You`re Invited! - Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce

Transcription

You`re Invited! - Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
Fo us
A monthly publication of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
Volume 9 | Number 1 | January 2016
87th
Annual
Banquet
January 20, 2016
6-9 PM
Houma Terrebonne Civic Center
Welcome New Members 7
One on One with Harry Bourg Corporation 8
Photo Gallery 10
Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
You’re Invited!
When Life’s Challenges
Call for Solutions…
Counseling Services
Outpatient Intensive Treatment Program
Inpatient Medical Geriatric Psychiatric Care
Mental health is essential to overall health. We are pleased to offer
customized treatment programs for individuals with varying degrees of:
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Anxiety
• Dementia
• Other Cognitive, Emotional
and Behavioral Disorders
Meeting the Needs of the Region with Care Delivered by
Compassionate Professionals in a Safe, Comfortable Setting.
For more information on any of these services, please call:
Inpatient Services:
Outpatient Services:
985-493-4040
985-493-4437
SPECIAL THANKS
TO OUR
SPONSORS:
(as of December 18)
SAPPHIRE SPONSORS
GARNET SPONSORS
OPAL SPONSORS
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
KEE Environmental Services, LLC
Chairman-Elect
Kathleen “Kate” Theriot
Coaching for Change, LLC
Treasurer
Jason Bergeron
Technology Professionals
Vice Chairman-Chamber Development Division
Paul Labat
Foundation for Terrebonne General Medical Center
Vice Chairman-Infrastructure & Economic Develop. Div.
Mitchell Marmande
Delta Coast Consultants, LLC
Vice Chairman-Government Activities Division
Chad Hebert
Workforce Logistics
Immediate Past Chairman
Stephanie Hebert
Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency
BOARD MEMBERS:
Ann Barker
Terrebonne Ford
Joseph Boudreaux
Blackhawk Specialty Tools
Natalie Campbell
3
Doug Gregory
Morrison Terrebonne Lumber
Cindy Landeche
Baymont Inn & Suites
Mike Lewis
Campbell Technology
Consultants, LLC
Big Mike’s BBQ Smokehouse
Roslyn Chauvin
Terrebonne Port Commission
Mona Martin Christen
Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
Southdown Mini Storage
Bluewater Rubber & Gasket Company, Inc.
Bourgeois & Associates, Inc.
Flow Line Valve & Controls, LLC
Holiday Inn
Latter & Blum Co. Inc. / REALTORS
Raising Cane’s-MLK Location
Terrebonne Place
Watkins, Walker & Eroche, APLC
of
Officers:
Chairman of the Board
Earl J. Eues, Jr.
HTV 10 KFOL/KJUN
Terrebonne Ford and Barker Automotive Family
Terrebonne General Medical Center
Thibodaux Regional Medical Center
Acadian Ambulance Service
Bourgeois Bennett, LLC
Business First Bank
Buquet Distributing Company, Inc.
Christen & Rhymes
Coastal Commerce Bank
Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel
J. P. Morgan Chase Bank
Morris P. Hebert, Inc.
Nicholls Alumni Federation
South Louisiana Bank
South Louisiana Medical Associates
Synergy Bank
Technology Professionals, LLC
Terminix Pest Control, Inc.
The Courier
Workforce Logistics, LLC
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
Contact Us!
Mona & Company, Inc.
Reggie Dupre
Terrebonne Levee &
Conservation District
William Eroche
Watkins, Walker & Eroche, APLC
Michael J. Garcia, M.D.
South LA Medical Associates
David Rabalais
Janel Ricca
Darlene Rodrigue
The Courier
John Rogers
Coastal Commerce Bank
Brian Rushing
Rushing Media
Chuck Weaver Jr.
South LA Financial Services, LLC
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Chairman’s
Happy New Year! It is such an honor to
serve the business community of the Houma-Terrebonne area as your Chairman for
2016 and I am looking forward to working
with the business community to go above
and beyond the services you expect from
the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce.
The theme of the Chamber’s 2016
Board of Director’s planning retreat was
“The Service Culture Movement through
Service Leadership!” The retreat focused
on providing service to you, our membership, with leaders who understand the importance of service. We also updated the
Chamber’s mission statement to better
reflect the current actions of the Chamber. The new mission statement is, Uniting Community, Building a Stronger Terrebonne – Chamber Connected. You will
be seeing the new mission statement on
all Chamber correspondence, posted at all
Chamber events, and on our website.
Uniting Community. It is you, the businesses of this community, that have united
together to provide for our community
and make the Houma-Terrebonne area
the 2nd happiest city in America, one of
the most exciting cities in Louisiana and
the 18th best performing small cities. The
Community Development division of the
Chamber will continue to promote quality of life issues in the Houma-Terrebonne
area by supporting the education systems
that provide a quality education for our
families and an educated workforce. The
Chamber is also interested in partnering
with our healthcare businesses to promote
a healthy lifestyle for the community by
looking into child healthcare issues, mental health and substance abuse.
Building a Stronger Terrebonne. We
Message
look forward to building a stronger Terrebonne through the following divisions:
Economic
Development/Infrastructure
and Government Activities. Both of these
divisions have worked to promote good
government, coastal restoration, infrastructure improvements, and workforce
development. We will continue to keep
our members updated on legislative issues,
fight to make sure we have adequate hurricane protection through the Morganza
to the Gulf levee system, and protect our
coast and natural resources without putting unnecessary constraints on business.
Chamber Connected. In order to unite
the community and build a stronger Terrebonne, it is important that the Chamber continue to grow its partnerships with
other organizations that have supported
the business community such as the South
Central Industrial Association (SCIA), Terrebonne Economic Development Authority
(TEDA), the Port of Terrebonne, and South
Louisiana Economic Council. It is important that we have continued communication with these and other organizations to
show our local, state and federal legislative
delegations that we can work together to
the benefit of the entire region.
The monthly General Membership Luncheon, Business 2 Business Luncheon, and
the Business After Hours are great networking activities to promote your business, connect with other members, and
find out what is happening within the
Chamber and the community.
In order for us to complete our mission
of being “Chamber Connected”, we need
participation from our most important assets: you and your business. We encourage you to actively participate in one of
our committees: Chamber Development,
Diplomats, Education, Healthcare, Government Activities, or Economic Development
& Infrastructure. So which one are you
joining? Your input is important to us, so
contact the Chamber office and sign up for
a committee. We invite you and your employees to join us at our monthly membership luncheons, Business After Hours, or
our Lunch and Learn events.
I would like to thank Stephanie Hebert,
our Chairperson for 2015, her board of
directors and the Chamber staff for an
awesome job in continuing to make our
chamber a five star Accredited Chamber of
Commerce by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
I look forward to working with you and
Earl Eues
your business this coming year and en2016 Board Chair
courage you to contact me with suggestions and recommendations to improve KEE Environmental Services, LLC
our Chamber. If you are not a member, I
encourage you to join us in “Uniting Community, Building a Stronger Terrebonne –
Chamber Connected!”
