We often talk about business and creativity as if they are polar opposites. In fact, business is a creative enterprise. Every great business, from Apple to Wal-Mart, stems from a great idea.

As with other creative endeavors, like movies and music, the execution of an idea takes a team of collaborators. But the undertaking only becomes a success when all of the team players are contributing their individual talents toward creating the same vision.

As much as business leaders like to stress team work over individuality, with sayings like “There’s no “i” in “team,” the fact is that vision is not a collective activity. The inspiration and vision that is central to creating a single, unified, successful business comes from an individual.

The kind of inspired people who can have a great idea and inspire and lead others to execute it are not very common. But Peter Ricchiuti has two of them as lunch guests on Out to Lunch. 

Jason El-Koubi is the President and CEO of One Acadiana. One Acadiana is a 9-Parish wide organization that promotes Acadiana as a place where business can flourish and succeed, and where business people and their families can enjoy a lifestyle unparalleled in the United States. Along with a talented team, it’s Jason’s vision, and ability to implement it, that is bringing noticeable positive change to Acadiana’s economy. Jason, welcome to Out to Lunch.

Blaine LaFleur is the founder and CEO of Stonewall Consulting. On the face of it, Stonewall Consulting is an engineering firm that builds machinery products, primarily for the oil and gas industry. But that would be a bit like saying Bruce Springsteen is a singer-songwriter. While it’s technically true, it doesn’t convey the impact that transforms Blaine’s approach to his work and clients into something more than just tool making. Blaine describes his mission as offering others a platform to succeed and find their purpose. 

Photos at Cafe Vermilionville by Gwen Aucoin.