FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARN “A” RATINGS
THE PROGRESS ISSUE
RECREATION MOVES FORWARD
PARISH PRESIDENT RACE HEATS UP
FEB
2019
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE |
FEBRUARY 2019 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 2
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
PUBLISHER
Brian Rushing
04 06 08 11
GOVERNMENT UPDATE
Cantrelle to face opposition at the polls
OIL AND GAS UPDATE
Oil is up a little – who to thank?
LEVEES, GATES IN TERREBONNE
2019 marks significant milestones for the parish
THE PROGRESSION OF DRAINAGE AND FLOOD PROTECTION Associated Pump & Supply
12
DRAINAGE TOPPED PROJECT LIST IN LAFOURCHE
14
CHANGES WITHIN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
Public works produced despite challenges
18 20
COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF CENAC DEAL
Kirby Inland Marine acquires Cenac’s fleet
LOCAL SCHOOLS SEE BANNER YEAR Terrebonne and Lafourche schools make the grade
23
TERREBONNE RECREATION ISSUE PERSIST
26 31
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Progress hopefully on the horizon News Briefs
ON THE AGENDA
Corporate calendar of events
EDITORIAL Mary Ditch MANAGING EDITOR
Casey Gisclair MANAGING EDITOR
Drew Miller CONTRIBUTING WRITER
John DeSantis CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Howard Castay Jr. CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CREATIVE Amber Duplantis SENIOR DESIGNER Paul Guidry GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Nicholas Boutte GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ADVERTISING Deanne Ratliff SALES MANAGER Harold Cancienne, Linda Pontiff, Mike Woods, Lanie Roberts, Emily Rini
DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Monica Harrison
OFFICE/CIRCULATION MANAGER
Positive and negative changes effect local law enforcement
Michelle Ortego
CUSTOMER SERVICE
THE PROGRESS ISSUE
P
CONTACT Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com
fund the jail and housing of inmates. Education is one area where we constantly make progressive strides. Lafourche Parish School District boasts of an “A” rating with a score that was third among school districts in the state. Terrebonne Parish School District celebrated five “A” schools. Lafourche also welcomed a new superintendent, Louis Voiron. Progression often calls for change. One area that saw change in 2018 was recreation in Terrebonne parish. TPR welcomed a new director, Roddy Lerille. Still more change is on the horizon with the formation of Rec Reform for Terrebonne, a local group of concerned taxpayers, who wish to see partial consolidation and leveled millages. Our area is in a unique position. Businesses and our governments have had to tighten belts and think smarter about how they operate. This forced change in our way of thinking can lead to progress or ruin depending on whether they adapt or resist. Let’s join together and make 2019 the most progressive year in a our generation.
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
rogress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing towards what will be.” By definition, progress is the forward movement towards a goal. Our area set some pretty lofty goals in 2018, most of which were heavily focused on climbing out of a recession. Businesses began to realize it was up to them to make a difference. The “status quo” wasn’t going to continue to work; a change had to be made. Progress. In February’s edition we explore progress in our communities. Our cover design reflects a few of the major areas of progress we celebrate in this issue: a young baseball player throws a pitch in a recreation game; the Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce swears in their new board; Sheriff Craig Webre and other officials cut the ribbon on the new Lafourche Parish Jail; Teenager of the Year Cassidy Nguyen is honored by Nicholls President Jay Clune. Within these pages, we talk to the parish presidents of Terrebonne and Lafourche about their accomplishments over the last year. Public works projects such as drainage and pump stations, along with levees and floodgates top both presidents’ lists. In both parishes, law enforcement has made strides towards greater goals. The biggest progression came from Lafourche parish, where a new parish jail is finally open. In Terrebonne parish, a deal was reached with the parish council to help the Sheriff
Kimberly Ross
3
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
GOVERNMENT UPDATE |
4
BY HOWARD J. CASTAY, JR.
Even though the primary election is still many months away on Oct. 12, the Lafourche Parish Ballot is already shaping up with three candidates who have announced their intentions to challenge Incumbent Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle for his job. But Cantrelle, who will close an initial term as parish president this fall, said he is not bothered by the others, but is instead looking back on the things he says he’s accomplished in his first time and hoping that voters will let his record do the talking. “My record speaks for itself; for instance, since I took office, I have been able to bring $500 million in Coastal Protection and Restoration Funds to Lafourche Parish, over the past three years, while serving as a member of the CPRA Board (Coastal Protection Restoration Authority),” Cantrelle said. “Another example is the $7 million I saved the parish by rebuilding our pumps instead of replacing them with new ones.” Cantrelle said the parish has 81 pump stations, and when he took office about 50 percent of them were working. Now, about 80 percent of them are — an accomplishment that he said is one of his biggest since taking over as parish president. “Our drainage problems are one of the big reasons why I am seeking re-election. You cannot solve 30 years of drainage problems in just three years,” he said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done.” But others think they can do that work better going into the future of Lafourche history.
