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Stacey Frederick still remembers one of the first patients she visited as a home nurse.

Frederick was in her 20s and already had hospital nursing experience, but she was new to the world of home health care. As she assessed the patient and discussed her condition, she realized the patient, who suffered from arthritis, needed a walker to help her get around the house.

“I was able to help her get that and it made such a difference in her life,” Frederick recalled. “She was able to get out of her bedroom and go to her kitchen and living room, which she was not able to do before. Just seeing those little things make a big difference is something that is still rewarding to me.”

Back then, the idea of patients receiving nursing care at home was still a new concept, but Frederick saw potential in it. In the mid-1990s, she seized an opportunity to become the CEO at Lafayette-based Nursing Specialties. Since then, Nursing Specialties has grown to include locations in Lafayette, Eunice, New Iberia and Breaux Bridge, as well as a hospice service based in Lafayette.

“I think we are one of the more progressive agencies when it comes to technology,” Frederick said. “We’ve developed protocols to keep patients out of the hospital. We can do so many things in the home. We can do X-rays, EKGs, IV therapy, speech therapy, social work. The list goes on. We find that the patient outcomes are better when people are in their home environment because they are more comfortable. If they do need to go to a hospital, we can facilitate that.”

Most Nursing Specialties patients are 65 or older, although the agency does treat younger adults, most of whom have a chronic condition or who have suffered a traumatic injury, such as in a car crash.

Overall, the care provided by Nursing Specialties stands out. The agency has a five-star rating from Medicare, which puts it in the highest-rated tier of home health agencies. On average, Louisiana agencies earn 3.5 stars and those across the country earn three stars. The ratings are based on measures such as managing daily activity, treating symptoms, preventing harm, preventing unplanned hospital care and value of care.

In general, the desire for home health care has increased in 2020 amid people’s fears about the novel coronavirus. Frederick said Nursing Specialties continues to treat both COVID-positive patients and people who did not contract the virus.

“We had all of our PPE before this happened, so we were prepared to go out to the homes,” she said. “On any given day, we had 120 or more clinicians in the field seeing patients. So far, not one of our employees has tested positive for COVID. I think we did a good job of educating them, preparing them and preparing our patients.”

At times, the demand for services has been so great that Frederick has done home visits herself. As the CEO, she always has to closely monitor the business and financial aspects of the company, but her nursing background still influences her decisions as well.

“I never ask somebody to do something I am not willing to do myself,” she said. “I’m out there seeing patients and following the same precautions and guidelines as everyone else. Being able to be in the field is always a good reminder that we are here to treat people.”

It’s a lesson that Frederick continues to pass on to her employees. Over the years, she has learned that hiring people with good character and strong morals leads to the best results. Experience will come with time and training, but Frederick said having a team with the right values is critical to the company’s success and positive patient outcomes.

“I always tell people, especially my younger employees, to think about what they would do if that patient was their mother or grandmother,” she said. “When a patient calls, they are calling for a reason and we need to be here to respond. It does take a different work ethic, so that’s something we always look for in people. I’m very proud of the team we have. They are great people and a great staff.”

Nursing Specialties has offices at 1025 Camellia Boulevard in Lafayette; 250 East Laurel Street, Suite C, in Eunice; 609 Jefferson Terrace, Suite 200, in New Iberia and 123 East Bridge Street in Breaux Bridge. For more information, visit www.nursingspecialties.com or call 866-665-8937.

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For years, Patrick and Marilyn Alexander wanted to create a space where people of all ages could relax and have a good time. Seeking something different than a nightclub vibe, their vision was a family-friendly venue for dancing, parties, luncheons and other functions.

“We always wanted to create an environment where everybody could be comfortable,” Patrick Alexander said. “We don’t allow any profanity in the music. We wanted a place where anyone of any age would feel welcome.”

In 2009, the couple’s dream came to fruition when they found a 4,300 square foot banquet hall in Baker that was an ideal fit. That same year, they opened Occasions Unlimited. With the support of city leaders, the Alexanders were soon booking their calendar full of weddings, receptions, family functions, corporate events and other gatherings.

“The community has always supported us, and we’ve always done our best to put out a good product,” Alexander said. “It’s family owned and operated, and I think people responded to that. My wife, daughter and daughter in law do all of the decorating. We are fortunate to have 3 deejays. Our son is one of them. We’ve gotten our grandchildren involved. That has enabled us to provide complete packages, which is a big help.”

