Upper Lafayette On The Move Letter from Executive Director, Jan Swift December 2013. Wow! Where has the year gone? The old saying “Time flies when you are having fun” is certainly true. And looking back, I realize that there have been so many good things happening in Upper Lafayette Parish and great connections being made through the work of our foundation, that this is a good time to step back and truly savor this whirlwind year that is winding down.
Upcoming Events “Honoring Upper Lafayette Success” Jan. 22, 2014 Holiday Inn Lafayette 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
First and foremost, thank you to our board of directors, as well as our members and sponsors who make our work possible. We have enjoyed wonderful events throughout 2013 that provided outstanding speakers, warm memories and rich connections for our guests. Highlights of our events are found on pages ……herein and I hope you smile as much Jan Swift Executive Director as I did when you look over these photos. We have so much fun when we all get together; I want to acknowledge how grateful I am to know the outstanding people who partner with Upper Lafayette and who share their energy to make our community great. This past year, our foundation’s work focused on enriching our community by working to improve educational outcomes in our public schools, economic development initiatives, and member services. We have partnered with staff at Lafayette Consolidated Government and DOTD, as well as Rep. Stephen Ortego, to encourage government to study traffic safety issues along the I-49 corridor north of I-10. We have maintained our efforts to beautify the gateway into our community, especially along I-10 at the University Avenue Exit, and will continue to encourage all residents to be aware of the importance of beautifying the I-10/I-49 corridor which is traversed by tens of thousands of visitors and residents each day.
ULEDF Board of Directors & Staff David Welch, President Cherie Hebert, Vice President Todd Citron, Sec./Treas. Adrian Baudoin Julie Dronet Don Dupuis Ed Krampe Donna Landry Kirk LaCour Beau Phares Dwight “Bo” Ramsay Herbert Schilling Bryan Tabor Jerry Vascocu Monty Warren Jan Swift, Director Lauren Rabalais
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May your holidays be merry and bright, and may you enjoy a blessed and prosperous New Year! And just to ensure that you enjoy good Santa Randy Paul, cheer, we are including holiday greetings from Randy Paul of Home Home Furniture Furniture, our favorite Santa!
January Meeting to Honor Acadian Companies Please mark your calendar for our fourth annual “Honoring Upper Lafayette Success Stories” event to be held Wednesday, January 22, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 2032 NE Evangeline Thruway in Lafayette. We will honor the incredible success of Richard Zuschlag and Acadian Companies, and swear in Upper Lafayette’s 2014 Board of Directors. We are adding a new celebration to our January meeting where we will honor long term employees or those team members who you believe have contributed to your company’s success. This event will be a wonderful way to kick off another great year! Tickets are $35 for non-members, or a reserved table for eight is $300. Please contact lauren@ upperlafayette.com or call (337)769-7649 for more information. Registration may be made online at www.upperlafayette.com/events, or you may mail payment to ULEDF, P. O. Box 53107, Lafayette LA 70505. Special thanks to our sponsor, The Louisiana Campaign For Tobacco Free Living!
