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Financial and insurance

Christopher Harrell was named senior vice president, commercial real estate credit officer for Regions Bank South Louisiana. With 18 years of experience in the financial industry, Harrell previously served as the company’s commercial real estate relationship manager for the Baton Rouge market. In his new role, he will oversee commercial real estate credit requests in the South Louisiana market.

Eric Relle was named banking officer at Hancock Bank. Relle previously served as financial services associate at the Highland Crossing branch. He is a member of Forum 35 and the American Marketing Association.

Sharon Law Rider was named banking officer at Hancock Bank. Rider served as commercial client administrator. Rider has nearly 33 years of experience in the financial services industry. She joined Hancock Bank during the company’s merger with First State Bank in 1994 and has served in various Hancock departments, including merchant services and commercial lending.

Monica Savoy was named banking officer at Hancock Bank. Savoy joined Hancock Bank during the company’s merger with Southeast National Bank and served as a teller and a financial services adviser before being promoted to branch operations manager at the South Morrison branch in Hammond. She has nearly 19 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Dustin Paul Thompson was named banking officer at Hancock Bank. Thompson has been in the financial services industry for nearly four years. He has successfully completed the Buck Baker School of Real Estate and the Management Associate Program through Hancock University, the company’s training, education and professional development curriculum. He also holds a Class A insurance license and has been named a Hancock Bank Lighthouse Leader.

Kelli Babin was named investment officer at Hancock Bank. Babin previously served as senior security specialist at Hancock Investment Services. She has eight years of financial services experience and received her Series 7 and Series 63 licenses in 2001.

Karen C. Zeringue was named trust officer at Hancock Bank. Zeringue previously served as securites specialist and has nearly 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has served in investment wire transfers and as a teller and a finance department account assistant.

Lauren Grigsby Williams was named banking officer at Hancock Bank. Williams previously served as Essen Lane branch manager and has been with the bank for five years. Williams has worked with Hancock Bank as a teller at the d’Iberville, Miss., branch and as Harrison Finance Company branch manager.

Government

Jamie Roques was appointed director of behavioral health and primary care integration at Capital Area Human Services District. Roques will oversee the integration of behavioral health clients’ access to preventative and primary care. She will also conduct community education and outreach programs and oversee the provision of behavioral health services to clients in publicly funded clinic settings. Prior to joining CAHSD, Roques was the Office of Public Health Region II Administrator.

Sonya T. Gordon was named public information officer for the communications and community engagement department of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Gordon previously worked in communications in the Catawba (N.C.) County and Washoe (Nev.) County school districts. She holds national accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America and has earned awards from this organization and from the National School Public Relations Association.

Industry

Stan Vanderleeuw was named manufacturing director, Europe/Middle East/Africa for ExxonMobil Petroleum and Chemical. Vanderleeuw previously served as the Baton Rouge refinery manager. Additionally, he served on the Baton Rouge Community College Chancellor’s Roundtable and the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s Leadership Development Team.

Steve Blume was named Baton Rouge refinery manager at ExxonMobil. Blume previously served as Singapore refinery manager. He began his career with Mobil in 1980 as an engineer and advanced with the company through various engineering, planning and managerial assignments.

Ed Tavera joined Louis J. Capozzoli and Associates and GeoEngineers as a principal in the firm’s Baton Rouge office. Tavera previously served as a geotechnical design engineer supervisor for more than 12 years at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and more recently served five years as an assistant state geotechnical engineer at the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Law

Rand Dennis joined the litigation practice group of Adams and Reese as special counsel. Dennis is a former assistant attorney general and served 10 years as executive and general counsel. He has served as litigation counsel to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Lottery Corporation and the charitable gaming division of the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

Local business

Grover Harrison was named executive director of the Baranco Clark YMCA on Thomas Delpit Drive. Harrison is a Port Allen native and has been with the YMCA six years.