Upper Lafayette June 2017 Newsletter by Upper Lafayette

UPPER LAFAYETTE ON THE MOVE!

UpperLafayette.com

June 2017

Volume 102

Telemedicine Focus of May Meeting Spotlight on Oakbourne Country Club and TEAM Link Acadian Ambulance Opens New Carencro Substation Lyft Launches in Lafayette And More.....

Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority

Published by Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation

Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority

Board of Directors Chad Cole, President Todd Citron, Vice-President Zachary Barker, Sec/Treasurer Monty Warren, Past President Adrian Baudoin Brenda Foulcard Kirk LaCour Donna Landry Pastor Ken Lazard Herbert Schilling Bryan Tabor Jerry Vascocu

Honorary Advisory Board Don Dupuis Dwight “Bo” Ramsay

Staff Jan Swift, Executive Director Emily Carline, Graphic Designer

Mailing Address P.O. Box 53107 Lafayette, LA 70505

The 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: Will Landry, Michael Dozier, Karen Knight, and Al Patin of Lafayette General Health at Upper Lafayette’s May 17, 2017 luncheon. Photo by Greta Gerstner.

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

A Letter from Todd Citron Upper Lafayette Vice President and General Manager of Hub City Ford

Be thankful always! This is God’s instruction to us all. Never has this been more true for Lafayette. The Lafayette Auto Dealers just went through one of the slowest car shows in our 30-year history. As a participant, you can feel the squeeze of the oil crunch all over Cajun Field’s parking lot. There were fewer customers and less money in the pockets of the shoppers that did attend. Consumer confidence is very low in Acadiana. Many questions dance in our minds. How long will the slow down continue? Will I continue to have a job? Can I commit to a major purchase in this economic climate? Doubt everywhere. As an eternal optimist, I choose to look at it another way. Jesus had the task of feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves and two fish. What he did in that very moment is exactly what we in South Louisiana must do now. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and thanked God for what he had. Our car show is the only one of its kind in Louisiana. It is the most successful car show in the United States! Wow, really! Nowhere else can competing auto dealers come together for one week a year and co-exist in tents that are setup within a few feet of each other. The group probably sold around 700 new vehicles in one week. Although, it falls short of the 1,000 plus vehicles in a normal year, most towns in America don’t sell that volume in an entire month. We all want to see Lafayette prosper. Our kids are getting college degrees and moving away because of the lack of opportunity here. This is why Upper Lafayette Economic Foundation exists. We must join together to create a future for our children. I believe the future is very bright. I love the progress we have made. Our foundation is very strong. Be patient, give thanks to God for what we have. Prosperity is just around the corner.

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Acadian Ambulance Holds Ribbon Cutting at New Carencro Station

Acadian Ambulance ribbon cutting held on May 3, 2017

On May 3, 2017, the Carencro Business Association hosted a ribbon cutting with Acadian Ambulance management and EMS staff to celebrate the company moving back into Carencro and into a bigger station located at 5030 N. University Avenue. Operations at the new station commenced on April 12, 2017. Leaders from the Carencro business communit y were in attendance, braving the impending rainstorm to show their support of Acadian Ambulance and gratitude for the new station. Jerry Romero, president of Acadian Ambulance, welcomed the crowd and spoke of Acadian’s commitment to providing the best in emergency medical response services to our region. Mayor Glenn Brasseaux, Charlie Brunt and Cindy Cole of the Carencro Business

Association, and many others were on hand to welcome Acadian back to Carencro. Following the ribbon cutting, Rev. Mark Ledoux, pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church, led the group in prayer and blessing of the station. Prior to the move, Acadian Ambulance stationed their Carencro ambulance units at the National EMS Academy training facility on North University. The new station will house two ambulance units and 10 medics for continuous service to the residents of Carencro and the immediate surrounding areas. Acadian Ambulance is one of the largest ambulance services in the nation, offering emergency and non-emergency transportation to areas in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.

