Bridal Bungalow has opened in the Bocage Village courtyard at 7610 Jefferson Hwy. The store, co-owned by Stacie Miremont and Gay Boudreaux, provides wedding invitations, announcements, accessories, gifts, and on-site etiquette and invitation consulting.
Crown Crafts, the Gonzales-based maker and distributor of baby products, is launching Neat Solutions for Pets, a line of pet beds and accessories for dogs and cats. The move allows Crown Crafts to diversify while using employees’ background in design and their knowledge of parents’ spending habits.
Lane Regional Medical Center’s ?after-hours walk-in clinic, FASTLane, opened on July 6 at 19900 Old Scenic Hwy. in Zachary. The 3,500-square-foot facility features eight examination rooms, on-site X-ray, and lab and drug-screening services. The office is open from 2-10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends.
Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation says it will implement a 4.1% rate cut effective Oct. 1. This is the sixth consecutive year LWCC says it has reduced rates. Members of the organization’s Small Accounts Program, who pay premiums of $5,000 or less, will see the biggest reduction, with rates dropping by 15%. LWCC returned $15 million to qualifying policyholders last year. Overall, the company says it has paid back $136 million to policyholders in the past seven years.
Office Depot opened July 15 at 7540 Bluebonnet Blvd., at the intersection with Perkins Road. Chris Aucoin, who will manage the store, has been with the company for about 13 years.
Rockit Science Agency is working with rapper Flavor Flav to boost the Flavor of Love star’s online presence. The advertising agency will raise Flav’s web presence through social media and other interactive experiences.
Wolters Kluwer financial services has received a patent for the AppOne solution, which automates and streamlines the lending process for independent auto dealers and lenders. The patent recognizes AppOne’s method and software program for handling vehicle sales.
Wright Feigley Communications has been hired by the University Club to lead the advertising and marketing efforts for the club’s newly redesigned golf course. Wright Feigley will develop and communicate the club’s reopening in September and offer special incentives to new members in advance of that grand opening.
APPOINTMENTS/MEMBERSHIPS
The American Advertising Federation-Baton Rouge has installed its executive committee and board of directors. Executive committee members are: Jason Feirman, LSU athletics, president; Connie McLeod, Woman’s Hospital, president-elect/ADDY co-chair; Hunter Territo, Xdesign, vice president-programs/workshops; Colleen Jackson, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, vice president-treasurer; Marielle Land-Howard, Louisiana Business Inc., immediate past president; and Leslie Cole, Amedisys, executive director. Board members are: Trammie Anderson, Lamar, ADDY co-chair; Theresa Overby, Baton Rouge Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, communications; Kristen Perpignano, Party Time, communications; Marie Powell, mpdesign, communications; Orhan McMillan, dezinsInteractive, diversity/community outreach; Mandy Porta, Success Designs, fund-raising; Kelley Criscoe, Associated Grocers, government relations; Becky Sadler, TriStar Graphics, membership/socials; Brian Rodriguez, Gatorworks, student outreach; Pierre Guidroz, Baker Printing, student outreach; Jason Broha, Turner Industries, sponsorships; Tiffanie Hunter, Xdesign, workshops/programs; Elizabeth Perry, Harris Deville, District 7 governor-elect; Curtis Vann, Moran Printing, District 7 board chair; Ace Bourgeois, Amedisys, District 7 Louisiana state director; Carol Shirley, Moran Printing, District 7 Louisiana state director; Lance Porter, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, ex-officio/district academic representative; Saundra Lane, The Lane Agency, ex-officio/fund-raising; Karen Gaupp-Wozniak, Ink & Air, ex-officio/public relations; and Kendra Kimmons, Amedisys, ex-officio/District 7 spring convention chair.
Ann A. Smith of Kentwood has been elected to the board of directors for Hammond-based First Guaranty Bank.
