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Acquired insurance

Hub International Limited acquired certain assets of Bass & Associates, a Louisiana-based insurance agency specializing in group benefits and administration. The acquired operations will become part of Hub International Gulf South. Bass & Associates will move into to the HUB Gulf South offices in Baton Rouge.

AWARDS/HONORS

Jennifer Boggs, commercial relationship manager for Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, was elected to the Louisiana Bankers Education Council. Boggs will serve as the Education Chairman for the council.

Peggy Scott, executive vice president and CFO at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, was inducted into LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business’ 2008 Hall of Distinction. Scott joins 44 other members in the hall, which recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to business, academia or government as well as to their community.

LaPorte Sehrt Romig Hand CPAs has been named one of the top 15 regional accounting firms in the southwest—based on the firm’s 2007FY revenue growth—in the 15th annual survey conducted by the accounting industry publication, Practical Accountant. The publication also named LSRH as one of four “Regional firms to watch.”

ACG Louisiana announced the winners of the first annual ACG Louisiana Awards, which recognize growth companies, business professionals and noteworthy transactions from the state of Louisiana. The categories and winners are as follows: Superior Energy Services, Outstanding Corporate Growth Award; Acadian Ambulance Service, Emerging Growth Company Award; Rouses Enterprises, Deal of the Year; William F. Borne, chairman and CEO of Amedisys Inc., Dealmaker of the Year; and D.B.H. “Black” Chaffe, president and CEO of Chaffe & Associates Inc., Lifetime Achievement Award. ACG Louisiana, a regional chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, is a nonprofit organization created to facilitate the networking of business professionals across Louisiana and surrounding areas.

James D. Miller, environmental scientist manager with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, was elected president of the board of The Louisiana Environmental Health Association. Also elected were Vice President Judy McCleary of McCleary and Associates, Past President Steve Aguillard, Secretary Jodi G. Miller of LDEQ and Treasurer Chris Mayeux of LDEQ.

Bruce Baughman, IEM senior emergency manager, was recognized for more than three decades of leadership in helping government at all levels better prepare for and respond to hurricanes. The National Hurricane Conference honored Baughman with the 2008 Neil Frank Award, the organization’s highest honor, which goes to the individual having a major impact in the areas of preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation or related fields through truly exceptional and original improvements.

Cox Greater Louisiana was the winner of two Beacon Awards. Sponsored by the Association of Cable Communicators, the competition recognizes excellence in communications and public affairs throughout the cable industry. One award was presented for internal communications for “I Can Make A Difference,” a yearlong initiative to motivate and educate employees to become involved in legislative activities and the election process. The system also won a Beacon Award for Programming for “Focus on Louisiana” a 13-episode, fact-based, nonpartisan, commercial-free series.

Cox Communications ranked sixth on DiversityInc’s list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity. This is Cox’s third year on the list and the second consecutive year in which the company has made significant strides in its ranking. Cox entered the Top 50 in 2006 with a ranking of 32 and rose to 25 in 2007.

Dr. Michael Butler, acting CEO of LSU Health Care Services Division, was selected by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of its Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare 2008. Butler oversees seven public hospitals, nearly 300 clinics, more than 9,000 employees and a budget of more than $800 million.

Frances Bennett and Sister Judith Brun were named as two of the 2008 Louisiana Heroine Award winners by the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations. The annual award pays tribute to women who volunteer for nonprofit organizations and positively impact the lives of others. Bennett was nominated by the Mental Health Association for Greater Baton Rouge, while Brun was nominated by the Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless.

Gordy Rush has joined the Board of Directors of the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation. Rush is the Director of Sales for Guaranty Broadcasting. Board members serve three-year terms with an option of being nominated to continue to serve on the board for another three-year term.

Kevin Knobloch, a local client advisor with JPMorgan Chase, ranked No. 99 on the Barron’s magazine list of the country’s Top 100 Financial Advisers. Knobloch, who has been with Chase and Bank One for 27 years, is the only Louisiana resident to make the list. This is the first time he made the list, which reflects adviser’s assets under management and revenue generation, among other factors.

Donald T. “Boysie” Bollinger was elected to the board of directors of First Bank and Trust. Bollinger currently serves as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport. He is a member of the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Bring New Orleans Back Commission. He also is chairman of the Nicholls State University Foundation and a member of the National Petroleum Council.

The YWCA of Baton Rouge received a $10,000 grant from the Albemarle Foundation as part of the 2007-08 community campaign. The funds will be applied to activities related to education, human health services and cultural initiatives.

Charles D’Agostino, executive director of the Louisiana Business & Technology Center, will continue his work on the state legislature’s Small Business Entrepreneurship Commission. D’Agostino has served on the commission since its formation in 2006 and was reappointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal following his election last November.

CERTIFICATIONS

Heather McCaslin, cancer abstractor at Women’s Hospital, earned the credential of Certified Tumor Registrar. Certification promotes excellence in the cancer registry field by establishing a standard of knowledge and experience required for professional registry practice and measuring the requisite knowledge of applicants.