People
People and Flashes September/October 2011
The Sixth Annual Chamber SWLA Legis Gator Luncheon presented its distinguished Legis Gator of the Year and Chairman’s award, respectively, to Rep. Rick Gallot of Ruston, who chairs the House and Governmental Affairs Committee, and U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany of Lafayette. Both were recognized for their efforts to keep the Southwest Louisiana region whole during redistricting. More than 750 attendees helped the Chamber SWLA honor these legislators, recapping legislative efforts undertaken in 2011. This year’s awards focused on legislators supporting pro-business legislation targeting transportation, insurance and ethics reform, workforce development and other issues the Chamber SWLA has been monitoring in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. The first-ever Legacy of Service Award went to State Sen. Willie Mount of Lake Charles and the Governmental Affairs Award went to Rep. Mike Danahay of Sulphur. Title sponsor for the event was L’Auberge Casino Resort, and presenting sponsor was CITGO Lake Charles.
Knight Oil Tools has named Joe Lee director of its jar product line. Lee oversees new jar manufacturing operations in addition to the maintenance and servicing of used equipment at the Knight Oil Tools Jar facility in Broussard. Lee’s other responsibilities include business development, HSE and quality systems for the Jar product line. Lee holds a BS in civil engineering from Mississippi State University. Prior to joining Knight, Lee served as VP of operations at Foxxe Energy Services. Lee has also held management positions at Halliburton, Expro Group, Altec Gas Lift and Schlumberger.
Healing House; Hope for Grieving Children has installed four new members and five new officers to its board of directors for the 2011-2012 term. New officers are Daniel Graffeo, past president; Louise Lambert, secretary; Vicky Taylor-Brignac, president; Rena Cottam, vice president; and André Broussard, treasurer. New members are Tina Guidry, Sonya Tedesco, Laurie Foreman and Mary Courville. The mission of Healing House is to provide support and education for grieving children, their caregivers and the Acadiana community.
John Romero, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate, was ranked No. 5 in closed adjusted gross commission income for the southern region for 2010. The region is made up of 14 southern states and Puerto Rico. Romero competed among 400 independently owned and operated affiliated companies in the Coldwell Banker system.
Claudette Holder has joined Learning RX Lafayette as director of First Impressions. Claudette was previously the area publisher for The Shepherd’s Guide, the Christian business yellow page directory, and is an independent distributor/senior manager with SendOutCards. Learning RX specializes in treating the cause – not the symptoms – of learning struggles.
Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate is excited to announce the addition of several new agents to its Lafayette team. After spending the past seven years selling real estate in Orange Beach, Ala., Todd Duke relocated back to Lafayette and has joined Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate. A graduate of Cathedral Carmel and UL Lafayette, Duke served as vice president of Duke Transportation before entering the real estate market. Holly Olivier, a native of Lawtell and a 2009 graduate of UL Lafayette, also joined the real estate agency.
Advanced Data Concepts Managing Partner Ken Babin announced the creation of a new division to help businesses in the Acadiana area focus on smart technology based on data backups, disaster recovery and business continuity. Babin, who is also the IT manager for Delmar Systems, opened Advanced Data Concepts eight years ago in Broussard. The company offers computer programming, wireless network setup, antivirus, computer/server sales and management and website development.
Keith Mosing has been named president and CEO of Frank’s Casing Crew & Rental Tools Inc., a provider of tubular technologies for drilling and completions, and Robert Gilbert has been named executive VP and COO. Former President Donald Mosing will remain with the company as chairman emeritus of the board of directors.
Cathy S. Newhouse has joined LHC Group as senior vice president of clinical program development and innovation. Newhouse, a registered nurse and health care executive with more than 25 years of experience in home health management, will lead clinical program development and innovation initiatives for LHC Group’s more than 300 locations in 19 states. She will also oversee clinical relations at each of LHC Group’s 123 hospital joint venture locations. Newhouse previously served as senior vice president of sales and clinical programs at Almost Family in Louisville, Ky. She has more than 20 years in operations and clinical leadership roles at Gentiva Health Services. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in management and holds certification in nursing administration from the American Nurses Association.