J. Burton LeBlanc, a shareholder in the Baton Rouge office of Baron & Budd, has been named secretary of the American Association for Justice, the world’s largest trial bar. LeBlanc is part of a new slate of officers for the AAJ, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
J. Clayton Johnson, a partner with Taylor Porter, has been named chairman of the board for the Louisiana Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Michelle Ghetti and Nadia Nedzel, faculty members at the Southern University Law Center, have been appointed to the 11-member Louisiana State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Thomas Cotten, a Baton Rouge CPA, has been selected to serve as the 2010-11 president-elect of the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants. He has been a board member since 2003. Brook Harvey III, a Postlethwaite & Netterville director, has been selected to serve another two-year term as a member-at-large. Lisa D. Traina, a Baton Rouge CPA, will serve the second of her two-year term as a member-?at-large.
Ulyesse J. LeGrange, a 1951 LSU accounting alumnus and the retired senior vice president and chief financial officer of ExxonMobil Corp’s U.S. Oil and Gas Operations, was inducted into the Financial Executives International Hall of Fame’s 2010 class. The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who epitomize the performance, leadership and integrity of the most exemplary financial executives throughout their careers.
AWARDS/HONORS
Eric Ravussin, director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has received the 2010 Willendorf Award from the International Association for the Study of Obesity. The award is presented every four years.
Five Taylor Porter attorneys have been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for excellence in their respective practice areas. They are: Anne J. Crochet, environment; Vicki M. Crochet, labor and employment; Paul O. Dicharry, environment; Brett P. Furr, bankruptcy/restructuring; and Harry J. “Skip” Philips Jr., litigation.
Grady Hazel, executive director of the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, has received the 2010 Special Recognition Award from the LCPA. The honor acknowledges Hazel’s willingness to meet members’ needs in the presentation of continuing professional education programs.
Louisiana shares first place with Tennessee in Southern Business & Development magazine’s state of the year rankings. Louisiana, which ranked No. 1 for the second consecutive year, had more significant projects per capita—measured by new jobs and capital investment—in 2009 than 16 Southern states. Baton Rouge was named Mid-market of the Year in the SB&D 100, and Shreveport/Bossier City received honorable mention. Monroe was named Small Market of the Year, and Houma received honorable mention. New Orleans received honorable mention in the major market category.
The Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System has received the Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The honor recognizes excellence for readily understood reports that are less technical while providing interesting financial and historical information.
Raising Cane’s has received a national SCORE Award as the outstanding socially progressive small business of the year. SCORE provides counseling and business workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Randy Lanoix, president of Lanoix Insurance Agency, has received the 2010 Lou Daniel Award from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana. The award recognizes agents who have made significant career contributions to the industry.
River Road Creative, in association with San Diego-based agency Vitro, has made the short list for the 2010 Cannes International Advertising Festival with the title graphics for Newcastle Brown Ale’s “Lighter Side of Dark” campaign. Richie Adams is the founder and creative director of River Road Creative.
Saiward Pharr, the managing news editor and “Morning Edition” host on WRKF-FM [89.3], has been named 2009 Reporter of the Year by the Louisiana Associated Press Broadcasters Association. Pharr also received first place for Best Sound 2009 for her coverage of a rare birth of a black rhinoceros at the Baton Rouge Zoo and for Best In-Depth Series 2009 for a seven-part series on Mayor Kip Holden’s bond issue, and second place for general news.
Sam Irwin, press secretary for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, has been selected as the Regnal Wallace Ag Communicator of the Year by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Association. The honor recognizes a farm journalist or ag public relations professional for work in reporting farm issues.
VooDoo Grill and BBQ has been selected as the best barbecue restaurant by readers of AAA Southern Traveler magazine, which represents Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Chef John Folse has been selected as best local chef, and Baton Rouge has been selected as the second-best large city for a getaway.
Zehnder Communications has received a silver Telly for its online video “We’ll Make You Think” for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. The video was directed by Richie Adams, the founder and creative director of River Road Creative.
