BANKING/FINANCE
Sommer Buisson Dawson has been promoted to agency recruiting director for Creative Financial Solutions. Dawson previously served as recruiting manager.
Michael Duhe has been hired as a senior personal banker for Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank. Duhe has more than six years’ banking experience, including collections and loan-application approvals.
Edward G. Francis has been promoted to chief commercial banking officer for Hancock Bank. Francis, who has been with Hancock since 1997, leads the company’s commercial initiatives in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, including corporate banking, commercial real estate, business banking, public finance, institutional banking and treasury services.
Richard T. Hill has been promoted to chief retail officer for Hancock Bank. Hill, who has been with Hancock since 1998, is responsible for the company’s consumer financial services operations, including 138 bank branches, mortgage operations, and 34 Harrison Finance Company subsidiary offices in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Allison Rogers has been hired as vice president of marketing for Dow Louisiana Federal Credit Union. Rogers previously served as a marketing director in the credit union industry. In her new role, she will help with strategic planning, brand management, public relations, market strategies, communications, and promotional and campaign management.
Crystal Schmolke has been promoted to financial resource center manager for Dow Louisiana Federal Credit Union’s Siegen Lane location. Schmolke previously served as assistant financial resource center manager at the Walker location. In her new role, she will be responsible for all operations, maintenance, member service representatives, tellers, lending activity, policies and procedures, and functions.
Ann Walton has been promoted to vice president of commercial services for Dow Louisiana Federal Credit Union. Walton, who has more than 33 years’ experience in banking and lending, previously served as a commercial credit officer. In her new role, she will assist with strategic planning and oversee all aspects of the commercial loan services division, which includes development, underwriting and loans.
COMMUNICATIONS
Pranjal Banthia has been promoted to accounting manager for Cox Louisiana. Banthia, who has been with the company for almost seven years, previously served as accounting supervisor. In her new role, she will be responsible for account receivables and assets.
Kevin Coates has been promoted to field audit and security manager for Cox Louisiana. Coates, who has been with the company for nine years, previously served as field audit and security supervisor. In his new role, he will be responsible for managing identity theft and fraud investigations, and for building and employee security.
Jennifer Boneno has been promoted to director of account services for Zehnder Communications. Boneno, who joined the company in 2006, previously served as an account supervisor. In her new role, she will oversee account-service operations.
HEALTH CARE
Pam Vaccaro has been promoted to director of infection prevention for North Oaks Health System. Vaccaro previously served as coordinator of infection prevention, a position she held for 25 years.
HOSPITALITY
Katie Guasco has been promoted to senior sales manager of tourism development for the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Guasco, who has been with the bureau since 2006, previously served as destination services manager. In her new role, she will develop new group travel business and work with travel professionals to build customized itineraries.
Julie A. Koontz has been hired as destination services manager for the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Koontz, who has more than eight years’ sales and hospitality experience, previously served as a national group sales manager for the Sax Hotel in Chicago. In her new role, she will provide pre-conference planning assistance and link meeting partners for transportation options, off-site meeting and event locations, entertainment and tour itineraries.
INSURANCE
Karen Mouton has been promoted to premium audit manager for Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation. Mouton, who joined LWCC in 1993, previously served as project coordinator for the company’s project management office.
Brent Toups has been promoted to agency relations manager for Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation. Toups, who has been with the company since 1998, previously served as an agency relations representative.