Operations Manager Adam Olivier being thanked for his service

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

LEDA Hosts 22nd Job Fair in May By Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO of Lafayette Economic Development Authority Article originally published in ABiz magazine, April 14 – May 14, 2017 issue The LEDA staff meets with hundreds of businesses each year, and one of the top concerns we hear repeatedly is workforce— whether it’s finding the number of workers needed, identifying workers with the necessary skill sets or keeping positions filled once someone is hired. As such, workforce development is an essential component of LEDA’s economic development efforts, and part of this strategy is connecting the workforce demand (employers’ need for workers) and the workforce supply (individuals seeking employment). Our most prominent event, the LEDA Job Fair, is essential in carrying out this objective— for local businesses and residents. Now in its 22nd year, the job fair is the largest recruitment event in Acadiana. The 2017 LEDA Job Fair was held May 9 at the Cajundome Convention Center, welcoming 90 employers searching for qualified applicants. The event is even more important this year given the job losses in the region due to the energy downturn. Since June 2014, more than 23,000 jobs have been lost in the Lafayette MSA (Lafayette, Acadia, Iberia, St. Martin and Vermilion parishes). The LEDA Job Fair is part of ongoing efforts in the region to connect displaced workers with companies that are hiring.

Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO of Lafayette Economic Development Authority

Our staff works diligently to secure a cross-section of employers that is reflective of the region’s business base— employers who are offering jobs ranging from entry-level to executive, from those needing little training to those requiring advanced degrees. The job fair is a great venue for job seekers to meet with hiring managers from multiple employers all in one location. In the past 21 years, thousands of Acadiana job seekers have connected directly with Acadiana’s top employers with remarkable success.

LEDA’s workforce development efforts also include the LEDA Virtual Job Fair. Since its creation in 2005, the Virtual Job Fair (lafayette.org/jobs) has become the most popular page on LEDA’s website. Our workforce staff posts job vacancies for LEDA’s clients who may be new to the area, companies in the process of expanding or other local businesses seeking qualified employees. We distribute the job postings to a network of workforce centers in addition to sharing the information with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, UL Lafayette’s and South Louisiana Community College’s career services websites, and other local, private colleges and training academies. LEDA posted more than 780 job openings on the Virtual Job Fair in 2016; so far this year, 200 job openings have been posted. As Lafayette’s business base evolves, new employment opportunities will present themselves to the local workforce. Our workforce development efforts benefit the entire community as a quality workforce influences economic development by growing our existing businesses as well as attracting new businesses and industries to the region. The latest job fair developments and participating employers can be found at lafayette.org/jobfair.

LEDA job fair attracts eager job seekers. Photo supplied by LEDA.

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Upper Lafayette May Meeting Focused on Advancements in Healthcare Delivery The future of healthcare is now! Upper Lafayette’s May meeting focused on the advancements in healthcare delivery in our region. Based upon the looks on the faces of many of the attendees, it was obvious most had no idea of the incredible treatment options available right here in Acadiana. Michael Dozier, Chief Information Officer for Lafayette General Health, delivered an impressive overview of the many technologies healthcare professionals now use to treat patients. Dozier discussed apps available which can depict the location in our community surrounding the outbreak of flu, colds, strep throat, etc., as well as an app which can predict wait times at their Urgent Care outpatient facilities. With online patient scheduling, there is no longer any need to drive to the clinic feeling sick and have to wait an hour or more to see a treating physician. Another portion of Dozier’s presentation which inspired the crowd was an examination of a patient being conducted by an off-site physician. With the ease of wireless technology, the doctor was able to examine the patient’s ears, throat and body with special cameras and tools operated by the nurse who was physically on-site at Upper Lafayette’s meeting at Oakbourne Country Club. The crowd witnessed what the doctor saw in real time on a screen set up at the meeting. The mobile app may be accessed online at appshopper.com/medical/lgh. These advancements will save all of us great time and resources and truly make “house calls” possible. Elisabeth Arnold of Our Lady of Lourdes also presented on the newest technologies utilized at their hospital. In particular, she discussed Dr. Jimmy White, who relocated to Lafayette after completing five years at Mayo Clinic, one of the top hospitals in the US for ear, nose and throat treatments. Dr. White performed the first transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in Acadiana at OLOL in December of 2016. Transoral robotic surgery is a minimally invasive approach to reach deep in the throat where tumors are often difficult to visualize and surgical technique is limited due to small spaces and corners where a surgeon’s hand will not easily fit. This type of surgery is used to treat mostly oropharyngeal and some laryngeal cancers in the throat, tonsil and base of the tongue. TORS patients typically experience quicker recovery times, fewer complications, and hopefully avoid the need for chemotherapy based on their pathology. White’s expertise in this specialty will allow head and neck cancer patients in Southwest Louisiana more surgical options to stay closer to home for treatment. He is currently the only TORS trained ENT physician in the region. Our Lady of Lourdes has developed an advanced robotic surgery program with two da Vinci robots and over 15 certified robotic surgeons in the region. The hospital offers a vast and innovative array of cancer services and is accredited by American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and was recently awarded a Silver Seal of Excellence by the Louisiana Tumor Registry. The hospital mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to all God’s people. Visit their website at lourdesrmc.com. Todd Leto, CEO and founder of Trapollo, newly acquired by Cox Business, also gave a compelling presentation on the dramatic improvements in the way healthcare is delivered to patients with chronic diseases and the solutions offered by Trapollo. The company’s proprietary line of software and vital sign collection devices connect patients with a variety of providers and specialists who can then monitor the patient from the comfort of their own home. For more information on Trapollo, please visit trapollo.com. We’re grateful to our generous sponsors that made this event possible: Presenting Sponsor, Cox Business, Founding Benefactor, Acadiana Computer Systems, and Advancial Federal Credit Union, Supporting Sponsor. For more information on Upper Lafayette, a membership organization, please visit upperlafayette.com. Photo credit: Lafayette General Nurse Karen Knight examines Jan Swift. Photos by Greta Gerstner. Photo credits (opposite page, clockwise from top left): Jan Swift, Joey Lejeune, Brooke Broussard and Lacey Maynor of Advancial; Jan Swift, Robert Mitchell of SLEMCO, and Julie Dronet and Leigh King of Cox Business; Terry Delhomme, Kolette Leblanc, Don Dupuis and Adrian Baudoin of Acadiana Computer Systems, and Gregory Zaunbrecher; Leigh King, Jan Swift and Joan Dubuisson; Elisabeth Arnold of Our Lady of Lourdes; Home Bank team; Will Landry, Michael Dozier, Karen Knight, and Al Patin of Lafayette General Health; Todd Leto of Trapollo. Photos by Greta Gerstner.