 Develop new business
contacts
 Recognition opportunity
in the monthly Chamber
Focus
 Distinguished Diplomat
of the Year recognition
opportunity
Contact the Chamber at 876-5600
to sign-up or email
info@houmachamber.com for more
information.
staff:
Suzanne Nolfo Carlos
President and CEO
suzanne@houmachamber.com
Chantell Pepper
Administrative Assistant
cpepper@houmachamber.com
Betsy Breerwood
Events Coordinator
betsy@houmachamber.com
Kay Thibodeaux
Membership Account Executive
kay@houmachamber.com
Heidi Ohmer
Communications Specialist
heidi@houmachamber.com
6133 Hwy.311 | Houma, LA 70360 | 985.876.5600 | 985.876.5611 fax
www.houmachamber.com
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of
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
4
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notes from the
President
Tasks for the New Year
Suzanne Nolfo Carlos
President/CEO
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
Here we are again, at the
end of another year wondering
where did it go. It’s the time of
year when we can take a moment, look back at our accomplishments, and be proud of
what we’ve done. Then we can
begin to look forward to the
coming year to reassess and
plan what our focus will be for
2016.
It’s difficult to remain focused
on any goal while people and
circumstances constantly pull
you in dozens of directions at
once. The tasks and challenges
of everyday life can drain our
energy and muddle our concentration. Where do you want
to be in one year, three years,
and five years? Here are six
points to guide you in setting
and achieving your goals:
1. Write them down. This is
important. There is power in
writing your goals down. It’s
a great way to bring clarity to
that general desire and turn it
into an achievable reality. Writing down your goals forces you
to focus and to identify the
specific objective that you are
working to achieve.
2. Keep them few in number.
Productivity studies show that
you really can’t focus on more
than 5–7 items at any one time.
Focus on a handful of goals that
you can repeat almost from
memory.
3. Make them “smart.”
You’ve probably heard of this
acronym. Smart goals must
meet five criteria. They must
be:
• Specific—your goals must
identify exactly what you want
to accomplish. Be as specific as
you can.
• Measurable— Try to quantify the result. You want to know,
by the numbers, if you have hit
your goal.
• Actionable—start each goal
of
with an action verb (e.g., “stop,”
“recruit,” “finish,” “eliminate,”
etc.) rather than a to-be verb
(e.g., “be,” “have,” etc.)
• Realistic—A good goal
should challenge you, but be
sensible.
• Time-bound—set up a
timeline for when you plan to
achieve the goal. It could be in
one week, month, by the end
of the year. Each goal needs a
date associated with it otherwise, it’s just a dream.
4. Review them frequently.
Writing your goals down are a
powerful exercise, however the
key is in reviewing them on a
regular basis. This is what can
turn them into reality. Every
time you review your goals, ask
yourself what’s the next step
you need to take to move toward this goal. You can review
them daily, weekly, or monthly.
Displaying your goals can remind you to take action. Our
brains work subconsciously to
help us accomplish our mission
when we can keep our goals
top-of-mind. Let them inspire
and fill your daily task list.
5. Visualize them. Visualization is one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do.
Olympic athletes have been
using it for decades to improve
performance. A positive attitude and a sense of humor are
also important in working to
achieve your goals.
6. Share them selectively.
Share them with those who
are on your side and willing to
help you achieve them. Support and encouragement are
gold. Broadcasting your goals
can bring out those that might
sabotage your efforts.
We’ve learned that people
who make consistent progress
toward meaningful goals live
happier more satisfied lives
than those who don’t. The
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
5
practice of goal setting is not
just helpful; it is a prerequisite
for happiness. Goal setting is
an important method of deciding what you want to achieve in
your life, separating what’s important from what’s irrelevant
or a distraction, motivating
yourself, and building your selfconfidence, based on successful achievement of goals.
If you don’t already set goals,
get started now even if it’s just
one. Your written goals can
work wonders towards keeping your mind focused on your
goal, your attention on your intentions, and your life headed
in the direction you choose.
Happy New Year! May all
the joys and opportunities for
a wonderful year come your
way.
Special thanks to our 2015 Chamber
Board Chair, Stephanie Hebert,
Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency
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Focus on Economic Development
Local Economic Development Agency Re-Launches
As of Nov.
1, 2015, Terrebonne Economic
Development
Authority
(TEDA) has restaffed and is
moving
forward with its
Patrick Gordon
mission
to
grow the parish’s
economic base.
“I look forward to developing a sustained approach to economic diversity,
business recruitment, business expansion/retention and entrepreneurship,”
said Patrick Gordon, TEDA CEO and former parish planning director.
“My previous experience of working with commercial/industrial developments in regard to building codes,
subdivision regulations and best practices in floodplain management will be
valuable when engaging with potential
growth
opportunities for
the future of a
resilient Terrebonne Parish,”
he said.
Gordon
is
joined by Katherine GilbertTheriot, former
Katherine Gilbert-Theriot
parish economic development
marketing manager, who heads up the
agency’s business retention and expansion activities. Gilbert-Theriot also was
a former TEDA employee from 2006
through 2011.
“I’m so very pleased to work with
businesses in our community,” GilbertTheriot said. “Terrebonne Parish is my
home, and leveraging information and
programs in an effort to aid my community is fulfilling.”
Her business-retention and expansion
efforts include reaching out to build and
maintain relationships with companies
operating within Terrebonne Parish in
an effort to provide information about
business-assistance programs, business matchmaking opportunities and
training programs.
One example is a program currently
available through the Southwest Trade
Adjustment Assistance Center, which
offers federal matching grant dollars to
manufacturers and service companies
that have experienced a decrease in
sales and employment within the last
12 to 24 months. The program matches
company expenditures – as much as
a 50/50 cost share – on such consultant services as marketing, trade show
preparations, operations, engineering,
new product development, information management, employee training
and certifications.
Another aspect of business retention
and expansion is supporting entrepreneurship through training seminars and
one-on-one business assistance. Those
services are available to existing small
businesses as well as individuals who
wish to start businesses in Terrebonne
Parish.
In 2015, TEDA’s state legislation was
amended to shrink the board from 14
members to nine. Filling those seats
are Kerry Chauvin of KJC Properties,
president; Robert LeBlanc of Manson
Gulf LLC, vice president; Chad Hebert
of Workforce Logistics, secretary; Christian Lapeyre of Alford, Staples, Lapeyre
& Robichaux LLC, treasurer; Tommy
Guarisco of TNT Thatcher; Nicholas
Hebert of Mitchell Hebert Insurance
Agency; Mike Lewis of Big Mike’s BBQ
and Smokehouse; Clarence Williams of
Clarence Williams, LLC; and Ivan Hayes
Williams of Baller’s Sports Grill & Chill.
To discuss opportunities to aid your
business enterprise, contact Terrebonne Economic Development Authority at 985-873-6890, Patrick Gordon at
pgordon@tpeda.org or Katherine Gilbert-Theriot at ktheriot@tpeda.org.
