If you're looking for an optimum time to do something difficult, it's easy to find excuses to procrastinate. When you're a habitual smoker is there ever "a good time" to quit smoking? When you prefer sloth, is there ever "a good time" to start working out? The answer is, of course, it's always a good time, and it's never a good time. 

It's the same with starting a business. There’s never really a good time to start a business. The common wisdom is, life happens. Don’t let it get in the way of the opportunity you see in front of you. 

Rhonda Dalquist found her way to selling ice cream after a series of life altering disruptions.  Her husband lost a leg, and they sold their veterinary practice. She spent time caring for her parents through terminal cancer and her mother-in-law through a stroke.

Rhonda came out on the other side of it with entrepreneurial spirit intact and an idea for a business that would satisfy her love of ice cream, nostalgia and people. In April 2024, she launched Creamery Coaster — a mobile ice cream service. The concept hearkens to a time when her mom sold homemade freeze-pops for a nickel. 

Creamery Coaster sells ice cream cones, chocolate dipped cones, ice cream cups, sorbet, cookies, push-pops and more. And like her mother did it, the push-pops are homemade. 

Rhonda sells the treats out of a bicycle cart named Magnolia.

About 10 years into running a massage therapy business, Donna Wilson went back to school. She was looking for something that could balance with her home life.  Donna kept on the nursing path and became a nurse practitioner. When the opportunity came up to buy an occupational medicine practice, she jumped on it. 

in June 2024, Donna launched her own clinic, Occupational & Integrative Medicine. The practice is unique in that it offers essentially two lines of health services — conventional medical treatment like check-ups and lab work and “integrative” treatment like nutrition coaching and hydration therapy. 

Donna sees about 12-18 patients a day with a staff of three.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

If you're looking for an optimum time to do something difficult, it's easy to find excuses to procrastinate. When you're a habitual smoker is there ever "a good time" to quit smoking? When you prefer sloth, is there ever "a good time" to start working out? The answer is, of course, it's always a good time, and it's never a good time. 
It's the same with starting a business. There’s never really a good time to start a business. The common wisdom is, life happens. Don’t let it get in the way of the opportunity you see in front of you. 
Rhonda Dalquist found her way to selling ice cream after a series of life altering disruptions.  Her husband lost a leg, and they sold their veterinary practice. She spent time caring for her parents through terminal cancer and her mother-in-law through a stroke.
Rhonda came out on the other side of it with entrepreneurial spirit intact and an idea for a business that would satisfy her love of ice cream, nostalgia and people. In April 2024, she launched <a href="https://creamerycoaster.com/">Creamery Coaster</a> — a mobile ice cream service. The concept hearkens to a time when her mom sold homemade freeze-pops for a nickel. 
Creamery Coaster sells ice cream cones, chocolate dipped cones, ice cream cups, sorbet, cookies, push-pops and more. And like her mother did it, the push-pops are homemade. 
Rhonda sells the treats out of a bicycle cart named Magnolia.
About 10 years into running a massage therapy business, Donna Wilson went back to school. She was looking for something that could balance with her home life.  Donna kept on the nursing path and became a nurse practitioner. When the opportunity came up to buy an occupational medicine practice, she jumped on it. 
in June 2024, Donna launched her own clinic, <a href="https://oimed.org/">Occupational &amp; Integrative Medicine</a>. The practice is unique in that it offers essentially two lines of health services — conventional medical treatment like check-ups and lab work and “integrative” treatment like nutrition coaching and hydration therapy. 
Donna sees about 12-18 patients a day with a staff of three.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/">Astor Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/11/04/feel-good-eat-ice-cream/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH finds The Current Publisher and Editor Christiaan Mader conducting business Acadiana style: over lunch. Each week Aileen invites guests from Acadiana's  business community to join her. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan Mader invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan Mader invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

Feel Good, Eat Ice Cream

One way or the other, if you’re in business in the 21st century, you’re selling yourself. That’s true whether you’re selling crafts or services. Social platforms like TikTok, Instagram or YouTube are basically all marketplaces of personality. 

You still need a product that people want, but that’s not really enough. You need to connect with people if you want folks to buy what you’re selling.

When it works. It works. For many entrepreneurs today, the game is about virality. But lightning in a bottle isn’t a business model. At some point, you’ve got to have structure to be sustainable. Ask Colette Bernard.

Colette first went viral in 2021 selling two thousand t-shirts on TikTok. She was living in New York at the time just after graduating from the Pratt Institute. She paid off a little bit of her student debt and got out of the city. By the time she landed back in Lafayette where she grew up, she had a burgeoning online business with hundreds of thousands of followers craving her quirky, playful designs. 

Colette now owns three businesses. A gift shop called Cocodrie, a vintage clothing shop called Retreaux and her design label, the Artist Colette. Social media is her fourth business, Colette says, and the one taking up most of her time. 

An online presence is useful, of course, if you want to reach people. But if you want to help them, you’ll need a more personal touch. Shalonda Thibeaux is a Christian Life Coach and she uses YouTube to spread her message. But most of her work is high touch. Clients book one on one sessions with her to get advice on navigating challenges and changes in their lives.

