Louisiana Economic Development and its partners honored dozens of small business leaders for their community contributions and success on Thursday at the state’s annual Spotlight Louisiana award ceremony.
“We’re here because we believe in positioning all of Louisiana to win, and at the heart of that vision is truly you,” LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois told attendees during the event in Baton Rouge. “It’s our entrepreneurs, our small businesses, our fearless founders. You are the bedrock of our communities, and you are the engine of the Louisiana economy.”
Small businesses employ nearly half of Louisiana’s workforce and generate more than $5 billion in sales annually, Bourgeois said.
The Spotlight awards are the marquee event of the Louisiana Growth Network, a division of LED formerly called Small Business Services that provides businesses with coaching and capital.
The top award of the night — the 2025 Louisiana Growth Leader Legend award — went to Techneaux Technology Services, a company founded in Lafayette by Ben Johnson that helps organizations collect, store and utilize data.
“Louisiana’s small businesses represent what’s best about our state: risk-takers with perseverance, leaders with a vision, and employers who choose to grow right here, at home, in Louisiana,” Gov. Jeff Landry, who didn’t attend Thursday’s ceremony, wrote in a message to attendees.
A panel of judges, comprised of economic development professionals, selected another 10 small business for the 2025 Louisiana Growth Leaders award. Criteria include growth, strategy, innovation, philanthropy, leadership and culture.
LED’s partner organizations, including the Louisiana Small Business Development Center, LCTCS Manufacturing Extension Partnership, National Federation of Independent Business, U.S. Commercial Service Louisiana and U.S. Small Business Administration, also handed out awards at Thursday’s ceremony.
Detailed information on each of the honorees is available in the 2025 Spotlight Louisiana Publication.
2025 Louisiana Growth Leaders:
2025 Louisiana Growth Leader Legend
Techneaux Technology Services of Lafayette; Ben Johnson, Founder
Louisiana APEX Accelerator Government Contractor of the Year
Ronald “Rocky” J. Ortego III – Red Bison Services LLC, Kenner
LSBDC Excellence in Business Award
Mitchell Rotolo, Angelica Manufacturing LLC, St. Gabriel
LCTCS MEP of Louisiana Small Manufacturer’s Award
Mateo Atwi, U.S. Frame Factory, New Iberia
NFIB Small Business Champion Award
Christopher Weintritt, Davis Products Company Inc., Bogalusa
SBA Entrepreneurial Success Award
Kristen Smith, Tre’s Street Kitchen, Baton Rouge
SBA Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
SBA Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year
Grant Rogers, Precision Platform Solutions LLC – DBA Maven Scouts, West Monroe
SBA Women in Business Champion Award
Dr. Phyllis Donatto, FTH Dimension Solutions LLC, Youngsville
Small Business Development Center of Excellence and Innovation Award
Virendra Chhikara, Louisiana Small Business Development Center at University of Louisiana Monroe
Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award
Dr. Carla Antoine, Women’s Business Resource Center, Urban League of Louisiana, New Orleans
SBA Small Business Person of the Year
Ronald “Rocky” J. Ortego III, Red Bison Services LLC, Kenner
State Trade and Export Program (STEP) New to Export Award
Shuchi “SK” Khurana, Addiguru LLC, Baton Rouge
STEP Market Expansion Award
Brenda A. Stelly, Oil Center Research International LLC, Lafayette
Louisiana Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) Fund of the Year
Jon Atkinson, Momentum Fund I LP, New Orleans
LEDC Micro-Lending Partner Lender of the Year
LaDonna Evans-Sutton, Essential Credit Union, Baton Rouge
LEDC Most Valuable Bank
Louisiana Growth Network Small and Emerging Business of the Year
Adam and Sarah Lopez, Awardmaster, Lafayette
Louisiana Growth Network Small Emerging Business Development (SEBD) Graduate Award
Krystal Placide-Taylor, Next Level Educational Services LLC, LaPlace
Louisiana Growth Network Campus to Commerce Award
Onega Ulanova, Grapheno LLC, Ruston
Louisiana Growth Network Innovative Company of the Year
Kyle Monti, Haptech Inc., New Orleans