MADISONVILLE, La. — Half a year is not nearly enough time for CCTV Imports owner Kevin Lazaroe to get Hurricane Katrina out of his mind. Still, from the rubble that remains, the distributor’s recovery from the storm’s devastation is a success story.

CCTV Imports’ business has never been better. The company saw record sales that were up 120 percent at the end of 2005, and it is moving this month into a new 24,000-square-foot building that will include a showroom open to the public.

This is quite a change from when SSI first interviewed Lazaroe in November 2005. At the time, he still didn’t know the whereabouts of half of his employees. While everyone is now accounted for, some employees who fled to other states aren’t returning.

“With their houses destroyed, they had nothing to come back to,” says Lazaroe, who hasn’t found it easy filling their positions. “It takes three months to get an employee.” Lack of housing is a significant issue facing local residents, and many CCTV Import employees are living with parents or in-laws.

In response to this and other needs, CCTV Imports established a fund to help its displaced employees get back on their feet. These efforts drew a large response, including a $3,500 donation from HID Corp.

To continue being of service to its community, CCTV Imports will hold at its new headquarters on March 25 a benefit for New Orleans Children’s Hospital, which is one of only two hospitals still functioning in the city. For more information or to make a donation, go to www.helping-kids.org.

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