Thomas H. Scott Award of Excellence

Bayou DeSiard Title Company, MOEbiz, Wagner Logistics, and Graphic Packaging International were honored with Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence during a reception held Tuesday, June 4 at the Monroe Civic Center. In addition, three businesses received special Judge’s awards. The selections came from forty-seven nominations for the prestigious awards, which honors companies making significant contributions to the Ouachita parish economy through capital improvements, expansion, job creation, and community involvement during 2018/2019. This year’s nominees collectively employ 4,165 people in Ouachita parish and made capital investments of over $291 million.

The Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence Reception is hosted by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s College of Business. Presenting sponsor for the event is Strauss Interests. Additional sponsors for the reception are: Allen, Green and Williamson, CrossKeys Bank, Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLC, IberiaBank, KTVE/KARD, Origin Bank, BayouLife Magazine, Scott Powerline and Utility Equipment, LLC, Lagniappe Media, Patty Stewart Photography, Progressive Bank, The News-Star, The ULM College of Business, the City of Monroe and the Radio People.

BAYOU DESIARD TITLE COMPANY
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNER
Bayou DeSiard Title Company
417 North 3rd Street in Monroe | 318.325.8800

Bayou DeSiard Title Company is a real estate title company providing services in connection with all types of real estate transactions. Gene Hastings, attorney and owner of Bayou DeSiard Title Company, and his team serve almost every banker, mortgage broker and realty office in the region. Gene originally opened the company in 1997. In spite of the mortgage crisis in 2008 the company continued to grow. By 2018, the company’s six employees were processing 1,100 transactions per year. To accommodate that growth, Gene invested $850,000 to build a new office at 417 North 3rd Street in downtown Monroe and his son, Cooper Hastings, a licensed attorney, joined the company. Gene serves as the Chapter 13 Trustee for the Monroe Division of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Gene has coached several athletic teams, served on the board of the Monroe Youth Baseball Association, and Grace Episcopal and St. Frederick High school.

MOEbiz
MEDIUM BUSINESS AWARD WINNER
MOEbiz
2318 Armand Connector in Monroe | 318.388.4600

Monroe Office Equipment, now known as MOEbiz, was started in 1923 by Armand Breard and currently owned by Chap and Ann Breard. MOEbiz sells, services, and installs office furniture and machines throughout the entire state of Louisiana as well as other multiple states. The company manages over 3,500 computers, copiers and printers in north Louisiana, south Arkansas and 12 other states. In 2017 MOEbiz purchased The File Depot which is a comprehensive records storage and management company. In 2018 MOEbiz purchased Stuart’s of El Dorado/North LA. In January, with a capital investment of $1.6 million, MOEbiz and The File Depot moved to its newly renovated location at 2318 Armand Connector. The company now employs 28 people. Chap is a board member for North LA Economic Partnership and the Boy Scouts. He is also a part of the Ouachita Business Association. MOEbiz has contributed to Ouachita River Valley Animal League, Leadership Ouachita, and an animal rescue society. MOEbiz’s philosophy is to treat others the way they wish to be treated.

WAGNER LOGISTICS
LARGE BUSINESS AWARD WINNER
Wagner Logistics
wagnerlogistics.com

Wagner Logistics was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1945 and opened in Monroe in October, 2018 with an investment of $34 million. Wagner Logistics offers warehousing, transportation, fulfillment and packaging services. The company is a Top 100 third party logistics provider with over seventy years in the supply chain industry. Headed by Jacob Frugé, Warehouse Manager, Wagner Logistics sorts, ships and receives inventory for Graphic Packaging. In 2018, Wagner grew from one full time employee to eighty-six today. In addition, Wagner Logistics has fifty temporary employees using three local staffing agencies in Ouachita parish. Wagner’s employees are selfless givers. Their first United Way of NELA campaign yielded a 51% employee participation rate and they are planning to participate in the United Way’s “Read Learn Succeed” program next fall.

GRAPHIC PACKAGING
CORPORATE BUSINESS AWARD WINNER 
Graphic Packaging
430 Highway 594 in Monroe, Louisiana

Graphic Packaging International has been a significant employer in Ouachita parish for almost 100 years. In 2017, Graphic Packaging continued their commitment to the community when they announced that the world’s largest carton converting facility in terms of production would be built in Monroe and would employ 350 people. In 2018, Graphic made a $170 million dollar capital investment to build the new facility located at 430 Hwy 594. Graphic Packaging is an active member of the community. They support the United Way of NELA, in addition to serving on their board of directors. Graphic employees also serve on the United Way’s campaign committee. Graphic Packaging has also partnered with Monroe City Schools, Ouachita Parish Schools and Louisiana Delta Community College.

