Grant has experience with owning and operating both.Tune in as we discuss the entrepreneurial field and how to encourage change in North Louisiana.
19:1814/06/2023
Chasing (more than) Aces
Tune in to episode 6 as we speak with John Dudley, owner of Chasing Aces Golf - a sports entertainment complex coming to Bossier City's Riverfront District, unlike anything you've seen before. Think golf, but more!
19:5107/06/2023
Love What You Do
If you want to be an entrepreneur, do it in Shreveport.Today we're speaking with Francesca Benton Moreland, Partner and Co-Owner at Williams Creative Group, Inc., about the difference in work experiences in Shreveport compared to other markets, and the entrepreneurial benefits right here in North Louisiana.Tune in!
17:4431/05/2023
Welcome To The Gridiron
Shreveport can’t support a sports team, right or wrong? Tune in as we chat with Byron Dawson, Centenary Football's Head Coach, as we dive into all things football AND a big announcement you won't want to miss!
15:3424/05/2023
Mudbug Madness
On today's episode of On the Cusp, we're speaking with Tommy Scott, owner of the Shreveport Mudbugs hockey team. Tune in!
17:5317/05/2023
You Can't Teach Culture
In today's episode of On the Cusp, Dave and Matt speak with Pete John, a prominent restaurateur in Shreveport, about his start in the industry and how it made him who he is today.
34:1503/05/2023
Creative Culture
Our guest today is used with being behind the camera, helping make production happen. Clint McCommon has been producing creative video content for over a decade. His experience expands from television commercials to music videos to feature documentary work. Clint, along with his business partner John Chambers, create unique productions that garner great results for their marketing clients, winning awards on the regional and national level.Tune in!
26:0812/04/2023
More Than Just A Range
Gun safety and education when it comes to guns and handling guns is key. Today, we're speaking with Brad Simon of Red River Range, the premier indoor shooting and training facility in Louisiana leading the effort in shooter safety. The range offers 19 shooting lanes equipped with the finest target, ventilation, and safety systems in the industry. The range isn’t just for firearms. Louisiana is the “Sportsman’s Paradise” and Red River Range is Shreveport’s version. Along with the pistol and rifle lanes inside, outside hosts two separate archery areas as well as a stocked fish pond and recreation area. With amenities to satisfy everyone’s interests, Red River Range is a destination for the whole family.Tune in!
21:0205/04/2023
Second Chances
Shopping local means creating more jobs in the community. Shopping local with businesses that continuously give back to their community through quarterly events helps create culture in the community.In today's episode we are speaking with C&C Mercantile & Lighting owners and operators, and Shreveport natives, Derek Simmons and Lauren Ross Simmons. Tune in!
28:5529/03/2023
The Vision and More: Part Two of Two-Part Series
Today's episode is a continuation of last week's episode where we spoke with Brant Alexander, one of the founders of Provenance, a traditional neighborhood development in South Shreveport.Today we have David Alexander and Kyle McInnis continuing the conversation about Provenance and the plan for growth behind it.Tune in!
21:5522/03/2023
The Vision and More: Part One of Two-Part Series
Imagine a development that is based on a neighborhood schematic that was in place before the automobile took over our lives. A housing scheme planned around retail, workspace, restaurants, green spaces, and more. Now imagine that existing in Shreveport.In today's episode of On the Cusp, Matt sits down with Brant Anderson, one of the original planners and developers of Provenance, a Southern Shreveport Traditional Development.Tune in!
15:4615/03/2023
Willing To Take The Risk
From hospital to hospitality, local business owner, doctor, plastic surgeon, & community investor, Lindsey Pennington, speaks with Matt and Dave about her love of Shreveport, and why she chose this city for her many community investment projects.Tune in!
18:3708/03/2023
The Well Dressed Man
Shopping has evolved dramatically over the past several decades, providing consumers with more choice and convenience, whether they prefer to shop the brick-and-mortar stores or shop online. When it comes to men's fashion in Shreveport, John Pickens Custom Clothiers is offering unique in-person experiences you can't find online.In today's episode, Matt and Dave are speaking with John Pickens of John Pickens Custom Clothiers about his start, why he chose Shreveport for his brick-and-mortar, and why an experience at John Pickens Clothiers is unlike any experience elsewhere.Tune in!
15:1101/03/2023
Just Jump
On today's episode, Matt & Dave are speaking with Katy Larsen, founder and owner of The Agora Borealis, an artist marketplace located in downtown Shreveport.Katy's goal when opening the doors to her store in 2014 was to give the area an art gallery filled with local art and goods, while also stimulating the local economy.Tune in!
