New Members - Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce

Fo us
A monthly publication of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
Volume 7 | Number 5 | May 2014
New Members 8
One on One with St. Charles Chiropractic 9
Photo Gallery 10
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doctors determine when it was
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Former Outfielder, Nicholls State University Baseball
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Contact Us!
Officers:
Chairman of the Board
Donald A. Hingle II
is NOT
by Kimi P. Walker
Chamber Development
Committee
Chair
I am at a loss for
the right way to express myself following the “Mega Business After Hours,”
as Chamber Board Chairman Don Hingle so
appropriately coined it. Due to the input and
actions of so many individuals, the April 30th
event at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission evolved into one huge success. With
much gratitude and humility, I thank the members of the Chamber Development & Diplomat
committee for their plotting and planning that
set the foundation for a successful event.
In addition to the planning committee, the
following event sponsors provided the backbone of support: All South Consulting Engineers, Bourg Supermarket, Coastal Commerce
Enough!!
Bank, Pat’s of Chauvin, Piggly Wiggly, Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency and Chauvin
Brothers. Supplementing sponsor support,
the Chamber offers a huge thanks to the following event partners: Sola Flight Services
(donation of a Houma air tour), Pizza Express,
Raising Cane’s – Grand Caillou Location, Big
Mike’s BBQ Smoke House, Cannata’s Family
Market, Houma’s Town & Country Real Estate,
Inc., Buquet Distributing Company and Cajun
Ice Houses.
Of course I cannot forget to express my gratitude to all those who attended. Depending
on the enjoyment and feedback from attendees, perhaps we can work toward providing
this Mega Business After-Hours as an annual
occurrence. Again, I am overwhelmed with all
the community support and participation. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not sincerely
thank Mr. David Slater for providing the perfect venue at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport
Commission.
Join Us !
Business First Bank
Chairman-Elect
Stephanie Hebert
Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency
Treasurer
Earl J. Eues, Jr.
KEE Environmental Services, LLC
Vice Chairman-Community Development Division
Kathleen (Kate) Theriot
Coaching for Change, LLC
Vice Chairman-Chamber Development Division
Paul Labat
Foundation for Terrebonne General Medical Center
Vice Chairman-Infrastructure & Economic Develop. Div.
Stephen Smith
All South Consulting Engineers, LLC
Vice Chairman-Government Activities Division
Mark Folse
Coastal Commerce Bank
Immediate Past Chairman
Jennifer Armand
Armand Creative
BOARD MEMBERS:
Ann Barker
Leroy Guidry
Terrebonne Ford
Chet Morrison Contractors, LLC
Jason Bergeron
Mike Lewis
Technology Professionals, LLC
Big Mike’s BBQ Smoke House
Jeff Bordelon
Oneil P. Malbrough
Southern Recycling, LLC
Shaw Coastal Inc., a CB&I Company
Joseph Boudreaux
Bruce Murphy
Blackhawk Specialty Tools
Nicholls State University
Rene Claudet
David Rabalais
Quality Hotel - Houma
Terrebonne Port Commission
Reggie Dupre
Ann Summers
Terrebonne Levee & Conservation Dist.
Synergy Bank
H. Miles Forrest
Yolanda V. Trahan
The Courier
Terrebonne Foundation for
Academic Excellence
Michael J. Garcia, M.D.
South Louisiana Medial Assoc.
Kimi Walker
Chauvin Brothers, Inc.
Business After-Hours
Thursday, June 19 • 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sponsored by:
staff:
Anela’s Wellness & Yoga Lounge
7720 Main Street
Business After-Hours is held each month for Chamber members and
their employees to network and enjoy food, drinks and door prizes.
There is no attendance fee or registration required.
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Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
President and CEO
Suzanne Nolfo Carlos
Events &
Communication Coordinator
Betsy Breerwood
suzanne@houmachamber.com
betsy@houmachamber.com
Administrative Assistant
Chantell Pepper
Membership Account Executive
Kay Thibodeaux
cpepper@houmachamber.com
3
kay@houmachamber.com
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Business to Business
11:30am @
Plantation Inn
Chamber Development
Committee
Noon
@ Quality Hotel of Houma
Economic Development
& Infrastructure
Committee
Noon @ Chamber Office
Wounded War Heroes
Golf Classic
www.WWHGC.com
Chamber Executive
Committee Meeting
8am @ Chamber Office
LAPHCC C.E. Course
Continuing education
course hosted by the
Louisiana Assocation of
Plumbing, Heating,
Cooling Contractors
www.houmaciviccenter.com
Chamber Board Meeting
8am @ Chamber Office
Government Activities
Committee Meeting
8am @ Chamber Office
Business After-Hours
5-7pm @
Anela’s Wellness
& Yoga Lounge
7720 Main Street
Education Committee
Meeting
8am @ Chamber Office
General Membership
Meeting
11:30am @ Quality Hotel
Healthcare Committee
Meeting
Noon @ Terrebonne Ford
MacDonell Children’s
Services
$10 Plate Lunch Fundraiser
(985) 232-9048 or
(337) 205-1178
Louisiana State Troopers
Association Convention
www.houmaciviccenter.com
Steubenville on the Bayou
Conference
www.houmaciviccenter.com
Steubenville on the Bayou
Conference
www.houmaciviccenter.com
Chamber events
denoted in color.