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www.upperlafayette.com Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority
Spotlight on Loyal Member: Jean C. Breaux, Jr., APLC Upper Lafayette is blessed to have members who join our foundation, without being solicited, solely because they recognize the beauty and potential the entire region possesses. In a word, they value the work of our foundation to promote Upper Lafayette Parish as a great place to live, work and invest, and do not ask for a thing in return! One such member, Jean Breaux, is a local attorney that joined Upper Lafayette in 2011 and has given us his continued support and encouragement. Jan Swift met recently with Jean to discuss his reasons for joining and to learn more about his law practice, which focuses on transactional work in the area of estate planning. “My father was a long-time landowner of property in Upper Lafayette, and I also own land facing I-49” Jean stated when discussing his interest in the work of the foundation. “I have Jan Swift with always found this region to have the most beautiful land, and the potential for growth Jean Breaux and prosperity is staggering,” Breaux further stated. With the explosive growth Lafayette Parish is projected to experience in the coming years, Breaux confirmed his belief that Upper Lafayette is definitely a prudent place in which to invest. Jean Breaux is a well-respected attorney specializing in probate law, preparation of wills, and assisting clients in their estate planning needs relating to federal taxation, business law and contracts. Practicing since 1977, Breaux is rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell by his peers in the legal community, the highest and most esteemed credential you can receive as a testament of your competency. Jean is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Lafayette Bar Association, as well as the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Friendly and courteous, Jean is the kind of lawyer you want on your team. The office of Jean C. Breaux, APLC is located in the Oil Center at 1018 Harding Street, Suite 103, Lafayette LA 70503. He may be contacted at (337)233-4447 or emailed at jean@breauxfirm.com
Northside Students Travel to Harvard for Special Training Program In early October, a select group of students from Northside High School traveled to Cambridge, Mass. to participate in the Harvard Mock Trial High School Training Seminar. The two-day program is designed to give high school students the skills and tools necessary to succeed in mock trial competitions. As part of the training, the students attended lectures and learned about delivering opening statements and closing arguments, as well as direct and cross examination of witnesses. They were treated to a tour of Harvard Yard by Harvard freshman and mock trial team member, Peyton Fine, who previously competed on Jesuit’s mock trial team in Louisiana. In addition, the group explored the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston and caught a ferry to Salem to take part in Halloween festivities.
Northside High School’s Mock Trial Team with their coaches
The students who attended the seminar are all members of Northside High School’s Mock Trial Team, a part of the school’s Academy of Legal Studies—which was recently designated as a School of Choice for Lafayette Parish. Attorneys from the law firm NeunerPate, Brandon Letulier and L’Reece David Butcher, helped the team prepare for the program, which included a scrimmage based on a hypothetical case. NeunerPate is a long-time supporter of NHS’s legal program, and Letulier – a graduate of Northside – has coached the mock trial team for the past 8 years. At LPSS’s recent Fall Frenzy to promote Schools of Choice, Letulier was named a “Community Partner of the Year” for his work with the NHS Academy of Legal Studies. For more information, please contact Anna Mary Walker at AMWalker@NeunerPate.com or by phone at (337) 2377000. You may also visit http://www.harvardmocktrial.org/high-school-seminar-program/ for more information regarding the Mock Trial High School Training Seminar.
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Upper Lafayette GEARS UP by Assisting Students Applying For College On Wednesday, November 13, we had the pleasure of volunteering with the Lafayette Parish School System’s GEAR UP program by assisting seniors at Carencro High School to apply for college during College Application Week. GEAR UP is a federally funded grant initiative that provides students with the skills, access, preparation and information needed to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. In Lafayette Parish, GEAR UP works collaboratively with LPSS, higher education, and business partners to provide resources to students and parents in order to prepare and motivate students to achieve beyond their current expectations. During the week of November 11-15, 2013, students had the chance to apply for various colleges with help from GEAR UP Staff and Volunteers during the first College Application week in Lafayette Parish. All seniors expected to graduate in 2014 were encouraged to apply for admission to at least one college or university. About 900 applications were completed during the week and the application initiative will continue as long as students need assistance. Three of the five GEAR UP schools are located in Upper Lafayette: Carencro High School, Northside High School, and David Thibodeaux STEM Magnet Academy. Did you know that of every 100 Louisiana 9th graders, only 56 graduate from high school. 33 of those 56 enter college. 12 of those 33 graduate from college within 6 years, and of those 12, only 2 are low-income students. By closing the participation gap, the number of Louisiana students age 18 and older enrolled in college would grow 71% in 15 years. With statistics such as these, it’s clear to see that the students of Lafayette Parish are blessed to be a part of this awesome program. Up next, the students will be GEARing UP for Graduation! For more information about the LPSS GEAR UP program, please visit their website at www.lpssgearup.com, or contact Traci Aucoin, Project Director at toaucoin@lpssonline.com
Lauren Rabalais with GEAR UP Staff Member at Carencro High School during College Application Week
We Need Your Help Identifying Upper Lafayette’s Loyal Employees As a new feature at our January 2014 Upper Lafayette Business Stories event, we want to shine the spotlight on your long-term valued and loyal employees who have helped build your business in Upper Lafayette Parish. Through our work to promote Upper Lafayette, we have been amazed at the stories you have shared with us about how your valued employees are the real reason for your success. We look forward to awarding a certificate of appreciation for your deserving personnel who have either been with your company for a long time or have played a key role in the success of your company. Please contact Lauren at lauren@upperlafayette.com or call us at (337) 769-7649 so that we may provide you with a form to fill our which provides your employee(s) name, years of service, answer any questions you may have, etc. Thank you for participating in this new addition to our programming to recognize greatness and loyalty.
