What are the best businesses in Shreveport-Bossier? These 5 made the latest list.

Five new winners join the ranks of Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce’s “best” businesses.

The 2024 Minority Business Opportunity Awards honored three small businesses, one nonprofit and one business that’s been around for a while and topped the evening with a Lifetime Achievement Award to Maxine Sarpy.

At the June 13 award ceremony at Sam’s Town Casino & Hotel, Chauncy Horton of SNA Contracting LLC was named the Small Business Owner of the Year. SNA is a family-owned and operated general contractor in Shreveport.  Golden A. Ellis of Rhodes Realty LLC was chosen as the Top Business Professional of the Year.

Andrea McKnight, the development director of the David Raines Community Health Centers was picked at the Nonprofit Professional of the Year, and the Emerging Business of the Year honors went to Kids College STEAM Early Learning Center- Dr. Katraya Williams and Benji Williams.

The 2024 Business of the Year went to Yokem Toyota, a company that has been part of the local community for more than 50 years. As part of the evening, the chamber also awarded a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award to Maxine Sarpy, a woman involved in the north Louisiana area in civil rights and community outreach for more than 60 years.  

“Maxine Sarpy is one of the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement in Shreveport,” said Chamber President Dr. Tim Magner. “Her leadership, her stewardship, her tireless advocacy and her unflagging dedication to the principals of equality have left a lasting legacy on the civic, corporate, and cultural life of our community.”

The awards program is sponsored by the Business Development Connection of the Greater Shreveport Chamber.