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H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
6
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Welcome New Members
BOARD
SPOTLIGHT
Ava Anderson Non-Toxic by Anjele Borne
Anjele Borne
(985) 804-2121
125 Saxony Drive
Houma, Louisiana 70360
http://www.AnjeleNonToxic.com
Categories: Health & Wellness
Athenos
Brian Rushing
Billy Hasan
(662) 242-7322
6285 West Park Avenue
Houma, Louisiana 70360
Publisher/Owner
Rushing Media
Categories: Restaurants
Bio Protection Systems, Inc./Bio Pro Mold Inspections
A.J. Vesich
(985) 665-7706
513 Edgewood Drive
Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301
http://www.bioproinc.com
Areas of Expertise:
Publishing, marketing
Other interests:
Fishing, skiing, travel off the beaten
path in the Rockies
Categories: Environmental Services, Mold Inspection Service
Root 2 Rise
Why did you join the Chamber?
The network of businesses that the
Chamber provides is a resource that is
unmatched in our area.
Shantelle Abshire
(985) 346-6399
605 Barrow Street
Houma, Louisiana 70360
http://www.root2risehouma.com
Why do you serve on the Board of
Directors?
With my experience and knowledge
of our community gained through the
publications we produce I feel like I can bring a unique point of view
to the chamber, and add to the discussions and decisions made by the
board.
Categories: Juice Bar, Yoga Instruction
PM Production Concert Systems
Norris Comeaux
(504) 201-6478
4067 Highway 1
Raceland, Louisiana 70394
http://www.pmnola.com
Categories: Event Services, Production Company
What is the Chamber’s role in the business community?
The role of the Chamber in our business community is to work with the
public and other agencies toward enhancing our larger community to
make it a more prosperous place to live and do business.
Neo Nail Spa, LLC
Aaron Nguyen
(985) 262-0206
1795 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Suite J
Houma, Louisiana 703630
Categories: Nail Salons & Services
The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
Invites You To Join!
Internal Medicine Group
Alain Chestnut, M.D.
Craig Wade, M.D.
8120 Main Street, Suite 403
Houma, Louisiana 70360
http://www.certex.com
We would love to have you join our team and become a member of the Chamber. There are many benefits to take advantage of and we would be happy to
answer any questions you might have. Give us a call at (985) 876-5600, Visit
our website www.houmachamber.com for more info or to fill out an application.
Categories: Physicians, Physicians-Internal Medicine
Comeaux Plumbing & Repair, LLC
Norris Comeaux, Jr.
(985) 537-5698
4067 Highway 1
Raceland, Louisiana 70394
http://www.comeauxplumbing.com
Categories: Plumbing-Contractor, Sewage Treatment Systems, Supplies & Services
Cameron Isles
(985) 851-4753
100 Cameron isles Court
Houma, Louisiana 70360
6133 Hwy 311, Houma, Louisiana 70360 Email: info@houmachamber.com
Categories: Apartments, Housing
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
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Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
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One on One with Harry Bourg Corporation
The Chamber selects member businesses, organizations and individuals to highlight in this monthly
publication. The Harry Bourg Corporation was selected at a recent General Membership Luncheon to
be featured. Earlier this month we interviewed Cyrus
Theriot, Jr. to learn more about him and Harry Bourg
Corporation.
Tell us a little about the history of Harry Bourg Corporation. How long has it been in business? Is it
locally owned and operated.
The Harry Bourg Corporation, founded in 1955, is a
privately owned and operated Louisiana Corporation.
We are located in Terrebonne Parish, about 60 miles
southwest of New Orleans in Houma. The Harry Bourg
Corporation currently manages approximately 17,000
acres of property in Dulac, mostly wetlands, which we
lease for fishing, hunting, residential campsites, commercial dock space, cattle and oil & gas exploration.
The marshlands were acquired by Harry Bourg in
the 1920’s and 1930’s. His love of trapping, hunting
and fishing along with his continuous hard work allowed him to build his business. In 1938, his land was
leased by Fohs Oil Company. The company dug a six
mile long canal named the Fohs Canal from the Bayou
Grand Caillou to the middle of Harry’s marsh where
the company drilled an oil well 13,300 feet deep. The
well was named the Harry Bourg Number One, and it
was prolific and led to additional wells being drilled
on the property.
The oil and gas companies caused significant damage to the property from 1938-2003, and after refusing to clean it up; a suit was filed in 2003 against
twelve oil and gas companies. After a three year battle, a favorable settlement resulted to the Harry Bourg
Corporation. The funds were utilized to restore the
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
property to a similar state as before the time of the
lease.
Harry Bourg Corporation has also since branched
out to subdivision development, finding a way to utilize its soil to help protect Terrebonne Parish. It plays
a leading role in supplying dirt and materials to contractors constructing levees being built by the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation.
Where is the office located?
Our office is located at 619 Point Street in Houma.
What is the company’s specialty?
Land leases and estuary management are our specialty.
How many people are employed by Harry Bourg Corporation?
We have 6 employees.
In what ways has the industry changed the most
over the years?
Land loss due to coastal erosion and the decline
in the oil and gas industry has caused the greatest
change.
What do your clients like best about Harry Bourg
Corporation?
Our clients like the usage of private land to hunt
and fish, and the availability of commercial fishing.
What is the one experience you want for the clients
of Harry Bourg Corporation? To enjoy nature.
Tell us about you. Where were you born and raised?
Tell us about your family.
I was born and raised in Houma. My mother was
Gertie Bourg Theriot, the daughter of Harry Bourg,
and my father was Cyrus Theriot, Sr., who owned Theriot Lumber Company from 1940-1950’s.
Did you attend/graduate from college? School?
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
8
Years?
I attended University of South Louisiana (USL) for 2
years.
What is your title?
President
What are your primary responsibilities?
Manage 17,000 acres located in the Dulac area.
How long have you been with Harry Bourg Corporation?
Since 1999
What do you like best about Harry Bourg Corporation?
The opportunity to continue the legacy of Harry
Bourg.
What is most challenging about your job?
To continue generating income for family shareholders.
Tell us about the relationship between Harry Bourg
Corporation and the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber
of Commerce. Why does Harry Bourg Corporation
invest in the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce?
We have been a member for over 30 years to help
our Parish grow.
Can you share any of your company’s involvement or
your personal involvement with the Chamber over
the years?
I have served on the Advisory Committee for the
Coast Zone Levee issues.
Why should other businesses invest in the HoumaTerrebonne Chamber of Commerce?
The Chamber is a great resource to gain wisdom
and knowledge of the economics of our parish.
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Join Us !
Paul Danos Named to NOIA Board
Paul Danos, executive
vice president of Danos,
has been chosen to serve
on the board of directors
for the National Ocean
Industries Association
(NOIA). The appointment was announced at
NOIA’s annual meeting in
Washington, D.C.
Paul Danos is experienced in a variety of
industry segments, having previously worked
in operations, disaster
response and recovery,
and offshore construction and fabrication for
the company. He also
served as a senior consultant for Plains All Ameri-
can and Arthur Andersen
(Protiviti Consulting). As
executive vice president,
Paul leads the company’s
strategic planning, business development, and
sales and marketing efforts.
“NOIA plays an important role in ensuring
that America has access
to the safe development
of offshore energy,” said
Danos. “It is an honor
for me to join NOIA as
a board member and
to help further this mission.”