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2013: Another Great Year for Upper Lafayette!
It’s always fun looking back through photos taken at our various events held throughout the past year! January began with our third annual “Upper Lafayette Business Success Stories” event where we recognized the outstanding contributions of Bryan Tabor and Ace Plumbing, as well as Karl Breaux and his family owned Breaux’s Mart. January 2013’s meeting attracted an overflowing crowd at Acadian Companies’ spacious auditorium in Upper Lafayette and we were grateful to have the event sponsored by the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living and Hub City Ford.
Bo Ramsay with friends at our March Meeting
Members of the Upper Lafayette Board of Directors after being sworn in at our January Meeting March 2013 brought our next gathering to the Petroleum Club, where we honored Paul Hilliard of Badger Oil for his many philanthropic endeavors. Paul is so gracious and humble and was a perfect choice for Upper Lafayette’s third annual “Philanthropist of the Year,” which we will repeat in March 2014. Louisiana Oil & Gas Association and the Lafayette Airport Commission were our generous sponsors for this event.
Don Briggs, with Madlyn and Paul Hilliard at our March Meeting.
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Couret Farms served as the lush setting for our fifth annual crawfish boil in April, catered by Seth Citron’s Crawdaddy’s, and sponsored by our generous friends at IberiaBank and Beau Box Commercial Real Estate. This event was the first time many had seen the grounds of the exciting new Traditional Neighborhood Development in the works by Robert Daigle and his team at River Ranch. Special thanks to Sean Trcalek for our musical entertainment and Schilling Distributing for providing the beverages. Look forward to our sixth annual crawfish boil in April 2014. Top: Todd Citron with Calvin James Below, Left: Shelia Thibodeaux, Sean Trcalek and Bonnie Gaspard Below, Right: The crowd enjoying the crawfish boil at Couret Farms
In May, Upper Lafayette was welcomed at South Louisiana Community College where our speaker was Dr. Natalie Harder, Chancellor. We all enjoyed the delicious food prepared by Social and McDonald’s of Acadiana, and the crowd enjoyed Natalie’s presentation on the marketable skills gained at an affordable price by students of our local community college.
Scott Domingue, Jan Swift, Kirk LaCour, Monty Warren, and Ken Kastner at our May Meeting
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Dr. Natalie Harder, SLCC, speaking at our May Meeting
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“What’s Up with Downtown?” was our focus in July where we welcomed Michele Ezell, owner of Tsunami and the Buchanan Lofts, as well as E.J. Krampe of Place de Lafayette and Nathan Norris, Director of the Downtown Development Authority to our panel discussion. Special Thanks to our sponsors, Lafayette Airport Commission and Place de Lafayette. Set at beautiful Oakbourne Country Club, our crowd enjoyed the lighthearted and informative discussion of all the amenities downtown Lafayette has and the work being undertaken by the DDA to bring in more residential living and other amenities into the heart of our great city. Top: Nathan Norris, E.J. Krampe, Michele Ezell and Jan Swift Left: E.J. Krampe speaking at our July Meeting Below: Mark Gremillion, Greg Roberts, Robert Callahan with Jan Swift
Our third annual Run Upper Lafayette was held September 21st at beautiful Pelican Park in Carencro. We all had fun raising funds to benefit Bridge Ministry of Acadiana. Thank goodness for the talented Cajun Road Runners Club, in particular Todd Delahoussaye, who made us look good and kept our runners on course.
