May 2016 Newsletter by Upper Lafayette

Upper Lafayette On The Move www.upperlafayette.com May 2016 Volume 89

Upper Lafayette Crawfish Boil Enjoyed by All

Get Up Early for the Carencro Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market! Welcome to New Member Arla Slaughter

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, Past President Zachary Barker Adrian Baudoin Kevin Blanchard Chad Cole Brenda Foulcard Donna Landry Pastor Ken Lazard Kirk LaCour Herb Schilling Bryan Tabor Jerry Vascocu

Honorary Advisory Board Don Dupuis Dwight “Bo” Ramsay

Staff

Jan Swift, Executive Director Elsa Dimitriadis, Communications Director

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: Monty Warren and Brenda Foulcard at the 8th Annual Upper Lafayette Crawfish Boil, held at Vermilionville. Photography by Elsa Dimitriadis.

On the Web

www.upperlafayette.com

For membership information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Jan Swift at jan@upperlafayette.com.

Volume 89 • May 2016 • www.upperlafayette.com

A Letter from Todd Citron, Hub City Ford As I write this, I am on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land. I am sitting outside of a Cafe in Jerusalem, the Hub City of Israel. Jan asked me to write about the “Hub City Way”. What is it and how does it fit into the marketing plan of Hub City Ford? For me, the Hub City Way is a statement about the way we sell and service vehicles in South Louisiana. New Ford dealerships have opened around us in recent years and have made aggressive attempts to earn market share. Hub City Ford is now the oldest car dealership in Lafayette. We were founded in 1943, 73 years ago. In that time, the family recipe has remained the same. Employ great people and keep them happy, and in turn, they will provide consistent quality service that makes the customers happy, again and again. At our dealership, we do things a little different. For example, you only speak to one person throughout the sales process. This makes your purchase simple. Also, we deal very straight forward. We don’t sell value-less products, such as window etching. Many of our competitors advertise below cost prices on trucks, only to make up the price by selling these add-ons that we consider to be hidden fees. When we give a trade value, it is based on the real value of your vehicle and not de-valued by the discount on your purchase price. In other words, an honest and fair negotiation for both sides. To me, that is the Hub City Way. It is when you apply the four-way test to your business. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? The Hub City Way is especially the Lafayette way. We believe strongly in family. Many of our employees have several family members that work for us including many of our own family. When family is involved in business, they care more about the service they provide because it is more than just a paycheck. There is a lot of pride involved. You see many successful family businesses in Lafayette. It is a testament to personal service. This trip to the holy land with a large group of people from Acadiana show another side to the Hub City Way. We are very faithful in South Louisiana. We are a humble, caring, friendly, and happy community. We have been given so much, and we appreciate what God has given. We take the time to acknowledge Christ all over Lafayette every Sunday. Our success as a people can be tied to a strong covenant that we have with God judging by the overflowing attendance at churches all over town. I am so appreciative for all of the business that customers have given to our store. We don’t take our success for granted. When you receive a little something extra from God, we call that grace. When you receive a little something extra from a Cajun, you call that lagniappe. When you receive a little something extra from Hub City Ford, we call that the Hub City Way. God Bless,

Todd www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

May Meeting to Focus on Resiliency

Please join us May 18th, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Acadian Companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; auditorium, 2916 N. University Avenue, where we will learn from Jill Meaux of Excelerant how successful businesses and individuals navigate through tough times. With over 15 years of experience, Jill is an expert in organizational and people development. She partners with clients to implement customized solutions to enhance performance and achieve critical business goals. Jill holds internationally recognized credentials in designing, measuring, and evaluating learning initiatives, along with improving human performance and facilitating organization change. She works with leaders at every level of an organization to identify goals, establish clear expectations, and develop the communication and leadership skills needed to achieve success. Lunch will be catered by Corner Pantry and tickets are $25 each. Please email jan@upperlafayette.com or call (337)769-7649 with any questions. Register with a credit card online here or mail payment to Upper Lafayette, P. O. Box 53107, Lafayette LA 70505. Special Thanks to Island Operating Company, Advancial Federal Credit Union and Acadian Companies for sponsoring our luncheon!