NOIA is a national
trade association representing all segments
Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
Annual Chamber Banquet
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
6 p.m. – Cocktails • 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. – Banquet
Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
of the offshore industry
with an interest in the
exploration and production of both traditional
and renewable energy
resources on the nation’s
outer continental shelf.
Keynote Speaker – Sandy Davis
Mr. Davis is a retired fire chief from Shreveport, LA,
a published author and an internationally recognized
motivational speaker dedicated to advancing the
development of teambuilding, leadership, and
management skills in public and private industry.
Tickets and Sponsorships may be purchased by calling the Chamber office at 985-876-5600. Attendees enjoy a plated dinner, drinks and entertainment. General public is invited to attend.
TGMC Surgeon Among 1,679 Initiated Into
American College Of Surgeons
Dr. Eric J. Jukes was
among 1,679 Initiates
from around the world
who became Fellows of
the American College
of Surgeons (FACS) during the Convocation ceremony at the College’s
2015 annual Clinical Congress in Chicago, Ill., last
month. This year’s class
of Initiates was among
one of the largest ever
admitted into the College.
Dr. Jukes received a
medical doctorate in
2006 from LSU Health
Sciences Center- Shreveport and is currently
practicing at Terrebonne
General Medical Center (TGMC). In 2012,
Dr. Jukes attained board
certification from the
American Board of Surgery. Dr. Jukes has a
strong professional interest in General Surgery
and holds membership
in other professional societies, including the Terrebonne Parish Medical
Society and the Louisiana
State Medical Society.
By meeting the College’s stringent membership requirements, Fellows of the College have
earned the distinguished
right to use the designation of “FACS” (Fellow,
American College of Surgeons) after their names.
An applicant for Fellowship must be a graduate
of an approved medical
school; must have completed advanced training
in one of the 14 surgical
specialties recognized by
the College; must possess certification by
an American surgical specialty board
or appropriate certification by the Royal
College of Physicians
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
and Surgeons of Canada;
and must have been in
practice for at least one
year at the time of his or
her application. Before
admission into Fellowship, the surgeon must
further
demonstrate
ethical fitness and professional proficiency, and
his or her acceptance
as a Fellow of the College must be approved
by three-fourths of its
Board of Regents.
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
BUSINESS
AFTER
H URS
Networking at its best!
Business After Hours is held each month for Chamber members and their
employees to network and enjoy food, drinks and door prizes.
Thursday, January 28 • 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sponsored by: Women’s Business Alliance
Chamber Office — 6133 Highway 311
Charlotte Grace
Agency Owner
Allstate Insurance Company
1208 Louise St.
Thibodaux, LA 70301
Office 985-492-1579/Cell 985-665-3585
Fax 985-492-1264
Cgrace@allstate.com
9
Your trusted Allstate advisor
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Photo Gallery
Chantell Pepper with the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce attends a CPR training facilitated by Marie
Chaisson with Workforce Logistics. The training was held for Chamber staff members.
Volunteers from the Woodman of the World donated and installed an American flag at the Chamber office.
Crystal Crosby and Madonna Scurlock with Designs By Two hosted the Business After Hours at their store located at 240 Barrow Street in Houma. Both interior designers were on-hand to answer questions about their
design services, and their beautiful inventory of specialty gift items, home décor, furniture and much more.
Chad Parr, Coastal Commerce Bank, Molly Blakely, Latter & Blum Co. Inc. / REALTORS, Kay Thibodeaux, HoumaTerrebonne Chamber of Commerce and Cheri Blanchard, Business and Career Solutions/Work Connection attend the Business After-Hours at Designs By Two.
Coleman Cormier, D.C., Flynn-Manceaux-Arcement-Pizzolato-Thompson Chiropractic Clinic, Tyler Blanchard,
Classic Business Products, Greg Berthelot, MidSouth Bank attend the Business After-Hours at Designs By Two.
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Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
Annette Turner, Shane Golmon and Clyve Smith of Coastal Commerce Bank attend the Business After-Hours at
Designs By Two located at 240 Barrow Street in Houma.
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Photo Gallery
Karen Schilling, Leadership Terrebonne, Stephanie Hebert, Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency and Chamber
Board Chair, Nancy Boudreaux, Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions and luncheon speaker, Kate Theriot,
CFC, LLC and Chamber Board Treasurer, and Suzanne Nolfo Carlos, Chamber President/CEO attend the General
Membership Luncheon in November. Special thanks to Ms. Boudreaux for her presentation and to Ms. Schilling
and Leadership Terrebonne for sponsoring the event.
Clyde Hamner visits with A.J. Vesich of Bio Protection Systems, Inc./Bio Pro Mold Inspections at the Business
After-Hours at Designs By Two.
The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce announced 5 honorees for the 2015 Terrebonne’s Young
Achievers awards. Stephanie Hebert, Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency and Chamber Board Chair presented
the awards at the membership luncheon in November. Pictured above are Ms. Hebert, Paul Danos, 38 year
old Executive Vice President at Danos; Jeff Bordelon, 33 year old Vice President of Marine Purchasing at EMR;
Natalie Campbell, 34 year old owner of Campbell Technology Consultants, LLC; Tanner Magee, 35 year old attorney with Magee Law, LLC and Kate Theriot, CFC, LLC and Chamber Board Treasurer. Mike Lewis, 39 year old
owner of Big Mike’s BBQ Smoke House was unable to attend the event.
Mike Lewis, 39 year old owner of Big Mike’s BBQ Smoke House was recognized as a 2015 Terrebonne Young
Achiever at a November Chamber Board meeting by Board Chair Stephanie Hebert, Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency.
Chamber Board members Ann Barker, Terrebonne Ford, Janel Ricca, Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Earl Eues,
KEE Environmental Services, LLC and Board Chairman-Elect and Kimi Walker, Chauvin Brothers participate in a
break-out session during a Board retreat. Board Members met in November to set goals for 2016.
Kay Thibodeaux, Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, Stevie Smith, All South Consulting Engineers, LLC,
and John Rogers, Coastal Commerce Bank meet to set goals for the Government Activities Committee during
the Chamber Board Retreat in November.
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Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
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Photo Gallery
David Dupre’, DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc.; John Yochum, Capital One Financial Corp.; Aron Weisner, Enterprise Community Investment, Inc.; Patrick Forbes, LA Office of Community Development; Leonard D. Simmons,
Jr., Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corp.; Michelle Thomas, LA Housing Corp.; Michel H. Claudet,
Terrebonne Parish President; Victor Smeltz, Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corp.; Mike King, Volunteers of America, Inc.; James LeBlanc, Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans; Wayne M. Baquet Jr., Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans and Michael Hunley, MSH Architects participate in the ribbon cutting for
the new affordable living community, Bayou Cane Apartments located at 137 Synergy Center Blvd. in Houma.
Envy Boutique celebrates a ribbon cutting ceremony during their Grand Opening celebration at 1795 Martin
Luther King Blvd., Suite M in Houma. Participants include Ashley Ellis, model (face of Envy) Gabrielle Bonvillian,
store manager, Dawn Baker, owner, Sara Rhodes, owner, Alyssa Ross, sales associate and Stacie Theriot. Stop
by Envy Boutique today for the latest fashions and accessories!
