Friday Buzz: Putting On the Glitz

Every Friday, starting April 20, Bayoubuzz will sponsor putting on the Friday Buzz: Putting On The Glitz at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans.  The Event starts at 5:00 p.m. as a “happy hour” and proceeds throughout the night featuring incredible talent such as Jeremy Davenport, Marva Wright, Armand St. Martin and others.  There is no charge, but, there is a cash bar and magnificent restaurant.  It is a great opportunity to get out, meet people, enjoy a beautiful atmosphere and ambiance, dance and obviously, do business of all kinds.  The location is the Ritz Carlton, Third Floor on Canal Street.  Music ends at 1 a.m.  Start planning now and tell your friends.

McMoRan

McMoRan Exploration Co. is reporting these First-Quarter 2007 Results and Updates

HIGHLIGHTS

Continued active Deep Miocene exploration program with positive drilling results during the first-quarter of 2007 at Laphroaig onshore Louisiana and Hurricane Deep, South Marsh Island Block 217.

Four exploration wells and one development well in-progress:

Cas, South Timbalier Block 70

Cottonwood Point, Vermilion Block 31

Flatrock, South Marsh Island Block 212

Mound Point South, Louisiana State Lease 340

Point Chevreuil #2 (development), Louisiana State Lease 18350

McMoRan has reported 15 discoveries on 29 prospects drilled and evaluated since 2004, including two discoveries in 2007. Six additional prospects are either in progress or not fully evaluated.

First-quarter 2007 production averaged 70 MMcfe/d net to McMoRan, compared with first-quarter 2006 average production of 46 MMcfe/d.

Second-quarter 2007 production is expected to average 60-70 MMcfe/d net to McMoRan. The Laphroaig and Hurricane Deep discoveries are expected to commence production in the third quarter of 2007.

Continuing activities for commercial arrangements for the Main Pass Energy Hub™ following receipt of approval on its license application in January 2007.

Completed arrangements for a new $100 million Senior Term Loan.

McMoRan Exploration Co. (NYSE: MMR) today reported a net loss of $14.9 million, $0.53 per share, for the first quarter of 2007 compared with a net loss of $13.5 million, $0.50 per share, for the first quarter of 2006. McMoRan's net loss from its continuing operations for the first quarter of 2007 totaled $16.8 million, including $9.8 million of exploration expense and $2.7 million of start-up costs associated with MPEH™. First-quarter 2007 results also include a charge to expense of $3.2 million to adjust reclamation accruals on two fields. During the first quarter of 2006, McMoRan’s net loss from continuing operations totaled $11.4 million, including $20.6 million of exploration expense ($12.3 million of nonproductive drilling and related costs) and $1.8 million of MPEH™ start-up costs.

PJ’s Coffee

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, a specialty coffee company founded in 1978, announces today it will implement eco-friendly cold drink cups in all of its 48 locations. The 100 percent corn-based cups are produced by Fabri-Kal and its Greenware line of packaging products. The cup line is made from American grown corn, fully compostable in commercial or industrial facilities.

Distributed to PJ’s coffeehouses in April, the Greenware cups are available in 12, 16 and 20 ounce sizes. PJ’s will utilize them for its cold beverage line, including traditional iced coffee and tea and specialty beverages such as Velvet Ice, granitas and this season’s feature beverage, Ginger Peach Tea.

NTG

PHNS today announced the acquisition of Network Technology Group, Inc. (NTG), which provides advanced data center services, physical and network security protection, disaster recovery services, and electronic data vaulting services for commercial customers. NTG’s premier data centers provide the highest levels of reliability through multiple-provider fiber trunk access, redundant uninterruptible power supplies and multiple back-up generators. NTG provides both managed and co-located disaster recovery services, electronic data vaulting, business continuity services and integration services.

“NTG’s experienced management team and staff provide outstanding offsite information technology, backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services to ensure ‘business as usual’ for its customers in the event of hurricanes, tornados, floods and other natural disasters,” said Charles Young, chairman and CEO of PHNS. “NTG’s strong reputation for customer service, superior results and long-standing relationships make it a natural fit for PHNS, and we look forward to offering NTG’s services to our existing hospital customers.”

NTG’s technology solutions will be enhanced as NTG gains access to PHNS’ recently announced subterranean, national data center located 85 feet underground in a solid limestone cave in the SpringNet Underground facility developed by City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri. PHNS’ subterranean data center will allow NTG to offer unsurpassed protection for its customers' vital business and financial information despite hurricanes, tornados and other natural disasters that endanger the Gulf Coast region.

Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, privately-held NTG employs approximately 36 employees, all of whom will join PHNS. NTG currently serves more than 300 customers throughout the U.S.

“We have a strong presence and knowledge of the Gulf Coast information technology and disaster recovery market,” said Scott Thompson, chief executive officer and president of NTG. “Joining forces with PHNS allows us to increase our scope of services and provide growth opportunities for our employees by expanding our technology service offerings throughout the U.S. PHNS shares NTG’s strong commitment to delivering unsurpassed customer service and results,” added Mr. Thompson.

The acquired NTG business will be operated as a separate wholly-owned subsidiary of PHNS, with Mr. Thompson serving as the president and chief executive officer and with NTG’s management and employees continuing in their current positions.

MS Walk

While the rain put a damper on the Multiple Sclerosis walk in Baton Rouge on Saturday, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Louisiana Chapter is up for round two with its walk in New Orleans, Louisiana. “Geaux for MS” is a two mile walk that will take place Sunday, April 22, 2007 at Audubon Park from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Newcomb Bandstand (Magazine Street entrance). However, the unique Geaux As You Please walk invites MS clients, their families, and the New Orleans area community and Audubon Park walkers to participate in the walk and/or post-walk events any time during the 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. window.

Southeeastern

Leadership St. Tammany and Leadership Tangipahoa, two non-profit programs designed to identify and prepare potential new leaders for service in the public and private sectors, have become affiliated with Southeastern Louisiana University.

Under agreements reached between the university and the organizations, Southeastern will assist in providing general administrative support for the program, handling matters such as registration, class scheduling and providing meeting locations and speakers. The university’s St. Tammany Center will coordinate activities for Leadership St. Tammany, while the Southeast Louisiana Business Center will coordinate Leadership Tangipahoa.

“These programs are proven success stories and we are pleased to become affiliated with the organizations,” said Southeastern President Randy Moffett. “These new partnerships tie in perfectly with our mission to help lead the educational, cultural and economic development of the region.”

The programs, which were started by the St.

Tammany West Chamber of Commerce and the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, focus on recruiting emerging leaders from various segments of the community and involving them in public affairs. Through training sessions and individual study, participants are able to identify their own leadership styles while incorporating different leadership techniques.

“Leadership St. Tammany has been successful in creating a network of informed and committed individuals who are dedicated to the advancement of the parish,” said Larry Burch, president.

“Graduates of the program have gone on to fill leadership positions in public and private agencies and organizations. The affiliation with Southeastern will give us additional resources to make our program even stronger.”

“We are pleased to partner with Southeastern in helping us coordinate the activities of our program and to continue to produce exceptional leaders that are so important to making our parish thrive,” said Ricky Masaracchia, Leadership Tangipahoa president. “The university has the resources to help us groom and prepare individuals who will assume the important roles of leading our parish and communities.”

The programs begin with weekend retreats where participants learn about power, conflict, influence, and decision-making. The retreats also include team building exercises and development of communication skills.

The programs continue during the year with several full-day training workshops covering a variety of topics designed to provide participants with additional training in leadership skills and increased knowledge of the community

Both programs are accepting applications for their next class. Applicants are reviewed by selection committees and are evaluated based on their personal long-term commitments to improving the future of the parishes, their record of involvement in community affairs, and their leadership potential.

Xavier

Xavier University of Louisiana’s College of
Pharmacy will address health disparities in minority women 
and provide a variety of health screenings for women from the
nearby Gert Town area at a symposium and community health
showcase, Thursday, April 26, 2007, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in
Room 205 of the University Center.

The event is free and open to the public.  The Gert town

community is especially targeted due to its significant minority,

underserved and indigent population, and it’s proximity

to the Xavier campus.

The “Prescriptions for the Healthy Woman: Eliminating Health
Disparities in the Minority Underserved Female Population ”
symposium is designed to provide health education and
information about preventable diseases shown to be prevalent
in the female population, particularly in minority and poor
women.  Clinical faculty from Xavier’s College of Pharmacy will
provide the services.

According to Patrice Rose, program manager, many patients
living in poverty often have little to no access to health care;
and since Hurricane Katrina, many others have limited access.

“Many displaced patients returning to the City of New Orleans
have experienced severe interruptions in their health care
services such as physician visits and medication use and
availability,” she said.  Minority health plus health disparities
research and education are a major initiative of Xavier’s
College of Pharmacy.  

Free health screenings, as well as checks for blood pressure,
diabetes and cholesterol will be offered.  In addition, patients
who need additional services will be referred to available area
health clinics.

For more information on the Prescriptions for the Healthy
Woman Symposium and community health showcase, contact
Patrice Rose at 520-5106.