Those packages include decorations, cleanup, music and more. For weddings and receptions, the Alexanders provide couples with lists of florists, bakeries, photographers and more. The idea behind Occasions Unlimited is not just to provide a venue for events, but to help people create memorable experiences.

“We try to take a lot of the pressure off of our customers,” Alexander said. “We try to make it as easy as possible and as carefree as possible for them.”

The business was going strong, and Alexander said 2020 was on pace to be a record year for Occasions Unlimited. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Since March, Occasions Unlimited has only been able to host three small, socially distant events. They have also provided decorations for three weddings at other venues.

Alexander said the impact on the business has been dramatic. He and his wife took out a loan, used their savings and worked with their bank to come up with a new payment schedule for the note on the Occasions Unlimited building. But they have also refunded about $5,000 to customers who had scheduled events this year.

“Our contract says that there is no refund unless something major happens. This was something major,” Alexander explained. “This was out of their control and out of our control. When you send out $5,000 as a small business and you have zero dollars coming in, you’re going to feel it.”

During these challenges, Alexander and his family have leaned heavily on their faith. They have spent many hours praying about the situation and talking with their ministers. It’s the same approach they took when they first opened the business.

“Before buying the building, we prayed and said, ‘If God wants us to have this, let everything fall into place,’” Alexander recalled. “Now we are still praying and doing what we can to hold on. We’ve always envisioned this as something for our kids and grandkids to have, so we’re going to do whatever it takes to keep it going.”

Alexander said the family’s spirits are also bolstered by memories of the good times that have happened at Occasions Unlimited and the faith that those times will eventually return.

“We enjoy converting the facility from having tables and chairs for a luncheon to a place of elegance for a wedding or other event,” he said. “We like to see the joy on our customers’ faces when they walk in the door. When they are at Occasions Unlimited, it seems like they don’t have a care in the world. That’s what we like to see and that’s what we hope to see again.”

Occasions Unlimited is located at 2160 Main Street in Baker. For more information, visit www.occasionsunlimited.org or call 225-774-7044.

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Cleveland Spears III always knew he wanted to be a business owner. As a teenager, he thought it would be cool to be the boss. But over time, Spears found a much deeper meaning in being an entrepreneur.

“I started thinking about what being a business owner means for other people, the people who I get to hire and lead and train and develop,” he said. “The motivations have changed over time. Today, it’s about showing people who look like me what can be done in business and what they can do in the community.”

In July 2008, the New Orleans native opened Spears Group, a communications agency that now works with clients across a variety of industries, including sports, government, hospitality, health care, education and more. Today, as president and CEO, Spears oversees 13 full-time employees.

Working in communications felt like a natural fit to Spears. He’s always had an interest in marketing and working with people. That interest carries over to his company, where the philosophy is about helping clients create meaningful relationships with their audiences. For Spears, there’s also a mission to increase representation in his industry.

“Certainly in the marketing and public relations profession, there are not many people of color in the industry, let alone owning and running agencies,” he said. “I believe that has been challenging over time. When something is seen as an outlier, people are reluctant to engage. That’s been something we continue to work our way through.”

This year has presented other challenges as well. Spears Group has an events division that has produced numerous large-scale events, including the annual Fried Chicken Festival, which drew 170,000 attendees last year. This year, the festival and most other events were canceled, striking a blow to the division.

In addition, Spears Group team members are now working remotely. While most have adapted to virtual meetings and a different way of working, Spears said he’s been thinking about how to maintain the agency’s culture and continue to provide development opportunities for his team.

“What it means to be a part of Spears Group is very important to us,” he said. “We have a culture of team. We do not use the word employees in our company. We sign everything with #TeamSpears. Other people have noticed it and adopted it. Our culture is really about being focused on culture and team, so I’ve been thinking a lot about how to keep that going when we’re all working remotely.”

But this year has also presented new and exciting opportunities. In early 2020, Spears was one of the new investors who helped relaunch WBOK 1230 AM, Louisiana’s oldest Black radio station. The revamped station includes new programming, a new website and a partnership with Xavier University to help train communications and journalism majors.

“That’s been really big for us,” Spears said. “It emphasizes our commitment to supporting projects that support people of color and Black culture.”

For Spears, the acquisition also represented another avenue for him to support his beloved hometown.

“Being a business owner in New Orleans allows me to reinvest in my hometown, whether that’s through my business, a scholarship at my high school or working with nonprofit groups,” he said. “The people we hire are usually from New Orleans. I’m grateful we’re able to be here and give back to this community.”

