The Louisiana Retailers Association updates this page regularly with "hot news and announcements" to keep the savvy member and the public alert, informed, and in touch with industry issues, locally and nationally. The Louisiana Retailers Education Foundation Awards 2011 Scholarships to Louisiana Students The Louisiana Retailers Education Foundation is pleased to announce the award of college scholarships to four Louisiana students. The Louisiana Retailers Education Foundation awards college scholarships to deserving students that are either employees or children of employees of a member of the Louisiana Retailers Association. The following students were 2011 recipients: Ciara Kraft: Hammond, LA. Eligible through her affiliation with Associated Grocers, Inc. Katherine Majeste: Kenner, LA. Eligible through her affiliation with Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. Heather Fasnacht: Lafayette, LA. Eligible through her affiliation with Schilling Distributing Co., Inc. Cole Diez: Gonzales, LA. Eligible through his affiliation with Southwest Computer Bureau, Inc. Congratulations to the 2011 recipients! LRA Welcomes Two New Membership Coordinators The Louisiana Retailers Association is pleased to announce the addition of two Membership Coordinators. Alicia Baron will be covering the Greater Baton Rouge area and Pauley McCrary will be representing the LRA in the Greater New Orleans area. Welcome to Pauley and Alicia! Thanks to all 2011 Louisiana Retailers Education Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament Sponsors, Participants and Volunteers The 2011 Louisiana Retailers Education Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament was held on March 1 at Copper Mill Golf Club in Zachary. The Tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Education Foundation. The Education Foundation awards college scholarships to deserving students that are either employees or children of employees of a member of the Louisiana Retailers Association. We would like to thank all of the sponsors, participants and volunteers. Congratulations to the following tournament prize winners: 1st Place: Roger Mayes, Mitch Mayes, Justin Sanders, Kevin Reeves (Louisiana Nursery) 2nd Place: Ricky Indovina, Jeff Gaude, Troy Menard, Ryan Williams (Walgreen's) 3rd Place: Stan Cain, Roland Simon and Brian Rome (Associated Food Stores) Longest Drive: FJ Eastman Closest to the Pin: Roger Mayes Thank you to the following: Gold Sponsors: CVS and Wal-Mart Stores Silver Sponsors: Supervalu, Associated Food Stores, Albertson's, and Smithfield Packing Bronze Sponsors: Baton Rouge Coca Cola, Louisiana Nursery, Sara Lee, Target, Winn Dixie, Walgreen's, Benefit Advisory Group, and Cade's Market Individual Player Sponsors: Dennis Duszynski, Buddy Gossom, Blue Bell Creameries (2), LearnSomething and Performance Insurance Food & Beverage Contributors: Baton Rouge Coca-Cola, Manda's, Golden Flake, Blue Bell, LA Beer Industry League, Borden, Community Coffee and Zydeco Magic Mary. Door Prize Contributors: Baton Rouge Coca-Cola, Louisiana Nursery, Best Buy, Community Coffee, and Mockler Beverage Gift Bag Contributors: CVS, Louisiana Nursery, Louisiana Fish Fry Products, JC Penney, and Zatarain's Hole Sponsors: Buddy Gossom, Benefit Advisory Group, Brookshire Grocery Company, Baker Donelson and LearnSomething. Prize Hole Sponsor: Louisiana Lottery LRA Announces the Newest Member Service: Discounts on Shipping Services PartnerShip, the endorsed shipping management provider of the LRA, now offers shipping discounts to all LRA members. PartnerShip has been negotiating substantial carrier discounts on behalf of our customers since 1989. Members who enroll in the free LRA Shipping Management Program will receive significant discounts through FedEx, delivering expertise, great service and value for all your shipping needs virtually anytime, anywhere. LRA members can also save on less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipments arranged through PartnerShip with leading national and regional carriers.Please visit the Member Services page for more