I met with local legend Tyrone Hughes at Pontilly Coffee last week. For those who don't know, Tyrone is a Saints Hall of Famer, and a former high school football, baseball and track standout from New Orleans, Louisiana. So, naturally, we started chatting about our glory days in high school track and field, reminiscing about the state championships at LSU and USL back in the day. We even delved into stories about historic St. Augustine High School and legendary figures like Coach Tyrone Payne, whom I'd never met but had heard so much about. Our conversation then took a trip down memory lane, discussing Big 8 football and comparing our experiences, mine in Kansas and his in Nebraska, during the legendary Coach Tom Osborne era. I remembered watching Tyrone's career. I was attending Tulane and played with one of his teammates from The Aug, Stanley Barre. However, I just realized Tyrone was a 5th-round pick who turned that opportunity into a Saints Hall of Fame career! These days, Tyrone is working to maximize new opportunities. As the president of 33 Energy, LLC, he's formed partnerships featuring the CASPER Disinfection and Pathogen Reduction System, H2S gas removal, hydrogen generators, and solar panel installation. His drive and determination have taken him from the football field to the boardroom, and he's making a real difference. As we talked, I shared with him OHUB's vision of creating more opportunities for black and brown founders in the renewable energy sector. I told him about our local, state, and national partnerships designed to foster and nurture growth in this arena. The wheels started turning, and we began brainstorming ways to collaborate and synergize our efforts. Tyrone and I see this as an opportunity to rise to the occasion. We're playing for a team that's full of potential, talent, and a strong supporting cast. We can move the needle. We can make a difference. So, here's my message to you: Believe in this team. Cheer for this team. Let’s make Louisiana a leader in renewable energy opportunities!