Upper Lafayette On The Move www.upperlafayette.com June 2015 Volume 78
sheriff candidates tell us how they’ll serve our parish
ALSO Upper Lafayette Honors Students Events About Town SMILE Celebrates 47 Years
Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority
Published by
Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation
Printed by
Lafayette Economic Development Authority
Board of Directors
Monty Warren, President Cherie Hebert, Vice President Todd Citron, Secretary/ Treasurer David Welch, Immediate Past President Adrian Baudoin Julie Dronet Brenda Foulcard Donna Landry Kirk LaCour Beau Phares Bryan Tabor Jerry Vascocu
Honorary Advisory Board Don Dupuis Ed Krampe Dwight “Bo” Ramsay Herbert Schilling
Staff
Jan Swift, Executive Director Elsa Dimitriadis, Communications Director/ Executive Assistant
Mailing Address P.O. Box 53107 Lafayette, LA 70505
Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation is an association of proactive individuals and business leaders joined together to be a catalyst for change. The Foundation’s mission is to enhance and direct the positive, planned growth of Upper Lafayette, focusing on quality of life, while participating in the overall development of the Greater Lafayette Metropolitan Area. On the cover: Lafayette Parish Sheriff Candidates John P. Rogers, Chad Leger, Mark Garber, Rick Chargois. Photograph by Elsa Dimitriadis.
On the Web
www.upperlafayette.com
For membership information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Jan Swift at jan@upperlafayette.com.
Volume 78 • June 2015 • www.upperlafayette.com
A Letter from the Executive Director School is out! It’s time for snowballs, lazy summer days and fun in the sun….at least it should be if we slow down and take time for ourselves and our families. What better place than Upper Lafayette to enjoy a “staycation” where you can relax and take advantage of the many wonderful amenities and natural attractions right under your nose? I encourage you to check out some of our local spots that offer high quality experiences. Several come to mind, such as Volley Beach (http://volleybeach.net) at 3400 Moss Street (337)234-2870; Acadiana Park Nature Station (http:// www.naturestation.org) at 1205 E. Alexander St. (337)2918448 or head to Pack and Paddle (http://packpaddle.com) at 601 E. Pinhook in Lafayette (337)232-5854 to schedule outdoor day trips. People travel here from around the world to experience our culture and unique brand of life. Let’s count our blessings and see what makes Acadiana, and of course, Upper Lafayette, so special! Let’s slow down, and take time to stop and smell the roses or Arrêtez-vous et sentez lez fleurs!
SAVE THE DATE for our July Meeting with Dr. Don Aguillard Save the date for our July 15th meeting which will be held at the Ramada Inn Conference Center at 2032 NE Evangeline Thruway, and feature new superintendent of the Lafayette Parish School System, Dr. Don Aguillard. Tickets are $35 each or $300 for a table of eight and can be purchased online at upperlafayette.com/events or through a mailed payment to ULEDF, PO Box 53107, Lafayette, LA 70505. Many thanks to Lafayette Regional Airport for sponsoring this important event.
www.upperlafayette.com • June 2015
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SMILE Celebrates 47 Years with Open House The St. Martin, Iberia, Lafayette Community Action Agency, known as “SMILE,” serves as the region’s primary provider of social services in the tri-parish region. Governed by an 18 member board of directors who represent a cross-section of the public, SMILE’s programs include: Head Start/ Early Head Start; comprehensive housing counseling; family transitional shelters; transportation; utility and rent/mortgage assistance; health and wellness programs; tax assistance; parenting education; job placement/referrals; and distribution of clothing, food and hygiene products. SMILE collaborates with other agencies and was instrumental in developing Council on Aging and Meals on Wheels and helped create 232-HELP.
For more information on SMILE, please visit http://www. smilecaa.org or call (337)234-3274.