For more information
about any Chamber event
visit our
website at
www.houmachamber.com
or call 985-876-5600.
Steubenville on the Bayou
Conference
www.houmaciviccenter.com
Table of Contents
3 Board Spotlight
4Calendar of Events
5Chairman’s Message
6 Notes from the President
7Focus on the Parish
8 Join Us!
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Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
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9 One-on-One
10 Photo Gallery
12 Member Events
13Stars of the Industry Awards
14 Member News
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Chairman’s
Message
Still Business as Usual
School is out, graduation ceremonies
have been held, and summer vacations
have begun, but it’s still business as usual
for Chamber members and office staff.
The Chamber held the first of several
public forums on public education for our
parish a little more than a week ago. The
focus of this forum, held at the Main Library, was for the business community to
discuss whether a sales tax or a millage
would be the best source of revenue to
increase the salaries of our public school
teachers and support staff. Currently our
parish ranks 47th in the state for average
teacher salaries.
Chris Lagarde, Sales & Use Tax Director,
and Loney Grabert, Terrebonne Assessor, gave an overview of the current sales
and property taxes collected, along with a
breakdown of where those taxes are distributed. Productive comments from participants at the forum will soon be shared
with the Terrebonne Parish School District
to assist them as they develop their funding proposition for a parish vote later this
year.
This forum was not a vote by Chamber
members for one tax option over another
nor has the Chamber taken a position on a
funding option based on the comments received at the forum. We recognize that all
taxing decisions continue to be the authority of the Terrebonne Parish School Board.
Special thanks to Jennifer Armand, the
Chamber’s Past Chairman and co-owner of
Armand Creative, for organizing and conducting the forum. We would also like to
thank all the business representatives who
attended.
Our Business After-Hours events are a
fun and relaxed networking opportunity
for our members. The ‘East Side’ Business
After Hours at the Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission was a huge success with
There really
is no place
like houma.
over one hundred business people from
the east and west side of the Intracoastal
enjoying good conversation, great food,
live entertainment, and great door prizes.
Appropriate to the location, SoLa Flight
Services donated a local air tour to one
lucky winner and their two guests. Special thanks to our east side members who
sponsored this event: All South Consulting
Engineers, Bourg Supermarket, Chauvin
Brothers, Coastal Commerce Bank, Pat’s of
Chauvin, Piggly Wiggly, and Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency.
The Morrison Terrebonne Lumber/Home
Hardware Center Business After-Hours
event was also a hit at their St. Charles
Street location. With live music by Billy
Stark and Marybeth Landry, great food,
drinks, and door prizes, it was most enjoyable. Thanks to Morrison Terrebonne Lumber/Home Hardware Center for another
great BAH!
Donald A. Hingle II
Chairman of the Board
Business First Bank
When we became part of the community here in Houma, we did it with the promise to offer each of our
neighbors the best in service, knowledge and guidance. We have carried out that promise each year since. Today
we are one of the state’s top accounting and consulting firms offering a myriad of services from tax planning for
businesses and individuals and audit and assurance to litigation and forensic accounting. Our experts are eager
to share our accumulated knowledge and help you reach your goals or prepare for the unexpected. Call us today
and let us show you how we can help you thrive in the place we call home.
bourgeoisbennett.com
New Orleans 504.831.4949 | North Shore 985.246.3022 | Houma 985.868.0139 | Thibodaux 985.447.5243
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/May 25, 2014
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notes from the
President
Broad Scope of Benefits to Being a Chamber Member
Networking at the various events the
Houma-Terrebonne Chamber offers, is only
one of the many benefits of being a member. Opportunities to build and strengthen
relationships are a big part of the Business After-Hours, the Business 2 Business
luncheon, the General Membership Luncheon, and the golf tournament, as well as
participating in the various committees.
The Chamber also provides an outlet for
the opinions and needs of businesses in the
community to be heard in order to influence projects and programs that support
our community’s growth. Issues such as
healthcare, education, and infrastructure
become Chamber business issues because
they are a significant part of the overall
business climate. As a collective voice, we
can have a greater impact on issues that
transform our community and from a much
broader economic standpoint.
Additionally, Chamber members have
unique and cost effective marketing and
advertising opportunities through:
• sponsorship of events
Suzanne Nolfo Carlos
President/CEO
• advertising and listings in the Business &
Community Guide
• Chamber website advertising and listing
with direct link to your website
• articles and advertising in our monthly
newsletter the Focus
• advertising for your events and programs
in weekly electronic newsletter the eFocus
• flyers in our monthly mail-outs to members
• ribbon cuttings
• mailing labels of members
The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of
Commerce has the added benefit of legislative advocacy through a state lobbyist
who works on our behalf on issues that affect the businesses of Terrebonne Parish.
The Chamber helps to build a strong
community by connecting its members to
people and issues important to business
success. Through Chamber programming,
you and your business are engaged in activities that move Terrebonne toward a
successful future. On behalf of its diverse
membership, the Chamber works to create
a climate of growth and success that benefits all business. Your membership investment allows your business and our community to prosper.
