The American Ambulance Association presented its 2008 President’s Award to Tyron Picard, executive vice president of legal and governmental affairs for Acadian Ambulance, the largest private ambulance service in the nation serving more than half the state of Louisiana, as well as counties in Texas and Mississippi. The President’s Award is presented to individuals who have made an outstanding commitment of time and resources in accomplishing a specific objective or project for the AAA. Picard was recognized for chairing the American Ambulance Association Political Action Committee and for helping lead the legislative advocacy effort to pass the 2008 Medicare Bill through Congress.

For the third consecutive year, Richard C. Broussard, a Lafayette personal injury trial lawyer, has been named to “The Top 50” list of Louisiana Lawyers published by Super Lawyers magazine. Super Lawyers’ Top 50 list includes attorneys across the state from all areas of practice, and Broussard was one of only two attorneys in Acadiana selected for this distinction in 2009. Broussard is a partner in Broussard & David.

The highly coveted U.S. Senator John G. Tower Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to J.J. Burdin Jr. The award, named after the revered Texas senator, is presented annually to a non-volunteer alumnus of Kappa Sigma Fraternity for bringing great honor to the fraternity, whether it is through service to his community, outstanding career work or other achievements. The former president and CEO of Lafayette General, Burdin is a 2006 Lafayette Civic Cup honoree and current member of the UL Lafayette B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.

BBR Creative has hired Stephen Bardwell as graphic designer and promoted Holly Lutz to account service assistant. A Lafayette native who earned a BFA degree with a concentration in graphic design from UL, Bardwell joins BBR as a creative team member specializing in graphic design for the agency’s integrated marketing campaigns. Lutz joined BBR as the agency’s part-time research assistant in March of 2008. A Kent State University graduate with a BS in business administration, she is originally from Ohio.

Gary Wilkerson, president of Kergan Bros. Inc., the largest Sonic franchise in Louisiana, has been elected president of the Sonic Operations and Marketing Co-Ops in Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Alexandria. Wilkerson has also been selected a member of the Sonic Franchise Advisory Council in Oklahoma City. Kergan Bros. owns and operates 46 Sonic restaurants in south Louisiana. 

Lupe Acosta, president-elect of the Lafayette Commission on the Needs of Women, is the first woman from Louisiana elected to the National Association of Commissions for Women’s board of directors. The annual NACW business meeting and conference is a gathering of colleagues and peers across the country to establish and strengthen their coalitions and expand knowledge on commission operations.

Two members of Fenstermaker’s engineering division were recently recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers — Acadiana Branch for exemplary achievements in their field and for significant contributions to the profession. Earning the Outstanding Young Civil Engineer Award was Luke Hebert, who has been with Fenstermaker for five years and is a team leader for the firm’s engineering division. Raymond J. Reaux, vice president of Fenstermaker’s engineering division, was the recipient of the Outstanding Civil Engineer Award. Reaux has more than 20 years of design and project management experience. He has been with Fenstermaker for 15 years.

Mary Kay independent sales director Laurie J. James earned the use of a new Saturn Vue AWD XE as a result of her outstanding achievements in operating her independent Mary Kay business. The Saturn Vue is one of the newest additions to the Mary Kay Career Car program. Since the program’s launch in 1969, more than 120,000 independent sales force members have either qualified or re-qualified to earn the use of a car. More than 6,000 Mary Kay career cars are on the road nationwide.

Bizzuka Inc. has added three sales veterans to its team: Chris Anderson, Charles McMillan and Steve Holub. Anderson joined the Austin-based sales team, McMillan the Louisiana sales team in the Baton Rouge market and Holub is the first Bizzuka staff member based in Florida.

The American Cancer Society’s Sarah N. Chappuis has been recognized with an Associate Commendation of Excellence award for 2009. ACE recipients must meet or exceed performance goals, demonstrate team player attributes, and have been employed with the ACS for at least a year. The daughter of Colleen and John Chappuis of Lafayette, Sarah serves as a development representative with the ACS in Monroe.

Mona Lisa Arceneaux has been promoted from universal banker to retail store manager for MidSouth Bank’s Breaux Bridge office. A Carencro native, Arceneaux has been instrumental in the sales and production of the Breaux Bridge location since joining MidSouth Bank in 2001. She has more than 17 years of banking experience, having worked in several areas of the field, including customer service, loan assistant and loan administration.

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Cox Greater Louisiana recently presented Lafayette Education Foundation with a $10,000 check in support of the 11th annual LEF Teacher Awards and ReProm 2009. The awards event recognizes the dedicated and inspirational teachers in Lafayette Parish public, private and parochial schools. Teachers are nominated through letters written by the community and submitted to Lafayette Education Foundation, with 16 finalists chosen by a volunteer selection committee and winners announced in January at an academy awards-style event complete with limousines and a walk on the Cox Red Carpet.

The International Trade Development Group and the International Center of Lafayette have selected Frank’s Casing Crew & Rental Tools Inc. to receive the 2009 International Achievement Award at a luncheon on April 23 at the City Club at River Ranch. Frank’s was started 71 years ago out of Frank Mosing’s garage in Lafayette. Today it is the largest casing-crew supplier in the world and is still run by Frank’s sons Donald and Larry. Their late brother, Billy, was also active in running the company. The third generation of Mosings is involved, with six of the 12 grandchildren heading up departments ranging from inventory to international sales. The fourth generation is in training. Worldwide, Frank’s employs more than 3,000 people with offices in 53 countries on every continent except Antarctica.
 
Stuller Inc. has formed a new strategic partnership with Gemvision Corporation, a jewelry-specific, software technology firm based in Iowa. The move signals both companies’ “strategic next step” to further enhance customization for retail jewelers. “Gemvision’s emphasis on making technology easy to use and profitable for jewelers fits nicely within our Stuller Studio customization program,” says Stuller President Matt Stuller. “In today’s challenging environment, creating unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry for discriminating consumers is a critical profit strategy for retail jewelers.” Stuller Studio, formerly known as Stuller’s “Have It Your Way” program, was introduced in 1995. The program is designed to provide jewelers the ability to design custom pieces using Stuller’s vast inventory of mountings, findings, diamonds and gemstones. The program also provides retail jewelers with effective inventory management and reduced overhead costs.

Braniff Construction LLC is building the 2009 St. Jude Dream Home in the E’lan subdivision at 107 Vanburg Place in Lafayette. Kyle Braniff of Braniff Construction is a Lafayette native, having graduated from STM and UL Lafayette. He has been building homes for 10 years. The kick-off event for the Lafayette St. Jude Dream Home was held Jan. 7 at Prejean’s Restaurant in Lafayette, recognizing the many local vendors and subcontractors donating their time for the cause. Founded by Danny Thomas in 1962, St. Jude depends primarily on public contributions to fund daily operating costs of $1.3 million. The hospital has treated patients from all 50 states and more than 70 foreign countries at no cost to their families.

The American Heart Association recognized MidSouth Bank’s commitment to heart health in Louisiana with the annual Heart & Stroke Champion Award. The AHA presented the award to Dwight Utz, senior vice president/retail banking division for MidSouth Bank. Each year, the American Heart Association recognizes those supporters who go above and beyond to champion the organization’s mission in their communities. MidSouth Bank supported the events in its home base of Lafayette and throughout its Louisiana and Texas markets.