Ginger & Bee celebrates a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new location at 1795 Martin Luther King Blvd., Suite
L in Houma. Participants include Heather Pulley, Shelley Robichaux, owner, Brie Robichaux, owner, Caroline
Chafin and Kyrsten Medine. Ginger & Bee offers handcrafted bath, body, and home products that cleanses and
soothes skin, body and mind. Visit there location today or call (985) 402-1660 for more information.
Tim and Paula Domangue, owners of Greenwood Gator Farm & Swamp Boat Tours participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the addition of Swamp Boat Tours with Captains Black Guidry and Mike Colee to
their Gator Farm Tours. The Domangues are joined with their children Brad & Ashley, friends, staff and Chamber members. Make plans to visit their farm at 125 Gator Ct. (off of HWY 182) in Gibson. Call 985-804-0744 or
visit their website at www.greenwoodgatorfarm.com for more information.
Nicole Nobles Ditch, center with ceremonial scissors, is joined by Wraparound Services of SCLA staff, volunteers
and Chamber members at a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating their first anniversary. Wraparound is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services and support to help at-risk youth and families. For more
information visit their website at www.thewraparound.org, call (985)232-3930 or visit their office at 279 South
Hollywood Road in Houma.
Shantelle Abshire and Leah Porche, RDN, LDN, center holding the ceremonial scissors, participate in a ribbon
cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of Root 2 Rise featuring yoga, Pilates and a smoothie and juice bar.
Stop by there location at 605 Barrow St. in Houma to pick up a schedule of classes and try some of their healthy
fast food options.
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Nicholls State University Earns State’s ‘Military and
Veteran Friendly’ Designation
Nicholls State University has recently been designated as a “Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly
Campus” by Gov. Bobby Jindal and has been recognized for the seventh consecutive year as a “Military
Friendly School” by G.I. Jobs magazine.
Jindal’s military friendly designation was created
this year to assist veterans in selecting which Louisiana school best fits their needs. This year’s recognition identifies 24 schools that offer tailored veteran
admissions policies and support services, application
fee waivers, priority class scheduling, career workshops and veteran-specific courses like the veteransonly freshman seminar class instructed by Nicholls
President Dr. Bruce Murphy, a retired lieutenant colonel who served 23 years in the U.S. Army.
“Earning military friendly designations year after
year validates the effort Nicholls has already made
— and continues to make — to accommodate our nation’s veterans who are seeking a quality education,”
said Gilberto Burbante, Nicholls coordinator of veterans services. Burbante, a former U.S. Marine and
Army National Guard officer, is a three-time Iraq War
infantry veteran and 2011 Nicholls graduate.
“The Nicholls Office of Veteran Affairs acts like a
military unit,” Burbante said. “We take care of our
own here, and that’s how we are able to make an impression and lasting connections with fellow veterans
on campus.”
Currently, 198 veterans are enrolled and receiving
benefits at Nicholls. The Office of Veterans Affairs
acts as a one-stop shop, helping veterans to register
for classes, navigate financial aid processes, receive
military or transfer credits and even find jobs during
the summer break or after graduation. Nicholls also
operates a veterans’ lounge in Shaver Gym to help
build community among student veterans and assist in their transition to college life.
“Nicholls is
committed to supporting our veterans as they work
toward earning a college degree,” Murphy said. “We
are proud of our military and veteran friendly designation and enjoy helping these individuals achieve
continued success.”
For more information about Nicholls’ services for
veterans and active service members, call Burbante
at 985.448.4208, or go to nicholls.edu/veterans.
Terrebonne Parish Library Receives National Grant for
Robotics Programming
The Terrebonne Parish Library
System announces its newest initiative: MoboRobo: Robots on the
Go!
MoboRobo is made possible
through a Sparks! Ignition Grant
for Libraries, administered by the
Institute of Museum and Library
Services. This highly competitive grant vetted various libraries
across the nation with the purpose
of providing free, highly merited
STEM programming to the public
through original and inventive yet
highly effective means. The Terrebonne Library received $18,143 for
supplies and training to provide library patrons, educators, and outreach leaders of Terrebonne Parish
with MoboRobo Labs, Kits, and @
the Library programming.
MoboRobo is both an in-library
program for children, as well as
a lending program consisting of
circulating robotics kits for use in
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
homes, schools, and after school
groups such as Girl Scouts, Boy
Scouts, 4-H, and outreach programs for youth in the community. The kits provide educators,
parents, or group leaders with the
educational materials and physical
teaching tools (robots and cubelets) to enhance elementary to
middle school-aged kids’ understanding of and participation in
STEM activities. STEM stands for
any learning system focusing on
science, technology, engineering,
and/or math.
MoboRobo will be broken down
into three types of library programming and circulating materials for external programming.
With MoboRobo @ the Library,
all libraries throughout the Terrebonne Parish system will have
ready-made library programming
for up to 20 children at a time, free
and open to the public. With Mo-
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
boRobo Kits, parents and children
will have the opportunity to check
out robotics to play and learn
through STEM-based activities at
home. Finally, MoboRobo Labs offer schools and after school groups
a way to check out enough equipment for up to 30 children to work
together in pairs, exploring new
concepts and developing critical
academic skills within and outside
classroom settings. Teacher and
after school group leader training will be provided free of cost
for those wishing to implement
STEM programming with robotics
in their learning environments.
For more information about
MoboRobo, the Sparks! Ignition
Grant through IMLS, or upcoming
programming and training schedules, please contact Lauren at 8505301.
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Greater Lafourche Port Commission Recognizes Nicholls State University for
Fourchon Beach Restoration, Protection Efforts
The Greater Lafourche Port Commission recognized Nicholls State University for its fundamental contributions
to Fourchon Beach coastal restoration
and protection efforts at a commission
board meeting in Galliano.
Nicholls biology faculty and students
have grown and planted over 16,500
dune grass stems to help protect Fourchon Beach from environmental factors
like storm surges and coastal erosion
since July 2014.
The Port Commission was awarded
the 2015 Environmental Enhancement
Award by the American Association of
Port Authorities (AAPA) for its Beach
and Dune Restoration Geotube Project,
which restored approximately one mile
of beach and dune habitat at Port Fourchon.
“Having an environmentally conscious organization like the Greater Lafourche Port Commission collaborate
with Nicholls students on service-learning opportunities encourages them
to connect with their community and
gain a firsthand understanding of the
impact they can make as future biologists,” said Nicholls President Dr. Bruce
Murphy. “Nicholls is very proud of its
biology faculty and students for becoming leaders in preserving and protecting
Louisiana’s vulnerable coastline.”
Fourchon Beach is the first line of defense for Port Fourchon, which services
over 90 percent of all deepwater Gulf of
Mexico oil and gas production, accounting for approximately 20 percent of the
U.S. energy supply. This beach area sustained extensive damages from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Isaac.