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Spotlight on Beautiful Oakbourne Country Club Opened in 1955, Oakbourne Country Club is the only private member-owned club in Lafayette Parish. While its gorgeous 18-hole golf course is an alluring draw for golfing aficionados, the club also offers an exciting portfolio of seasonal activities and events to please any family member. The lushly landscaped entry to the saltwater swimming pool and outdoor grill offers an inviting place to while this summer away. Members enjoy events such as Wine Tastings, Friday Nights at the pool with a poolside DJ and Dive in Movies, Family Bingo Nights, Couples Date Night golf, 4th of July BBQ Celebration, Old Fashioned Memorial Day BBQ, Campout on the Course, Lobster Night, Labor Day BBQ Kings Cook-off, Pumpkin Carving, Breakfast with Santa and many more activities. Under the helm of General Manager Greg Klemp, Oakbourne is even of fering memberrequested activities such as etiquette classes led by Lynley Jones of Grace Notes and daylong summer camps starting June 5, 2017 for $150 per week. Oakbourne is also a mecca for local tennis buffs, with its tennis center featuring a twostory pavilion and pro shop. In 2008, the driving range was expanded and equipped with a 121-foot net to protect neighbors from errant golf balls. Upper Lafayette has hosted many events at Oakbourne and we can attest to the delicious food and service provided by the club Located at 3700 E. Simcoe Street, entering the gates of Oakbourne Country Club transports you into a safe haven for relaxation and visiting with friends and family. On a recent visit to the club for a magnificent lunch of Cobb salad in the grill room, Jan Swift asked Greg Klemp to explain the focus of his management. Klemp stated, “The focus is on the family, allowing Greg Klemp, Manager of Oakbourne Country Club the whole family to feel welcome to hang out at the club. Dads can join their families after a round of golf, women can invite friends or clients out for a delicious lunch, and there are so many children’s parties hosted at our expansive pool. We also want to let it be known that the non-members may reserve the club for events. As an example, the Daughters of the American Revolution now host their annual ball here at Oakbourne which offers the opportunity for many non-members to experience the ambiance of our club.” History buffs may enjoy reading From Acorn to Oakbourne: The History of Oakbourne Country Club written by Bernice Larson Webb and W. Roy Hebert, 1998. According to the book, a writer in The Southern Golfer, April 1957, describes, “The rolling hills along the banks of the beautiful Vermilion River […] once constituted the sprawling acres of Oakbourne Plantation. Today a modern masonry, glass, and […] steel clubhouse looks over the same rolling hills of Oakbourne Country club, a realization of the dreams of many community minded citizens who brought about this modern miracle in just a little over a year.” That miracle still stands today, lovelier than ever and waiting for a visit from you! For more information on social and full memberships, and to check out the amenities, please visit oakbournecc.com or phone (337) 235-6426.

