At the top: Of the more than 6,300 franchised hotels in its portfolio, Choice Hotels International announced today that the Clarion Inn Conference Center in Gonzales has been named its 2015 Hotel of the Year. “Winning the Hotel of the Year award demonstrates a property’s commitment to exceptional customer service and operational excellence, and the Clarion Inn Conference Center in Gonzales has gone above and beyond the industry standard,” says Anne Smith, vice president of brand strategy for Choice Hotels, in a prepared statement. “This property has shown the drive to be the very best, offering an exceptional, unique southern-style experience for its guests.” The 164-room hotel, which features a 4,400-square-foot banquet and meeting facility, has been in operation since 2010. Harry Robert is the owner. Choice Hotels has more details.
Production plans: Baton Rouge-based specialty chemicals and lithium maker Albemarle Corp. plans to transfer the production of n-Butyllithium from its facility in New Johnsonville, Tennessee, to existing plants in Germany and Taiwan. The transfer process is expected to be completed during the first quarter of next year, Albemarle says. “With this action, we are reducing redundancies in our global operations, while maintaining a strategic network of manufacturing facilities to ensure continued security of supply,” says Raphael Crawford, vice president of Albemarle’s synthesis and polymer solutions division, in a prepared statement. “Our resulting operational savings are critical to maintaining our leadership position in the lithium market.” While production of n-Butyllithium will be transferred abroad, the New Johnsonville facility will continue to manufacture some specialty lithium products and will support blending operations for customers in North America.
At the helm: Anne Cochran, president and CEO of the Louisiana Credit Union League, has been named the first female chair of the World Council of Credit Unions’ board of directors. Cochran formally accepted the chair’s chain of office during the World Credit Union Conference general session on Tuesday in Denver. “There is nothing more dear to me than the credit union movement, both locally and internationally. This is an incredible honor, and I am extremely humbled by this opportunity,” says Cochran in a prepared statement. “Becoming the chairperson of the World Council of Credit Unions is a recognition that will stay with me and Louisiana’s credit unions forever.” Following Hurricane Katrina, Cochran developed the Louisiana Credit Union Foundation, established to provide financial assistance for statewide disaster relief efforts, and provided educational opportunities for credit union employees and volunteers. In 2011, Cochran was inducted into the Louisiana Credit Union Hall of Fame.