The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of
Commerce is a member-driven, volunteer
organization dedicated to improving the
quality of life by building a strong economy
through promotion of services to members, partnerships and alliances, legislative advocacy, economic development, and
programs of action and value to sustain a
prosperous and vibrant community. This is
the mission of your Chamber.
EMAIL MARKETING!
Constant Contact®
(701) 472-8100
Members receive up to 25% discount on 1-year service!
SAM’S CLUB!
(800) 881-9180 SamsClub.com
Members receive $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card with
Business Plus Membership enrollment
$5.00 Off PURCHASE OF $30.00 OR MORE!
Deep South Oil and Vinegar
(985) 858-6222 deepsouthoilandvinegar.com
Mention this offer and receive $5.00 off from already low prices!
$ave!
ADDvantage CARE Benefit Services, Inc.
OFFICE DEPOT
Lisa Peranio-Hodges
(985) 873-2337 addvantagecare.com
Members and their employees receive discounts at participating
wellness providers for eye exams, dental services, fitness centers
and more!.
(985) 223-0565 officedepot.com
Members enroll and receive discounts on office supplies.
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Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
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Focus on the Parish
Terrebonne Economy Continues to Thrive
by Michel Claudet
Terrebonne Parish President
Hiring signs are popping up
throughout Terrebonne Parish. As the local economy
continues to thrive and even
outpace that of the rest of
nation, skilled and unskilled
workers are becoming harder to find. In fact, the
Houma-Thibodaux MSA boasted the lowest unemployment rate in the entire nation for February. Our
unemployment rate is projected to remain low for
years to come. This is due to the work being done
to explore for and extract oil and gas from the deep
waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, local companies and workers are poised to be impacted by the
billions of dollars being invested in new petrochemical plants in the Baton Rouge and Lake Charles areas.
Given this historic volume of economic activity, the
local labor market will be further tested. We must
take this opportunity to steer our children and grandchildren to training programs and jobs that meet this
ever-growing demand. For example, high school
graduates can attend classes for two years thru the
Fletcher Technical Community College Integrated Production Technologies Program and reasonably expect
to earn $60,000 per year. Similar opportunities are
available locally for commercial truck drivers, machinist, and marine personnel.
Our goal is to continue to provide the necessary infrastructure to assist this growth. We are aggressively
building hurricane protection levees, roads, parks and
recreational features. Going forward, our refocused
economic development efforts will place an increased
emphasis on work force development and worker
training.
New Parish Educational Videos
For the third consecutive year, Terrebonne Parish
Consolidated Government has commissioned the production of three new videos to help inform residents
about various aspects of their parish government. In
the past, educational videos have been developed to
allow residents to become familiar with the proper
installation of drainage culverts, the operations and
policies of Good Earth Transit, the parish Solid Waste
department, emergency preparedness, permits, and
flood plain management. Our latest series of videos
include how to use the parish GIS Mapping System,
how to start a business in Terrebonne Parish, and the
current and future recreational offerings in our community. These entertaining and informative videos
are being aired at regular intervals on the parish government access channel (TPTV) and are also available
to be viewed on www.tpcg.org.
Chauvin Sculpture Garden Named Among Best in
World
The Houma-Terrebonne community recently garnered another honor as the Chauvin Sculpture Garden was ranked the 12th “Most Amazing Sculpture
Garden in the World” by bestvalueschools.com. This
hidden gem off of Bayouside Drive near the banks of
Bayou Little Caillou offers a glimpse into the artistic
and sometimes eccentric nature of former Terrebonne resident Kenny Hill. The approximately 100
handmade sculptures range from religious figures
and cowboys to a 45 foot lighthouse. In recent years,
Nicholls State University with the help of the Kohler
Foundation has taken over the sculpture garden and
has been actively promoting it as the true cultural asset that it is. I encourage everyone to visit the Chauvin
Sculpture Garden to get a better appreciation of why
this special piece of Terrebonne Parish has received
the attention of those outside of our region.
C HECK OUT THE S E 2 PROPERTIES!
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camps and a 500 acre High Fence deer enclosure. Frontage on Bayou DesAllemands. This is the best recreational property on the market
in Louisiana. Call for details.
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Completely high fenced with a very nice lodge and several lakes, this property offers deer and turkey hunting as good
as it gets! Excellent fishing and dove hunting with some duck hunting and a fantastic timber investment with tremendous
upside potential. Call for details.
Call 601-341-1131 or visit us at
www.mopforestinvestments.com.
Licensed in Louisiana & Mississippi.
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/May 25, 2014
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Join Us !
Welcome New Members
sOUTH cOAST REAL ESTATE
Travis Griffin
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
(985) 868-9494
410 Corporate Drive
Houma, Louisiana 70360
http://www.buysouthcoast.com
2
Categories: Real Estate Companies
absolute recovery services, llc
Tyler LaBauve
(337) 412-3366
P.O. Box 91212
Lafayette, Louisiana 70509
Business to Business is a networking event for Chamber members and their employees
to promote their business and hand out marketing materials to the guests at their table.
Admission is $15 per person with payment required in advance.
Categories: Collection Agencies
CAJUN MEAT MARKET
Friday, June 6 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sean Boudreaux
Plantation Inn of Houma, Inc.