Shalonda, who grew up in New Iberia and lives in Lafayette,  got into Life Coaching after working to move past trauma and confidence problems in her own life. Helping people has been at the center of every job choice she’s made in her life. She spent eight years working in foster care for the state government and now works with a faith-based foster care service. 

Shalonda also spent years as a jail minister for incarcerated women. In 2023, she got her life coaching certification and launched her coaching business, Talks with Shay, in 2024. 

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

One way or the other, if you’re in business in the 21st century, you’re selling yourself. That’s true whether you’re selling crafts or services. Social platforms like TikTok, Instagram or YouTube are basically all marketplaces of personality. 
You still need a product that people want, but that’s not really enough. You need to connect with people if you want folks to buy what you’re selling.
When it works. It works. For many entrepreneurs today, the game is about virality. But lightning in a bottle isn’t a business model. At some point, you’ve got to have structure to be sustainable. Ask Colette Bernard.
Colette first went viral in 2021 selling two thousand t-shirts on TikTok. She was living in New York at the time just after graduating from the Pratt Institute. She paid off a little bit of her student debt and got out of the city. By the time she landed back in Lafayette where she grew up, she had a burgeoning online business with hundreds of thousands of followers craving her quirky, playful designs. 
Colette now owns three businesses. A gift shop called <a href="https://cocodriecollective.com/">Cocodrie,</a> a vintage clothing shop called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/retreauxbycolette/">Retreaux</a> and her design label,<a href="https://artistcolette.com/"> the Artist Colette</a>. Social media is her fourth business, Colette says, and the one taking up most of her time. 
An online presence is useful, of course, if you want to reach people. But if you want to help them, you’ll need a more personal touch. Shalonda Thibeaux is a Christian Life Coach and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEWRqo-6MWNe_wY4tsN98dA?view_as=subscriber">she uses YouTube to spread her message</a>. But most of her work is high touch. Clients book one on one sessions with her to get advice on navigating challenges and changes in their lives.
Shalonda, who grew up in New Iberia and lives in Lafayette,  got into Life Coaching after working to move past trauma and confidence problems in her own life. Helping people has been at the center of every job choice she’s made in her life. She spent eight years working in foster care for the state government and now works with a faith-based foster care service. 
Shalonda also spent years as a jail minister for incarcerated women. In 2023, she got her life coaching certification and launched her coaching business, <a href="https://www.talkswithshay.org/">Talks with Shay</a>, in 2024. 
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/">Astor Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/11/11/artrepreneur-unstuck/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

Artrepreneur Unstuck

Sometimes in business you just need to go in a different direction. Maybe you’re a victim of your own success. Maybe your work-life balance is out of whack. Maybe you’re bored or maybe you just need a little extra cash on the side. 

Recognizing the change is probably the easy part. Changing is the hard part — especially if you like what you do. 

Rachel Sam figured out the change part the hard way. She built a successful program at UL. Got promoted. Had a daughter. But things got hard. Anxiety flared up and so did back pain. She took some time to heal and had an epiphany. She wrote it down in a book called “Hello, My Name is Happy.” 

The experience moved her in a new direction. Rachel resigned from her role at UL in 2024 and went into consulting as Dr. Rachel Sam. 

Rachel’s consulting work is broad. She helps nonprofits lead workshops for teenagers. She consults with colleges and universities on academic success for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of the organizations she works with include SafeHavyn, the Lafayette Juvenile Justice Center and the Boys and Girls Club. 

Sometimes a change can be a side-hustle. Maybe things are going pretty well, but you’re looking for a little extra cash or a chance to pursue your dream. 

That can all be daunting. And adding a new business to your workload is stressful. So why not try a taste of the sweet life with a franchise? 

Kylie Roussell took that path with her husband and bought into the sweet tea life. Kylie is part-owner and operator of Lafayette’s HTeaO franchise. HTeaO is a beverage company that specializes in iced teas — and they have lots of them, 26 flavors of iced tea alone. They also sell chais, coffees and espressos, drinks and a line of snacks. And that’s before you get to the secret menu

Kylie and her husband settled on HTeaO after first considering a restaurant. The franchise option presented an attractive alternative. Plus, she figured it wouldn't be hard to find a thirsty customer in sweltering Louisiana. Kylie lives in Iowa and originally looked at starting the tea shop in Lake Charles. They opted for Lafayette instead and launched with a location in River Ranch. 

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette.