“While it’s great to build this beach
and dune back, we understood that the
project wouldn’t be able to last long
in that environment without plants to
help hold it together,” said Chett Chiasson, executive director of the Greater
Lafourche Port Commission. “That’s
when we approached Nicholls State
University about helping us protect
this investment with a series of plantings, and we are very grateful that they
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have done so much to help us keep our
beach intact.”
Pictured (from left to right) Dr. Neal Weaver, Nicholls vice president for university advancement; Dr. Allyse Ferrara, Nicholls professor of biological sciences; Nicholls President Dr. Bruce Murphy; Chett Chiasson, executive
director of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission; Dr. Quenton Fontenot, Nicholls professor and head of biological sciences; and Dr. Lynn Gillette, Nicholls provost and vice president for academic affairs. Photo courtesy of
Greater Lafourche Port Commission
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H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
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Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
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Oncale Named Rookie of the Year
TGMC Honors Long Term Employees
and Retirees
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
50 year employee CJ Breaux.
Ann Dupre, Teddy Dupre, Jr., Jacqueline Eberling, Dwayne Hornsby, Dana
James, Lynn Ledet, Amber Luke, Theresa McGuire, Betty Nash, Kristi Robert,
Constance Robinson, Latasha Robinson, Dana Rogers, Claudia Ryder, Amy
Savoie, Penella Scott, Melanie Soignet,
Michael Verdin, and James Whitney III.
Seventeen employees were honored
for 10 years of service. Heidi Acosta,
Rhonda Alfred, Justin Chaisson, Consuella Darjean, Dennis Dillard, Magen
Dufrene, Billie Evans, Jenny Hawkins,
Amy Naquin, Ryan Orillion, Jessica
Quick, Dawn Richard, Susan Schexnaildre, Katherine Sims, Patricia Stanley,
Stacie Tastet, and Abby Toups.
Eight TGMC retirees were honored
for their many years of service. Gayle
Bourgeois, 20 years of service, Corine
Coleman, 41 years of service, Kenneth
Foret, 34 years of service, Carol May, 38
years of service, Pamela Pellegrin, 34
years of service, Spicy Pryne, 29 years
of service, Sheila Rhodes, 20 years of
service, and Beverly Rutledge, 53 years
of service.
TGMC is proud of each and every
one of our team members who make
miracles happen every day!
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
is all about” said Tiffany
Rabalais, broker/owner
of Premiere Properties
of the South in Houma,
LA. “In the 2 years she
has been an agent, she
truly understands what it
means to be a real estate
professional and a community volunteer and is
an example from which
we can all learn something.”
“It is a great honor to
be recognized among
such a talented and dedicated group of real estate professionals,” said
Joni. “The unwavering
support of my broker
and real estate family at
Premiere Properties of
the South undoubtedly
helped to make receiving
this award possible. Doing what you love makes
even the most challenging days enjoyable. “
Joni, who grew up in
Houma, LA is very familiar with all of the benefits
the Tri-Parish area has to
offer and is a member
of the Bayou Board of
Realtors®. She is known
to give the utmost dedication to her clients by
providing them with the
most information possible enabling them to
make the best decision
about their real estate
investment.
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Over 150 Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) employees were
honored at the Annual Employee Service Awards Banquet. Sixty-Nine employees were long term employees
recognized for providing over 20 years
of service or more to TGMC.
Clifford Breaux, Jr. was recognized
for an outstanding 50 years of service
and Keith Matherne was recognized for
40 years of service at TGMC. Honored
for 35 years of service were, Wilson
Freeman, Cathy Kohmann, and Barbara Hogenstad. Employees recognized
for 30 years of service were, Christine
Cantrelle, Sandee Ellender, Teresita
McNabb, Mary Miller, Dana Olivier,
Elizabeth Rousseve, Linda Savoie, Lucetta Sweet, and Terry Wallace, Jr.
Twenty-one employees were honored for 25 years of service. Karen
Billiot, Carol Burt, Urtz Cheramie, Lorraine Coleman, Simone Corley, Elsie
Dabney, Kathleen Diggs, Patricia Domangue, Wendy Durocher, Gail Hamilton, Jeanne Hamner, Cynthia Harris,
Donna Jackson, Charlene Josey, Denise
Lajaunie, Leslie Levron, Deborah Marcel, Laura Melancon, Trudy Ordoyne,
Nadeline Riley, and Diane Yeates.
Thirty-four employees were honored for 20 years of service. Tracie
Achee, Edna Anderson, Donald Austin,
Harold Benoit, D’lyn Bollinger, Sonda
Brown, Philip Bueche, Pamela Bundy,
Thomas Champagne, Gail Denson,
Wayne Deroche, James Devillier, Carole Duplantis, Angela Fontenot, Henry
Franklin, Victoria Grey, Angela Guillory,
Kimberly Harrison, Nichol Ledet, Desaire Lirette, Harriet Lyons, Kathy McClendon, Veronica McEachern, Phyllis
Peoples, Cherie Pierre- Miller, Rebecca
Pizzo, Kerrie Redmond, Pamela Spearman, Mark Spence, Tommy Tabor, Troy
Tabor, Nancy Theriot, Danyel VanMatre, Dean Verret, and Randy Williams.
Twenty-four employees were honored for 15 years of service. Terry
Babin, Rebecca Blanchard, James Charpentier, Jean Dove, Jennifer Dufrene,
Premiere Properties of
the South, LLC member
of the Bayou Board of
Realtors®, is proud to announce Joni Oncale has
been awarded the prestigious “Rookie of the
Year” award by the Bayou Board of Realtors®.
The Rookie of the Year
award recognizes excellent professional performance by a Realtor®
with up to 2 years experience within the local real
estate community. The
Bayou Board of Realtors®
recently presented the
award to Joni during a
special ceremony at the
Annual Installation Banquet.
“Joni possesses a tireless dedication to helping home buyers and
sellers make informed
real estate decisions and
that is what the honor
Manning Passing Academy Makes Nicholls State University Its Home Through 2021
Nicholls State University and the Manning Passing Academy have signed a six-year contract
extension to host the popular football skills camp on the Thibodaux campus through 2021.
“We are very excited to enter into a long-term agreement with Nicholls State University,”
said Archie Manning, founder and executive director of the Manning Passing Academy. “The
past 10 years have been terrific. Our staff, the campers and their families get to experience
the true Southern hospitality that Louisiana and Lafourche Parish are famous for. We feel that
Thibodaux is the home of the Manning Passing Academy.”
Nicholls has hosted the four-day summer football camp since 2005, annually attracting
more than 1,000 high school athletes and over 100 coaches and counselors from the NFL,
colleges and high schools across the country. Previously held each July, the 2016 Manning
Passing Academy and future MPA camps will welcome campers June 23-26 to comply with
NCAA recruiting regulations.
“The ongoing partnership between Nicholls and the Manning Passing Academy is a winwin-win for Nicholls, the Mannings and the City of Thibodaux,” said Nicholls President Dr.
Bruce Murphy. “Nicholls, along with our community partners, are committed to delivering
the best experience possible, and we are grateful to the Mannings for choosing our university
to help educate and inspire young athletes each summer.”
