Contributors

We are looking for more contributing writers!  If you like to blog or are interested in tech startups, entrepreneurship, or Louisiana business – give us a shout!  Click on each contributor’s name below to see his or her author page.

Team SBN

JULIA BALLARDEditor-In-Chief.  Julia is also a social media strategist working with local businesses. Follow her on Twitter @JuliaBallard.

ZACH KUPPERMAN – Founder, Publisher, & Chairman.  Zach is the Founder and President at Kupperman Companies, a real estate development firm, and a co-founder of Cara Stone, LLP, a business law firm that helps entrepreneurs raise capital.  He is a former co-founder of Dinner Lab. You can follow him on Twitter @zachkupp.

Contributing Writers

ADRIANA LOPEZ – Contributing writer.  Adriana writes for both Silicon Bayou News as well as Forbes and NOLA.com. You can follow Adriana on twitter @GenNOLA.

MEGAN HARGRODER Contributing writer.  Megan is the founder of Conversations, LLC, a social media marketing firm based in New Orleans. She writes a column covering everything social media with a heavy emphasis on audience participation.   You can follow Megan on twitter @heyitsmegan or follow Conversations at @heyconversations.

ANDREW LEGRANDContributing writer. Andrew Legrand is a managing member of Andrew Legrand Law, LLC, a virtual small business law firm based in New Orleans. Andrew is a Metairie native and writes posts on small business law.

JOSH RALEY Contributing writer.  While in college at Louisiana Tech Joshua first stumbled on high-tech entrepreneurship.  Through his undergrad and masters he marketed the school’s R&D to companies, pitched business plans, and helped with the student entrepreneurship group.  In 2009 he and a friend from college co-founded a food startup for sweet potato muffins which they continue growing today. Since 2010 Joshua has been living in and loving the city of New Orleans.

SEAN SIMONE Contributing writer.   Sean is the Co-founder and chairman of the SeNSE entrepreneur group and Co-founder of Yellow Jacket in Baton Rouge. Sean is also a managing partner of BluReach, a web development and online marketing firm based out of Baton Rouge. You can follow him on twitter @visionandgrowth.

JOE CORBETT – Contributing writer. Joe has been using technology to support new ideas for 20 years. The long list of brands he’s worked with includes: Ford, GE, Intel, Disney, and AT&T. He is extremely passionate about supporting fellow entrepreneurs, especially those who call New Orleans home. Follow him on twitter @joecorbett.

CATHERINE NGUYEN – Contributing writer. Catherine is a medical student at Tulane University. She moved to the Silicon Bayou in 2012 from Silicon Valley. She is excited about the intersection between medicine, technology, and business.

GEORGE CONSTANCE – Contributing writer. George is New Orleans native and a veteran oil industry paleontologist with a B.S. in geology from UNO and a M.S. in Technology Commercialization from Northeastern University in Boston. He currently lives in CT working as a business strategist for technology startups and equity partner in several technology-based startups. He blogs at www.georgeconstance.com and can be found on twitter @georgeconstance.

PATRICK COMERContributing writer. Patrick  is the Founder and CEO of Federated Sample, one of the fastest growing tech startups in New Orleans. He is an experienced entrepreneur, executive, and investor with several dot coms under his belt. Besides entrepreneurship and market research, Patrick also has a background in theater and is running a column, Center Stage, about the many lessons entrepreneurs can learn from the stage.

FLYNN ZAIGER – Contributing writer. Flynn is the founder and CEO of Online Optimism, a digital marketing agency based out of New Orleans. He helps companies with everything they do online, including search engine optimization, online brand analysis, website design, e-commerce, and more. He writes Louisiana’s Online Lagniappe, a weekly column on Silicon Bayou which highlights companies within our state who are doing online marketing right.

JOHN OLAGUES – Contributing writer. John is a New Orleans native and author of ” Getting Started in Employee Stock Options.” He writes about Employee Stock Options versus his created variant, Dynamic Employee Stock Options. Now in the stock option arena, John also writes a newsletter on various topics relating to equity compensation and has written articles published in a site called Slideshares.

MARK LEWIS – Contributing writer. Mark is a principal partner in the business management and consulting firm, Simmons and White, where he helps entrepreneurs and organizations develop strategies to solve unique and extraordinary business challenges for growth and prosperity. He writes about entrepreneurship and successful small business tips.

GARY DAUPHIN – Contributing writer. Gary spent nearly 20 years as a Systems Engineer for Apple, Inc. He currently serves as Director of Technology, Education and Media Production of Oak Alley Plantation, and is the owner of Write2Grow, a regional book publishing company.

JOSH FRIEDMAN – Interactive / Development.

CALLIOPE CONSULTING GROUP – Calliope Consulting Group serves as the interactive and design consulting group for Silicon Bayou News.  CCG provides creative and innovative solutions for small businesses and non-profits in the New Orleans area.