Make. It. Happen.
- A Leader In -
The Hospitality Industry
Non-Profit Leadership
Arts & Education Advocacy
Local Governance
Philanthropy
Joshua is the Founder and President of the Board of Directors for the Assumption Foundation for the Arts, a Louisiana arts based 501(c)(3) non-profit. AFTA also produces the Sugarland Music & Arts Festival.
Joshua is the current Vice Chair for Programs & Education for the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts, a statewide Louisiana 501(c)(3) non-profit and serves on the LPA Board of Directors in Region 3. He serves on the Advocacy Committee that is responsible for the creation and activities of the Louisiana Arts Caucus in the Louisiana State Legislature.
Joshua currently holds the Ward 5 seat on the Assumption Parish School Board. Joshua was elected and began serving his first term in January 2023.
Joshua is the Restaurant Operations Consultant (ROC) for the New Orleans market which encompasses the entire Southern Louisiana region and close by neighbors. He is using his 20+ years of hospitality industry expertise to help owners and operators "Make It." US Foods is a national broadline foodservice distributor.
Joshua is the owner of Bearfoot Hospitality, a multiservice company focusing on excellence in the industry. From business and operational consulting services for all hospitality business, to chef's tables, to event planning and logistics, BHS is the leader in hospitality.
Joshua started this initiative with his wife, Jamie, and their three boys, Jackson, James, and Luke, to provide a one-stop directory for all of Assumption Parish Schools' faculty and staff to post wish lists and fundraising campaigns for their classrooms, programs, clubs, and organizations. Find, Click, Give.
Joshua's H.E.A.R.T. Principles
HONESTY
Honesty is the practice of sincere and authentic communication with ourselves and others. It goes beyond mere truth-telling; it is the courage to present oneself genuinely, fostering an environment where self-reflection can flourish and personal growth is possible. By being honest about our intentions, capabilities, and feelings, we build a foundation for clear, kind, and constructive interactions. This intellectual integrity is crucial for creating a community where diverse perspectives can be shared openly, leading to collective success and mutual understanding.
EMPATHY
Empathy is the heart of a caring and inclusive community. It is the ability to connect with and understand the experiences and emotions of others, especially those from different backgrounds and cultures. Empathy moves us beyond simple tolerance to a place of genuine compassion and active support for one another's wellbeing. It is the practice of listening deeply and acting with kindness, ensuring that every individual feels seen, valued, and included in the shared pursuit of success.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability is the empowering act of taking ownership of our actions, words, and their resulting impact on the community. It is a commitment to personal success and collective betterment, rooted in self-reflection and a desire to learn and grow. When we hold ourselves accountable, we don't just correct mistakes; we strengthen the fabric of our community by demonstrating integrity and a commitment to its health and wellbeing. This practice ensures that our shared environment is one of fairness and mutual respect.
RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility is our proactive and shared commitment to the wellbeing of our community and its members. It is the recognition that our individual autonomy is intertwined with the health of the collective. This principle calls on us to actively contribute to creating an inclusive, supportive, and successful environment for everyone. It involves looking beyond our own needs to uphold our diverse culture, care for our shared spaces, and actively support others in their pursuit of personal success and fulfillment.
TRUST
Trust is the fruit of living these principles consistently. It is the confident belief in the reliability, integrity, and kindness of others, which makes a thriving community possible. Trust creates a safe and secure environment where individuals feel empowered to be vulnerable, collaborate openly, and pursue their goals with autonomy. It is the essential element that transforms a diverse group of individuals into a cohesive and caring community, united in the pursuit of personal and collective wellbeing.