20:2622/02/2023
Olive You
In today's episode, Matt and Dave are speaking with Kylie Grant of Oleolive, a biotechnology company that produces olive oil-extracted oleocanthal for research and consumer products to address inflammation and disease.If you are health conscious and interested in ways to help aid a longer, healthier lifestyle, don't sleep on this episode!OleOlive's method of extracting and purifying Extra Virgin Olive Oil polyphenols such as Oleocanthal, has made its way into cosmetic products, supplements that are under development and into other products across the world that are making people healthier, look younger and eat better.Tune in!
20:5215/02/2023
A Conversation Between the Hosts
On today's episode, Matt and Dave are discussing entrepreneurial wins, losses, do's and dont's. Tune in!
17:0808/02/2023
Trucking Along
On today's episode, Matt and Dave are speaking with Latronia Durham, CEO of Durham Transports Express, LLC, a minority and female-owned company that is gaining momentum and going the extra mile within our community.Latronia is discussing the major roadblocks she has faced/ is currently facing as a female in a male-dominated industry. She discusses where she began, how far she has come, and how far she has left to go.Durham Transports is providing jobs for CDL drivers and training for CDL drivers in North Louisiana.Tune in!
14:3201/02/2023
Don't Wait For An Invite
On today's episode of On The Cusp, Dave and Matt are talking with Sabrina Adsit, a marketing professional and Air Force Spouse, who spent nine years in Northwest Louisiana before moving to Washington, DC.Whether you're stationed somewhere for 1 year, 3 years, or 9 years, Sabrina discusses the benefits of being connected to the pulse of what's happening in your community.Sabrina didn't wait around for an invite to get involved, which ultimately helped her create a successful marketing business, which continues to keep her tied to the community.Tune in!
21:5225/01/2023
A Happy Accident
We are kicking off Season Two with Roy Griggs, CEO & Owner Operator of Griggs Enterprise, Inc, Northwest Louisiana’s leading franchisee of McDonald’s Restaurants in northwest Louisiana.Roy's success can be attributed to his work ethic and his drive to overcome major obstacles. In today's episode, Roy is telling us about how an accidental job brought him millions of dollars in success, and with that success, he has chosen to continuously give back to his community. Tune in!
22:1618/01/2023
Jobs or Culture?
In today's episode of On The Cusp, hosts Matt and Dave go head to head on a jobs vs. culture topic. What does north Louisiana need most? Matt believes that as a community, Shreveport doesn't believe in the cultural piece, vs. Dave, who believes that a lot could be fixed with more jobs. It's an exciting episode that you don't want to miss!Tune in!
13:5721/12/2022
Let's Talk Money
On episode 11 of On The Cusp, we are talking with Ben James, CIMA®, CKA®, Financial Advisor and Cofounder of Deupree James Wealth Management. Ben focuses on portfolio management, financial planning, and microcap investing. Prior to co-founding Deupree James Wealth Management, he worked at Merrill Lynch for over a decade where he managed money for his team and others as a Senior Portfolio Manager.Ben is discussing the economic health of Shreveport, why it's a great time to start a business, how the national trends compare to Shreveport trends & consumers, and investing - including the microcap investment strategy.Tune in!--“This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of any professional services. The opinions given are not to be relied upon as individual legal or financial advice. Guests’ opinions are their own.”
20:4414/12/2022
All About Capital
On today's episode of On The Cusp, we are speaking with Amanda Flynn, Interim Director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) at Southern University in Shreveport, and we are talking all things capital.Dive into episode 10 to hear how the LSBDC is helping our small businesses and how & why entrepreneurs and small businesses should get involved.
12:3907/12/2022
How Engaged Are You?
It's easy to get down on North Louisiana if you're not actively searching for opportunities here. Whether it's finding events to go to, investing in the city, or choosing it to start and grow your business in, the opportunities are great - they are just waiting for you to find them.In today's episode of On The Cusp, Matt and Dave sit down and talk with Rich Lamb of Weiner, Weiss and Madison. Rich has lived as close to Shreveport as Baton Rouge, and as far as Washington, DC and continues to choose Shreveport as the city he works, invests, and raises his family in. Rich is actively involved in his community. A full-time attorney who does much more, Rich is a guy who genuinely practices what he preaches - from cheering on and helping bring businesses to the area to grow and succeed, to filling jobs, his ultimate goal is the betterment of North Louisiana.Tune in!