1381 West Tunnel Boulevard
Sponsored by:
Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency
(985) 851-1727
216 Mystic Boulevard, Suite C
Houma, Louisiana 70360-2717
Categories: Catering, Meat & Seafood Market
WOLFE’S PHARMACY
Peter Wolfe
(985) 594-5821
5458 Highway 56
Chauvin, Louisiana 70344
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
Categories: Pharmacy
LUNCHEON
New Associate Members
Tuesday, June 24 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
AFLAC-AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY
Quality Hotel
Karen Calhoun
210 South Hollywood Road, Houma
(985) 223-5775
1356 West Tunnel Boulevard, Suite A
Houma, Louisiana 70360
Sponsored by:
Charter Business
HOUMA’S TOWN AND COUNTRY REAL ESTATE, INC.
Speaker: Panel of Local Legislators
Review of 2014 Legislative Session
Jollette Foret
(985) 876-7013
5958 West Main Street
Houma, Louisiana 70360-1753
Admission is $20 per person in advance and $25 per person at the door for members.
General public is invited to attend, call the Chamber at (985) 876-5600 for admission fees.
MORGAN STANLEY
Amy Hammock, CFP®
(985) 868-5250
1340 West Tunnel Boulevard, Suite 405
Houma, Louisiana 70360
Having Trouble Losing Weight
and Keeping it Off?
AFLAC-AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY
ements
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(985) 223-5775
1356 West Tunnel Boulevard, Suite A
Houma, Louisiana 70360
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to your weight loss strategy that you can feel.
Charlotte Grace
Angie LeBlanc
(985) 665-3585
1356 West Tunnel Boulevard, Suite A
Houma, Louisiana 70360
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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Independent Ambassador
985-232-7559
www.leblancplexus.com
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
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One-on-One with Dr. Bryan Dufrene of St. Charles Chiropractic
The Chamber selects member businesses, organizations and individuals to highlight in this monthly
publication. Bryan J. Dufrene, DC, DABCO of St.
Charles Chiropractic was selected at a recent General
Membership Luncheon to be featured here today.
Dr. Dufrene shares a little about his past and what
lead him to St. Charles Chiropractic located at 1437
St. Charles Street, Suite 113 in Houma.
This year marks 30 years since I graduated from
chiropractic college! So many things have changed
and progressed since I first began practice. While
maintaining the traditions of care I learned in school,
I have made a continual effort to incorporate the latest research and technologies to help my patients get
the best and quickest results possible.
After receiving my undergraduate degree in biology from Nicholls State University, I began my professional training at Texas Chiropractic College and
graduated with academic honors in 1984. I continued
my studies with an emphasis in orthopedics and became one of only a handful of chiropractors in Louisiana to become Board Certified in Chiropractic Orthopedics in 1993. This specialty focuses on joint and
spinal conditions such as osteoarthritis, degenerative
disc disease, and other types of joint and spinal conditions.
As we have kept up with the advancements in technology I added the Antalgic-Trak Decompression System to our treatments in 2009. Antalgic-Trak is the
most advanced range of motion
spinal decompression system currently available.
The results of a study
presented at the 19th
annual meeting of
the American Academy of Pain Management stated
the Antalgic-Trak
has a 95% success
rate in eliminating neck and
b a c k
pain.
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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And now we are the only chiropractic clinic in Louisiana with the Class IV K-Laser. The K-Laser is
helpful in treating many types of pain including
neck pain, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome,
shoulder pain, knee pain, and more!
I originally opened St. Charles Chiropractic
in the beginning of 2012. My first year practicing in Houma, I continued to operate my
clinic in Raceland. As the success of my practice grew in Houma I decided to work here in
Houma full time.
I am extremely proud of my caring staff.
Gina and Nikki are truly dedicated to
helping our patients. We all do our best
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
Dr. Bryan Dufrene performs the newest
treatment offered at St. Charles Chiropractic
called Dry Needling
to make our patients feel like ‘family’. And that’s my
goal…To treat each patient as though they
were part of
my family.
I have always
been
one to continually improve
and
expand
my knowledge
to help my patients. The newest treatment
we will offer at
my clinic is Dry
Needling.
Dry
Needling is effective in normaling pain, reducing inflammation
and swelling, and
helping the body to heal. The concept of using
needles to alleviate pain and improve health goes
back many centuries with acupuncture. There are
some significant differences between acupuncture
and dry needling though. Acupuncture is based upon
the ‘Meridian’ theory. This concept believes that the
acupuncture points lie along channels or pathways
called meridians. Dry Needing is primarily based upon the nerves
that travel through the
− continue on page 12−
St. Charles Chiropractic
staff - Nikki Hebert,
Dr. Bryan Dufrene and
Gina Matherne
9
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Photo Gallery
Lauri Anne and Steven Bergeron with Bergeron Performance Shop participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony in
April. BPS is a family-owned performance oriented company providing Houma with a safe friendly environment for all performance enthusiasts. BPS specializes in Performance Upgrades and Dyno Tuning, and is available to provide consultations on how to improve your vehicle’s performance as a daily driver on the street or
on the drag strip. For more information visit their website at www.bergeronperformanceshop.com.