Through it all, Spears continues to rely on some key lessons he’s learned over the years. One of his main mottos is to “trust the process.” He knows success doesn’t happen overnight. And he’s learned that surrounding himself with people who are smart, talented and committed is one of the surest ways to overcome obstacles.

“There are no shortcuts to building a business. It comes with ups and downs,” he said. “You have to have the tenacity and fortitude to get through the challenging times. Even if you are the owner, you have to have bright and thoughtful people around you and listen to them when they give you advice and counsel.”

Spears Group is located at Hibernia Tower, 812 Gravier Street, Suite 1B, New Orleans. For more information, visit www.thespearsgroup.com, call 504-304-8198 or email info@thespearsgroup.com.

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Rosemary Wilkinson always knew she wanted to help people. She was in the medical magnet program at Glen Oaks High School and enrolled at LSU to study biology. Named after her grandmothers Rosalie Garner and Mary Hardin, Wilkinson always kept in mind their teachings about hard work and dedication.

“I knew I was going to do something with my hands and something with the human body,” Wilkinson said. “I was really thinking I was going to become an OB/GYN.”

Those ambitions were possible thanks to Wilkinson’s parents, who established a solid foundation for her and her six siblings. They moved to Baton Rouge from Plaquemine when Wilkinson was less than a year old for better opportunities. Wilkinson’s father was a supervisor in the LSU landscaping department, retiring after 35 years. Her mother was a supervisor in the State Police permits department and recently took a medical retirement after 25 years.

“They instilled a strong work ethic in all of us,” Wilkinson said. “They always taught us to never get tired of working hard and that hard work will always pay off.”

Although Wilkinson worked hard and initially did well at LSU, she got sidetracked when she began helping care for her grandmother, who suffered from a degenerative disc disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The caretaking involved Wilkinson massaging her grandmother, with surprising results.

“I would wake her up every morning and rub her hands and legs,” Wilkinson said. “She would feel so much better. Right after I was done, she would get up and start cooking.”

After Wilkinson spoke to her grandmother’s doctors, she realized she was doing massage therapy. But then, Wilkinson learned she had Stage 3 ovarian cancer. After treatments and lifestyle changes, Wilkinson was declared cancer-free within a couple of years and was more determined than ever to use her talents to heal others.

Wilkinson earned her biology degree from LSU, then immediately enrolled in massage therapy school. She graduated from Moore Career College in Baton Rouge and learned under world-renowned therapist Kathie Lea. She began working at a top-rated spa, but never gave up on the dream of opening her own practice.

Part of that inspiration came from her older siblings, who have achieved their own professional success. The third girl of seven children, Wilkinson knew she had big shoes to fill. But she was motivated to show her siblings that being successful doesn’t always mean punching a clock at the office.

“One of the hardest times in my life was trying to work while undergoing chemo treatments,” she said. “I decided to never wanted to deal with that aspect of my life ever again. I wanted to be able to take care of my health and still earn a living for my family.”

With personal experience and formal training under her belt, Wilkinson opened Renew and Heal Wellness in January 2016. Besides massage therapy, Wilkinson and her staff offer body scrubs, body wraps, body contouring, sports massages and treatments that help balance an individual’s chakras and channel inner energy.

“No client who walks in can say they have received the exact same service as another client,” Wilkinson said. “I definitely became more aware of the human body when I went through cancer. I’ve noticed that different treatments yield different results for different people.”

When a new client comes in, Wilkinson or a staff member first discuss the client’s daily routine, sources of stress and anxiety and which body parts cause them the most problems. They then work with the client to create the appropriate treatment plan.

Sometimes, clients are family. Wilkinson’s parents and siblings are regulars, but insist on being charged the same as any other client. For Wilkinson, it’s particularly meaningful to give some relief to her dad, who opened his own lawn business after retiring from LSU, and her mother, who has Type 2 diabetes.

“Watching my mother still get up and make a living in such a high demand job while battling her own health issues was a big motivation for me,” Wilkinson said. “My father inspired me so much in my final years at LSU. Watching him care for my mother made me realize that Renew and Heal had the blessings I needed. I prayed over my business plans daily while in massage therapy school.”

Since the pandemic, Wilkinson has taken extra precautions to keep clients safe. The spa is sanitized and disinfected between clients. All staff wear masks. Clients must pass COVID-19 screening questions and must not have traveled out of state in the previous 14 days.

