Amedisys has purchased an Arkansas home health agency, expanding its service area in the state. The company bought De Queen Home Health Agency, a move that expands its coverage by eight counties. Details of the purchase were not disclosed. De Queen had annualized revenues of $2.9 million.
AWC has opened an office in Jacksonville, Fla. The new office, which has seven employees, ties in with AWC’s recent purchase of two divisions of Power & Pumps, a Florida company that sells controls and automation equipment.
Baton Rouge General Medical Center and Humana have reached a new deal that enables Humana Medicare Advantage and commercial members to receive care at the General’s medical facilities. The new contract also covers First Care Physicians, a group of 80 doctors and specialists affiliated with Baton Rouge General.
The Bond Eye Clinic has changed its name to the Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic, reflecting the promotion of Chris Wroten to a partner in the practice with founder Hunter Bond. All operational aspects of the clinic remain unchanged. The clinic has offices in Amite, Denham Springs and Hammond.
Brandi Paynes has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple, a national direct sales company featuring more than 60 easy-to-prepare foods. Paynes offers food samples at taste-testing parties, along with ideas for everyday meals, recipes and serving suggestions.
Digital FX, which does special effects and postproduction work for commercials and movies, is in the middle of an expansion that will double the size of its staff and Perkins Road office. The company will add 8,500 square feet to its office, including a new studio, and renovate 2,500 square feet of existing space. The work should be finished by the summer.
Dingo’s, an Australia-themed restaurant, has closed its Coursey Boulevard location and reopened in the Southern Oaks Athletic Club, the former Shenandoah Country Club. The restaurant is open to club members and the public.
Dow Louisiana Federal Credit Union has opened a branch in Brusly High School. The Panther Pride Credit Union is part of DLFCU’s intiative to promote financial literacy among young adults.
Dr. Deepak Thekkoott, a cardiologist with the Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Zachary, is the first physician in the Capital Region to offer a treatment option to patients with peripheral arterial disease. The Diamondback 360 Orbital Atherectomy System removes plaque from blocked arteries, allowing increased blood flow, treating PAD and eliminating the need for amputation.
Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge is planning to break ground on 1.1 acres next to their current dealership. The $2 million expansion, set for completion at the end of the year, will create 10 jobs for sales and service for the Sprinter line—Mercedes-Benz commercial trucks and vans that will arrive in Baton Rouge this month.
Mike and Dona Stevens, who own Oak Lodge Reception and Conference Center, have opened a new facility in Prairieville. Parc 73, located on La. Highway 73 about a mile from Interstate 10, has space for outdoor and indoor events, such as wedding receptions, corporate events and company meetings. The venue accommodates 300 people.
The Pastime Restaurant has begun delivery to the downtown area north to Capitol Lakes, east to Interstate 110 and west to the Mississippi River. Deliveries will be made on bicycle. Orders can be placed by phone at 343-5490 or online at pastimerestaurant.com. Pastime Jr., in the Drusilla Shopping Center, also is accepting orders online.
Pelican State Credit Union has acquired Pinekraft Federal Credit Union of Pineville. Pinekraft, which served the employees of a now shuttered paper mill, has more than 300 members and about $2 million in assets. Pelican State, the former Department of Hospitals Credit Union, has more than 30,000 members and $171 million in assets.
Providence Engineering has purchased GSE Associates, a Houma engineering company with offices in Jefferson Parish and Morgan City.
The Shaw Group has recently been awarded three contracts to help state and municipal governments create programs focused on energy use and sustainability. The firm was awarded a three-year contract with the state of Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources Energy Center to design and manage a program to improve energy efficiency, reduce fossil fuel emissions and create new jobs to spur economic growth. Shaw has also been awarded consulting contracts with the cities of Augusta, Ga., and Palm Bay, Fla., to develop energy-efficiency and conservation strategies.
ACCREDITATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS
Jerry M. Graves, a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter professional designation from The American College of Bryn Mawr, Pa. To qualify, candidates must complete a minimum of eight courses and 16 hours of supervised exams, and they must fulfill stringent experience and ethics requirements.
Lake After Hours, with locations in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs and Hammond, has received Certified Urgent Care designation from the Urgent Care Association of America.
Mark Akchin of Keller Williams Realty-Red Stick Partners has been accepted as a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network, the most prestigious of industry achievements. To qualify, members must meet criteria based upon performance as well as educational and professional skills and service to the consumer.
St. Elizabeth Hospital has been reaccredited by The Joint Commission for compliance with its standards for health-care quality and safety.
APPOINTMENTS/MEMBERSHIPS
Aaron W. Clopton, an assistant professor in the LSU College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology, has been selected for induction as a Research Consortium Fellow by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Clopton’s research includes sports and social capital, social networks in sports, coaching issues in intercollegiate athletics and the cultural impact of intercollegiate athletics. His teaching assignments are organizational theory in the sport industry, organizational behavior and development in sports, and policy and governance in sports.
