On The Cusp

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 fa...

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 aroun...

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 wit...

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!

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....

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.

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...

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 econ...

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 th...

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!

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. Rad...

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.

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 m...

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 expe...

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...