On The Cusp

On this special episode of On The Cusp , hosts Matt and Dave sit down with Martha Marak, the newly announced Executive Director of The Strand Theatre in Shreveport. Martha shares her excitement for leading this iconic 100-year-old downtown landmark as it enters its 42nd season and begins a new strategic plan. They also discuss The Strand’s role in downtown Shreveport, its updated ticketing system,...

Alex Wesley, co-founder of Arovia, joins On The Cusp hosts Matt and Dave to share the story behind Splay, one of the largest portable displays on the market. A chance encounter with the CEO of the Louisiana Association of the Blind sparked a partnership that brought Splay manufacturing and assembly to Shreveport, creating jobs in North Louisiana. Alex shares how his team developed specialized glue...

On this episode of On The Cusp, Rich Sidhu, creator of FuelJobberX and owner of more than 10 gas stations in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur in the fuel industry. Rich explains how the challenges of purchasing and delivering fuel inspired him to develop software that helps smaller fuel distributors manage dynamic pricing, tax allocation, invoicing, pay...

On The Cusp hosts Matt and Dave sit down with Dr. Joslin Mar-Dai, owner of Vegans on the Run, to talk entrepreneurship, vegan food, and taking the leap into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Joslin shares her journey from MS Kick’s Kitchen Incubator to expanding into Shreveport’s Far End District after becoming a winner of the Shreveport-Bossier Tourism Bureau’s Destination 318 100K Challenge. Hear h...

Join On The Cusp hosts Matt and Dave as they sit down with Heather Kitchens and Dustin Glass, owners of Sistematik Graphics, to discuss their journey of returning to Louisiana and building a thriving local print business. From signs and banners to vehicle wraps, apparel, embroidery, and in-house graphic design, Sistematik Graphics has become a recognizable name across the Shreveport Bossier Commun...

On this episode of On The Cusp , Matt and Dave head to Kanteen Park to hang out with Jonathan Reynolds of Louisiana Daiquiri Café and hear how he and his partners took a chance on Shreveport’s Far East End District back in 2019. Jonathan shares the story behind creating a local spot that celebrates Shreveport, from drinks named after local neighborhoods to artwork highlighting influential African...

On The Cusp is on location at Kanteen Park in Shreveport, sitting down with owner and real estate powerhouse Lemar Flukers to talk about his vision for transforming Texas Ave into the city's next hot spot. Lemar shares how local businesses are taking root and growing in the area, plus the visible upgrades, like fresh paint and eye-catching graffiti art, that are drawing visitors in to snap photos...

On The Cusp host Matt and Dave sat down with Tess Lopez, founder of Prep Cakes Bakery, to talk about her 10-year entrepreneurial journey crafting guilt-free desserts made for restrictive diets. Tess shares how she got her start in Shreveport's own Cohab incubator commissary kitchen, turning a passion for healthy baking into a growing local business. She also dives into the connection between gut h...

On this episode of On The Cusp, hosts Matt and Dave sit down with entrepreneur Danielle Nelson to talk about FresBar, her innovative tabletop salad bar concept. Danielle shares the inspiration behind the product and walks through her experience going through EAP's Blue Couch process, from patent research and product development to partnering with engineering firms. She also discusses collaborating...

On this episode of On The Cusp, hosts Matt and Dave sit down with Ronnie Remedies, owner of Shreveport Limousine, to hear how a side hustle grew into a full-time business spanning more than 25 years. Ronnie shares how he expanded beyond limousines into buses, iShuttles, and luxury SUVs to meet the growing transportation needs of North Louisiana. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the types of c...

In this episode of On The Cusp, hosts Matt and Dave sit down with Shreveport local legend Jacqueline Scott to talk about her entrepreneurial journey. Ms. Scott shares how her journey began and grew into a remarkable career built on hard work and determination. Born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, she has spent her life striving to become a better person and make a lasting difference in her co...

On this episode of On The Cusp, Matt and Dave welcome their first florist to the podcast, Lisa Haynie of Lisa's Flowers & Gifts, to talk about owning and growing a flower shop in North Louisiana. Lisa shares how she became the second Lisa to own the business, the changes she's made since taking over, and the importance of strong vendor relationships and customer service. She also offers a behi...

