Author: Misty Milioto

The River Parishes has a long history of sugar cane farming, production and refining, and the Port of South Louisiana is home to Louisiana Sugar Refining—a major employer in the region and a driver of the local and state economy. …

In June 2021, the Jefferson Chamber invited a diverse delegation of leaders from the region’s public, private and nonprofit sectors to meet with and learn from their counterparts during an InterCity Visit to Nashville. While on the trip, a group…

As a regional university located in Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University seeks to serve and strengthen the region’s workforce. One way in which it does so is through its College of Science and Technology, which was created in 2005 with the…

When Paul Matthews became the newest Port of South Louisiana Executive Director in January 2022, he was tasked with carrying on a mission that has been top of mind for Port leadership for decades: making the Port even more attractive…

When Neel Sus started Susco in 2006, he was a man with a simple mission: he wanted to make a positive impact on the end-users of new software development. Sus had fallen in love with the development process while working…

Cesar Burgos, a Hispanic immigrant from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, moved to New Orleans with his family when he was teenager. They’d tried New York but found the winters too cold and the opportunities too scarce, and they hoped to…

Originally from the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas, Deanna Rodriguez has lived between Austin, Texas and New Orleans most of her adult life. In 1999, she moved to New Orleans to lead the corporate philanthropy program for Entergy, where…

Long before she founded Alma Café, Chef Melissa Araujo spent the summers of her youth on her grandmother’s farm in La Ceiba, Atlántida, Honduras, where she was born. It was during this time that she developed her love of food…

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana (HCCL) has long-standing relationships with corporate partners. Two major partners—JPMorgan Chase and Entergy Corporation—recently doubled down on their commitment to diversifying the area’s economic landscape. Both companies have an ethos that supports local…

When Spencer Sens founded Complete Logistical Services in 2010, with the goal of providing on-site logistics services for ships at port, his guiding mantra was, “I can do it.” This was a mindset he used to position himself as a…

Marathon Petroleum Corporation—the nation’s largest crude oil refining company—refines nearly 2.9 million barrels of crude oil per calendar day across its 13-refinery system. The Garyville Refinery is one of the largest in the United States, with a workforce of more…

Serving Southeast Louisiana and the River Parishes business community, the Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport (KAPS) eliminates drive time to and from commercial airports in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The airport welcomes small, medium, and large business…

When you think of Mardi Gras, you might imagine the packed streets of the New Orleans French Quarter, but this pre-Lenten celebration has a rich history across South Louisiana, with varying traditions and cultures between parishes. In fact, the River…

When you think of job opportunities in Greater New Orleans, you might think of booming sectors like tourism, hospitality and even technology—but when it comes to creative opportunities, the region is not typically seen as a hub where creative professionals…

The Chamber does three things really well: advocate for a better and stronger business environment; educate members in key areas to help advance free enterprise and/or grow respective businesses; and connect business owners and employees to other businesses,” says Todd Murphy, former…

In June 2021, a diverse delegation of leaders from our region’s public, private and nonprofit sectors met with and learned from their counterparts in Nashville. The purpose of the trip was to observe the business market and community of Nashville…

Tell us about yourself. How did you get started on your career path? I originally got started at RTC after Hurricane Katrina took away my job. I found an opening as a Marketing Assistant with RTC, and I’ve continued to…

After a nationwide search, Jay Robichaux has filled the role of executive director of the River Parishes Tourist Commission following longtime director Buddy Boe’s departure in June. In this role, Robichaux is responsible for leading a team of tourism professionals…

Along with the many benefits that come with a coastal environment—vibrant wildlife, fresh seafood and accessible waterways—there are distinct challenges that emerge in coastal settings including land loss, flooding and water management. The effects of land erosion can be seen…

When Mayra Pineda took on the role of President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana (HCCL) in 2014, she did so with the mission of paving pathways to success for underserved communities. “It is important to…

It was the mid-1990’s when, between jobs in commercial photography, film and television, Raymond Pumilia began brewing beer as a hobby.  He enjoyed it, and the hobby stuck. Then came the day 15 years later when Raymond and his wife,…

An area so abundant with beverage manufacturing would be incomplete without reliable and efficient means of distribution, so it’s fortunate that Eastern New Orleans is also home to Crescent Crown Distributing, a company that operates alongside and in partnership with…

Jon Renthrope, CEO and brewmaster at Cajun Fire Brewing Co., has always had the goal of brewing beer for socio-economic change. As a member of the United Nation of Houma Indians, Renthrope created the company out of a lack of…

As the premier sea gateway for U.S. import and export traffic—and with a goal of attracting foreign and domestic investment within the River Parishes region—the Port of South Louisiana isn’t just invested in the day-to-day operations of the maritime industry.…