Suzanne Nolfo Carlos, President and CEO of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, Donald A. Hingle,
II, Chairman of the Board of the Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, J. Thomas “Tom” Schedler, Louisiana Secretary of State, Yolanda Trahan, Executive Director of the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence and George Robichaux, President of the Board of the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence
attend the General Membership Luncheon in April. Special thanks to Ms. Trahan, Mr. Robichaux and the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence for sponsoring the event.
Gordon and Mona Dove and Al Copeland, Jr. and his wife, Liz, participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony with
family and friends at Copeland’s of New Orleans. Participants celebrated the completion of the New Orleans
themed renovation at the Houma restaurant located at 1534 Martin Luther King Blvd. The restaurant features
the ambiance of New Orleans, a delicious Cheesecake Bakery, private dining areas, a lounge and a Jazz Brunch
every Sunday.
Dirk Guidry of Pizza Express and Terrebonne Parish Councilman, Dicky Jackson, Terrebonne Parish School Board
member, Russell “Red” Hornsby with RRH, LLC and Terrebonne Parish Councilman and Robyn Hornsby with
Morgan Stanley attend a Business After-Hours at the Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission in April.
Garret Graves, David Slayter, Executive Director of the Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission, Reggie Dupre,
Executive Director of the Terrebonne Levee & Conservation District and President of Bourg Supermarket, and
Alcee Dupre, Jr., Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer of Bourg Supermarket visit at the Business After-Hours
at the Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission in April. Special thanks to All South Consulting Engineers, LLC,
Bourg Supermarket, Chauvin Brothers, Coastal Commerce Bank, Pat’s of Chauvin, Piggly Wiggly and Stephanie
Hebert Insurance Agency for sponsoring the event.
John Rogers, Brian Arceneaux and Bob Henry of Coastal Commerce Bank volunteer as bartenders for the Business After-Hours at the Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission in April. Special thanks to all of the volunteers
and Diplomats for their time and energy to make this event a success.
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Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
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Photo Gallery
Glenda Bourgeois, Krystal Brunet and Amy Neil of Coastal Commerce Bank and Lisa Rogers, educator with Terrebonne Parish School District visit at the Business After-Hours in April.
Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee members Stephanie Hebert with
Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency, Donald A. Hingle, II with Business First Bank, Jennifer Armand
with Armand Creative, Kathleen “Kate” Theriot with Coaching for Change, LLC., Earl J. Eues, Jr., with
KEE Environmental Services, LLC. attend the Business After-Hours in April.
Kimi Walker, Chairman of the Chamber Development Committee and Secretary-Treasurer/Public
Relations for Chauvin Brothers, Angela Rains of the Terrebonne Levee & Conservation District and
Donald A. Hingle, II, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of
Commerce celebrate after the announcement of the SoLa Regional Aerial Tour door prize awarded
to Ms. Rains. SoLa Flight Services donated the flight for the winner and 2 guests. Special thanks
to SoLa Flight Services for their generosity. To learn more about SoLa Flight Services visit www.
solaflight.com.
LaDonna Cruse of Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency, Angela LeBlanc of ABL Ventures, LLC. and
Roxanne Mayer, Independent Distributor for Premier Designs Jewelry attend the Business AfterHours at the Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission in April.
The staff and friends of Heavenly Scent of Houma celebrate its relocation with a ribbon cutting ceremony
in April. Rebecca Dhuet, Jimmy Phipps, Lori Vedros, Terah Domangue, Barbara V. Romero, Owner, Mazel
LaCoste, Karen Hartley, Kay Waldron and Kathryn Dakia pose for a picture before the ceremony. Heavenly
Scent of Houma has moved to Suite 109 in the St. Charles Plaza shopping center at the intersection of St.
Charles Street and Valhi Blvd. Stop by their health food store and check out their large selection of vitamins, supplements, candles, organic products and much more or call 868-2216 for more information.
Brooke Carrere Hyde, Owner of Brooke’s Sno-World, LLC, cuts the ribbon during a grand opening celebration with her husband, Michael, her parents, Ernest and Geraldine Carrere, friends and staff members at
her second location at 808 Grand Caillou Road. Brooke’s Sno-World offers sno-balls, ice cream and a wide
variety of food options at the new location. Make plans to stop by for lunch, a quick snack or a refreshing
sno-ball.
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
11
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
Member Events
Plate Lunch Fundraiser
Plate Lunch Fundraiser benefitting
MacDonell Children’s Services will be
held on Saturday, June 7 at Mike Bruno’s Bayou Country Harley Davidson
- 1740 Martin Luther King Boulevard
in Houma. Lunches are $10 and will
include Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya,
Danos participates in a ground-breaking ceremony for their corporate headquarters at the construction site in Gray. Participants include from left to right- Joey Noto, MAPP Construction Project
Manager, Greg LaCour, Gensler Principal, Paul Danos, Danos Executive Vice President, Eric Danos,
Danos Executive Vice President, Hank Danos, Danos President and CEO, Michel Claudet, Terrebonne Parish President, Mark Danos, Construction and Fabrication Division Manager, and Brady
Hebert, Danos Senior Account Manager. Danos employs 1703 people with office locations in Larose, Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, Houston, Texas, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Midland, Texas and
Equatorial Guinea, West Africa.
