News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Rene Abadie Date: 6/28/04   Click on image for publication quality photo ANNOUNCING JOBS – Shown at a June 28 press conference announcing the opening of a new Entergy customer service accounting center in Hammond are, from left, Bill Joubert, director of the Southeast Louisiana Business Center; Michael Budden, dean of Southeastern’s College of Business and Technology and president of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce; Kathy Stewart, director of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce; Randy Moffett, president of Southeastern Louisiana University; Renae Conley, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana; Rep. Tank Powell; Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster; Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess; and Don Boihem, Entergy Hammond area customer service manager. ENTERGY SERVICE CENTER ANNOUNCED BY SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA BUSINESS CENTER      HAMMOND -- Officials with Entergy Louisiana and Southeastern Louisiana University announced Monday (June 28) the opening of a new Entergy customer service accounting center in Hammond achieved through a concerted effort by the university’s business center and its economic development partners.      The new center features approximately 20 initial full and part-time positions. Economic development officials see it as an early step to a possible future expansion of the corporation’s services and the recruitment of similar service centers for other businesses. The service center is currently housed in facilities in the Hammond Industrial Park located near the airport.      “This is a great example of what teamwork can achieve to promote business growth in Louisiana,” said Renae Conley, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “Entergy is grateful to everyone who helped us make this possible.”      Conley explained that the idea for opening the customer center in Hammond began several months ago. Entergy worked with economic development officials from Tangipahoa Parish and Southeastern and conducted a study that showed available and talented workforce that met the company’s business needs. The business model that developed, she said, allowed Entergy to move this work into the area at reduced costs to the company.       “Locating the center here is proving to be beneficial for both Entergy and the region,” she added.       “We are excited about this new service center and these new jobs coming to Tangipahoa Parish and welcome Entergy’s expansion in the area,” said Southeastern President Randy Moffett. “It demonstrates the company’s confidence in Tangipahoa Parish, the City of Hammond and Southeastern Louisiana University.      “Entergy’s expansion in the area is a natural outgrowth of the partnership we have developed with the corporation over the years and is a signal to other businesses that the area has a strong, well-educated and productive workforce,” Moffett added. “Part of the university’s mission is to facilitate economic development, and this project is a direct result of our economic development partners working together in a renewed, cooperative approach to expand business in the region.”       Moffett noted that the elements for economic development in the area are in place, including a strong transportation infrastructure, land available for construction, and an eager, trained workforce. The new positions were filled largely by university graduates and Southeastern students through efforts coordinated by the Southeastern Career Services.        William Joubert, director of the Southeast Louisiana Business Center, said the cooperative effort of the university, Tangipahoa Economic Development Council and the Hammond Industrial Development Board – all partners in the center – was an important element in attracting the new jobs.       “We were a united front in showing to Entergy that this area was the ideal location for this kind of service center,” Joubert said.       In addition, he said, the business center is now coordinating efforts with the university’s Office of Continuing Education to possibly provide the on-going training necessary to staff the service center      The Southeast Louisiana Business Center, which opened last year as a one-stop-shop for business development, is located near the Southeastern campus. The facility has space for start-up businesses and a transitional area for companies moving into the region that need temporary office space. The center features a large training area and meeting facilities. Partners in the center include the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, Southeastern Small Business Development Center, Southeastern Business Research Center, Hammond Industrial Development Board, Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation, area chambers of commerce and other area economic development agencies and organizations.