A normally functioning human body is something most of us take for granted, until we have personal experience that challenges us. It might be the birth of a child, an accident, or just staying alive long enough to have bits of ourselves wear out.

Two of our senses that are susceptible to impairment are hearing and sight. Lighthouse Louisiana is the largest employer of blind people in the state. The company makes paper products. And in case you’re thinking this is some sort of occupational therapy for the blind, last year Lighthouse Louisiana had 14 million dollars in sales.

The President of Lighthouse Louisiana is Renee Vidrine. Renee joins Peter on this edition of Out to Lunch. 

There is hardly a person in America who does not have at least one friend or family member who is hard of hearing. Local company, General Hearing Instruments, is a leading innovator in the hearing aid business. They have 24 US and international patents, and their products are available nationwide, even in Sam’s and Walmart.

Mike Major, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for General Hearing Instruments, is Peter’s guest on Out to lunch.

In the You Heard It Here First segment of the show Marco Altamirano introduces us to his entrepreneurial Pinterest for PhD’s, Grad Square. Hear a longer discussion with Marco, Peter, Mike and Renee, about Grad Square, here.

The photos on this page were taken in the wine room at Commander’s Palace by Chet Overall.