By BRIANA ARRINGTON

bca008@latech.edu

 

Todd Graves, founder, chairman, and CEO of Raising Cane’s, showed local business owners and students that one cannot be chicken when it comes to dedication in entrepreneurship.

“When you start a business, you should take how hard you think it may be and multiply it by a thousand,” Graves said.

Graves hosted the annual Ruston-Lincoln Parish Business Awards last Wednesday at a breakfast held in the  the Student Center, Main Floor. Graves was the key speaker and gave a presentation to local business owners about his success and what it took to make it to where he is today.

“One thing I can say about starting your own business is that you have to have a true passion for what you’re doing in order to be successful,” Graves said.

Debbie Inman, coordinator of entrepreneurial studies, believes Graves’ presentation to local entrepreneurs was inspiring.

Inman said Graves put a lot of focus on the Cane’s Culture, which centers on the concerns and culture of any community a Raising Cane’s branch is established in.

“The human resource management side of what Graves has done underscores the commitment our local small businesses need to contribute sufficiently in today’s economy,” Inman said. 

In his speech, Graves said he first presented his idea of a menu focused on chicken fingers in a business class at Louisiana State University- Baton Rouge 12 years ago.

“It got the lowest grade in the class,” Graves said.

That was only the beginning of several discouragements. No one would invest in his plan. So he and his business partner did everything from oil rigging to salmon fishing in Alaska over the next year and a half until they raised $50,000 for his dream.

“I thought how hard [Graves] worked to raise the money was awesome,” Josh Raley, a senior business major, said. “It’s crazy to think that that kind of success really does happen to people when they’re not afraid to pursue their dreams.”

Upon returning from Alaska, with a hard-earned down payment available, Graves said some private investors finally backed him for his first store.

Graves and the investors have had no regrets since then. Graves said Raising Cane’s has grown from one store in Baton Rouge to 33 throughout the country in less than 10 years.

Graves has been recognized as the 2005 Marketer of the Year in the Baton Rouge Metro Area and has been featured in several magazines and broadcasts such as Rolling Stone and People, as well as “Your World” with Neil Cavuto on Fox News.

During the Business Awards breakfast, Ruston Mayor Dan Hollingsworth presented the four awards given to local business owners each year.

“We have so much respect and admiration for those who have invested their lives in our community, and we want to acknowledge those who have had a significant impact on the community with their generosity, innovative thinking and entrepreneurship,” Hollingsworth said.

The Business of the Year award was presented to Charles Hart, owner of Hart and Associates, who designs interior decorations such as furniture, lighting fixtures and sculptures.

The Small Business of the Year award was presented to Jody Backus, president of Backus True Value Hardware. The Young Business Person of the Year award was given to David Hogan, CEO of Hogan Hardwoods and Moulding.

The last award, Small Business Champion, was presented to Drake Mills, president and CEO of Community Trust Bank.

Business students received the same speech given by Graves that afternoon in the CAB auditorium. Graves assured the students he wanted them to ask any questions.

“Right off he made students comfortable enough to ask anything, and he answered them openly and honestly,” Raley said.

Raley said the business students there were attentive and interested.

“I think everyone left feeling very encouraged,” Raley said. “It definitely made me feel as if I really could make my entrepreneurial dreams a reality with the right dedication and belief in yourself and your ideas.”