www.upperlafayette.com â&#x20AC;˘ May 2016

Carencro Makes Getting Up Early on Saturday Totally Worth It by Stacey Judice Need an incentive to wake early on the first Saturday of every month? Carencro has the perfect answer! Drive over to the city of Carencro for great finds at the city’s farmers’ market and garage sale. The Carencro Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market and The Carencro Cajun Flea Fest are working together to host an event like no other in Acadiana. Vendors for the farmers’ market will be located behind Carencro City Hall where you can find homemade jams, baked goods, produce, soaps, and other Louisiana made and grown items. Also on display will be a blacksmith, a plant sale, and other great finds. On the side of Carencro City Hall, a garage sale will include items such as distressed furniture, antiques, baby clothes, and candles. The Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market will be held on the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the Carencro Cajun Flea Fest Garage Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to noon. Live music will play a huge role in this year’s market. To begin the season, Kenneth Benoit and the Gravel Road Band will perform Cajun music. Also, Vidrine’s Steakhouse in Carencro will sell their scrumptious plate lunches and homemade hamburgers. The public can also walk over and visit two new eateries, Beau Bassin Café’ and Swanky’s Bar and Grill, in downtown Carencro on St. Peter Street. Guilbeau’s Thrifty Way Pharmacy also has the perfect “Cup of Joe” waiting just for you. Both events, the market and garage sale, are opening on Saturday, May 7 for the new season and will be held every first Saturday of each month until October. For more information on the farmers’ market, call Jennifer Melancon at 337-852-9438 or email at cjmelancon99@gmail.com. For booth rental information for the garage sale, call Missy Foreman at 337-207-7729. Photography by Brad Bowie and Elsa Dimitriadis.

www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

Upper Lafayette Enjoys April 2016 Crawfish Boil Vermilionville was the beautiful setting for Upper Lafayette’s eighth annual crawfish boil, held on April 7, 2016, which drew an overflowing crowd. The evening was crisp and clear, with the setting sun and the Vermilion River providing a breathtaking backdrop. Guests lined up in anticipation of the delicious crawfish catered by Seth Citron and Crawdaddy’s On-Site Catering. Sean Trcalek shared his musical talents as the crowd enjoyed beverages provided by Schilling Distributing Company. We enjoyed hearing from representative from each of our generous sponsors, Pat Trahan with IBERIABANK, and Monty Warren with Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, as they shared their thoughts on their companies’ involvement with Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation. Greg Guidroz of Bayou Vermilion District also addressed the crowd and spoke of the conservation efforts aimed at protecting the health of the river. Each year, we say that we will never be able to top the last year’s crawfish boil, but somehow we are always pleasantly surprised. This year was no exception! It was a memorable evening where the foundation’s supporters could relax, enjoy delicious crawfish, and pass a good time! Special thanks to our generous sponsors IBERIABANK, Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, Schilling Distributing and Crawdaddy’s OnSite Catering for all of their support for this fun, successful event!

www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

www.upperlafayette.com â&#x20AC;˘ May 2016

A Spotlight on Seth Citron

Anyone who has ever attended Upper Lafayette’s annual crawfish boil is well aware of the delicious crawfish served up by Crawdaddy’s On-Site Catering. Consistently delicious and perfectly prepared, each year we are wowed by the talented Seth Citron and team who focus on service, service, service! The inspirational thing about Seth is that he simultaneously manages a successful career as a commercial realtor for Stirling Properties. Seth joined the Stirling team in 2007 as a sales and leasing executive in the Commercial brokerage division. He is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he received a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a major in Business Management. Representing both landlord and tenant needs, Mr. Citron has a diversified portfolio of transactions in several facets of Commercial Real Estate. Mr. Citron has knowledge and experience in several fields, from Industrial, land, office, retail, and specific site selection needs. Particular areas of work include but are not limited to Southwest Louisiana and specific markets of Lafayette, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and Alexandria. Mr. Citron is also an active member of the Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation, the Realtors Commercial Alliance (RCA), and Louisiana Commercial Database (LACDB). He is also currently pursuing candidacy to acquire the prestigious CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member). Mr. Citron currently lives in Lake Charles and is returning to Lafayette this summer. He is married and has two children, Harrison and Ellis.

