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The realignment process of the Girl Scout Council of Southeast Louisiana in the New Orleans area and the Girl Scouts-Audubon Council of the Baton Rouge area is complete. The process, which started in May 2007, formed Girl Scouts Louisiana East, a council to serve 23 parishes of southeast Louisiana. The headquarters for the new council will remain in the Jefferson Parish office, with a satellite office in Baton Rouge.

Computers for families

To bridge the digital divide in the Baton Rouge community, the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council is offering a program to provide refurbished computers to low-income families with children on free or reduced lunch for as low as $99. RentANerd Inc. is working in partnership with Computers for Louisiana’s Families to donate one free session of technical support. For more information on this program, visit

computersforfamilies.org.

Sweet suite

Regions Bank has launched a new suite of products and services exclusively designed for business clients. Regions Business Essentials Solutions includes a cash management package and allows clients to manage cash flow more effectively while saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Among the features are a free Regions Access Business Platinum CheckCard with CheckCard Rewards, free personal checking account for the business owner[s], a discount on the first order of checks and two free stop payments.

AWARDS/HONORS

Through a cooperative effort with TechSouth and Louisiana Economic Development, the Louisiana Technology Council announced the winners of the 2007 Governors Technology Awards. The winners were Bruce F. Hoffman, Engineering & Environmental Solution Inc. for Technology Leader of the Year; EATEL for Technology Company of the Year; Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, University of Louisiana at Lafayette for University Technology Leader of the Year; iSeatz for Innovator of the Year; and FutureProof for Rising Star of the Year.

LSU President Emeritus and acting Chancellor William Jenkins, businessman John Noland, attorney Van Mayhall, landscape architect Susan Turner and retired university administrator Huel Perkins were appointed to the board of commissioner for the Baton Rouge Area Redevelopment Authority, which was created to tackle the persistent problem of blighted and adjudicated property.

First Lady Supriya Jindal has been named spokesperson for the Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes public awareness and support for Louisiana families whose babies are born with congenital heart defects.

George Balhoff, CPA at Postlethwaite & Netterville, joined the Heritage Ranch Board of Directors. Balhoff brings board experience and financial expertise to the organization.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana received a 2007 Brand Excellence Award for member retention from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The award is given to Blue Cross Blue Shield plans that retain a high percentage of its members from the previous year.

The Louisiana Environmental Health Association elected James D. Miller, Environmental Scientist Manager with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality as president of the board. Also elected were Jeff Jackson, president-elect [LDEQ, Lafayette]; Judy McCleary, vice-president [McCleary and Associates]; Steve Aguillard, past president [LDEQ, retired], Jodi G. Miller, secretary [LDEQ, Baton Rouge]; and Chris Mayeux, treasurer [LDEQ, Baton Rouge].

Dr. Marty B. Garrett was installed as the 2008-09 president of the Louisiana Dental Association. He has been a member of the LDA Board of Directors for four years. He also has been an active member the Greater Baton Rouge Dental Association, serving as president in 1998.

Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry received first place in Best TV Ads for the first Jewelry & Watch Advertising Awards, a competition by InDesign Magazine. More than 300 ads were submitted by 140 companies.

Jason Doise, an independent agent with Legacy Financial, was selected the 2008 Insurance and Financial Advisor of the Year by the Baton Rouge chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. The award is presented to an adviser with outstanding service to the industry, to their community, professional association and family.

George Z. Voyiadjis, Boyd professor and chair of LSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was awarded the Nathan M. Newmark Medal by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Voyiadjis was recognized for his contributions in structural mechanics, particularly his development of a number of widely used nonlinear constitutive models for steel, ceramics and composite materials.

Steven H. Brooksher was awarded accreditation status in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Brooksher joined a select group of only 260 dentists representing 70 countries who have been acknowledged for this level of proficiency in providing cosmetic dental treatment.

Jamestown Associates, a political strategy and media firm, received five Pollie Awards, which are presented by the American Association of Political Consultants for excellence in campaign communications.

Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge Board of Directors were sworn into office, including President Julia Thornton, Vice President Wanda Matthews, Treasurer Christy Reeves, Secretary Debra Lazare and Past President Owen Cope.

Brij Mohan, LSU professor of social work and former dean of the LSU School of Social Work, received the President’s Award from the National Association of Social Workers Louisiana chapter. The President’s Award has only been awarded to one other person in NASW-LA’s history and recognizes the lifetime accomplishments and values of a Louisiana social worker.

The Louisiana Lottery Corporation received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 10th consecutive year from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Lane Regional Medical Center earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals. Only 15% of hospitals in the United States receive this award. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.

Ed Seidel, director of LSU’s Center for Computation and Technology, was named the discipline research representative for the Internet2 Board of Trustees. Internet2 is an advanced networking consortium led by the research and education community. Internet2 operates a next-generation nationwide network that connects more than 50,000 research and education institutions in the U.S.

David J. Bondy Jr., a founder and chief executive officer of LUBA Workers’ Comp, has been named a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council of LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business. The council consists of accomplished professionals who donate their time, talents and resources to support the dean in his efforts to enhance the substance and image of the business college.