Scott Ballard is the owner of Ballard Brands, LLC, a fast casual dining leader based in Covington, Louisiana with his two brothers. Scott is also the founder of Ballard Hospitality, LLC, a logistics company that provides lifestyle services, housing and all logistical support to remote sites and beyond. In 2018, Ballard Brands entered into a strategic partnership with Garces Group out of Philadelphia, PA, forming IdEATion Hospitality. IdEATion Hospitality owns and
operates fine dining and fast casual concepts in PA, NJ & NY. The company is active worldwide and is gradually becoming one of the largest in its sector. Scott is a former owner/operator of Smoothie King franchises in Georgia, North Carolina and Louisiana. Scott was a recipient of the Gambit’s “40 Under 40” Businessmen to watch in 2007.
Scott served on the LSU Board of Supervisors and served as the Chair of the Board from 2016-2017. He currently serves as an Executive Board member of the Committee of 100, the Young Presidents Organization (YPO Louisiana) and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). He is a Board of Directors member for St. Tammany ChamberPac, Louisiana Boys and Girls Club, ForeKids Foundation, LABI, Louisiana Hospitality Foundation and Home Bank. Scott is an active member of his community having served on the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Board, the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Louisiana Student Assistant Commission. Currently, he is also a member of the St. Tammany and Greater New Orleans Chambers of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Tourism Association.
Ballard Brands has been recognized by New Orleans City Business magazine as a “Top 100 Private Company” for four consecutive years and as “Best Business of the Year” by the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and most recently in 2020, were awarded the prestigious Tammany Award. Additionally, the Ballard Brothers were recognized as the LABI Free Enterprise Award recipients in 2019. In 2020, Ballard Brands was recognized as a Louisiana Growth Leader by Louisiana Economic Development. Scott Ballard along with his brothers, Paul & Steven were named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of The Year 2020 Gulf Coast Area Award Finalists. Most recently, Ballard Brands received the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Business of the Year Award by the New Orleans chapter of Junior Achievement. Scott graduated from Tulane University with a degree in political science and economics. He is married to Kristi Ballard and is the father of three children.