www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

Graceful Tips for Job Interview Success It’s that time of year where graduates will be on the hunt for those elusive “perfect” positions, and you want to make sure that you separate yourself from the crowd. Your style and demeanor can make or break your chances for landing that coveted position. Here are a few tips on how to make the best impression. Avoid sloppiness! Pay attention to details in your resume and application and double-check for errors before sending off to your potential employer. Spelling or grammatical errors, or overlooking the required skills set forth in the job posting, are the kiss of death. Run spell-check on your resume and job application before you even think of applying. Have a trusted friend review your docs before you submit the application and resume. No matter how composed and perfect you are in person, this first impression is critical to getting in the door. Dress appropriately for the job interview. Do your homework on the work culture before your show up for your interview. If you are applying at an ad agency, the customary work attire is certainly different from the more buttoned up attire found at a law firm or group of accountants. Call ahead and inquire if you are unsure. Better to be prepared than to embarrass yourself, or worse, stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. Select clothing that is clean and pressed, and double check that details such as buttons, hemline and seams are all stitched up and presentable. Leave your ratty shoes, tight clothes and gaudy jewelry at home. Employers in most industries are not looking for their new employee to sport outlandish hairdos, outrageously high heels or low cut blouses tucked in a super short skirt or tight pants. Remember that your personal hygiene speaks volumes about you. Clean hair and nails, understated makeup and lightly scented perfume declare that you are professional and ready to go to work. Use discretion and when in doubt, less is definitely more! Your Facebook page and cell phone greeting will be scrutinized by potential employers. What do yours say about you? We have returned phone calls to potential employees and been blasted with silly voice message greetings and rap songs that are inappropriate! And yes, your next boss will be scouting you out on Facebook. Keep private things private, and monitor not only your posts but photos that others “tag” you in. You will never get a second chance to explain an outrageous or suggestive pose, hand gesture, or substance being imbibed once it is posted online. Be on time. There is absolutely no reason to be late for a job interview. Check out the route beforehand, and if there is any chance of being delayed by traffic, trains, or a meteor falling in your path, leave early! Once you enter the interview, wait to be seated. As you walk in the room, stand straight, pay attention to your body language, and wait to be offered a seat. Let the interviewer take the lead in guiding you as to where to sit and when to talk. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. And by all means, no cell phone during the interview. If you have one in your purse, turn off the ringer and let it be! After the interview, send a letter or email thanking the interviewer for the opportunity to meet and be considered for employment. You will stand out from the crowd by taking the time to show your gratitude and interest. Best wishes on your job hunt. These Grace Notes not only provide you with desirable social skills employers are looking for in their new hires, but will also give you the confidence you need to score that job you have dreamed of!

Jan Swift and Lynley Jones www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

Super One Foods Breaks Ground on Scott’s Destination Pointe Congratulations to the City of Scott and Super One Foods for the latest groundbreaking held at Destination Pointe at the NW intersection of I-10 and the Scott exit. The store will anchor the 41-acre site, which will be home to several other new retailers, Mayor Purvis Morrison said. “We’ve heard from the owners that people have been contacting them about retail spots,” he said. “We are waiting to see what transpires from that.” Stirling Properties’ Ryan Pecot will serve as developer of Destination Pointe. Brad Brookshire, a third generation Brookshire running the company founded 88 years ago by his grandfather Wood Brookshire, celebrated the occasion with his team and local dignitaries. That same day, another groundbreaking was held in Youngsville. Super One Foods must be doing something right!

Upper Lafayette Welcomes New Member Arla Slaughter of Van Eaton & Romero As a Louisiana native and full-time Realtor with Van Eaton & Romero, Arla Slaughter has covered residential sales and listings in five parishes for the past ten years. She states, “My Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees inform my work representing two local home builders.” In 2013 and 2015, Arla reached the Top 10 of Van Eaton & Romero Agents in Listings and Selling, and was recently nominated and voted by her peers to be on Van Eaton & Romero’s agent council leadership team. She is a Certified Residential Specialist and GREEN Certified. Currently living in the rolling hills of Carencro and a graduate of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, she has intimate knowledge of the Upper Lafayette landscape as well as the residential sweet spots of the Acadiana Parishes. With an eye to handling every transaction as if it were her own home, Arla will be a listener, adviser and closer, who will both guide you through your first home purchase and raise a glass to your dream house upgrade! Arla Slaughter may be reached at 337.344.5263 (mobile), 337.291.4788 (direct) or www.arlaslaughter.com.

www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

Island Operating’s 2nd Annual Sporting Clay Tournament to Benefit MD Anderson

Island Operating held it’s 2nd Annual Sporting Clay Tournament on April 22, 2016 at GOL Shooting in Maurice. Benefitting the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the event was a full day of door prizes, food and refreshments, live auction and shooting games. Thanks to the support of many participants, they were able to reach their goal and raised over $100,000, which brings their running total to $250, 000. Thank you, Island Operating, for once again setting the bar in philanthropic work.

www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

The Benefits of Professional Coaching Don’t navigate difficult situations alone.