The Baton Rouge Bar Association has selected board officers for 2010. They are: Fred T. Crifasi, president; Preston J. Castille Jr., president-elect; Gail S. Stephenson, treasurer; Michael S. Walsh, secretary; and Trenton J. Oubre, past president. Directors at large are: Robert J. “Bubby” Burns Jr., Jeanne Comeaux, Kyle Ferachi, Amy C. Lambert, Darrel Papillion and Karli Glascock Wilson. Young Lawyers Section Council officers are: Catherine Saba Giering, chair; Amanda Stout, chair-elect; Jamie Hurst Watts, secretary; and Kyle Ferachi, past chair. Young Lawyers Section Council members are: Michael J. Busada, Scotty Chabert, Lyla N. DeBlieux, Elisabeth Quinn and Laranda Moffett Walker. Family Law Section officers are: Melanie N. Jones, chair; Laurie Marien, chair-elect; Wendy L. Edwards, secretary; and Lisa Leslie Boudreaux, past chair. The Public Law Practice Section Chair is Sheri M. Morris.
The Louisiana Associated General Contractors has selected board members for 2010. Officers are: Clint Graham, president; Harvey Bessette, senior vice president; Kelly Commander, vice president; Vic Weston, treasurer; and Bruce Hix, immediate past president. Other members are: Ed Scheuermann, highway/heavy division vice chairman; Villere Cross, flood control/coastal restoration division vice chairman; Dannie Fontenot, Lake Charles district chairman; and George Wilson Jr., New Orleans district alternate director.
The Public Relations Association of Louisiana has selected board members for 2010. Officers are: Amy Nolan, president; Stephen Loy, immediate past president; Sadie Wilks, vice president; Chris Trahan, secretary; and Les Landon, treasurer. New board members are: Whitney Breaux, Michelle Clement, Shelly Dupré, Sonya T. Gordon, Jesse Hoggard and Michelle Z. Spielman.
AWARDS/HONORS
Cajun Constructors, a subsidiary of Cajun Industries, has received two Superior Safety Performance awards from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division Safety Now Advocate Group. The company was the overall winner among contractors throughout the division for its positive attitude toward safety and job performance, and it received a certificate of appreciation for its positive attitude toward safety and for outstanding performance on construction of a New Orleans floodwall project.
Cajun Industries and two of its subsidiaries have received National Associated Builders and Contractors Excellence Awards. Cajun Constructors received the Eagle Award in the General Contractors/Construction Management Industrial $25 Million-$100 Million category for work at the Marathon Petroleum Company’s Garyville expansion project. Cajun Deep Foundations received the Pyramid Award in the Specialty Contractor Categories/Other More Than $1 Million category for work on a New Orleans floodwall project. Cajun Industries received the Safety Merit Award in the Heavy and Civil Engineering Contractor category.
Charles Carter of Charles Robert Carter Properties is the winner of Hancock Bank’s You’re the Boss contest. Carter has received $5,000 for office equipment and supply upgrades. Carter was randomly selected from all Hancock Bank Visa Business Check Card signature transactions, business e-banking enrollments, or business credit card enrollments in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, and from manual entries from September through October.
Delia Adams Taylor, president and owner of Taylor Media Services, has received the First Circle Award from the Public Relations Association of Louisiana. To qualify, candidates must have a minimum of 15 years in public relations or a related communications field; be recognized for high standards of professional and personal integrity; and show service to the profession through public service, volunteer work and/or work with students, interns and young professionals.
Dow Louisiana Federal Credit Union has received the 2010 National Association of Federal Credit Unions’ marketing award for Best Annual Report. The honor recognizes DLFCU’s creative and effective presentation of its financial information, and design and copy based on goals and objectives.
John Ware has received the Bob Easterly Award from the Livingston Economic Development Council for oustanding contributions to economic development. Ware has retired from LEDC and will head DEMCO’s Dixie Business Center in Denham Springs.
The Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Greater Baton Rouge Chapter announced its awards for 2009. They are: Jeff Conaway, Galatoire’s Bistro, active member of the year; Michael Boudreaux, Juban’s Restaurant and Catering/Silver Spoon, restaurateur of the year; Sean Kirby, Community Coffee, associate member of the year.
The playing surface at LSU’s Alex Box Stadium has been named 2009 Sports Field of the Year by the American Sports Builders Association. The honor recognizes the highest standards of construction excellence. The field was designed by Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company of Kansas City, Mo., and is maintained by the athletic department’s turf management staff.
The Shaw Group has been awarded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 2009 Contractor Superior Safe Performance Award. This is the second time Shaw received the honor for its work in the Corps St. Louis district; the based company was honored in 2007. Shaw earned the recent honor in the large business category for its seven years of work, without accident, cleaning up radioactive and chemical contamination in St. Louis.
Two Seale & Ross attorneys have been named Louisiana Super Lawyers 2010. They are: Carl S. Goode, taxation; and Patrick K. Reso, estate planning and probate.
Whitney Bank has received 14 Excellence Awards from Greenwich Associates for distinguished service in small-business and middle-market banking. The national awards in small-business banking are: overall satisfaction, relationship management, performance, stability, overall treasury management, customer service and treasury product capabilities. The national awards in middle-market banking are: overall satisfaction, financial stability, overall treasury management and customer service. The regional awards in small-business banking are: overall satisfaction-South, overall satisfaction-Treasury and management-South. The regional awards in middle-market banking are: overall satisfaction-South, overall satisfaction-Treasury and management-South.