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September 2013’s meeting focused on “Why Invest in Upper Lafayette?” where we heard Lewis Stirling and Robert Daigle speak on why they are bullish on North Lafayette parish as a great place in which to invest. Our generous sponsors were Stone Energy and LEDA.
Top: David Welch, Robert Daigle, Jan Swift and Lewis Stirling Above: Zachary Barker, Jillian Dickerson, Destin Ortego and Mark Mouton, LEDA Right: Home Bank Representatives and Friends
Sticking with It: Aligning Your Actions with your Values was the focus of our fourth annual Quest for Your Best symposium held in October. Our presenters, Elise Bouchner, Reggie Dupre and Red Lerille, inspired the crowd with their own unique and heartfelt messages about what drives them to ‘stick with it.” Thanks to our sponsors, Acadiana Computer Systems, Excelerant and Rader Solutions for making this memorable event the success it was.
Above: David Welch, Reggie Dupre, Elise Bouchner, Red Lerille and Jan Swift Right: the crowd at Quest for Your Best
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We met at the LITE Center in November and thoroughly enjoyed the lively panel discussion led by Chad Cole of Universal Sign Company, Zachary Barker of the Opportunity Machine, and Chris Rader of Rader Solutions. The panelists shared their insights on today’s entrepreneur and the incredible advantages of staying up to date with technology enhancements to keep up with the competition. We were proud to welcome new sponsor LUS Fiber to Upper Lafayette and we thank LEDA for its continuing support and its in-kind donation.
Top: Chad Cole speaking at our November meeting Above, Left: Nicole DesOrmeaux, Kayla Miles Brooks and Missy Andrade Above, Right: Zachary Barker, Chris Rader, Jan Swift and Chad Cole Left: Jenny Krueger and Donna Byrne
Thanks to all who contributed throughout this past year with your time and service, and thanks to our members and sponsors who support our foundation. Your community investment is inspirational. We hope you have enjoyed 2013 as much as we have. Thanks for being a part of Upper Lafayette. Happy Holidays and may your New Year be prosperous and abundant!
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Upper Lafayette Celebrates Christmas 2013 Merry Christmas to all of you from Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation! We send best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and want to encourage you to celebrate the bounty of family oriented Christmas events offered in our community this year. On Wednesday, December 4, Christmas in Scott is the perfect event to put you into the Christmas spirit, and will be held from 6-8 p.m. at St. Aubin Park (downtown Scott located near the railroad tracks) and features the official lighting of Scott’s Christmas tree and a visit/photo op with Santa Clause. Continue the festivities by attending Carencro Country Christmas on Saturday, December 7 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., at the Carencro Community Center at 5115 N. University Avenue. This traditional event showcases choirs, singers, arts and crafts, food booths, and pictures with Santa. Be sure to catch the Christmas Children’s Parade, beginning at 2 p.m. Downtown Lafayette on Sunday, December 8, features the Sonic Christmas Parade, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., with more than 20 floats, high school marching bands, and the official arrival of Santa Claus to Lafayette. It begins at the Jefferson Street Underpass and ends in the Oil Center. Children are encouraged to bring their letters to Santa and they will be mailed to the North Pole! Celebrate memories at Old-Time Christmas at Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Road off Surrey St. in Lafayette, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, from December 10 through December 21, where you can meet Papa Noel and experience the historic warmth and beauty of Christmas past in this historic village. The timeless holiday classic, The Nutcracker, will also be performed on December 14 and 15th at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. May your holidays be merry and bright, and your New Year prosperous!