“We are following every guideline and even doing more than we probably need to,” Wilkinson said. “It has cost me some clients, but at the end of the day, we are all sleeping a little easier knowing that we are taking those extra steps to ensure we are not spreading the virus. I never want my business to be a place where someone contracts COVID.”

Wilkinson said most clients now are dealing with stress-related problems. Many miss human contact and daily interactions with others. Parents break down over whether it is safe to send their children to school. Some are overwhelmed by social media and world events.

“Sometimes, I’ll get on the phone with a client because they need somebody. We’ll have a 15- or 20-minute conversation about the changes going on and things they can do, like journaling or enjoying nature,” she said. “This virus has definitely shown me a different side of my clients and they have seen a different side of me.”

Wilkinson credits other lessons from her parents with helping her keep the business afloat. From a young age, they taught her and her siblings to be frugal and save money for a rainy day.

“My parents taught us about the importance of saving and having a plan for if things take a downturn. I was able to use those lessons during this pandemic,” she said. “It’s just about having a plan and making sure we can survive if anything happens.”

In her personal life, Wilkinson has returned to her small town roots. She now lives in St. Francisville with her husband of three years and their 2-year-old son.

“I watched my parents grow from the roots they developed in a small town like Plaquemine,” she said. “I want to raise my children with those same morals and value – simple, not rich, yet beautiful.”

Renew and Heal Wellness is located at 2834 South Sherwood Forest Boulevard, Suite D8, Baton Rouge. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.rahwellness.com or call 225-257-9670.

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On January 17, 2020, Star Williams fulfilled a longtime dream when she opened her own business, Star’s Bakeshop in Lafayette. Little did she know that in less than three months, she would have to quickly adapt and get creative in order to keep her dream alive.
“When I originally opened, I was going to do mainly sweets,” Star said. “Then the pandemic happened. Things got a little slow, but I refused to close. I told myself that I needed to adjust and figure out the best way to approach this.”

Star’s solution was to add a wide range of savory breakfast and lunch items to her menu. Those items include seafood and chicken quesadillas, crawfish grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled chicken sandwiches, croissant club sandwiches, croissant chicken salad sandwiches, homemade biscuits, breakfast sandwiches and more.
“Everybody loves the food now,” Star said with a laugh. “It was a blessing in disguise.”

The new items are an addition to an already robust sweets menu that includes cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, cupcakes and other desserts. Popular cake and cupcake flavors include almond, chocolate, lemon, red velvet, vanilla, cookies and cream and more. The options for fillings include Bavarian cream, raspberry, lemon, white buttercream, salted caramel and more.
One of the most popular offerings at Star’s Bakeshop has been the custom cakes. The bakery has created cakes that are exact replicas of items such as Amazon boxes, wristwatches, video games, shoes, purses, airplanes and more.

Growing up in Memphis, Tenn., Star hadn’t seriously considered a career in the food industry. But when she moved to New Orleans, she needed a job and ended up working in room service at a New Orleans hotel. Later, she was hired in the hotel’s restaurant. That sparked a career of more than 10 years working in restaurants, hotels and casinos. Along the way, she honed her skills with formal training, including classes at the Louisiana Culinary Institute.

“I ended up loving it,” she said. “You’re always meeting new people, and I love to talk and get to know people, so it was a good fit for me. It’s so fast-paced, which is something else that I love about it. You never know what will come up.”

When Hurricane Katrina destroyed Star’s New Orleans home in 2005, she ended up relocating to Lafayette. Initially, Star worried about how she would fit in as an outsider moving to town for the first time, with no family or connections. But she soon discovered a community that has been welcoming and supportive through her career journey and now with her own business.
“My customers are amazing,” she said. “I cannot thank them enough. We have loyal customers who come in every week, sometimes twice a week. If it was not for their loyalty and the support of our community, we would not have survived. I’m so grateful. People come in here and buy something, then they share it with others and word spreads. They have really helped my business survive.”

With the most difficult months hopefully behind her, Star is “super-optimistic” about the upcoming holiday season, which will be her first as an entrepreneur. She’s already preparing by making sure she has enough supplies on order and has made arrangements to ship items to outside locations.
“This will be our first time going through Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas as a business. I’m super-excited for it,” Star said. “I think it’s going to be very busy and I’ve got a feeling it will be an amazing season.”

Star’s Bakeshop is located at 300 Youngsville Highway, Suite 100, Lafayette. For information on menu items, custom cakes or ordering, visit www.iluvstarsbakeshop.com or call 337-252-7317.

