SHREVEPORT, La. — SLB has been named the J. Pat Beaird Industry of the Year by the Greater Shreveport Chamber, recognizing the company’s business growth, job creation and community involvement in the region.
The award was presented during the chamber’s J. Pat Beaird Industry of the Year Award Luncheon at Sam’s Town Casino. Denny Moton of Regions Bank presented the award to Kevin Carlson, former SSTC Technology Center manager and the first employee at SLB’s Shreveport plant.
SLB operates in more than 100 countries, employs about 109,000 people worldwide and generates nearly $36 billion in annual revenue. The company works across engineering, manufacturing, digital technology and large-scale project execution.
In Shreveport, SLB manufactures modular data center infrastructure designed to accelerate the deployment of capacity supporting artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The operation was developed at a former automotive manufacturing plant and now employs nearly 1,500 people, making it one of the company’s larger facilities.
The J. Pat Beaird Industry of the Year Award recognizes a Greater Shreveport company based on criteria including capital investment, community involvement and job creation. It honors J. Pat Beaird Sr. and his record of business and community service.
Melissa Stockwell, a U.S. Army veteran, Paralympian and author of “The Power of Choice,” was the featured speaker at the luncheon.
Stockwell lost her left leg above the knee after her vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Iraq in April 2004. She received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for her military service. She later competed as a member of the U.S. Paralympic swimming team, becoming the first Iraq War veteran to qualify for the Paralympic Games.