information or contact Brandi at 1-800-572-2378. PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AVAILABLE A successful retailer knows that good customer service is vital to keeping loyal customers. Every retailer wants customers who not only come back time and time again, but enthusiastically tell others about their good experiences. So, where can you find employees that know how to provide good customer service? Contact the high school marketing teacher in your area for a list of work ready students that are currently studying to receive the National Retail Federation Customer Service certification and/or the Louisiana Retail Pro certification. Students are learning how to provide good customer service and other useful skills such as: handling fraudulent checks, business math basics, suggestive selling, preventing shoplifting, etc. If you are hiring seasonal employees or permanent part-time employees, please contact the marketing teacher in your area to create an employment opportunity for a local high school student. MARKETING TEACHERS- Penny Montz: Abbeville High School, 337-898-2226 Gwendolyn Hunter: B. T. Washington New Technology Center, 318-425-3387 Beryl Kraemer: Baker High School, 225-775-1119 or 225-774-5232 Clara Carter: Belaire High School, 225-275-4819 Mary Ward: Benton High School, 318-549-5273 or 318-349-3395 Herbert Graham: Bonnabel High School, 504-443-4564 Christa Denney: Bossier High School, 318-549-6729 Debra Wilkerson: Broadmoor High School, 225-926-5486 Sandra West: C. E. Byrd High School, 318-868-7111 Alan Germany: Caddo Career Center, 318-631-1174 Cindy Dykes: Central High School, 225-261-3438 Debbie Gaudet: Chalmette High School, 504-301-2600 Penny Warner: Choudrant High School, 318-768-2541 JoAnna Purvis: Denham Springs High School, 225-665-8028 Monica Caillouet: East Ascension High School, 225-621-2404 Cheryl Barnes: East Jefferson High School, 504-454-4102 Georgann Baudier: East Jefferson High School, 504-457-5118 Cassandra Howard: Fair Park High School, 318-635-4739 Janice Lee: Ferriday High School, 318-757-3997 Rhonda Moore: Ferriday High School, 318-757-3998 Sarah Campbell: Glen Oaks High School, 225-356-4306 Jeryl Fischtziur: Grace King High School, 504-888-7334 Wilma Davis: Green Oaks Performing Arts Academy, 318-221-5523 Cheryl Daigle: H.L. Bourgeois High School, 985-872-3279 Joey Daughtry: Haughton High School, 318-549-5477 Kathryn Harris: Huntington High School, 318-687-7922 Barbara Toliver: Istrouma High School, 225-355-7701 Nikita Clark: L.W. Higgins High School, 504-328-8235 Claudette Tolbert: McDonogh 35 College Prep, 504-942-3592 Carmalita Jack: McKinley High School, 225-344-7696 Julia Ruffin: North Caddo High School, 318-375-5090 Zuleika Moore: Ouachita Parish High School, 318-343-2769 Cleta Bynog: Parkway High School, 318-549-6975 Sandra Eldridge: Peabody Magnet High School, 318-487-1262 Jeanne Vampran: Ponchatoula High School, 985-474-8821 Gerald Mocklin: Riverdale High School, 504-834-3220 Cindy Kemp: Salmen High School, 985-643-7359 Jamie Quattrone: Sam Houston High School, 337-855-4645 Sonya Gilbert: Scotlandville Magnet High School, 225-775-3715 C.J. Roberts: Slidell High School, 985-643-2992 Myrna Folse: South Terrebonne High School, 985-868-1962 or 985-868-7850 Denise Brown: Tara High School, 225-928-0120 Ed Rachal: Terrebonne High School, 985-872-3749 Sally Webre: Thibodaux High School, 985-446-8723 Debra Drayton: Tioga High School, 318-640-9661 Barb Crum: Vidalia High School, 318-336-6231 Ruby Gill: W.D. Smith Career Center, 337-233-2026 Cecile Mitchell: W.D. Smith Career Center, 337-233-2026 Debra Wilson: Walker High School, 225-665-9926 Josline Frank: West Jefferson High School, 504-362-9628 Charles Jackson: West Monroe High School, 318-323-3771 Tangi Milton: Woodlawn High School, 225-753-1200 x230 Karura Rainey: Woodlawn Leadership Academy, 318-686-1393 Eugene Pennison: Zachary High School, 225-654-2776 Are You Starting a Business in Louisiana? GeauxBiz.com is a licensing information center for prospective small business owners. 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