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Since 1943, thousands of New Orleans residents and visitors have been lining up at Barrow’s Catfish for a taste of the food that has garnered international acclaim.

In the beginning, original owners William “Cap” Barrow, Sr. and his wife Mary served their fried catfish out of Barrow’s Shady Inn on Mistletoe Street. The original sandwiches sold for just 50 cents apiece. As word spread about the tastiness of the flaky and slightly crispy catfish plates and sandwiches, the Barrows expanded the restaurant and added new menu items like baked chicken and stewed rabbit.
These days, the Barrow’s menu includes a variety of dishes, like charbroiled oysters, shrimp poboys, gumbo, blackened drum redfish and more. But more than anything, it’s the famous fried catfish that keeps customers coming back time and again.

Deirdre Barrow Johnson, a third-generation family member who now owns the restaurant with her husband Kenneth Johnson, Jr., said the catfish is still made based on the original recipe from the 1940s.

“There’s a lot of love put into it. It’s not just battered up and thrown in grease,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen chefs come in here with 20 years of experience. They’re confident because they’ve fried before and worked with seafood before. But they humble themselves and have to learn our process.”

At Barrow’s, Johnson said one main goal is to create and maintain a work environment that’s enjoyable for all employees. The belief is that if the employees are happy, those positive vibes will pass on to the customers.

“We always try to put the customer first and we also strive to be an employer of choice,” Johnson said. “We try to have an environment where it’s fun for our employees to come to work. That means they are able to make the customers feel at home and feel welcome.”

Johnson said the team at Barrow’s takes pride in every part of the cooking process. Time and effort has been put in to perfect the seasoning and marinade. The cooks must use a specific type of creamy and soft cornmeal that is sifted and cleaned throughout the day. The grease is constantly changed and filtered, and the grease that is used for frying catfish is not used for any other food that Barrow’s serves.

“People have tried to duplicate it and try it at home, but they always tell us they can never quite get it,” Johnson said. “It’s something we take a lot of pride in. The quality of our ingredients is a really big deal for us as well. We don’t buy just any catfish. It has to be a certain type. We take that kind of pride in every single step of the process.”

Barrow’s commitment to high quality has remained unchanged even as the family has navigated challenges through the years. Johnson said one of the biggest obstacles was Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed the two Barrow’s locations that were operating at the time. The disaster forced Johnson and her husband to relocate with their young children, but they never lost their desire to bring the family legacy back to New Orleans. In July 2018, Johnson and her husband reopened Barrow’s to widespread acclaim.

“Coming back was difficult because we didn’t have the same kind of family structure that we had before,” Johnson said. “I’m not going to lie – it was a little shaky and a little scary for us. All we had was our faith. But we believed in ourselves and in our brand, and the people of New Orleans have been wonderful to us.”

That local support has continued in 2020, even as Barrow’s, like other New Orleans restaurants, has temporarily suspended indoor dining service and offered only curbside pickup. Johnson said Barrow’s has always had a strong takeout business since its inception.

“Business has actually been pretty strong,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t really surprising because we have always done well with takeout, but we have been tremendously grateful.”

With such a solid foundation and loyal customer base in place, Johnson said the plan is to keep the family tradition alive for years to come. Dining service will eventually resume once it is safe to do so, and two more Barrow’s locations are being discussed. But the longstanding commitment to quality food and service is the one thing that won’t change.

“I really believe in our faith,” Johnson said. “I do know that God has really been good to us. We have been truly blessed and we are so grateful that our customers still want Barrow’s after all these years.”

Barrow’s Catfish is located at 8300 Earhart Boulevard, Suite 103, New Orleans. For information on hours, menu items and more, visit www.barrowscatfish.com or call 504-265-8995.

Barrow’s first opened as Barrow’s Shady Inn in 1943. In the early years, sandwiches sold for just 50 cents.

A new generation is keeping Barrow’s Catfish going in the new century. “We have been truly blessed and we are so grateful that our customers still want Barrow’s after all these years,” said co-owner Deirdre Barrow Johnson.

The most wellThe most well-known menu item at Barrow’s is the fried catfish, but they also offer other seafood dishes. “There’s a lot of love put into it,” said co-owner Deirdre Barrow Johnson.-known menu item at Barrow’s is the fried catfish, but they also offer other seafood dishes. “There’s a lot of love put into it,” said co-owner Deirdre Barrow Johnson.

The fried catfish at Barrow’s has impressed even world-renowned chefs. “They humble themselves and have to learn our process,” said co-owner Deirdre Barrow Johnson.

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