Take Aim at Heart Disease Clay Shoot
The Houma Area Convention & Visitors Bureau honors the “Stars of the Industry” at an awards
reception during National Tourism Week at The Cypress Columns in Gray. The reception honored
the leaders of the hospitality/tourism industry for their exceptional contributions to the tourism
industry of Terrebonne Parish.
of
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
The Foundation for TGMC will hold its
2nd Annual Take Aim at Heart Disease
Clay Shoot on Saturday, May 31st at
Tri-Parish Clays in Houma. For ques-
tions or additional information contact Jay Walker at (985) 860-3747, Paul
Labat at (985) 804-7975 or visit www.
tgmc.com.
− continue from page 9−
Our hours are 9 AM - Noon and 2:30
PM - 5:30 PM. We offer both short term
relief care and more involved treatment programs for the more advanced
or serious conditions. My mission is to
give you the most effective, safe treatments available so you
body.
These
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Dry Needling is
often effective for muscular pain and
joint problems,
as well as,
nerve related
problems.
Conditions
such as plantar fasciitis,
hip
pain,
TMJ
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pain can respond very
well to Dry
Needling. This in
combination with the other high-tech
treatments we offer provides exceptional relief for many acute and chronic conditions I see in my practice every
day!
I see patients Monday through Thursday at my St. Charles Street location.
The Houma Area Convention & Visitors Bureau staff welcomes guests to their Open House during
National Tourism Week. This event was one of many during the week to bring the hospitality community together to celebrate tourism in the Houma area! Staff members include from left to right Ashley Gravois, Marketing Manager, Sharon Alford, Executive Director, Angela Morehead, Convention & Events Sales Manager, Joey Pierce, Travel Counselor, Sondra Corbitt, Accounting Manager,
Hal Moser, Group Tour Manager and Kelly Gustafson, Communications Manager.
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
Fried Fish, White Beans and dessert.
The event will also include live music
and 50/50 raffle. For more information
call Christy at 985-232-9048 or Etta at
337-205-1178. Place your order by
noon on Wednesday, June 4. 10 plate
minimum for delivery.
12
can get
back on track and out of pain quickly, and without surgery or drugs.
To schedule an appointment call 985655-4373. We are here to help you!
Bryan J. Dufrene, DC, DABCO
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
Congratulations to the "Stars of the Industry" Award Recipients!
Houma Area Convention & Visitors Bureau held an awards reception during
National Tourism Week to honor the leaders of the hospitality/tourism industry
for their exceptional contributions to the tourism industry of Terrebonne Parish.
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
13
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
Member News
With Allstate life insurance,
love wins.
Lofton Staffing Services Opens
New Houma Location
Lofton Staffing & Security Services
announced today that it has expanded
itsnumber of locations to 12 by opening a new branch office in Houma, LA.
The expansion increases Lofton’s presence in Louisiana and allows them to
better serve clients throughout the
Southeast portion of the state.
“We are very excited to open a location in the Houma‐Thibodaux market.
The area is growing and skilled employees are critical to that growth.”
says Bart Lofton, Co‐President of Lofton Staffing. “In today’s competitive
environment, businesses must be able
to effectively recruit skilled employees
to operate their business. Lofton has
proven for over 35 years that we understand that need and can respond
quickly to our clients and provide those
services effectively.”
Lofton will have an experienced, local staff with more than 30 years of
combined staffing experience in the
Houma area. Working in concert with
surrounding Lofton offices, Lofton’s
Houma team will not only provide quality staffing services across a variety of
industry segments, but also will bring
security services to the market. “We
feel the quality and diversity of our
staffing & security services will allow
our clients to receive an expanded and
enhanced service offering from a single
staffing provider allowing them to operate their business more efficiently
and effectively” Lofton explains. “This
formula has been very well received
across our other markets, allowing us
to strengthen our partnerships with
our clients. We are excited to bring this
concept to the Houma area.”
About Lofton: Lofton was founded in
1979 by Tommy Lofton and has grown
from a small firm to a full‐service corporation with consulting, staffing,
security, energy, and medical staffing services. Lofton has twelve office
throughout Louisiana and Texas with
its corporate headquarters located in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Lofton specializes in partnering with clients to
continuously develop their business
through the recruitment and retention
of the top talent in their respective industries. Lofton provides its clients the
flexibility of utilizing employees on a
full‐time or interim basis, thus increasing the operational effectiveness of
their clients’ business. For more information, visit www.loftonstaffing.com.
I can help you protect your family’s future.
Life insurance isn’t something people like to
discuss. But having it is one of the best ways to
provide for your family if something happens to you.
With the right life insurance, love wins. Call me
today for affordable options.
Stephanie Hebert
(985) 872-0201
854 Grand Caillou Rd.
Houma
shebert@allstate.com
Thibodaux Regional Medical Center is pleased
to announce the addition of Huong Pham, MD,
obstetrician/gynecologist, to the active medical staff. Dr. Pham has joined the practice of Dr.
Natchez Morice.
Dr. Pham attended the University of Houston
in Houston, Texas where she earned a Bachelor
of Science degree. She completed her residency obstetrics and gynecology training at Tulane
University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
Dr. Pham is a member of the American College
of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
Availability from a particular company varies by product. Subject to availability and qualifications. Life
insurance issued by Allstate Life Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL, Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Lincoln, NE
and American Heritage Life Insurance Company, Jacksonville, FL. In New York life insurance issued by Allstate
Life Insurance Company of New York, Hauppauge, NY. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the
issuing company. © 2011 Allstate Insurance Co.