High school quarterbacks, receivers, running backs
and tight ends travel from all 50 states and around
the world to learn football fundamentals from retired
NFL quarterback Archie Manning and his three sons,
Nicholls Marketing Students Place Third at International
Fox Sports host Cooper and Super Bowl MVPs Peyton
Collegiate Sales Competition
and Eli.
Counselors, campers and their families travel to Thi Two Nicholls State University marketing seniors the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales at Wilbodaux and annually contribute more than $2 million
placed third out of 60 collegiate sales teams at the liam Paterson University’s Cotsakos College of Busito the local economy by staying at local hotels, eating
three-day International Collegiate Sales Competition ness in Wayne, New Jersey.
at local restaurants and shopping at local retailers.
hosted by Florida State University in Orlando, Flori- The National Sales Challenge, an intense series of
For some businesses, the week the Mannings are in
da.
selling competitions and workshops, brings together
town is the busiest week of the year.
Nicholls marketing seniors Kaitlin Beier and Sara more than 100 students from 36 universities as well
For more information on the Manning Passing AcadTrax outscored teams from 57 of the 60 participat- as 90 business executives who will host workshops
emy, including eligibility and registration, visit maning schools including Louisiana State University, Au- and judge the sales competitions.
ningpassingacademy.com.
burn University, Texas A&M University, Kansas State The Nicholls College of Business Administration
University and Indiana University. Beier also finished
fourth overall in the individual sales competition.
“For Nicholls College of Business students to compete at this high level of competition showcases
the quality of our professional sales concentration
in marketing,” said Dr. Marilyn Macik-Frey, interim
dean of the Nicholls College of Business Administration. “These students are performing at the highest
levels and are getting noticed by top businesses. In
the professional sales field, certain universities have
a reputation for turning out the best in the country.
Finishing third overall, Nicholls now shares that notoriety as a top-tier university in the area of professional sales.”
The International Collegiate Sales Competition
combines challenges in the three most sought-after
selling skills: business to business, direct to consumer
and using the latest video conferencing technology
to present solutions to international decision-makers. The event also includes a job fair sponsored by
over 25 Fortune 500 companies along with mini educational seminars.
Beier and Trax hope to achieve similar success at
the National Sales Challenge currently being held at
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
hosts its own sales competition — the Bayou Sales
Challenge — in the spring. The Bayou Sales Challenge
is open to all Louisiana college students and features
individual and team competitions held in the university’s Sales and Interactive Training Laboratory.
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People you know. A name you trust.
By Decision Health and National
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Kaitlin Beier and Sara Trax placed third at the International Collegiate
Sales Competition in Orlando, Florida, outscoring sales teams from 57
of the 60 participating schools. Pictured (from left) are Trax; Dr. Chuck
Viosca, Nicholls professor of marketing; and Beier.
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
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DDG Wins Top Social Media Award
Duplantis Design Group (DDG) won the Society of
Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Southeast
Louisiana Chapter Communication Award for the
Best Social Media Campaign with the “Get to Know
DDG” campaign.
The “Get to Know DDG” social media campaign targets DDG’s Facebook followers which include clients,
employees, family and friends. This campaign gives
people outside of the office an opportunity to get to
know each employee on a more personal level. When
reading the “Get to Know DDG”, the readers become
more familiar with the employees, and it helps them
feel they are part of the DDG team. Each week a new
employee is featured.
David Duplantis, CEO said, “DDG’s Facebook followers really enjoy seeing our employee spotlights,
especially proud moms! Clients enjoy the campaign
because they can better relate to our employees on a
personal level knowing more about their family and
the hobbies outside of our firm.”
“I am very proud of our marketing team for their
efforts,” continues Duplantis.
Nicholls State University to Host National Bassmaster
Tournament February 25 - 27 in Houma
Nicholls State University will attract over 100 collegiate bass fishing teams to the Bayou Region community when it hosts the Carhartt Bassmaster College
Series Central Regional Feb. 25-27 in Houma.
The three-day Central Regional tournament is the
second in a series of five regional qualifiers leading
up to the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series
National Championship. The Central Regional will be
the first Bassmaster tournament hosted by Nicholls,
whose bass fishing team formed in 2013. Nicholls
student anglers Tyler Rivet and Allyson Marcel placed
third out of 81 schools in the 2015 national championship held in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
“Participating in a qualifier like the Central Regional is how our bass fishing team was able to represent Nicholls on the national stage in Wisconsin,”
said Alyson Theriot, faculty sponsor of the Nicholls
Bass Fishing Team. “Having Nicholls host one of the
five regionals means more people and prospective
students will be introduced to all that we offer here,
and it supports the local economy because visiting
anglers and their families will be eating at our restaurants and staying at our hotels.”
Bob’s Bayou Black Marina, located about 30 minutes from Nicholls, will serve as the Central Regional’s official launch and weigh-in station. The final
tournament weigh-in, which is streamed online and
televised nationally, will take place on the Nicholls
campus.
The Nicholls Foundation is offering sponsorship
opportunities and welcoming corporate and private
donations for the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College
Series Central Regional. Those interested in supportH o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
ing the Nicholls-hosted event are invited to contact
the Nicholls Foundation at 985.448.4134.
“We always strive to select great venues for our
college anglers. We look for venues and fisheries that
can handle the growing field size, as well as provide
great fishing and dramatic competition,” said Hank
Weldon, B.A.S.S. College Series tournament manager.
“Each year, we get to see a young, aspiring angler’s
dream come true — and that’s always an unforgettable moment.”
Chad Danos Elected as
ASLA President
At the culmination of
this year’s Annual Meeting & EXPO in Chicago
on November 9, Chad
D. Danos, FASLA was installed as the 71st president of the American
Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
Danos is Director of
Landscape
Architecture at Duplantis Design Group, PC in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, creating value-added outdoor
environments that create a sense of place and
reflect the rich cultural
heritage of Louisiana.
For the past twentyfive years, Chad has
guided the planning,
design and implementation of prominent community projects such as:
North Boulevard Town
Square (Baton Rouge),
Forest Community Park
(Baton Rouge), Woman’s
Hospital (Baton Rouge),
Thibodaux
Regional
Medical Center (Thibodaux),
Terrebonne
Main Library (Houma),
North Tangipahoa Parish
Park (Kentwood), Louisiana Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, the Louisiana
Speaks Regional Plan,
and the Downtown Strategic Plan (Abbeville) to
name a few.
Chad D. Danos, FASLA
He has served ASLA
in many capacities: as
Louisiana Chapter President and Trustee, ASLA
Vice President of Government Affairs, and
chair of numerous committees. In 2011, Danos
was inducted into the
ASLA Council of Fellows,
among the highest honor the ASLA may bestow
on its members in recognition of exceptional
accomplishments over
a sustained period of
time.
“Landscape architects
offer significant value
to projects in an ever
changing world where
safe, sustainable, and
unifying public spaces
are critical to the viability of our communities.
I am eager to represent
my profession in the
coming year as its President.” says Danos.
Nicholls Bass Fishing Team members Allyson Marcel and Tyler Rivet cast
their lines in the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge near Bayou Black.