In today’s challenging business environment, leaders at every level are faced with difficult conversations and decisions that can seem impossible to navigate through. They may be surrounded and supported by a dedicated team, but sometimes still feel alone in their struggle. The good news is that they do not have to go through the tough times unsupported. At Excelerant, we help our clients by serving as their “confidential sounding board,” creating the space to explore solutions to their challenges. One of the ways we do this is through coaching, a form of professional development focused on establishing and achieving business goals on a personal level. Simply put, it’s a constructive conversation about what the client wants to accomplish. It is not a lecture on what to do or how to do it, and it’s not focused on “fixing” a problem or the past. It is an opportunity for someone to talk openly about their dreams, challenges, concerns, goals and obstacles. My job as a coach is to listen, reflect and encourage people to see new possibilities and create strategies. My coaching philosophy is simple. I meet someone where they are and move them further along to the place they want to be. This can range from designing a difficult conversation to creating a plan of action for getting from ‘A to B’. Our method of coaching is not cookie-cutter, so we approach each person’s situation with an open perspective. It has been my experience that most of what my clients feel they need to be successful is already available to them, and by working together we can discover the talents that will support them in achieving their goals. One of the most rewarding moments as a coach is seeing a client reach a new level of success – however they may define that. For more discussion on this and other ways to navigate through tough times, please join me May 18th from 11:30am-1:00pm at Acadian Companies. Want to learn more about the EXCELERANT coaching experience? Call: 337-344-4573 Visit: www.exexp.com/leadership-coaching Email: info@exexp.com By Jill Meaux, MS, CPLP, ACC

"My job as coach is to listen, reflect and encourage people to see new possibilities and create strategies.." - Jill Meaux

www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

SLEMCO’s Jody Soileau Named St. Landry Chamber of Commerce Chair The St. Landry Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of Jody Soileau as the 2016 Chamber Board President. Soileau recently served as vice chair in 2015 under the leadership of last year’s board chair Paula Martinez-Mills. “It has been a wonderful year of productivity, changes, new mission, name change and much more as the chamber broadens its’ scope of work to reach out to the entire parish and beyond,” Soileau said in a press release. “This is in an effort to not only grow the membership in the Chamber but, also, to give assistance to those communities that do not have chambers of commerce.” Soileau has been employed by SLEMCO for the past 33 years and works as an economic development specialist. Soileau is also a certified key account executive and a certified Louisiana economic developer. His memberships include the Louisiana Industrial Development Executive’s Association (LIDEA), Upper Lafayette Economic Development Association and Youngsville Business Advocacy Committee. Soileau also serves as board member for the St. Landry-Evangeline United Way as well as the Carencro Business Association. “It is an exciting time for St. Landry Parish and with the dynamics of a strong board of directors under the past leadership and now with Jody, it promises to be a productive year,” said Lynn Lejeune, chamber executive director. For more information about the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce, visit stlandrychamber.com or call 337-942-2683.

Bayou Vermilion District Celebrates Earth Day

Bayou Vermillion District brought together various organizations to Vermilionville in an effort to raise awareness and inspire appreciation for planet Earth.

Various community organizations and businesses were on hand to share their knowledge of environmentally related issues as well as provide fun activities. The event included a clothes drop where those attending brought old clothes to recycle, donate, or trade. Attendees were also able to canoe paddle, take a tour of the Vermilion, attend a cheese cooking demonstration, a free yoga class, recycled art displays and more. Live music at the event was provided by Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band as well as Bonsoir, Catin. Photograph by Casey Harmon

www.upperlafayette.com • May 2016

Thank you for your generosity.. Platinum Members ($2400)

Acadian Companies Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc. ASH/Badger Oil Company Couret Farms Cox Communications Delta Media Home Furniture Hub City Ford IBERIABANK Lafayette General Medical Center McDonald’s of Acadiana MidSouth Bank Our Lady of Lourdes Republic National Distributing Company Schilling Distributing Company Stone Energy Whitney National Bank

Gold Members ($1200)

Acadiana Rubber & Gasket Aries Marine Corporation Atmos Energy Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Dupré Logistics, LLC Farm D’Allie Gulf Coast Bank Home Bank Omni Energy Services The Southwest Group Van Eaton & Romero

Silver Members ($600)

Ace Plumbing, Inc. BBR Creative Coburn’s Supply Company Edward Jones/Bob Crist Entergy Gauthiers’ RV Center Master Builders & Specialists, Inc. Oakbourne Country Club Prejean Creative Rader Solutions Refinery Downtown

Silver Members