On May 28, 2015, the agency hosted an open house for an overflowing crowd of guests to celebrate 47 years of service to the public. Free hot dogs were distributed to the surrounding residents and the atmosphere was truly one of spirit and hope. Local restaurants contributed delicious food and beverages and attendees got to learn more about the wide array of services targeted to assist low-income residents escape a life of poverty and enter a better world of self-sufficiency by attaining skills to help themselves. Upper Lafayette Board Member, Brenda Foulcard, serves as Chief Financial Officer of SMILE and has been an inspirational presence among our leadership. We are grateful to Brenda for her service and proud to have SMILE as a member of our organization.
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www.upperlafayette.com • June 2015
James Sellers grew up in Abbeville, LA, and attended University of Louisiana at Lafayette for three years. He graduated from Louisiana State University School of Allied Health in New Orleans as a Physical Therapist and has now been practicing in Lafayette for twenty-one years. James has worked with a variety of patients from orthopedic and sports injuries to geriatric patients. He has also received additional certification for the treatment of neck and back conditions. He strives to treat each and every patient with the utmost respect and dignity. James currently resides in Lafayette with his wife and five children. He loves his work as a physical therapist and looks forward to serving the Upper Lafayette area at his new clinic. Opening June 1, 2015, Summit Physical Therapy is located at 726 Veterans Drive in Carencro. We encourage you to check it out! For more information and to see the glowing references James’ patients have provided, please see Summit’s facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SummitPTCarencro or www.summitptcarencro.com or call 337-565-4355. Upper Lafayette is proud to welcome our newest member, Summit Physical Therapy!
Upper Lafayette welcomes new member Summit Physical Therapy
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Corner Pantry Provides Catering and So Much More
Whenever Upper Lafayette hosts an event off site, one of our first calls for a caterer is to Connie and Layne DuBose of Corner Pantry. Located at 801 Foreman Drive, the Corner Pantry team delivers wonderful arrays of delicious entrees, pastries, fresh fruits and vegetables, and hors d’oeuvres, all beautifully arranged with no effort needed by the busy host or hostess. We first met Connie and Layne through Hub City Ford when the Citrons hosted their Grand Opening showcasing their newly remodeled showroom in 2008. The display of food was breathtakingly beautiful, colorful and really yummy! Well, since then, Corner Pantry has been our go-to caterer, even for personal events at home and for other business occasions. They will work with your budget, no matter the size. For those who remember the A & W Root Beer Drive-In on Foreman Drive back in the 1960’s, it was owned by Sidney and Ruby Arceneaux, the parents of Connie and her brother, Michael Arceneaux. A passion for excellent service obviously was instilled by the Arceneaux family and continues to this day. At this site, you can now drop into Corner Pantry and enjoy one of their daily plate lunch specials or do a little shopping for specialty meats or groceries. For more information call Connie at (337) 981-1658 or visit https://www.facebook.com/TheCornerPantryGroceryRestaurant. You will be glad you did!
Upper Lafayette To Work With Rotary North on Project Front Yard Programs Elsa Dimitriadis spoke at the May 12th Rotary North meeting, challenging the community to think “outside the box” when considering ways to improve Lafayette’s “front yard.” Project Front Yard, the initiative designed to bring together businesses, organizations and individuals to beautify the community through education, has already had a transformational effect on our area and has been adopted not only by Lafayette Parish, but by Iberia, St. Martin and Acadia Parishes as well. Elsa told of her first impressions of Lafayette upon moving to the area, and gave tips and ideas of how Rotary North might continue to improve the community while partnering with Project Front Yard. Upper Lafayette looks forward to assisting however possible on these projects and is excited to hear about Rotary North’s creative ideas!
