JEDCO & Jefferson Chamber host business financing seminar

As part of the ongoing Prosper Jefferson series, the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) and the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce team up to bring you a seminar on small business financing. Hear from three financial experts as they cover a wide variety of topics, including:

• Understanding your financial statements
• Knowing your business valuation
• Business financing opportunities available through JEDCO
• What you need to know to get financedJoin us Wednesday, September 23^rd, at the East Bank Regional Library’s Jefferson Room, 4747 West Napoleon Avenue in Metairie, from 9:00 a.m, – 10:30 a.m. Admission is free, but online registration in advance of the event is encouraged. The event is open to all businesses and entrepreneurs. Register online at www.jedco.org/events.

Meet our Speakers:

Jerry Bologna was named JEDCO’s Executive Director in December 2012 after previously serving as the organization’s Deputy Director. Since 2000, Jerry has played a significant role in industry recruitment and business retention efforts throughout Jefferson Parish. Recently, he brokered the $1 billion investment of global chemical industry leader Dyno Nobel America. Jerry also worked to bring Smoothie King’s international headquarters to Jefferson and he was actively involved in the retention of People’s Health. Additionally, Jerry was influential in landing the NOLA Motorsports Park, now home to the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana. In 2011, he was recognized by the International Economic Development Council as the New Economic Development Professional of the Year. He also achieved the Certified Economic Developer designation in 2011.

In additional to his work at JEDCO, he serves on the Boards of the Jefferson Chamber, Greater New Orleans, Inc. and Café Hope, as well as serving on the Development Committee of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans. In 2004, he was named by New Orleans CityBusiness as one of the “Top 40 Under Forty” and in 2012, he was named the first-ever “40 Under Forty” in International Economic Development. In 2013, Jerry was among the 40 honorees listed in the New Orleans Magazine as “People to Watch,” individuals who are doing new and notable things in the community.

Eric E. Bosch, CPA, is a partner in the audit and assurance services division of LaPorte, CPAs & Business Advisors. After graduating from the University of New Orleans, Eric began his career at LaPorte in January of 1990. Since that time, his primary practice area has been community-based financial institutions and the financial services industry, and he currently serves as the leader for LaPorte’s Financial Services Industry Group. In addition to providing audit and accounting services, Eric has assisted financial institutions with initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning. Eric serves as the treasurer for the Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy and for the Girard Playground Booster Club. He also serves as a faculty member for the Delgado Community College 10,000 Small Business Program, which is funded by Goldman Sachs.

David Cusimano’s career has included starting and running small businesses, aeronautical engineering, mergers and acquisitions and management consulting. He is the founder of Emerge Dynamics Active Management Consulting, co-founder of Day Flier, Inc., and Gulf Search Capital, LLC, and a minority partner and/or advisor to a several regional small businesses. His diverse background is tied together by a unifying theme of identifying opportunities where others see problems and wrapping strategies of success around them. He specializes in business process improvement, customer experience management, merger and acquisition strategy, valuation, and financial modeling and analysis.

David has earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Arlington, and an M.B.A. with concentrations in finance and international business from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business. He is a Certified Turnaround Analyst (CTA) and Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA). David is a faculty member and with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Delgado Community College where he facilitates the program’s financial modules and workshops. He has also taught courses in economics at both Delgado Community College and Tulane University.