Today, the Greater Shreveport Chamber recognized the U.L. Coleman Companies (ULCC), as the recipient of the J. Pat Beaird Industry of the Year Award at the J. Pat Beaird Industry of the Year awards luncheon, supported by, Regions Bank and the J. Pat Beaird Memorial Fund.
The J. Pat Beaird Memorial Industry of the Year award pays tribute to the memory of J. Pat Beaird, who devoted his life to community service, and helped make Shreveport and the State of Louisiana a more wonderful place to live and work. Beaird was the driving force behind many operations and organizations in our region. He was an active member of the Greater Shreveport Chamber, where he served on the Industrial Development Council in the 1940s and was instrumental in many initiatives that shaped northwest Louisiana.
“We are pleased to recognize the U.L. Coleman Companies for their longstanding commitment to our region and their continued expansion and innovation in providing high quality commercial and residential developments,” stated Chamber President Dr. Tim Magner.
The U.L. Coleman Companies have been a leading force in real estate development, construction, and management in the Shreveport-Bossier area for 50 years. Founded in 1973 by U.L. Coleman III, the company has grown from a local real estate firm to a multi-faceted organization at the forefront of commercial and residential development in Louisiana and beyond with a portfolio encompassing over 3,000 multifamily units and 1.5 million square feet of commercial space.
The company’s integrated approach and commitment to sustainability have positioned it as a leader in creating vibrant, mixed-use communities that stand the test of time. ULCC employs over 150 associates, showcasing its significant impact on the local economy and its role as a major employer in the region.
ULCC’s commitment to excellence is evident in its award-winning properties. Notably, Coates Bluff at Wright Island has garnered multiple accolades, including LEED certification and recognition from the National
Apartment Association. Most recently, Fern Crossing at Bayou Pierre won the 2024 National Apartment Association Major Rehab National Award, underscoring ULCC’s ongoing dedication to quality and innovation.
The Chamber also showcased a very special keynote speaker, Keni Thomas. In the summer of 1993 Staff Sergeant Keni Thomas was deployed to Mogadishu Somalia with the 3rd Ranger Battalion as part of an elite special operations package called Task Force Ranger. Their mission was to find and capture a criminal warlord named Mohammed Farrah Aidid. On the 3rd of October, Keni and his fellow rangers distinguished themselves in an eighteen-hour firefight that would later be recounted in the highly successful book and movie “Black Hawk Down”. Nineteen Americans gave their lives and 78 were wounded in the worst urban combat seen by US troops since WWII.
A powerful speaker, Keni captivated the audience from beginning to end as he relayed his experiences and the incredible story of extraordinary individuals fighting to bring each other home. “Leadership has never been the rank, the position or the title you hold. It’s the example you set for the ones you serve. And we all serve somebody. There are people to your left and to your right who are counting on you and it’s up to you to deliver. But you will only be as good as you prepared yourself to be,” stated Thomas.