14
69871
Dr. Huong Pham Joins Medical Staff
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
USI Promotes Edward J. Daigle, CIC
Dr. April Sorrel Joins Medical Staff
USI Insurance Services (“USI”) announced that Edward J. Daigle, CIC,
has been promoted to president of
USI’s Louisiana practice. Daigle will be
responsible for growing USI’s middle
market brokerage practice in Louisiana
and will be located at USI’s Houma,
Louisiana office.
Daigle has more than 35 years of experience in the insurance industry and
has been with USI for 24 years. Prior
to the promotion, he was an executive
vice president at USI’s Houma, Louisiana office. In that role, Daigle was
their property-casualty leader and
commercial lines producer for mid to
large-sized accounts in the marine, industrial and oil industries.
John D. Collado, regional chief executive officer for USI’s Southwest region,
said: “Ed has a long history of success
in cultivating strong and trusted relationships with both his clients and colleagues. He brings a wealth of talent
and industry knowledge to the table
Thibodaux
Regional Medical Center is
pleased to announce
the addition of April Sorrel, MD, pediatrician, to
the active medical staff.
Dr. Sorrel has joined the
practice of The Center
for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
Dr. Sorrel attended
Texas Tech University
where she earned a
Bachelor of Arts degree.
She received her medical
degree from University
of Texas Medical School
at Houston, Texas, and
completed her residency at the University of
Texas Health Sciences
Center at Houston. Dr.
Sorrel is board certified
by the American Board
of Pediatrics.
and I am confident that, as president
of our Louisiana practice, Ed will play a
significant role in expanding USI’s market share in the Gulf Coast and Mississippi regions.”
He Means Business
B usiness
First Bank congratulates Don Hingle on his promotion to EVP and CEO of the bank’s
Southeastern Region, where he will lead banking teams in Covington, New Orleans and Houma.
Don has over 32 years of banking industry experience and has lived in the Houma area
for 16 years. He is actively involved in the local community currently serving as
Chairman of the Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce.
Business First is proud of Don’s many accomplishments
and excited about his continued leadership
with Business First as…
CEO of the Southeastern Region
Don Hingle
Executive Vice President
T H E
B A N K
Bayou Region
T H A T
Baton Rouge
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
P U T S
Lafayette
Y O U R
B U S I N E S S
F I R S T
Northshore Northwest Louisiana Southwest Louisiana
1-985-879-7151
www.b1bank.com
Member
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
15
B usiness First
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
BTNEP Has Successful 2014 Paddle
Bayou Lafourche
The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP)
and its Foundation recently hosted
their 13th annual Paddle Bayou Lafourche trip on April 3-6. The event
was a huge success.
Over 130 paddlers over the
four day period traveled along the
quiet
waters
of Bayou Lafourche. Along
with locals, paddlers came from
Texas,
Mississippi, Alabama,
Georgia, Maryland and Wisconsin. The 52mile, four-day
paddling trip
began Thursday in Donaldsonville, and
ended in Lockport on Sunday. They were
treated to scenic natural vistas and
a fascinating backyard view of the
bayou from the water’s perspective while enjoying camaraderie,
food, music, and fun. Paddlers
were also given a firsthand look
at the restoration work being conducted along the bayou.
Saturday, the most popular day,
had over 90 paddlers fill the waters of Bayou Lafourche, with each
other day having over 70 paddlers.
Each day paddlers were treated to
local cuisine and entertainment.
BTNEP would like to thank its
sponsors for the event; Bourgeois
& Associates, Inc., Breaux Petroleum Products, Valentine Chemicals, Bobby Lynn’s Marina, Lafourche Ford Lincoln,
Georgia Farms, Inc., Community Bank,
Jones Dermatology and Synergy
Bank. In-kind sponsors include Mr.
JC Leblanc and Family, Mosaic, Orbitz Worldwide, DOW Chemical,
Nicholls State University, Bayou
Lafourche Freshwater District,
Town of Lockport, City of Donaldsonville, Kleinpeter, and Jean
Lafitte National Historical Park &
Preserve.
The group would also like to
thank Madewood Plantation, Nubby Ducks, Emily’s Cajun Café, Vinnie’s Sandwich Shoppe, Ms. Virginia Plaisance and family, Dr. Mike
and Mrs. Brenda Dardar Robichaux
and family and all the residents of
Bayou Lafourche for the hospitality that was shown to the
paddlers over the four
days.
BTNEP
started
Paddle Bayou Lafourche as an innovative approach to
educate residents and
visitors about the culture and ecology of
Bayou Lafourche, as
well as the coastal restoration needs of the
area and potential solutions.
The date for the
2015 Paddle Bayou Lafourche trip will be release
in months to come.
For more information on Paddle
Bayou Lafourche, visit the BTNEP
website at www.btnep.org.
BTNEP is a partnership of government, businesses, scientists,
conservation organizations, agricultural interests and individuals dedicated to the preservation,
protection, and restoration of the
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary in Southeast Louisiana.