KTVE-KARD
THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER
KTVE-KARD
200 Pavillion Road in West Monroe | 318.323.1972

In 2018, Randy Stone, General Manager of KTVE-KARD, and his Weather Team purchased a $1.3 million state of the art Baron Doppler Radar System. This cutting edge technology revolutionizes how their station’s weather team tracks severe weather. The radar provides viewers with real time severe weather tracking information that is precise down to street level. In addition, the station made other capital improvements of over $2.7million. KTVE-KARD is located at 200 Pavilion Road in West Monroe and employs 59 people. KTVE-KARD supports the community through live streamed political debates, presentations, and education forums. The station helps countless non-profits in the region by promoting their events. Randy Stone serves on the board of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, and the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. KTVE-KARD sponsored dozens of causes throughout the region from the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway to Health Care Heroes. All while bringing us “the right news at the right time.”

ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE
THE SPIRIT OF LIFE AWARD

Acadian Ambulance Service was founded in Lafayette, LA with two ambulances and eight returning Vietnam veterans with medic experience. To date, Acadian Companies have approximately 5,000 employees across the United States. This past January, the ambulance service came to Ouachita Parish employing 135 employees and made a capital investment of $6.8 million. Between two facilities along with a dispatch center, a helicopter, 23 ambulance units, and the 911 provider for ambulance service, Acadian Ambulance offers outstanding support in health, safety and transportation. Acadian Ambulance provides emergent and non-emergent transport and has expanded across Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Acadian Ambulance is a member of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and is committed to assisting Louisiana Delta Community College with their EMT and paramedic training programs. Taylor Richard is the Operations Manager for Acadian Ambulance Service.

THE SALVATION ARMY OF NELA IN MONROE
SPIRIT OF RESILIENCY AWARD WINNER

Since 1927, The Salvation Army has been a part of Northeast Louisiana with their mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. In 2018, under the direction of The Salvation Army officer Capatin Jerome Casey, the Red Shield Emergency Shelter was renovated and the number of dorm workers was increased from 6 to 14. In addition, Family Thrift Store re-opened. Since the re-opening, the shelter has provided over 3,000 nights of lodging and helped two people transition from the shelter to permanent housing. Their clients are given the opportunity to go through the Alcoholics Anonymous, 12-Step Program and are given the opportunity to attend Sunday school and the children can attend summer camp. Last year, The Salvation Army served over 2,000 clients. The Salvation Army feeds the hungry through their Shelter Feeding Program and provides gifts at Christmas to families with children. The Salvation Army is located at 105 Hart Street in Monroe.

2019 THOMAS H. SCOTT NOMINEES

SMALL BUSINESSES

ABG Professional Development Solutions
Bayou Brew House
Bayou Desiard Title Company
Bayou Trade Days/Bayou This & That
Big Boy’s Snack Attack
Blend
Bonekrusher Youth Program
Eagle Bank Mortgage
GiGi’s Kountry Kitchen
Glass Doctor of Monroe
Grace and Lace Boutique
Griffin Funeral Home
H2GO Paddle
Infinite Technology Solutions, LLC 
Mitchell’s Body and Frame
Northeast Properties, LLC
NOVA Workforce Institute of Northeast Louisiana, Inc.
Phone Fix Pros, LLC
Regus – Monroe, LA Business Center
Something Borrowed Event Rentals & Styling
South Ouachita Clinic
Talkin Shop & Keeping It Local
Taste of India
The Main Event

MEDIUM BUSINESSES

2Dudes Brew & Que
Arrow Dental Center
Car Town of Monroe, Inc.
J & L Associates of Monroe dba Arby’s
Louisiana Eye & Laser
MOEbiz
NELA Dental
Panda Express
Parish Restaurant
The Gardens at Georgia Tucker
The Salvation Army of Northeast Louisiana in Monroe
TownePlace Suites by Marriott

LARGE BUSINESSES

Banner Ford of Monroe, LLC
Centric Federal Credit Union
KNOE
KTVE/KARD
Magic Grill, LLC
Origin Bank
Wagner Logistics

CORPORATE BUSINESSES

Acadian Ambulance Service
Graphic Packaging International
Ochsner LSU Health Monroe
St. Francis Medical Center