From staff reports
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — The Young Entrepreneurs Academy — YEA! — is proud to announce Buddy Boe has been named the new instructor for The River Region YEA! class of 2015.

YEA! is an innovative program that transforms local middle and high school students into entrepreneurial successes.

Boe attended Jesuit High School and Tulane University. In 2013, he was named chief administrative officer for St. Charles Parish government and sits on the Louisiana SuperRegion Rail Authority.

“I am once again excited to be able to work with such a talented group of our River Region young citizens as we launch their business,” Boe said. “The program is a tremendous asset to our communities and gift of the Chamber Foundation.”

Throughout the year, students will work in close cooperation with local business leaders, community leaders and educators who use their personal experiences to demonstrate how to develop ideas and objectives, write a business plan, pitch potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies, establish e-commerce and a web presence and much more.

By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried after their graduation from the program.

Boe joins Annette Wray and Catherine Monica as the co-program managers for YEA! in the River Region.

Wray, service manager with Cox Business, has been supporting the program for two years. She resides in St. Charles Parish with her family and holds a board of director position with the Chamber.

“I consider myself fortunate to watch young adults become empowered with developing their own business concepts and seeing how this program has been a critical foundation for these kids becoming productive leaders and citizens of the tri-parish area,” Wray said.

Boe founded Invictus Solutions in 2010, which focuses on assisting clients with public relations. Prior to his role in government, Boe owned and operated two restaurants. His family still operates a third establishment, Buddy B’s Restaurant in Garyville.

Boe serves as vice-chairman of the National Association of Counties NextGen Network, secretary of the Garyville Timbermill Museum Association, is a St. John United Way board member, and sits on the World Trade Center Transportation Committee and GNOInc’s NextGen Council.

Recently, he has was selected as a fellow in the Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute, HIVE/Change.org Global Young Leaders Program, a 2014 Millenial Changemaker finalist and the National Association of Counties Leadership Institute.

His wife, Courtney, is a Victory Belle at the National WWII Museum and has performed at Walt Disney World as “Tinkerbell.”

Monica is the communications assistant for the River Region Chamber of Commerce and is excited to be a part of the YEA! program. She is a recent graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University and resides in St. John the Baptist Parish.

“We are only in the beginning steps of this year’s program, and I am already blown away by the innovative minds of these inspiring students and aspiring business owners,” Monica said. “I am excited to see what this program brings to the River Region.”