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www.upperlafayette.com • June 2015
Upper Lafayette Hosts First Forum for Lafayette Parish Sheriff Candidates The election coming up on October 24th of this year will usher in new leadership in the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Upper Lafayette hosted the first forum of the year on May 21, 2015, to give the public an opportunity to meet the candidates running for this extremely important elected office. Before a sold out crowd in the LITE Center auditorium, we were honored to welcome Rick Chargois, Mark Garber, Chad Leger, and John Rogers, and provide them a forum to explain their qualifications and positions on key issues to our community. Our moderator, 15th District Attorney Keith Stutes, posed questions about their management styles, whether the jail should remain downtown, and invited input on their thoughts on unifying law enforcement services in Lafayette Parish. Each gentleman was courteous and polite while providing their answers to our questions which we provided before the forum so as to allow thoughtful and researched responses. We are planning to offer other forums this fall for other key elections affecting our Parish. As always, the public is welcome to join us. Upper Lafayette’s leadership believes it is critical that we vote in an informed manner, and we are delighted to offer the opportunity for you and your friends to join us as we get to know more about the candidates. Each vote counts and if you are not registered to vote, you can do so by visiting the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website here: http://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/ OnlineVoterRegistration.aspx
Left to Right: John P. Rogers, Rick Chargois, Chad Leger, Jan Swift, Mark Garber and Keith Stutes
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www.upperlafayette.com • June 2015
Arbor Day at John Paul the Great Academy Arbor Day at John Paul the Great Academy was not just the usual chance to plant a tree and talk about conservation. Because the Academy operates on the historic De LaSalle property, the students’ efforts to plant trees this week echoes the work of countless people who have been planting and tending crops there for hundreds of years. A large grove of 23 pecan trees were planted on Arbor Day. All of the trees were donated to the school, including 10 that were donated by Bob’s Tree Preservation and its charity “Acorns of Hope.” “We are a classical school,” Mr. Fletcher said, “and that means that our students learn Latin, memorize poetry, read the ‘great books’ and so on. In the area of science,” he continued, “our goal is that the youth would not lose their ability to wonder at the complexity, beauty and order found in the natural world. Our horticulture program goes a long ways to fostering this kind of wonder.”
ditional trees will provide income to support the school’s scholarship fund for families in need. More than 50% of our students require financial assistance, and we are committed to helping as many families as possible. John Paul the Great Academy also hopes to encourage the use of the grounds for retreats, religious conferences, and other celebrations. Mr. Fletcher emphasized how important it is to the school and to Acadiana to preserve and restore the property so that the beauty of the land can be placed at the service of the young persons long into the future. Interested in the school? You are welcome to call them during school hours (337) 889-5345 and schedule a visit. John Paul the Great Academy is a small, Catholic, college preparatory school that preserves and promotes the sacred traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. They look forward to hearing from you!
“Classical Education works best in an academic environment that is reflective and peaceful, but also interesting and fun,” explained Mr. Fletcher, “The sacred grounds of our beautiful campus are an essential part of creating this unique kind of learning environment.” This past year, JPG collected nearly 5,000 lbs of pecans from our aging pecan trees, and we hope that in a decade or so, these ad-
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Carencro Celebrates National Day of Prayer On May 7, 2015, Scott, Carencro and Lafayette observed the 64th annual National Day of Prayer. In 1988 the National Day of Prayer was permanently set on the first Thursday of every May. Gatherings are held across the country as well as right here in Acadiana. This year marked the eighth year the Carencro Business Association held the National Day of Prayer for the city. Charlie Brunt, head of Carencro Business Association, stated that it’s the only day Americans pray as a nation. “It’s that time in the United States when we need to come to prayer and get the Lord involved in what’s going on. We have so many things we need to pray for and we pray for those today as a nation, together.” The City of Scott also held its National Day of Prayer celebration at the Scott Community Center on Lion’s Club Rd. Designated days of prayer and fasting in the United States date back as early as 1775.
Women Build Week with Habitat for Humanity
National Women Build Week 2015 was held May 2-10 for Habitat for Humanity. During the weeklong event, women devote at least one day to the effort to eliminate poverty housing. Typically held the week leading up to Mother’s Day, these dates are significant to many volunteers, as families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing. Locally, efforts during this week were focused on finishing one home and siding another in the McComb-Veazey neighborhood. Dozens of volunteers, including Upper Lafayette’s Elsa Dimitriadis, showed up to do their part, learning about construction and finishing work as an added bonus. If you would like to volunteer with Habitat, please call (337) 2615041. No prior experience necessary.