RLC, the largest privately held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, has hired Dru Milke as CEO. Milke has domestic and international management experience and a proven track record in both the offshore rotorcraft services and oil and gas industries. The company also recently promoted Larry Adams to COO and Michael Guidry to VP of operations. Milke spent almost two decades at Offshore Logistics, a major provider of marine and helicopter transportation to the oil and gas industry and the parent company of Air Logistics (now Bristow). Milke served as VP of western hemisphere operations, VP of international operations, CFO and ultimately president of the company. During this time period, the company grew from less than $100 million to greater than $600 million in annual revenue and expanded from a Gulf of Mexico operator to a respected global leader in offshore helicopter operations. Most recently, Milke served as CFO of Moreno Group Holdings. Adams, who most recently served as director of operations for RLC, previously held roles as president and COO of ERAMed and VP and GM of flight services for Keystone Helicopter Corporation. Earlier in his career he served for 25 years in various roles for helicopter operator PHI, including 14 years as a line pilot. Adams began his flying career in 1970 with the U.S. Army where he flew combat missions in Vietnam as a pilot. Guidry has been with RLC for the past 14 years, most recently as director of training. Guidry served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years.
People and Flashes August/September 2011
Tiffany Soileau has been named account executive at Foster Marketing. She is responsible for developing strategic marketing communications plans, building client relationships and servicing accounts. She joins Foster Marketing from KATC-TV3, where she was responsible for placing and negotiating programming plans. She has eight years of public relations experience specializing in regional governmental issues and statewide information campaigns. In addition, her experience includes event planning, media relations and speech writing. Soileau has a bachelor of arts degree in mass communication and English with a minor in history from UL Lafayette.
Christopher Afeman has been named branch manager for the Lafayette market of United Title of Louisiana Inc. Afeman, a Louisiana native and LSU Law Center graduate, joins United Title with a solid background in corporate litigation, commercial law and residential and commercial real estate transactions. United Title of Louisiana Inc. is the largest title company in the State of Louisiana.
MidSouth Bank Assistant Vice President/Banking Center Manager Dwight Kaufman has graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Kaufman, who manages MidSouth Bank’s main location on Versailles Boulevard in Lafayette, has 17 years of lending experience, nine of which are in banking. The Lafayette native has been with MidSouth for almost five years. The three-year Graduate School of Banking program, sponsored by 15 southern state bankers associations in cooperation with the Division of Education at LSU, provides courses covering all aspects of banking, economics and related subjects.
Tammy Milam, owner of Painting with a Twist in Lafayette and New Iberia, was named Top Producer at the company’s annual conference in New Orleans. Milam was selected among 44 nationwide franchises. Milam’s “art as entertainment” studios are located at 1812 W. Pinhook Road in Lafayette and 1119C Center St. in New Iberia.
Donna Ranzino has joined Keller Williams Realty Acadiana. A UL Lafayette graduate, Ranzino has been a Realtor for five years and also has experience in the catering and hospitality industry.
Suzette Goudeau has joined Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate as communications director. A native of Church Point, Goudeau has a background in accounting and was most recently with Thomson Brothers Construction.
The Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition announced officers for the 2011 exposition being held Oct. 25-27 at the Cajundome and Convention Center. Chairman is Lawrence Svendson of Marlin Energy, chairman elect is Kirby Arceneaux of Environmental Drilling Solutions and treasurer is Steve Maley of Badger Oil Corp. Since 1955, LAGCOE has been providing unprecedented access to key decision makers, state-of-the-art technologies and the very latest in offshore and onshore drilling capabilities. In 2009 the show attracted more than 15,000 attendees — with over 400 exhibitors and more than 200 international visitors from 27 countries.
Coldwell Banker Pelican New Iberia agent Jennifer Musso Forester was recently awarded the Graduate Realtor Institute designation. A member of the Realtor Association of Acadiana, Forester attended an intensive series of 96 hours of classroom instruction to obtain her GRI.
Leah Edwards has joined Right Angle as account executive. Edwards holds a B.S. in advertising from Appalachian State University with education and background in graphic design, non-verbal studies and new media implementation. A native of Asheville, N.C., she was a member of several student and professional organizations at her university and an active member in her community.
United Vision Logistics announced the hiring of Stan Stricklen as the company’s senior vice president of operations. Stricklen brings more than 22 years of transportation and logistics industry experience to United’s management team, in addition to his service in the U.S. Army. Stricklen joins United Vision Logistics from EW Wylie, where he served as vice president of operations. Formerly he was chief operating officer for Bennett Motor Express and also served as vice president of specialized services at Integra Logistics and as vice president of automotive services with Landstar System Inc.
People and Flashes June/July 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Business News
Iberia Wealth Advisors has named Todd Hoffpauir senior trust relationship manager for Lafayette.
People & Flashes 05.25.11
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
HONORS
Jill Hurley, founder of the lifestyle and weight management program Health? Habits for Living, was selected the 2011 Louisiana Women in Business Champion. She was nominated by the Lafayette Small Business Development Center and was recognized at a special Small Business Reception in late May at the governor’s mansion.
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