On this episode of On The Cusp, hosts Matt and Dave sit down with Waynette Ballengee, Chairwoman of the Shreveport Regional Airport Beautification Committee, to talk about the exciting transformation underway at Shreveport Regional Airport. As the first impression for visitors arriving in our area, the airport is getting a fresh new look both inside and out, thanks to both the Airport and the Beau...

You might want to have a snack within reach for this one, because On The Cusp is diving into all things barbeque. Hosts Matt and Dave sit down with Valerie and Taneia Benn, owners of The Magnolia Pit in Shreveport. Val and Benn talk about what led to their decision to buy the restaurant from Chef John Strand and what drew them into the restaurant business in the first place. They share what they w...

In this episode of On The Cusp, Keith Payne of Payne Mechanical Services shares the story of the family business his grandfather started back in 1956, growing from residential plumbing into a powerhouse commercial plumbing and HVAC company. Keith joins hosts Matt and Dave to break the exciting news that Payne Mechanical Services has expanded from four locations to five, with a brand new location n...

On this episode of On The Cusp, hosts Matt and Dave sit down with father-son duo Mike and Dennis Etheredge to talk about Etheredge Industrial Services, a 40-year-old Shreveport business built from the ground up. Mike shares what motivated him and his wife to start the company, how he raised the capital to get it off the ground, and why he credits their employees as the true backbone of the busines...

On this episode of On The Cusp , hosts Matt and Dave talk with Chris Phillips, co-owner of The Picklr , Bossier City’s newest premier pickleball destination located at the Louisiana Boardwalk. Chris shares what it took to bring the franchise to the Shreveport-Bossier area and discusses the growing popularity of pickleball across the country. The conversation also highlights the importance of local...

Matt and Dave take On The Cusp on the road, heading straight to the patio at Margaritaville Resort & Casino in Bossier City to sit down with Director of Food & Beverage Nicole Harrington. Nicole shares how the resort is creating unforgettable experiences that go well beyond gaming, bringing a true "resort" atmosphere to life in Northwest Louisiana. She also highlights how the local communi...

Kyle Hand, owner of Hand Construction, joins On The Cusp hosts Matt and Dave to discuss the company's current projects, including ongoing work at the Shreveport Regional Airport. Kyle shares how his father founded the company in the 1980s and the role Hand Construction has played in developing the Shreveport-Bossier area over the years. He also shares his thoughts on the upcoming data centers, the...

Exciting changes are underway at the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana! Join On The Cusp hosts Matt and Dave as they sit down with Megann McDaniel, the new Director of Marketing and Development, to discuss everything happening at your local YMCA. From brand-new Little League fields hosting summer tournaments that drive economic growth in the Shreveport area, to the wide variety of classes and programs a...

Join Matt and Dave on On The Cusp as they sit down with special guest Rocky Rocket from the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation (GBEDF) — the organization driving job and tax growth in the region since the 1970s! Together, they dive deep into the exciting collaborative projects between GBEDF, EAP, and North Louisiana's top economic developers that are transforming the Shreveport-Bossie...

Join hosts Matt and Dave on On The Cusp as they sit down with Jeffrey Goodman, the first-ever full-time CEO of the Committee of 100 — a powerhouse group of 130 top business leaders committed to driving growth and progress across Northwest Louisiana. Discover how the Committee of 100 is transforming the Shreveport-Bossier region through major initiatives like the revitalization of Monkhouse Drive a...

Join On The Cusp hosts Matt and Dave as they sit down with festival director Logan Lewis of the beloved Red River Revel, Shreveport's well-known fall festival held every October in Shreveport-Bossier. Logan shares his journey into the festival industry, his passion for live music, and how he is building partnerships with other Louisiana festivals to bring back the fun and energy that makes these e...

On The Cusp returns to kick off Season 14 with John Dudley, founder of Chasing Aces, back on the mic with hosts Matt and Dave three years after his first appearance. John shares an update on launching Chasing Aces in Summer 2025, the momentum behind the brand, and the announcement of two new locations in Alabama. He also talks about the role Bossier City’s support has played in the company’s growt...

On The Cusp this week features Erin Woods of 318 Business Builders, a business development and marketing company dedicated to helping local businesses grow and thrive. Erin shares how she leverages networking and strategic connections to support companies that don’t have the time or resources to build those relationships themselves. She also opens up to hosts Matt and Dave about her journey from r...