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www.upperlafayette.com • June 2015
Reality Education About Life
by Clay Henry,
Acadian Ambulance
I am always reminded of a great speech Bobby Kennedy gave back in 1967 in South Africa. “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” I have always identified with the portion of the speech about sending forth a ripple of hope. I can’t wrap my arms around all the problems of society, so I take a deep breath and say to myself “just create a little ripple.” I always encourage others to engage in community volunteerism. It begins with each of us, so just “start a ripple.” At Acadian Companies, founder Richard Zuschlag has taught us to give back to the community. So, many years ago I became involved in Lafayette Education Foundation (“LEF”), where I serve currently as board president. This is where I was introduced to one of those “ripples,” fellow board member Ria Laseter, who introduced me to Kathy Roy, an educator who developed an incredible program called Reality Check. Reality Check is a program supported by LEF and Acadian Companies that Kathy teaches. The day long program helps our young adults build confidence, improve self-esteem, improve leadership skills, eliminate bullying, make effective choices and develop better relationships. I volunteered recently at Northside High School. I am a 54 year old male and in my group that day were 3 young male teens. When
we started the day I could instantly see that they looked at me with more cynicism than you can imagine. They didn’t trust me; their body language and communication made it obvious. Standard stereotyping right? To be honest, perhaps I had done the same to them. But by the end of the next 7 hours together, the transformation of not only watching them grow, but how I grew as well was nothing short of amazing. All 3 of those great kids had no father figure in their life; they trusted no one; had no one to set the right example for them; would never bare their souls about their fears in life or their hopes either. What started out as cold silence in the morning developed into a warm friendship by the end of the day. One of those kids came up to me as I was leaving and said “you are ok; you are easy to talk to, you are not such a bad guy.” I believe it was less about me, but more about the incredible process Kathy put all of us through. Imagine, a square 54 yr. old guy making a meaningful connection with these 14 year old kids; we truly couldn’t have come from more opposite backgrounds. Imagine what that means for those kids the next time they are faced with any challenge, cultural or otherwise, even if it just means they learned to open up their heart and soul to someone. These kids learned that others face the same issues as they do, that they are not alone and that there is hope. Each of those kids I embraced that day has something to offer to all of us; but for that to happen we have to be willing to receive. I encourage everyone to reach out to Lafayette Education Foundation to help support this great program in many more schools! Reality Check, what an incredible experience! A ripple? Yes indeed.
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LEDA Job Fair Attracts 2700 Job Seekers Story by Billy Gunn, bgunn@theadvocate.com About 2,700 job seekers packed the Cajundome on May 12, 2015, where dozens of Louisiana employers with vacancies to fill awaited them at the Lafayette Economic Development Authority’s 20th annual Job Fair. Ryan LaGrange, LEDA workforce development manager, said more locals are unemployed this year and are looking for work. He said LEDA figures show Lafayette’s unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, up 2 percent compared with 2014’s rate. LaGrange said 111 employers manned booths, with oil and gas companies at this year’s job fair numbering seven, compared with 15 in 2014. LEDA officials had expected 2,000 job candidates Tuesday, LaGrange said, but the final numbers showed about 2,700 attended. For job seekers, it was a mixed reception: nurses were greeted with enthusiasm by a health care industry hungry for qualified help, and computer professionals ran into employers’ open arms. Also greeted warmly were job candidates for tire-change outlets, alcohol and soft drink distributors, and a helicopter manufacturing company.
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Over at the Bell Helicopter booth, John Pecoraro recruited entry-level workers who will be trained later this year: assemblers and technicians, painters and warehouse workers, and inspectors. Scheduled to start hiring in the third quarter of 2015, Bell Helicopter is building an 82,300-squarefoot manufacturing facility for its 505 Jet Ranger X. Construction is ongoing at the $26 million plant, located off U.S. 90 on Lafayette Regional Airport property. High-tech jobs, too, were plentiful, including companies such as Perficient, a technology consulting firm that moved to Lafayette last year. Eric Prudhomme, a talent acquisition specialist, said Perficient needs to hire 40 Java program developers in the next three months. He said the company also needs business analysts and project managers. Health care professionals were among those highly sought after by employers, but Brittany St. Julien found them in short supply. She was trying to recruit nurses for Kailo Behavioral Hospital in Crowley. Kailo needs registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, mental health technicians and administrative staff. St. Julien said while there were many qualified administrative candidates ,“We’re not seeing a lot of nurses though. We’d like to see more of them,” she said.