Making a Difference
985.222.2858
1459 Tiger Dr
Dr.,
., Thibodaux
www.calldougs.com
Doug & Jeff Tauzin
OWNERS
R o ta r y C l u b
of Houma
www.houmarotary.org
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
A/C &
of
NG
HEATI
$29 Tune-Up
Special!
Per system. One use per customer.
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
16
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
Testroet Named 2013 Realtor® of the Year
Pam Foreman Testroet, agent
with Latter & Blum Inc. in Boutte,
Louisiana, has been named the
2013 REALTOR® of the Year by
Louisiana REALTORS® (LR). The
announcement was made April
10, 2014 during the association’s
Spring Into Action Conference &
Expo.
The Louisiana REALTOR® of the
Year award was first established
in 1958 to recognize the REALTOR® member who has contributed most to the advancement
of their profession and the community at large during the current
year. Nominees for the award are
based on the suggestions of the local Boards of REALTORS® and associations throughout the state, with
the recipient being chosen by an
appointed selection committee.
“Pam displays sincere commitment and devotion to the real estate industry and her community.
She certainly deserves this
award and we are so proud
to have her as an active
member of LR,” said Norman Morris, Louisiana REALTORS® CEO.
Louisiana REALTORS® is
a professional trade association comprised of nearly
11,000 members. As one
of the largest trade associations in Louisiana, LR
represents its membership
on important real estaterelated issues to state and
federal government, while
providing legal assistance,
professional development,
discounts and unique services for its members. Louisiana REALTORS® has been
the voice for real estate in
Louisiana for 96 years. For
more information, please
visit www.larealtors.org.
Congratulations to the Quality Hotel of Houma
Star of the Industry Award Winners
and Nominees!
Winners:
Elante Carson- Star Leader Service Award
Nicole St. Laurent- Star Service Award
Rose Chisel- Star Service Award
Nominees:
Bailey Robinson-Star Service Award
Louisiana REALTOR® of the Year Pam Foreman Testroet
and 2014 Louisiana REALTORS® President Matt Ritchie
at annual awards luncheon on April 10.
Awards were given by the
Houma Convention and Visitors Bureau.
MEMORIAL DAY | MONDAY, MAY 26
WIN FREE GAS
FOR A YEAR!
3 LUCKY GUESTS WILL WIN! | DRAWINGS: 6:00pm,
pm,, 7:00pm & 8:00pm
8:00
EARN ENTRIES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY TO QUALIFY.
Check your mail for entry dates or see B Connected for details.
One year of gas based on the average 12,000 miles per year,
20 miles to the gallon, $4 per Gallon. Management reserves all rights.
See B Connected Staff for full details.
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GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1.877.770.STOP
H o u m a - Te r r e b o n n e C h a m b e r
of
Commerce Focus/May 25, 2014
17
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
Rotary at Work!
Rotarians across the globe continually work to
improve the quality of life in their communities and
worldwide. Just to name a few international projects,
Rotarians work to eradicate polio, to promote peace,
to provide the necessary resources for water wells,
filtration and sanitation systems in third world countries. Locally, Rotarians support education, literacy,
Veteran’s programs and community-wide projects.
Rotary Club of Houma (RCH) members can be found
in a variety of ways, working in our community. A
long list of service projects provides opportunities for
every RCH member to find their niche by attending
EarlyAct, Interact or Rotaract club meetings, spending
a few hours at Southdown Marketplace working in a
cold drink booth, serving Nachos at the MAX Charter
School 5K Run and TFAE’s Run for Excellence and Food
Festival, or a Best of the Bayou food or drink booth.
Over the past six years, RCH members have been involved with the distribution of personal dictionaries to
third grade students in every Terrebonne parish parochial, private and public school. Throughout the year
members can be seen placing American flags at businesses and private homes to celebrate national holidays. This past year RCH members escorted Veterans
on a “first time” visit to the World War
II Museum in New Orleans.
Following in the footsteps of Rotary International, the RCH became a
community funding partner of Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL)
which was introduced to the community by TFAE, a local education foundation. DPIL is a literacy program which
provides an age-appropriate book every
month to children from birth until their
fifth birthday. This project prompted a
new RCH service project, Rotary Reads.
“RCH members visit three and four year
olds in their pre-school classrooms once a
month to read the DPIL book of the month.
Studies show that reading to children
greatly improves educational outcomes and we
felt that having a diverse group of caring adults go
into the Head Start classrooms and read on a monthly
basis was one small way we could give back to the
community and perhaps bridge that education gap
for some of our parish’s most vulnerable treasures,”
stated Sherri Roach, RCH member and Rotary Reads
Montegut Elementary third grade students
receive their dictionary from the Rotary Club of Houma.
committee chairperson.
To learn more about Rotary International or the Rotary Club of Houma, visit the RCH website www.houmarotary.org .
TIME FOR AN
UPGRADE?
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recreational boat loan today.
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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/May 25, 2014
18
w w w. H o u m a C h a m b e r. c o m
Roussell St.
“Wow
with a
Purpose”
Our new Texas Star Beef is raised on small ranches
by family farmers, and grass-fed, grain-finished,
so you get great marbling, texture and that famous
Texas beef flavor. And because Texas Star Beef is a
Rouses exclusive, we’re able to price it lower than
our USDA Choice Angus and Prime Beef.