Wednesday, January 16, 2013

First "Night At The Museum" For 2013 will be Philip McInnis

Don't Miss The First "Night At The Museum" for 2013

Doors Open At 5:30

“Night At The Museum” with Philip McInnis

The Dorcheat Historical Association Museum will hold its 1st “Night at the Museum” for the 2013 series of speakers on the second Monday night in February 2013.  Mr. Philip McInnis will speak at the Dorcheat Historical Association and Museum on February 11th, 2013.

McInnis is a member of one of Minden’s early business families.  The McInnis Insurance business in Minden dates back to the 1920s and the McInnis Brothers Construction dates back to the 1940s.

Mark Philip McInnis was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1949 to Claire Burks McInnis and Harry E. McInnis, Sr.  He graduated as an honor student at Minden High School in 1967.  He earned a B.S. in Accounting from Louisiana State University in 1971 and then earned a Masters in Business Administration from LSU in 1973.  He was an Accounting Award recipient in 1970. 

In addition to his college studies, McInnis received his basic training from the Louisiana Army National Guard in 1971, and continued to serve with the 1087th Transportation Company based in Minden until his Honorable Discharge in 1977. 

After finishing graduate school at LSU, McInnis returned home to Minden to join his father, uncle, brother and cousin in two family businesses.  After 40 years, he is still actively engaged with both.  He serves as President of McInnis Insurance Agency, Inc., which was incorporated in 1924 by his grandfather, John L. McInnis.  He is responsible for overall management of the agency and is active in all aspects of it.  Under his management, the agency has acquired four other agencies in Minden, Homer and Haynesville over the last twenty years.  He also serves as Secretary-Treasurer of McInnis Brothers Construction, Inc., which was founded by his father and uncle in 1947.  He is involved there with accounting, computer systems, and human resources, and serves on the Board of Directors with his brother Harry McInnis, Jr. and cousin George McInnis.  McInnis Brothers is engaged in commercial and industrial construction in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas, and is one of the larger general contractors in North Louisiana. 

Beyond his duties with McInnis Brothers and McInnis Insurance, McInnis has been involved in his community through civic, professional and church work.  A life-long member of First United Methodist Church in Minden, he has served in many capacities there, including Chairman of the Administrative Council, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Chairman of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee.  He has also chaired several Stewardship Campaigns. 

McInnis has served multiple terms on the Board of Directors of the Minden-South Webster Chamber of Commerce, and served as Chairman in 2003.  In his earlier years on the Minden Chamber of Commerce Board, he was instrumental in bringing both the Shreveport Symphony and New Orleans Symphony to Minden for performances.  He also served a three-year term on the board of Minden Medical Center, including a year as Chairman.   

He has served in many civic capacities, including as President of the Minden Downtown Lions Club.  He is also a recipient of the Lion of the Year Award.  He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, and also the Board of the Shreveport Symphony, among others.  He also was one of the original Board of Directors of the Strand Theatre Corporation. 

McInnis has also been active in professional organizations, and currently is in his sixth year serving on the Board of Directors of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Louisiana.  He has also served on the Board of the Associated General Contractors, Shreveport Chapter, and on the National Agent’s Advisory Council of Great American Insurance Company. 

McInnis is married to Kathy Windham McInnis, and has two children, Margaret Elizabeth McInnis and Mark Philip McInnis, Jr.  Over the course of his life he has enjoyed sports (especially LSU athletics), reading, golf, fishing, photography, movies and the performing arts, and especially when sharing these with his family.

Don’t miss your chance to hear about one of Minden’s early business families. The museum events will be held in the Media/Learning room at the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl Street, Minden, La.  Museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with first-come, first-serve seating.  Program begins at 6:00 p.m., admission is free with potluck desserts and snacks welcome. 

For more information contact Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or visit www.museuminminden.blogspot.com to sign up for the museum email blast. You can also find the museum on Facebook. To learn more about Webster Parish’s rich history visit the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum located at 116 Pearl Street in Minden. Museum hours; closed on Monday, Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed from 1-2 for lunch), Saturday 10 a.m. - noon. The museum admission is free. Also open for special tours and rental by appointment.