17:5630/11/2022
Three Big Exits Away
With two major interstates (I-20 and I-49) converging in greater Shreveport, businesses can easily access more than 40 million consumers in some of America’s largest markets, including Dallas and Houston, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Little Rock and Oklahoma City.Ryan Culp currently serves as Director of Business Recruitment for Shreveport Next, a division of BRF, a Northwest Louisiana-based economic development organization, where he focuses on recruiting high-growth small to mid-sized businesses from across the country to relocate or build new facilities in the Shreveport-Bossier area, diversifying the region’s business base and bringing new jobs, payroll, revenue, and investment to Northwest Louisiana. This comes with its own set of challenges.Tune in!
15:3023/11/2022
More Than Just The Business
For Sarah and Preston Lowder of Lowder Baking Company and Doc's Sandwich Shop, their vision has always gone beyond owning these storefronts.In Episode 7 of On The Cusp, we are talking to Sarah about her and Preston's beginning steps and that leap(s) of faith that has taken them from "entrepreneur" status to "great entrepreneur" status, and their reasons behind staying in Shreveport and turning their dreams into a reality.Tune in!
17:3916/11/2022
Homegrown
In Episode 6 of On The Cusp, we are back with hosts Matt and Dave discussing North Louisiana's homegrown talent, whether they are local or living across the country. This has us asking a few questions in regard to engaging that homegrown talent.How do we continue to foster their love for Shreveport and how do we continue to involve them in their community?Tune in!
11:0709/11/2022
Commitment to Community
It's one thing to own a company in your community, but it's a better thing whenever you infuse that company into your community.In Episode 5 of On The Cusp, we are speaking with Jon Ellis, Vice President of Radiance Technologies, a high-tech, research & development defense contractor that develops innovative solutions for defense, intelligence, and civilian customers’ advanced challenges. Radiance is also known in the community as the Title Sponsor for the Independence Bowl.In this episode, we are talking about - you guessed it - community, the importance of technology-based companies in our community, and football (sort of)!Tune in for one of our most interesting guests yet!
13:5702/11/2022
Big Fish, Small Pond
Want to learn about Shreveport's best-kept business secret? Meet Eric Rippetoe, Founder of Bishop, the world’s first 3D-printed knee support device intended for use during high-impact sports.In this week's episode, we discuss why keeping technology-based businesses in our city should be a priority and how being a big fish in a small pond can work to your entrepreneurial advantage.
19:1326/10/2022
A Place to Land
For entrepreneurs and small businesses, cities with entrepreneurial resources readily available is a priority they aren’t willing to overlook. A city lacking these resources, will lack an entrepreneurial ecosystem.On episode 3 of On The Cusp, Dave and Matt are speaking with Cohab Executive Director, Jessica Schiele, about the importance of community involvement in the entrepreneurial scene, and making sure small businesses and entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need.Cohab serves as a starting point for young startups and businesses looking to innovate and grow. From workspaces, mentorship, and education to access to investors for startups or sole entrepreneurs, Cohab helps companies and ideas take shape.
20:2019/10/2022
Business Plan or No Plan - That is The Question!
Both Lean canvases and business plans are visual representations of the reality in which your business operates. But, unlike the traditional business plan, they are sketches that need to be updated as you grow your business.So, the big question is: which is better?In Episode 2, our guest Julie Milam, a Senior Financial Analyst of the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program with over 23 years of experience in corporate finance, financial markets, government contracts and consulting, walks us through the differences and similarities in each option, why it's always important to plan for a worst case scenario and what that looks like.
19:0912/10/2022
On The Cusp of Something Great
In episode one of On The Cusp, hosts Dave Smith, EAP Executive Director and Matt Snyder, Owner of PinPoint Local Marketing, dive into the purpose of the podcast and discuss how and why Shreveport is on the cusp of something great.--The Entrepreneurial Accelerator System (EAP), an initiative of BRF, is a public-private partnership to diversify the regional economy, create jobs and expand the area’s tax base by providing services to innovative startups that have high growth potential. EAP has helped its companies create more than 300 jobs with an annual payroll of $19 million. EAP has screened 1,380 ideas and provided services to 436 companies that have raised over $130 million in capital. For more info, visit www.EAPla.comPinPoint Local Marketing - a marketing and event company responsible for some of Northwest Louisiana's largest events - Derby Day, Crawfest, and Catahoula to name a few.--Tune in now!
25:4727/09/2022