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Christmas Shopping: Upper Lafayette Style The Holiday Season is in full swing! I’m sure that each of you have those “hard to shop for” friends or family members. Have no fear …. ShopLafayette™ is here to help you become the ultimate gift giver this season. ShopLafayette™ is a campaign by the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission that promotes shopping along with overnight stays at hotels and motels in Lafayette Parish. Shopping is a part of everyone's travel experience and it's a great one here in Lafayette. With everything from local artisans to high-end boutiques, there is something for everyone. The ShopLafayette™ website, www.shoplafayettela.com, features an interactive map showing the location of each shop. On this map, you will find many of member businesses, including Cajun Harley- Davidson and Hub City Ford, as well as several gift shops, boutiques and so much more. ShopLafayette™ designed this map to display shops in the six districts of Lafayette Parish: Upper Lafayette, Downtown, Midtown, Southside, the Oil Center, and the Saints Streets. It is truly an amazing resource for anyone living in or traveling to Lafayette. In addition to the interactive map, visitors can also download listings for each of the six districts into a printable PDF document. We are so excited to spread the news that Santa and his elves will take over the ShopLafayette™ Facebook and Twitter pages for one hour and answer questions from you on Tuesday, December 10 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.! He will answer some already submitted questions and also answer some questions live for the discussion. Submit your questions and letters to Santa by emailing Santa@ ShopLafayetteLA.com. Visit http://www. shoplafayettela.com/santa for more details. To learn more about ShopLafayette™, e-mail Kelly Strenge, Public Relations & Special Projects Manager, at kstrenge@ lafayettetravel.com. For businesses that want to be a part of the free listings, please email listing@shoplafayettela. com.
Be sure to visit two of our member businesses this holiday season: Hub City Ford at 2909 NW Evangeline Thruway and Cajun HarleyDavidson at 724 S. Frontage Road in Scott.
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Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation Mission Statement “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.” For membership information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Jan Swift at jan@upperlafayette.com or 337-769-7649
Special Thanks to our Supporters Platinum Members Acadian Companies Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc. Aries Marine Corporation 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 Corporation Whitney National Bank
Gold Members Acadiana Rubber & Gasket Atmos Energy Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Dupre’ Logistics, LLC Fenstermaker & Associates Home Bank Omni Energy Services Pixus Digital Printing The Southwest Group Tobacco Free Living
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Silver Members Ace Plumbing, Inc. Arsement Machine and Supply, Inc. BBR Creative Cajun Harley Davidson Coburn’s Supply Company Edward Jones/Bob Crist Excelerant Guidry’s Uniforms Master Builders & Specialists, Inc. Oakbourne Country Club Opelousas General Health System Rader Solutions Shelf Energy, LLC SLEMCO Stella Maris Stirling Properties Total Pump and Supply, LLC Walters Funeral Home
Bronze Members Commission Lee Verret/State Farm Insurance Agency Lowry’s Printing and Copying Flo Meadows, Coldwell Banker Melancon I-49 Storage Center Petroleum Club Ron J. Gaubert Realtors W. W. Rucks, III Sarah Schoeffler Schools of the Sacred Heart John Swift Sylvan Learning Center Teche Electric Supply, LLC Dr. Brent Jason Toups, LLC Terry J. Rogers, Ltd. WorldPay
Sponsors
Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. Acadiana Symphony Orchestra Advancial Federal Credit Union Anytime Fitness Upper Lafayette Aspen Clinic Associated Travel Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana Jean C. Breaux, Jr. & Associates Breaux’s Mart Bridge Ministry of Acadiana, Inc. Community Foundation of Acadiana Crawdaddy’s On-Site Catering Dale Carnegie-The Winner Institute Davis Property Management Derek Development Corp., LLC Joey Durel Drury Inn & Suites Lynn Guidry, Architect John Paul The Great Academy Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic Lafayette Convention and Visitors
PLATINUM IberiaBank Lafayette Airport Commission LEDA Schilling Distributing Company Stone Energy GOLD Acadiana Computer Systems AT&T Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Excelerant Hub City Ford LOGA LUS Fiber McDonald’s of Acadiana Place de Lafayette Rader Solutions Tobacco Free Living SILVER Acadian Companies Advancial Federal Credit Union BRONZE City of Carencro City of Scott
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Bronze Members