Photo by Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
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Danos Names Four Vice Presidents
Local Cardiologist is First in the World to
Use New Technology to Treat PAD
Dr. Craig Walker, founder, president and medical
director of Cardiovascular Institute of the South,
was the first in the world
to use the Turbo-Power
laser atherectomy catheter by Spectranetics for
in-stent restenosis in peripheral arteries.
The Turbo-Power laser
atherectomy catheter is
the latest technology in
treatment for in-stent
restenosis, which refers
to the narrowing of a
previously-stented vessel with restricted blood
flow. The catheter allows
for better directional control and a larger opening
in the blood vessel. The
tip rotates by the use of
an external remote and
uses radiofrequency ablation to open the vessel.
The procedure took place
in the cath lab at Terrebonne General Medical
Center.
This is the fourth “first”
in-man procedure done
by Dr. Walker, the others
being:
• First in the world to
place a stent in a patient
having a heart attack
(1989)
• First in the world to
place IDEV Nitinol Stent
in a human in Germany
(2006)
• First in the world to
Danos has added to its
leadership team by promoting James Callahan,
Mark Danos, Stacey Gisclair and Reed Peré to executive roles within the
company.
“These four outstanding individuals bring a
wealth of talent and
more than 70 years of
industry experience to
our executive leadership team,” said CEO and
President Hank Danos. “I
am confident that James,
Mark, Stacey and Reed
will enhance the strategic direction of Danos.”
As vice president of
finance, James Callahan
is responsible for overseeing the company’s
domestic and international
administration,
finance and accounting
activities. Prior to joining
Danos in 2013, Callahan
served as chief executive
officer for Superior Shipyard and Fabrication, as
well as chief operating
officer for SJI LLC, a privately held telecommunications company.
Mark Danos serves as
vice president of project
services, supervising the
company’s project management, construction
and fabrication divisions.
He is responsible for all
domestic and international deepwater, subsea, shelf and onshore
projects. Prior to joining
the company, he worked
in project management
for ExxonMobil, supporting large capital projects
use the Turbo-Booster
Laser System in Germany
(2006)
“The purpose is to
clear out the vessel and
make a bigger channel,”
explained Dr. Walker.
“This is a major advancement over prior devices.
We had a great result
with a great flow in a big
channel.”
Pictured (from left to right) Brandon Hendrick, Project Leader at Spectranetics, Dr. Craig Walker and Claude Lafont, Account Manager at Spectranetics
Women’s Business Alliance Sets Plan for 2016
The Women’s Business Alliance of
Houma will launch its 2016 program
year with a networking event January
28 to engage current and future members.
The Women’s Business Alliance
works to empower women in their
professional and personal endeavors,
thereby enriching their quality of life,
through networking, education, community involvement, and mentoring.
The 2016 launch will be a Business
After-Hours event at the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, 6133
Hwy. 311 in Houma from 5-7pm. The
event will feature a discussion and familiarization of the organization, as
well as announcement of the WBA’s activities for the year. All women in business careers – or seeking to enter into
a business career – are encouraged to
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
attend to join in creating a strong network of female business leaders in the
community.
In 2015, the organization’s activities
included networking/educational luncheons, the Athena Awards Banquet
(with Natalie Bergeron honored for
her assistance in the community) and
the awarding of three scholarships to
college-bound high-school graduates.
New for 2016 is the creation of a
$100 corporate membership, which
entitles all of a company’s employees
to be WBA members, a corporate listing in the membership directory and
on the WBA web site and other promotional mentions. Individual memberships cost $30.
For information on joining WBA, visit: wbahouma.org or email: info@wbahouma.org.
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
James Callahan
Mark Danos
Reed Pere
Stacey Gisclair
around the world. Mark
Danos is a third-generation owner of the company and member of its
board of directors.
Stacy Gisclair brings
over two decades of human resources experience to her position as
vice president of human
resources. Through her
oversight and management of the company’s
human resources and recruiting activities, Gisclair
ensures that Danos continues its commitment
to a high-performance
culture. In 2015, she received the company’s
“Quality Person of the
Year.” Gisclair worked for
Edison Chouest Offshore
prior to joining Danos in
1999.
Vice President of Production Services Reed
Peré is responsible for
the quality of work and
adherence to safety policies of the company’s
global production workforce. He has been with
Danos since 2006, and in
2012 received the “Quality Person of the Year”
award. His background in
secondary education and
10 years in the energy
industry make Peré well
suited to managing Danos employees in locations around the world.
Visit www.houmachamber.com for more Chamber information.
18
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
Nicholls to Help Freshmen Prepare for
Math Courses with $25,000 from AT&T
An innovative program specially
designed to spur Nicholls University
freshman toward mathematical success will be funded by a $25,000 contribution from the AT&T Aspire initiative.
The funding will provide 80 first-time
freshmen students an opportunity to
participate in an intensive, 12-day preparatory program in mathematics.
“Over the past 40 years, we’ve seen
many jobs in the oil and gas industry
shift to a higher demand for trained
mathematicians and engineers as the
use of computers and automation has
spread to almost all sectors of our
economy,” stated State Senator Norby
Chabert. “We are fortunate to have
Nicholls State University recognize
that our state will need thousands of
workers to fill both skilled and STEMrelated jobs to meet the demands of
the billions of dollars in new projects
which will continue to diversity our
economy.”
“We greatly appreciate the support
from policy makers and education
advocates like State Senator Norby
Chabert who understand that the value of education goes beyond a paper
diploma,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, Vice
President of Advancement. “These
days, technological, engineering and
business problems now require a high
level of mathematical understanding
and management due to the complexity of these skills in today’s global environment, and our graduates must be
prepared to understand how to solve
these issues.”
“The more than two million non-farm
employees created in Louisiana range
from skilled workers to STEM-related
jobs,” said Leo Marsh, AT&T Regional
Manager. “There is an ever growing
demand for mathematical expertise
in the software engineering, biological and social sciences, as well as in finance and business management, and
this demand will continue to grow and
evolve. It’s imperative we prepare our
21st century workforce to problemsolve and identify emerging trends
that will transform our global society
and marketplace.”
Spread the Good News!
Share the news about your business’ or organization’s success!
Submit your press releases to news@houmachamber.com
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
Commerce Focus/December 27, 2015
19
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
There’s A Reason
We Sell More
King Cakes
Than Any Other Bakery.
Over 350,000 last year!
We’ve been baking real Louisiana king
cakes for over 56 years. Our bakers start
with our exclusive gourmet cinnamon
dough — it’s a Rouses original — and hand
decorate every king cake we sell.
Rouses Mini Muffaletta Party Tray
FEEDING YOUR WHOLE KREWE
IS A PIECE OF (KING) Cake!
KING CAKE HOTLINE: 1-800-688-5998
We ship anywhere in the continental U.S.
Order Online at www.rouses.com
We’ve got Mardi Gras covered, from the food and drinks, to the ice chests you put them in.
Our kitchen krewe is frying chicken and making our famous St. Louis-style ribs to eat on the
route or at the house. And check out our great selection of party trays and sandwiches.
Stay in Touch with Rouses • @RousesMarkets • facebook.com/rousesmarkets • www.rouses.com