Joshua P. Hebert - Bio
Joshua Hebert hails from the Assumption Parish banks of Bayou Lafourche in Napoleonville, Louisiana. After high school, Joshua set out to LSU to study Business and Music Education. While attending LSU he enjoyed cooking for his friends, relying on the lessons he learned in his mother’s and grandparents’ kitchens. “Potlicker” was his nickname back then because he was frequently caught dipping a spoon into a pot on the stove. He had plans to teach and perform music professionally, but found a different path that also reconnected him with his roots and ignited a passion that has been burning for over 20 years. Although not a music educator or professional performer, he still keeps the dust off of his trombone and a few other instruments while performing regularly with the Bayou Community Band, the LSU Golden Band from Tigerland Alumni Bands, and sits in with other musicians and groups from time to time.
Joshua’s hospitality career started with a private dinner at the request of a college friend’s parents to cook at their home. He was then referred to their friends and family and began getting requests by word of mouth. He decided to make it official after the workload increased and incorporated Bearfoot Culinary Services - now Bearfoot Hospitality. He offered personal chef services, cooking classes, and small catered events. He also taught classes and did cooking demos and community events around Baton Rouge and the Southern Louisiana region and continues to do so whenever he’s able. Throughout the years of operating his personal company, Joshua also worked in numerous restaurants. From his first college job at quick service restaurant Raising Cane’s to casual concepts, steakhouses, multi-unit groups, and private clubs, Joshua has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry. Joshua is a recipient of the 2018 Small Town Chefs Award by Country Roads Magazine and was runner-up in the 2018 King/Queen of Louisiana Seafood Cookoff along with many other awards and accolades.
Joshua is currently the Restaurant Operations Consultant for the New Orleans market and Southern Louisiana region for US Foods, Inc. He has also transformed his personal company into a restaurant and hospitality consulting firm that serves clients across the United States and invests in existing establishments, startups, and various culinary educational and mentorship programs. Joshua is a strong leader with a proven track record of building and maintaining great teams and developing, implementing, and training efficient systems. Joshua says, “It’s all about people. Your people and your guests. Treat all people with love and care and the pennies will fall into place.”
Joshua married his wonderful wife Jamie in May of 2012. Although they grew up together, they were not exactly sweethearts. When their paths crossed again in college at LSU, Jamie accepted a date with Joshua on a whim, which began a lovely life and adventure. After getting married, they welcomed three beautiful boys into their lives over the years: Jackson, James, and Luke. Their boys enjoy travelling to see their favorite musicians and shows on stage, reading lots of books, giving each other a (loving) hard time, swimming and playing at Grandma and Pampi's house, playing music and softball, and getting to next level in their video games. They may or may not also enjoy school sometimes. Their love of reading and getting lost in stories is definitely instilled by their momma. Jamie is an avid reader and reading and literacy advocate. Her number of books read per year always exceed 500. Jamie is currently the Assistant Director of the Louisiana Center for the Book, a Library of Congress affiliate, at the State Library of Louisiana. In her role, she is responsible for a large part of the Louisiana Book Festival and is the program lead for the Louisiana Young Readers Choice Awards among many other initiatives and efforts to support and celebrate all libraries and readers in Louisiana. When Joshua is not spending relaxing and intentional time with his family, he is cooking for the family or for a good cause, busy with non-profit boards, the school system, a rewarding career, playing tennis, volunteering in his community with his family, and traveling.
Joshua is an elected official and holds the Ward 5 seat of the Assumption Parish School Board. He founded and is the President of the Board of Directors for the Assumption Foundation for the Arts (AFTA), a local Louisiana 501(c)(3) non-profit, which also produces the Sugarland Music & Arts Festival. He is currently the Vice Chair for Programs & Education for the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts (LPA), a statewide Louisiana 501(c)(3) non-profit and serves on the LPA Board of Directors in Region 3. He serves on the Advocacy Committee that is responsible for the creation and activities of the Louisiana Arts Caucus in the Louisiana State Legislature. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society and still contributes to BRES when he can, having left the board to found his own non-profit mentioned previously - AFTA. He also sits on various community engagement and involvement committees in Assumption Parish and the Southern region for the hospitality and arts industries.