STAND ALONES
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AWARDS | HONORS
Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster was presented with the Inaugural Murphy J. “Mike” Foster Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Community and Technical Colleges in Louisiana at the annual conference for Louisiana’s community and technical colleges. Named in his honor, Foster was presented with the award for his leadership and vision in creating the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. In 1996, Foster set out to create a system of higher education that would establish and provide academic transfer programs and workforce training for Louisiana residents. The Legislature supported the initiative by the passage of ACT 151 and ACT 170 during the First Extraordinary Session of 1998. That same year, voters approved the establishment of a separate board of the community colleges and the technical college campuses, and on July 1, 1999, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors became operational. In 2014, more than 165,000 students attended a community and technical college and more than 20,000 students earned a credential including associate degrees, technical diplomas and industry based certifications.
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AWARDS | HONORS
BancorpSouth Insurance Services has been tagged with the prestigious “Paragon” designation by Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange. PURE-appointed brokers are among the most highly qualified and respected professionals in their field. This year, fewer than 8% of PURE-appointed brokers earned the “Paragon” designation. At the presentation were PURE Senior Vice President John Miner, BXSI-Baton Rouge Director of Private Client Services Sherry Soileau, PURE AVP Business Development Executive/Gulf Region Jennifer Jackson, BXSI-Biloxi Vice President Richard Howell.
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AWARD | HONORS
Christopher Green, associate professor at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station, received the Distinguished Early Career Award at the United States Aquaculture Society’s annual meeting. The award honors a professional who has worked in aquaculture for 10 years or less. It recognizes outstanding leadership or innovation in research, education, extension or industry development in the field of agriculture. Green’s lab work has focused on applied reproductive fish physiology and the specialized discipline of endocrinology, the study of fish hormones and hormone secretions, an area that affects functions such as reproduction, metabolism and movement. Green began working for the LSU AgCenter in 2008.
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AWARDS | HONORS
L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge named its 2014 Team Members of the Year during a special celebratory dinner in the L’Auberge Event Center. Awards went to Brian Fields, security shift supervisor; Joseph Soniat, slot tech supervisor; Kerrie Bunch, cage shift supervisor; Anna Caffery, beverage server; and Al Bellanger, hotel supervisor. Kim Ginn, vice president of marketing, and Kizzy Smith, director of human resources, received Excellence in Leadership awards. L’Auberge recognizes team members based on Pinnacle Entertainment values: integrity, excellence, care, innovation and ownership.
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AWARDS | HONORS
Five students at Louisiana Culinary Institute were honored as recipients of a $2,500 Charlie Trotter Culinary Education Foundation Scholarship. Charlie Trotter’s Culinary Education Foundation partnered with the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation to award need-based scholarships to students seeking culinary-related careers and encourage the pursuit of excellence by exposing them to the late renowned chef Charlie Trotter’s principals regarding cuisine, service, wine and learning. LCI scholarship winners were Garrett Couvillon, Nicholas Glenn, Mica Salter, Dustin Wesley and Justin Lambert.
COMPANY NEWS
Impression Works was recently welcomed into the Louisiana Technology Park as a new company. Impression Works, a software development company headquartered in Baton Rouge, was a Tech Park U client that will move over to the incubator program. The company is coming into the incubator to develop its proprietary platform, My Life. My Life is a platform that enables users to customize photoproducts such as photo books, calendars, greeting cards and posters with proceeds going to support a specific cause. The software is currently being used by schools, churches, nonprofits, and scouting organizations as a unique way of raising funds by providing high-quality, in-demand products to fundraising supporters.
ACCREDITATION | CERTIFICATION
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Sherrie Despino, president/CEO of the Ascension Chamber of Commerce, recently graduated from the Center for Chamber of Commerce Excellence Conference. Despino completed two years of prerequisites in Fundamentals of Chamber Management I and II from the center, and just completed her third year in Advanced Studies qualifying her for graduation from the center. The Center for Chamber of Commerce Excellence provides advanced education on topics ranging from chamber management, legal issues and business operations to membership development, revenue retention strategies, government relations and social media. Despino has served as president/CEO of the Ascension Chamber since 2006 and is also the facilitator for Leadership Ascension.
AWARDS | HONORS
The law firm of Baker Donelson has once again been named one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. In its sixth consecutive year to be included, Baker Donelson is ranked 30th, earning its highest ranking yet and its second consecutive year as the highest ranked law firm on the prestigious list, which recognizes companies that have exceptional workplace cultures. In naming Baker Donelson to the list, Fortune highlighted the firm’s Daily Docket, a five- to 10-minute meeting that is held every morning across the firm’s 19 offices to keep employees informed and focused on client service.
The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana will recognize 15 award recipients as outstanding stewards of Louisiana’s coast during its 20th Annual Coastal Stewardship Awards Banquet April 17. The following individuals will be recognized: Oliver Houck, Lifetime Achievement Award; Shirley Bradway Laska, Lifetime Achievement Award; Sen. Mary Landrieu, Distinguished Service Award; Capt. Wendy Wilson Billiot, Coastal Stewardship Award; Robert “Bob” Grambling, Coastal Stewardship Award; Albertine Kimble, Coastal Stewardship Award; Janet Rhodus, Coastal Stewardship Award; Denise Reed, Coastal Stewardship Award; David Richard, Coastal Stewardship Award; Sean Turner, Youth Coastal Stewardship Award; Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve, Friends of the Coalition Award, and Che Gilliland, Donald Hicks, Arnaldo Pineda and Jack Radosta, Volunteers Award, for going above and beyond in their service to CRCL’s Habitat Restoration Program.
Turner Industries, with headquarters in Baton Rouge and facilities throughout the United States, received recognition recently for three different projects. Turner received international recognition for its Maintenance Applied Productivity System at the 9th annual Stevie Awards ceremony in Las Vegas. The MAPS software allows Turner to track activities on the jobsite, ensuring that the company delivers the most value to its maintenance clients. In addition, the company’s Marathon Petroleum HCU Revamp/Turnaround project in Garyville, Louisiana, was selected as the 2014 Associated Builders and Contractors National Eagle level winner in the Excellence in Construction Awards competition for the General Contractor Industrial $15 million to $25 million award category. Turner served as the major mechanical contractor. Finally, its pipe fabrication shop in Paris, Texas, has been honored with a United Way Golden Eagle Award from United Way of Lamar County for its 2015 campaign contributions.
APPOINTMENTS | MEMBERSHIPS
Plaquemine Mayor Mark “Tony” Gulotta is serving as secretary/treasurer of the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority for 2015. He was elected by the LEPA Board of Directors and assumed the position in January. Gulotta has been a longtime member of the LEPA Board of Directors and has served in various officer positions, including chairman. LEPA is currently building a new $120 million natural gas fired electrical power plant in Morgan City, which is expected to be completed in the fall of 2015.
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Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center recently announced new officers and members for the 2015 board of directors, comprised of business professionals, community leaders, physicians and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Sisters. Officers are Daniel Montelaro, chair; John Selser, vice chair; Donald Daigle, secretary; and Dr. James Rhorer, Chief of Staff. Board members are Dr. Timothy Andrus, William Balhoff, Dr. James Craven, Yolanda Dixon, Charles Freeburgh, Luther Kissam, Dr. Rick Koubek, Sister Lillian Lynch, Van Mayhall Jr., Julio Melara, Dr. Ben Oubre, Sister Eileen Rowe, Dr. Joel Silverberg and K. Scott Wester (ex-officio).