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Better Block Four Corners Held May 16 Locally known as Four Corners, the Intersection of University Ave with Cameron Street in Lafayette was once a thriving cultural and economic hub. Prior to the Oil boom of the 1980’s, Four Corners was a place for fine dining at restaurants such as Toby’s Oak Grove and Jacob’s. Live music and dancing could be found at a number of venues. Residents could catch a movie at the Pat Theater or a wrestling match at the gym just across the railroad tracks. Numerous businesses sold a wide variety of products. With the Oil Boom of the early 1980’s the state acquired additional rights of way to expand Cameron Street and University Ave. to accommodate more cars and construct an underpass to serve the growing population of Lafayette. These street improvements, coupled with the first Oil Bust, had a dramatic impact on this section of Lafayette. Today none of these cherished institutions remain. There is a perception in the community that this area is a high crime area frequented by prostitutes and drug dealers. Lafayette, like other cities around the U.S. are looking for tools to help redevelop communities that enable multi-modal transportation while increasing economic development, and reducing carbon emissions. The “Better Block Four Corners” project was a demonstration tool held on May 16, 2015 that acted as a living example of what it would be like to revitalize Four Corners. The four areas of focus, to encourage a study of what it will take to transform this gateway of our community, were: safety, shared access, stay power and amenities for ages 8-80. Many residents and other businesses and organizations were on hand to create the day long revitalization of the area. From face painting and mounted police, to representatives from area coteries and Carpe Diem gelato made for a hopeful, encouraging vision of the future of Four Corners.
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Upper Lafayette On the Move! Spotlights Two Area Leaders Jason El Koubi, One Acadiana
Steven Picou, Lafayette Regional Airport
Acadiana’s business community has joined forces to promote our market force to the larger opportunities open regionally, nationally, and internationally. Individually, each parish is a force to be reckoned with; but when we combine our God-given talents, natural resources, and business acumen, or what Gregg Gothreaux of LEDA calls our “wildcatter mentality,” well….the sky’s the limit! The vision is to “be one of the most high-quality, sought after regions in the South for enjoying a prosperous career in an idyllic family environment.” Truly words those of us who live here believe!
Steven Picou, formerly deputy director of aviation at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, is back in his native Louisiana serving as our new Executive Director of the Lafayette Regional Airport. Picou was among 34 applicants for the position which became open in June 2014 with the retirement of the airport’s longtime director, Greg Roberts. Born in New Orleans and reared in Cut Off in Lafourche Parish, Picou graduated in 1992 from Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in professional aviation and obtained his commercial, multi-engine, instrument pilot’s license at Louisiana Tech the same year.
In 2013, Lafayette was fortunate to attract economic development specialist, Jason El Koubi, to serve as CEO of Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, now known as “OneAcadiana.” Leading the charge to transform the nine parish Acadiana region into a force to be reckoned with nationally, El Koubi will lead One Acadiana’s mission to deliver a new, highly professional, nationally competitive economic development program for the region, which will help manage Acadiana’s current and long-term growth, retain and grow current business, and diversify the economic base by attracting new emerging growth industries and professional talent.
At the Amarillo airport, Picou worked on long-range planning and development, budget preparations and contract/lease agreements, and secured large capital items. Picou also has experience in remodeling and building new terminals which will be his main area of focus in the upcoming years as Lafayette builds its new state of the art terminal.
Koubi has a B.S. in biological engineering from LSU and holds a Master of Public Policy from the London School of Economics. Before ascending to assistant secretary of Louisiana Department of Economic Development, El Koubi was LED’s director of state economic competitiveness. Prior to joining LED, he served as policy director of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber where he directed policy and research operations. Under his leadership, BRAC’s policy research team won the top economic development research award in the nation for two consecutive years. Prior to graduate school, he practiced environmental engineering for two years with the Baton Rouge office of Trinity Consultants.