Sometimes in business you just need to go in a different direction. Maybe you’re a victim of your own success. Maybe your work-life balance is out of whack. Maybe you’re bored or maybe you just need a little extra cash on the side. 
Recognizing the change is probably the easy part. Changing is the hard part — especially if you like what you do. 
Rachel Sam figured out the change part the hard way. She built a successful program at UL. Got promoted. Had a daughter. But things got hard. Anxiety flared up and so did back pain. She took some time to heal and had an epiphany. She wrote it down in a book called “<a href="https://a.co/d/0XA0ARV">Hello, My Name is Happy</a>.” 
The experience moved her in a new direction. Rachel resigned from her role at UL in 2024 and went into consulting as <a href="https://www.doctorrachelsam.com/">Dr. Rachel Sam</a>. 
Rachel’s consulting work is broad. She helps nonprofits lead workshops for teenagers. She consults with colleges and universities on academic success for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of the organizations she works with include <a href="https://safehavynn.org/">SafeHavyn</a>, the Lafayette Juvenile Justice Center and the<a href="https://www.bgca.org/"> Boys and Girls Club</a>. 
Sometimes a change can be a side-hustle. Maybe things are going pretty well, but you’re looking for a little extra cash or a chance to pursue your dream. 
That can all be daunting. And adding a new business to your workload is stressful. So why not try a taste of the sweet life with a franchise? 
Kylie Roussell took that path with her husband and bought into the sweet tea life. Kylie is part-owner and operator of <a href="https://hteao.com/">Lafayette’s HTeaO franchise</a>. HTeaO is a beverage company that specializes in iced teas — and they have lots of them, 26 flavors of iced tea alone. They also sell chais, coffees and espressos, drinks and a line of snacks. And that’s before you get to the secret menu
Kylie and her husband settled on HTeaO after first considering a restaurant. The franchise option presented an attractive alternative. Plus, she figured it wouldn't be hard to find a thirsty customer in sweltering Louisiana. Kylie lives in Iowa and originally looked at starting the tea shop in Lake Charles. They opted for Lafayette instead and launched with a location in River Ranch. 
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette.

Don't Worry, Tea Happy

At this point, alternative foods aren’t really alternative anymore. It’s like music in the 1990s. What was sort of underground has really become mainstream as more and more people have changed their diets to be healthier or to eat more ethically. 

Gluten free or vegan foods aren’t just for speciality aisles anymore. They’re marketed aggressively for what they are — or what they aren’t — because companies know there are buyers out there. 

Bianca Francis found her way to veganism by accident, she says. She was traveling for work and bought what turned out to be some meat gone bad. It put her on a path to finding some meatless recipes. By 2019, she was a full-on vegan.

Now here’s the thing. Bianca is a baker. She’s always been a baker; it’s something she learned from her mom. She started publishing vegan tips on a blog, and that became a springboard for her bake shop: Bianca Bakes Bliss. It’s a home-based business that sells vegan gingerbread, cinnamon rolls, wedding cakes and more. You can order her cakes online or find her at local pop ups and farmers markets. 

Creole cooking has never and will never go out of style. It’s bold, it’s playful, it’s flavorful — it’s addicting. That is if you try Logan Alfred’s signature dish - crack wings. Folks line up outside his food truck — Southern Kreole Cravings — to get their hands on his spin on fried chicken wings with his own special sauce.

Logan first created them while working as an offshore caterer. Rig workers gobbled up so many that Logan’s onshore bosses took notice of the commissary invoices and flew to the rig to see what the fuss was about. Crack wings stayed on the rig menu from then on out. 

In 2020, Logan launched Southern Kreole as both a food truck and a catering operation. Of course, Logan is more than just a wings guy. But the dish has become a runaway hit: He sells as many as 12,000 in a single year. 

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

At this point, alternative foods aren’t really alternative anymore. It’s like music in the 1990s. What was sort of underground has really become mainstream as more and more people have changed their diets to be healthier or to eat more ethically. 
Gluten free or vegan foods aren’t just for speciality aisles anymore. They’re marketed aggressively for what they are — or what they aren’t — because companies know there are buyers out there. 
Bianca Francis found her way to veganism by accident, she says. She was traveling for work and bought what turned out to be some meat gone bad. It put her on a path to finding some meatless recipes. By 2019, she was a full-on vegan.
Now here’s the thing. Bianca is a baker. She’s always been a baker; it’s something she learned from her mom. She started publishing vegan tips on a blog, and that became a springboard for her bake shop: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BiancaBakesBliss/">Bianca Bakes Bliss</a>. It’s a home-based business that sells vegan gingerbread, cinnamon rolls, wedding cakes and more. You can order her cakes online or find her at local pop ups and farmers markets. 
Creole cooking has never and will never go out of style. It’s bold, it’s playful, it’s flavorful — it’s addicting. That is if you try Logan Alfred’s signature dish - crack wings. Folks line up outside his food truck — <a href="https://www.southernkreolecravings.com/">Southern Kreole Cravings</a> — to get their hands on his spin on fried chicken wings with his own special sauce.
Logan first created them while working as an offshore caterer. Rig workers gobbled up so many that Logan’s onshore bosses took notice of the commissary invoices and flew to the rig to see what the fuss was about. Crack wings stayed on the rig menu from then on out. 
In 2020, Logan launched Southern Kreole as both a food truck and a catering operation. Of course, Logan is more than just a wings guy. But the dish has become a runaway hit: He sells as many as 12,000 in a single year. 
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/giadamorganphotography/">Giada Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/10/14/vegan-cakes-crack-wings/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

Feel Good, Eat Ice Cream

It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

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