BusinessReport.com

Stellar opening

The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium has reopened after a brief closure to upgrade its digital projection equipment to state-of-the-art digital technology that will create a totally immersive three-dimensional environment and improve the quality of all astronomy-related programming. It is the first among facilities in the country to install this kind of projection system.

Designing merges

Ford Dickinson and Labarre Associates merged their firms on Jan. 1. Ford Dickinson, founded in 2001 by Jack Ford and Bayne Dickinson, includes projects such as Woman’s Hospital, Mockler Beverage and American Bank Center. Labarre Associates, established in 1984 by Jay Labarre, includes clients such as Hancock Bank, Omni Bank and Pelican State Credit Union.

Healthy start

The LSU Care Services Division has reopened the LSU Earl K. Long South Baton Rouge Clinic at 950 E. Washington St. in the Dr. Leo S. Butler Community Center. The clinic will offer adult primary care from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. Staff includes a physician, two licensed practical nurses and a registered nurse. Appointments are necessary.

AWARDS/HONORS

The Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors installed the 2008 officers including President Linda Fredericks of Re/Max First, President-Elect Sandy Daly of C.J. Brown and Secretary-Treasurer Jerry del Rio of Jerry del Rio Real Estate.

Stephen Toups, corporate vice president of Turner Industries Group, was appointed to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System board of supervisors. He also serves on the board of directors for the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce.

Paul J. Arrigo, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau was appointed to the Southeast Tourism Society Board of Trustees. The board will assist with strategy, mission and guidance for various programs.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar was recognized by Wine Enthusiast magazine with the Award of Distinction. The award honors the best restaurants in the world for wine.

Justin Walsh, an assistant professor of art history at the LSU College of Art and Design was selected for the Institute for Classical Architecture and Classical America’s Arthur Ross Advanced Research Fellowship. The fellowship will help fund his research.

Laura Plantation was awarded the title of “Louisiana’s Travel Attraction of the Year” by Louisiana Travel Promotion Association. The Laura farmstead includes 11 buildings on the National Register.

The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors announced the 2008 Board of Directors, including Chairman Stephen Toups of Turner Industries Group, Chair-Elect Scott Barringer of PALA-Interstate, Treasurer Jeff Gould of JPMorgan Chase, Vice Chair of Education and Man Power Mike Moran of Cajun Industries, Vice Chair Member Growth Bryan Haymon of The Shaw Group, Vice Chair Member Services John Schempf of Triad Electric & Controls, Vice Chair Outlaying Area Jan Dykes of Dykes Electric, Vice Chair Governmental Relations Tim Johnson of Advantous Consulting and Past Chairman Brent Boé of Performance Contractors.

Forum 35 announced their officers and executive board for 2008 including President Jamie Griffin of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Vice President-Projects Sheree Beverly of Council for a Better Louisiana, Immediate Past President Heather Sewell Day of The Red Cake, Treasurer Maureen Dunham of Regions Bank, Vice President-Corporate Membership Milton Hamer III of Lee, Dougherty & Ferrara Investment Management, Vice President-Communications Tiffany Hess of Phelps Dunbar, Vice President-Development Nedra Korvec of Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute, Secretary Sarah Munson of Starmount Life Insurance, Vice President-Individual Membership Alison Neustrom of the Department of Social Services and President-Elect Erin Monroe Wesley of the Office of Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu.

Rudy Hirschheim, a professor in the Department of Information Systems and Decision Sciences at LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business was named a fellow by the Association for Information Systems. The honor has only been bestowed upon 44 people globally and recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the information systems discipline.

Sal Bernadas was elected as president of the Louisiana Mortgage Lenders Association. Bernadas is owner of Allegro Mortgage of Denham Springs, and is one of only five mortgage professionals statewide to have earned the Certified Residential Mortgage Specialists designation by the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Dr. Kenneth Brown of Woman’s Hospital was selected to participate as an expert panelist on the Destination Maternity Web site. Destination Maternity is the world’s largest maternity store, and Brown will offer prenatal health advice and information in a question-and-answer section of the site.

CERTIFICATIONS

Derryl T. Didier, Brent J. Guilbeau and Eric Parnell of Baton Rouge, Julie W. Chemin of Denham Springs and Charles B. Funderburk of Prairieville passed the Louisiana licensing exam by the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners to join the architectural community.