He worked at New Orleans International Airport from 1996 until 2000 as airport operations officer, wildlife program manager and noise abatement coordinator. In 2001, Picou became noise program manager at Albuquerque International Sunport, New Mexico, and was environmental manager from 2005 to 2008.
Upper Lafayette is proud to welcome Steven Picou to our community and wishes him the best of success. For a more comprehensive background on Steven, please check out Upper Lafayette On the Move where Jan Swift interviewed him at http://upperlafayette.com/?q=node/7489
Check out On the Move with Jason at http://www.upperlafayette.com/?q=node/7483
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www.upperlafayette.com • June 2015
Richard Zuschlag Honored by Junior Achievement It all began with three 20-somethings and eight out-of-work Vietnam veterans. “We started with $2,500 and two ambulances financed by GMAC at a 16 percent interest rate,” Richard Zuschlag, CEO of Acadian Companies, said. “The Vietnam War was beginning to slow down and we found a bunch of Vietnam medics from different branches from the military at the unemployment line. We hired them because they had practical experience in Vietnam and there were not any EMTs and paramedics at the time.” Zuschlag, a Pennsylvania native with a background in communications, and partners Richard Sturlese and Roland Dugas founded Acadian Ambulance in 1971 with the intention to keep the operation relatively small. “In 1971, we transported eight patients a day. Today we transport about 1,500 patients a day, a thousand in Louisiana and 500 in Texas. Our Texas market is really growing,” Zuschlag said from his desk on Tuesday. “A lot of people, including my children, have a hard time picturing me driving an ambulance.” In his office hangs photos of his wife of 39 years, Elaine, three children and now six grandchildren, along with photos of the CEO posing with former presidents, professional athletes and Academy Award winners. Acadian Ambulance is now the largest emergency medical service company in the United States with 4,000 employees. Zuschlag remains head of the company he created 44 years ago and seems to have little interest in retiring. “I’m going to slow down eventually,” Zuschlag said. When Sturlese and Dugas retired, Acadian’s business model transformed into an employee stock ownership program. It offers about an 8 percent return to employees who set aside 4 percent of their salary until retirement. The program is unusual for such a large company, but it’s helped retain reliable, longtime staff, Zuschlag said. “It was through legislation written by Russell Long. At the current time, 80 percent of the company is owned by the employees and I and my family own the other 20 percent,” he said. “That’s what helping drive our employees to be so excited about working here. They do have some small piece of ownership and they have some say on how we operate the company.” He said a medic who worked for 37 years with Acadian recently retired with $1 million in his account. “I’m kind of proud of that,” the CEO said. “While I have many flaws, one of my good characteristics is that I have been able to find good people and treat them above average. The loyalty between the employees and me is unbelievable because the trust is there.”
Emergency medical services are now make up about 60 percent of the company. In recent years Acadian Companies expanded to provide safety management and alarm monitoring services. Its dedication to its employees and to the community it services remains its top priority, Zuschlag said. The company struggled financially in its early years. He recalled a late evening 35 years ago where he knocked on a local banker’s door asking for an advance to make payroll. “A lot of people helped us when we got started so we had to figure out a way to give back,” he said. Not long after, that same banker encouraged Zuschlag to make a donation to Junior Achievement, he said. “Now I see through all these years what Junior Achievement has done,” he said. “I think it’s good when young people can be engaged and learn at an early age why it’s important to go to school and why it’s important to learn the foundation of business. It is to make enough to pay your people, pay the bank and to give some back to the community.” Richard Zuschlag and Floyd Degueyter were chosen as 2015 laureates of the Junior Achievement of Acadiana’s Business Hall of Fame. They were among those honored at The Victorian in Broussard on May 6.