View of the gorgeous golf green

Tennis courts and clubhouse

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Upper Lafayette Proud to Honor Acadian Middle School Students Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation served as the proud sponsor of the closing ceremony held at Acadiana Middle School held on May 2, 2017. For the fourth 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. The band was in fine form as they led off the event with a couple of crowd pleasing tunes. This year’s ceremony was a bit different from the past, however, in that the stands were packed full of parents and grandparents on hand to witness the ceremony. While we can only venture a guess, it seems that the institution of the Leader in Me program as well as the Gear Up program have inspired students and their families to appreciate the hard work the young ones have invested in their education. It was heartwarming to watch the students’ faces as they walked up to receive their awards; while some were a bit shy and hesitant to come forward, they also had that proud look of one who knows their hard work was worthwhile and paid off. Congratulations to Acadian Middle’s Principal Rollan Moore and his dedicated team of teaching professionals who continue to work to Acadian Middle School Principal Rollan Moore. Photo by Greta Gerstner

Acadian Middle School sign

improve educational outcomes at their school!

Jan Swift addressing crowd at Acadian Middle 8th grade closing ceremony

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Lyft Launches Service in Lafayette There are many benefits to ridesharing. Not only do you save money on gas and wear and tear on your vehicle or avoid the dreaded hunt for a parking spot, but in many cases, drivers make an informed decision not to get behind the wheel of the car when they are impaired. Planning ahead with a ridesharing service such as Lyft or Uber is a smart choice. On May 4, Lyft celebrated its commencement of services in Lafayette at a press conference held at the beautiful Acadiana Center of the Arts. On hand were officials from One Acadiana, Upper Lafayette, and Lafayette area professionals in the hospitality business who were thrilled to welcome Lyft to our community. John Horton, Community Affairs Manager for Lyft, welcomed the crowd and thanked Lafayette for its warm welcome. Horton stated, “We think there is a great potential driver and passenger pool in Lafayette. As a college town, you have the second largest university in Louisiana, and college towns benefit from ride sharing services. So, it was a unique fit for us and we feel it was a great time to come to Lafayette.” Lyft is also pushing for statewide legislation to unify regulations affecting ride-sharing services throughout Louisiana. Upper Lafayette supports this endeavor and we have served as a partner in “Let’s Geaux Louisiana” to get out the message of the many benefits our state will experience with Lyft and Uber freely operating in the many towns and cities across our region. For more information on Lyft services in Lafayette, and Let’s Geaux Louisiana, please check out lyft.com/cities/lafayette-la and facebook.com/letsgeauxla.

John Horton, Community Affairs Manager for Lyft

Ribbon cutting for Lyft on May 4, 2017 at the Acadiana Center of the Arts

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Spotlight on New Member: TEAM Link Anita Link resides in Carencro and is a devoted wife to husband, Jeff, and children, Marie and Jack. She graduated with honors from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, and was the Outstanding Graduate in her College at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Immediately after graduation, she followed in her parent’s footsteps by working education, first at her alma mater, Sacred Heart, and subsequently Louisiana State University Eunice whereby she gained almost 17 years of experience in enrollment management. Energized and inspired by philanthropic efforts, she volunteered on the board of a national service non-profit organization for over 10 years gaining valuable skills including marketing and strategic planning. In 2016, she resigned from her position at the university so as to afford her more time with her beloved family and founded St. Pierre Promotional Products. She is thoroughly enjoying her employment as a niche promotional advertising consultant, as well as the freedom and ability to be of service to others that being a business owner provides. While very active in the community and constantly seeking to learn and expand her skill set, she felt that opportunities for professional development for distinguished professionals in the community would be appreciated. Based on this premise and the desire to provide a healthy forum for business owners to interact, learn, and advance together to foster economic growth, she founded TEAM Link, an Upper Lafayette initiative. TEAM is an acronym for Time, Energy, and Asset Management, all three of which are essential components to success and profitability.

Anita Link

TEAM Link hosts Success Summits every other month, the next to be held on June 8, 2017. Visit TEAMLink.biz to learn more about TEAM Link’s forthcoming success summits and philanthropic endeavors or call Anita Link at 337-315-7198. Upper Lafayette is proud to welcome our newest member, Anita Link, and her company, TEAM Link!

Shanna Dorion of BizKnocks addresses the crowd at TEAM Link’s April 2017 meeting in the Hub City Ford conference room.

