Grid improvements, pipelines and industrial facilities define this year's large company finalists. October 20, 2026 From offshore production and grid resilience to industrial construction and coastal restoration, these companies help keep Louisiana's energy economy moving. This year's finalists are expanding capabilities, investing in infrastructure and developing the people and technologies needed to meet changing demands. Danos. Founded in 1947 as a single tugboat operation, Danos has grown into a global energy services company employing more than 3,800 people. The family-owned company provides production, automation, decommissioning, coastal restoration, supply chain and energy systems services, along with fabrication, construction, coatings, scaffolding and rope access through Performance Energy Services. Recent growth includes the 2024 acquisition of Performance Energy Services, the 2025 acquisition of assets from X-Pro Valve and Surplus Valve Warehouse, and Wood's U.S. onshore labor supply operations. Danos leaders also help shape energy policy and industry organizations at the state and federal levels. Its community impact extends well beyond the jobsite. Danos has partnered with public agencies and nonprofits on roughly 20 coastal restoration projects, including artificial reefs, pipeline preservation and living shorelines. Through the Danos Foundation, the company has supported 234 nonprofits. Danos was also recently named LABI's Company of the Year and recognized for growth on the LSU 100 and LSU Roaring 20 lists. Entergy Louisiana. Entergy is advancing a $2 billion grid-hardening plan designed to strengthen the state's electric system against severe weather. The first phase, valued at about $1.9 billion, includes more than 2,100 resilience projects and forms the opening segment of a broader 10-year strategy. The work will upgrade roughly 3,238 miles of distribution and transmission lines and replace or reinforce about 69,000 utility poles and structures statewide. The company has also played a central role in major economic development projects, including Meta and Hut 8 data centers and Hyundai Motor Group's steel manufacturing facility. Entergy's approach earned White House recognition through its Fair Share Plus pledge. The company also received its 10th consecutive Edison Electric Institute Corporate Citizenship Award for employee engagement and its 51st EEI Emergency Response Award. EXCEL contractors. This industrial construction and maintenance contractor primarily serving the industrial and energy sectors has been directly responsible for bringing transformational ammonia and low-carbon energy projects from concept to reality. The company's work on CF Industries' NH3 Green Ammonia Facility in Donaldsonville will likely establish Louisiana as a global leader in carbon-free hydrogen and ammonia production. During construction, Excel Installed more than 31,000 linear feet of piping and 380 tons of structural steel while working 71,000 self-performed direct labor hours - with zero near-miss safety incidents. Once operational, the facility will generate hydrogen via electrolysis with no carbon emissions and enable production of up to 20,000 tons of green ammonia annually. To the west, the Beaumont New Ammonia facility, which required more than six million labor hours of labor to complete, was recently handed over by Excel to Woodside following successful performance testing. Shell. Shell Louisiana For more than a century, Shell has been a major Louisiana energy company, with operations spanning oil and gas exploration and production, refining, chemicals and LNG. O ver the past year, its Mars Platform became the first Gulf deepwater platform to produce 1 billion barrels of oil, while Shell's Gulf portfolio received MiQ methane certification. Shell Norco also completed a major planned turnaround and overhaul of key gasoline production units, while work continues on the Rome Pipeline to improve oil transportation and market access. Shell contributes more than $250 million annually in Louisiana taxes, royalties and fees. Its community investment includes $30.4 million for educator development, STEM training, workforce development and youth education initiatives from 2023 through 2025. The company has also supported internships, career training and higher education, including a $27.5 million gift to LSU that established the Institute for Energy Innovation and helped fund the Its Lady of the Lake Interdisciplinary Science Building.

Danos names Tori Nunnally director of M&A origination. September 29, 2026 GRAY, La. - Danos Ventures has hired Tori Nunnally as director of mergers and acquisitions origination, strengthening the company's focus on strategic growth and expansion across the energy and industrial sectors. In her role, Nunnally will identify and develop acquisition opportunities that support Danos' long-term growth strategy while expanding relationships with business owners, industry leaders, bankers and other strategic partners. Nunnally brings experience across finance, investing and mergers and acquisitions. Most recently, she served as a director at Settoon Capital, where she oversaw investment and portfolio activities and worked closely with executive leadership teams across industrial services and construction businesses. She earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business. "Tori brings a strong combination of financial, investment and industrial experience, along with a relationship-focused approach that aligns with our values," said Eric Danos, CEO of Danos Ventures. "As Danos continues to grow, her ability to build relationships and identify businesses that fit our long-term vision will be invaluable." Nunnally said Danos' reputation, values and thoughtful approach to growth attracted her to the role. "The more I learned about the company, the more I appreciated what the Danos family has built over nearly 80 years and how they've continued to grow while staying true to who they are," Nunnally said. "There is a real opportunity to build on that foundation by partnering with founder- and family-owned businesses that complement Danos' capabilities, customer relationships and geographic reach."