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Upper Lafayette Sponsors Scholarships for Louisiana Youth Seminar for Deserving Students
Upper Lafayette Proud to Honor Acadian Middle School Students
A key area of focus for Upper Lafayette is to improve the educational climate for all of our students. We also believe that encouraging leadership qualities in our youth is an avenue to future success by enabling them to see the unlimited possibilities for their potential in life. One way in which we have chosen to further this goal is to underwrite scholarships to enable deserving students at Carencro High and Northside High Schools to participate in the Louisiana Youth Seminar this summer at LSU. Working with recommendations made by counselors at both schools, students were selected to attend this summer’s LYS July session. Louisiana Youth Seminar is held every July for juniors and seniors throughout Louisiana. Students participate in many activities which focus on leadership skills, such as communication skills, setting and achieving goals, team building, understanding and accepting others, developing self-confidence, and problem solving skills. For more information, visit http://louisianayouthseminar.org.
Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation served as the proud sponsor of the closing ceremony held at Acadian Middle School on May 27, 2015. For the second year in a row, our organization provided funds to purchase medals for the students in each grade who excelled in various subjects, read the most books and had the highest grades. It was heartwarming to watch the students’ faces as they walked up to retrieve their awards; while they looked a bit shy, they also had that proud look of one who knows their hard work was worthwhile and paid off.
Jamie Joseph, Northside High School
Congratulations to Principal Linda Nance and her dedicated team of teaching professionals who continue to work to improve educational outcomes at Acadian Middle School. And we will be reporting next school year on the strides being made as the “Leader In Me” program is implemented in Acadian Middle.
Taylor Syrie, Carencro High School
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Thank you for your generosity.. Platinum Patrons ($5000)
Halliburton IBERIABANK Island Operating, Inc. Schlumberger
Platinum Members ($2400)
Acadian Companies Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc. Aries Marine Corporation ASH/Badger Oil Company Couret Farms Cox Communications Delta Media Home Furniture Hub City Ford Lafayette General Medical Center McDonald’s of Acadiana MidSouth Bank Our Lady of Lourdes PHI, Inc. Republic National Distributing Company Schilling Distributing Company Stone Energy Whitney National Bank
Gold Members ($1200)
Acadiana Rubber & Gasket Atmos Energy Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Dupré Logistics, LLC Fenstermaker & Associates Gulf Coast Bank Home Bank Omni Energy Services The Southwest Group Van Eaton & Romero
Silver Members ($600)
Ace Plumbing, Inc. BBR Creative Cajun Harley Davidson Coburn’s Supply Company Edward Jones/Bob Crist Entergy Gauthiers’ RV Center
Silver Members
Bronze Members
($600)
Master Builders & Specialists, Inc. Oakbourne Country Club Prejean Creative Rader Solutions Refinery Downtown Shelf Energy, LLC SLEMCO SMILE Stella Maris Stirling Properties Summit Physical Therapy Therapy Center of Carencro Universal Sign & Manufacturing Company Walters Funeral Home
Bronze Members ($300)
Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. Advancial Federal Credit Union Anytime Fitness Upper Lafayette Aspen Clinic Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana Jean C. Breaux, Jr. & Associates Breaux’s Mart Community Foundation of Acadiana Crawdaddy’s On-Site Catering Davis Property Management Taylor Davis, Northwestern Mutual Derek Development Corp., LLC Joey Durel Lynn Guidry, Architect Jay Castille Construction John Paul The Great Academy Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro Lafayette Animal Aid Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Lafayette Youth Soccer Association Lee Verret/State Farm Insurance Agency Lowry’s Printing and Copying Flo Meadows, Coldwell Banker Iqbal Merchant, CPA Melancon I-49 Storage Center One Acadiana Petroleum Club Proree, LLC Chad Romero, Northwestern Mutual Ron J. Gaubert Realtors W. W. Rucks, III Sarah Schoeffler Schools of the Sacred Heart John Swift Sylvan Learning Center
($300)
Teche Electric Supply, LLC WorldPay
Sponsors PLATINUM LEDA Tobacco Free Living GOLD AT&T Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Lafayette Regional Airport Commission SILVER Advancial Federal Credit Union Schilling Distributing Company
City of Carencro City of Scott
BRONZE
A special thanks to the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) for being our Program of Work partner for 2015.
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