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Upper Lafayette On the Move Features Dr. Willie Smith, SLCC Dr. Willie Smith serves as South Louisiana Community College’s Vice President for Academics and Workforce Solutions. Dr. Smith’s new position is a combination of positions he recently held— Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development. He provides leadership, management, and direction for the overall instruction and education for the college’s academic divisions and also facilitates economic and labor force creation in the area. In his previous position, Smith, in conjunction with the former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, successfully led the substantive change merger for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accreditation of the former Acadiana Technical College and South Louisiana Community College. He also created and developed SLCC’s Corporate College’s business and marketing plan to address the Jan Swift and Dr. Willie Smith needs of businesses and industries. This initiative went from serving 200 non-credit and short-term training students to more than 1,200 students and bringing in $500,000 in revenue. Dr. Smith earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Argosy University in 2014, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy University in 2001, and a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in Social Work in 1993. Upper Lafayette was proud to interview Dr. Willie Smith on Upper Lafayette On the Move and we are also proud to welcome SLCC as one of our newest members! You may watch this episode with Dr. Smith on our website at upperlafayette.com/video.

VOLUME 102 • JUNE 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Therapy Center of Grand Coteau Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Therapy Center of Grand Coteau celebrates grand opening!

On May 9, 2017, the Therapy Center of Grand Coteau hosted a ribbon cutting for the new Grand Coteau outpatient clinic. As in keeping with their focus on giving back to the community, they partnered with United Blood Services to host a blood drive on the day of the event. Attendees were also encouraged to bring a toy donation for a St. Jude Toy Drive being held in May. This location is the fourth location for the rapidly growing Therapy Center, joining sister clinics in Carencro, Jennings, and Mansura. The Grand Coteau clinic is conveniently located at 1506 I-49 North Service Road, near the exit for Sunset and Grand Coteau. For more information, call 337662-7200 or visit therapyctr.com/our-outpatient-clinics/grandcoteau. Congratulations to our loyal Upper Lafayette member, Therapy Center, and best wishes for continued success and growth as you serve the needs of those in need of quality physical therapy services.

Charlie Brunt, Cindy Cole and her grandson, Giles Bacque

VOLUME 102 â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Thank you for your generosity... Platinum Members Acadian Companies

Oakbourne Country Club

Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc.

Prejean Creative

ASH/Badger Oil Company

Rader Solutions

Couret Farms

Arla Slaughter, Van Eaton & Romero SLEMCO

Cox Communications

SMILE

Delta Media

Platinum Acadiana Computer Systems Cox Communications IBERIABANK Keller Williams Realty Acadiana LEDA

Therapy Center of Carencro

Home Furniture

Universal Sign & Manufacturing

Hub City Ford

Company

IBERIABANK Lafayette General Medical Center McDonald’s of Acadiana

Walters Funeral Home

Bronze Members

Our Lady of Lourdes Republic National Distributing Company

Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. Advancial Federal Credit Union

Schilling Distributing Company

Jean C. Breaux, Jr. & Associates

Stone Energy

Crawdaddy’s On-Site Catering

Whitney National Bank

Lynn Guidry, Architect Jay Castille Construction

Gold Members

John Paul The Great Academy

Acadiana Rubber & Gasket

Lafayette Animal Aid

Aries Marine Corporation

Lafayette Convention and Visitors

Atmos Energy

Commission

Beau Box Commercial Real Estate

Lee Verret/State Farm Insurance Agency

Dupré Logistics, LLC

Lowry’s Printing and Copying

Gold AT&T Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Broussard & David Honda of Lafayette Insurance Resource Group Jones Walker Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital LUS NeunerPate SMILE Community Action Agency UL Lafayette B.I. Moody III, College of Business Administration Van Eaton & Romero The Veterinary Clinic at Gloria Switch

Silver Acadian Companies Advancial Federal Credit Union Picard Group Schilling Distributing Company

Mailing Systems Inc.

Farm D’Allie

Melancon I-49 Storage Center

Gibson Energy Services

Iqbal Merchant, CPA

Gulf Coast Bank

Phyllis Coleman Mouton

Home Bank

One Acadiana

Van Eaton & Romero

Petroleum Club

Silver Members Ace Plumbing, Inc.

Bronze City of Carencro City of Scott A special thanks to the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) for being our Program of Work partner for 2017.

Proree, LLC Ron J. Gaubert Realtors Schools of the Sacred Heart

BBR Creative

South Louisiana Community College

Coburn’s Supply Company

Summit Physical Therapy

Edward Jones/Bob Crist

John Swift

Hilton’s Restaurant Supply

TEAM Link

Master Builders & Specialists, Inc.

Teche Electric Supply, LLC