Episode 113 Mario Chavez - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

"If you want friends, you must first find yourself friendly" is the title of this week's episode. You can find my full discussion with Mario Chavez, Former Caddo Parish Commissioner and Owner of MersaTech, here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:27 1. We’ll cover a lot of ground today but let’s start here.

 

On October 9th you will be the featured speaker at the free entrepreneurial event, 1 Million Cups. In the description for the event, it says, “Many years and family members’ electronic equipment later, coupled with countless times of being electrocuted and even accidentally starting a fire in his bedroom while learning the power of alternate current over direct current, it was only natural that Mario would find his way into the military, specifically the high-tech sector of FM transmissions and satellite communication."

 

Talk to me about the young Mario Chavez and his interest and curiosity about electronics.

 

5:26 2. After 12 years in the military, you hung up your combat boots to focus on your business MersaTech. Tell me how MersaTech got started, what it does, and what has come of this business that, 20 years ago, had but one customer.

 

22:30 3. In 2016, you were elected as Caddo Parish's first Latino Commissioner. From your perspective, is the Hispanic community today unified with the white and black communities in the Shreveport-Bossier area? And, if not, as you look around, what are some of the steps you feel could be taken to help bring these communities closer together?

 

27:40 4. You ran for mayor of Shreveport in 2022, with a focus on crime, cleanliness and customer service. Shreveport Citizens United is a group you are actively involved in. Tell me a little about this group and how they are working to be on the front line of combatting the issue of crime that our community continues to struggle with.

 

38:08 5. During your time as Commissioner, 2016-2023, you always struck me as someone who could work across party lines and get things accomplished. Have you always understood diplomacy and how to be diplomatic? And, in a community where politics often continues to separate us, what are some words of wisdom you can share with the rest of us to help us to get along and work better with those who may think differently than us?