Despite Cantrelle’s record, Luci Sposito, Joe Fertitta and Archie Chaisson III are opposing the parish president — each with their own ideas for how to govern going forward. Sposito, who currently serves as District 2 Councilwoman, and who served as Council Chairman in 2018, said she plans to help lobby for funds at the state and federal levels to secure bunds needed to restore and protect the state coastline. She will end her first term on the council this year. “Every hour, Louisiana is losing almost a football field of wetlands and that loss leaves us vulnerable to storms and threatens our livelihood,” Sposito said. Sposito said she will also turn attention to Port Fourchon, if elected, stating that the local economy engine’s sustainability is huge to our area. “I will also help lobby for funds to finish raising La. Highway 1,” she said, explaining that uninterrupted access to Port Fourchon is extremely important to the parish economy and frankly, to the country. “Again, I believe we can secure state and federal dollars because Port Fourchon provides the United States with about 18 percent of the nation’s oil supply.” Regarding drainage, Sposito said, “We have to peacefully coexist with the water that surrounds us, and I want us to develop subdivisions wisely by creating and utilizing a comprehensive plan.” When it comes to managing the parish, she said ultimately the key to success is communication and cooperation. “To manage our challenges, I plan to
listen to and work closely with elected officials, business owners, residents and officials from neighboring parishes,” she said. “A new Lafourche will be born from a relentless pursuit by all, to sustain what we have, rebuild what we’ve lost, and our expectations of unlimited possibilities.” Former Lafourche Parish Councilman Joseph “Joe” Fertitta believes there needs to be complete transparency in the parish president’s office, and he said transparency is just one of the leadership skills he will bring to the job, if elected. He looked at some of the discord between the council and Cantrelle and said those are issues that hinder Lafourche’s progress and which need to be rectified going forward. “Something is wrong when over the past three years, an average of 7 out of 9 councilmen continually vote against what you are trying to accomplish,” Fertitta said. “I served for 12 years as the Lafourche Parish District 4 Councilman. My experience, coupled with my leadership skills and abilities, can create a work environment that is team and consensus building.” Fertitta said in the past years, the parish has faced many struggles such as: declining revenues, the closing of businesses, a loss of jobs, a vanishing coastline and flooding. He said with those issues, the parish has a razor thin margin of error and a lack of unity cannot exist in the troubling time. “But the biggest overall concern expressed to me by folks from throughout this parish, is to have a parish government that can work together to solve problems, and we haven’t had that,” Fertitta said, with
the present administration. Former Lafourche Parish Administrator Archie Chaisson III, said Lafourche Parish needs to be redirected to serve its residents and the community, and not politics — something he plans to address, if placed in office. “I have a long term vision for Lafourche Parish that will focus on economic resiliency, local tax reform, drainage improvements, coastal restoration and recreation. Each part of this plan is critical for the success of our parish and making it a place where people want to live, work and play. It will allow us to become more financially stable and improve the quality of life for our residents,” Chaisson said. Currently Public Works Director for the City of Thibodaux, Chaisson said, “I don’t like what I see happening in this current parish administration. I haven’t for quite some time,” he said. Chiasson previously served as Lafourche Parish Administrator under former Parish President Charlotte Randolph’s administration. “While the next four years are important to all of us, it’s even more important that we begin to set a standard upon which we can continue to grow year after year. Setting a standard that allows our children and grandchildren the opportunity to live and thrive here just as we do today,” he said.
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More notable numbers:
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
700,000 Visits to Fitness Center 400,000 Received clinical services in Wellness Center 5,500 Average membership of Fitness Center 5,000 Participated in community partnership events lost as a result of utilizing the Fitness Center 3,450 Pounds and the Healthy Lifestyle Weight Management Program 1,479 New patients received education services to help lower A1C 1,345 Free blood pressure and blood screenings 200 Wellness nutrition counseling sessions completed
5
OIL & GAS |
BY CASEY GISCLAIR
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
OIL IS UP A LITTLE..
6
SO WHAT’S TO THANK?
UNCERTAINTY IN SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY 2,200 MILES AWAY AIDING
SPIKE IN CRUDE PRICE
T
he see-saw continues to swing when it comes to the price of oil. This fall, the news was positive. Prices were up, work was growing at a steady rate and locals were optimistic about a prosperous future. But this winter, the bottom fell out and prices tanked — an epic fall from $70/barrel levels back down to the uncomfortably low $40/barrel prices that locals don’t like. But like any good see-saw, the swing downward only lasts so long and the start of 2019 has started another uphill climb — one that locals hope starts a growing trend
throughout all of the next year. The price of oil has rebounded slightly throughout January, sitting near $55/barrel at press-time in the first week of February — a nearly 20 percent rise after the pitfall we’d seen for most of the winter. Forecasts say the current level of growth is expected to continue before leveling off at a level in the $65-$75/barrel area — a mark which local experts say is well above the breakeven price for companies doing business in the Gulf of Mexico. “The break-even point right now is actually only $40/barrel,” Port Fourchon Executive
Director Chett Chiasson said. “So now, we want to see some drilling take place and more business take place.” So why has there been an upward swing in the price of oil? Unfortunately, it’s not been anything that we can control locally. Instead it’s more the political unrest in a country in South America more than 2,200 miles away that’s generating the credit. Venezuela’s government is in extreme political unrest with some of the world backing embattled President Nicolas Maduro as the country’s leader and others (including the United States, Canada, Australia and now the European Union) recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as the new man in charge. The issue regarding the political unrest is complex and far too complicated to break down in detail within the context of this piece, but Maduro’s perceived unfair and corrupt election tactics have, in-part, led to stiff
sanctions against the oil-rich country, which have gutted their supply on the global market. According to a report on oilprice.com published in early February, the latest round of United States sanctions on Venezuela could drop their oil production below 1 million barrels per day — a stiff fall from the 3.1 million barrels of oil per day that the country averaged a decade ago, which accounted for $61 billion in revenues for the country’s economy. What the continued cuts in Venezuela are doing is draining the global oil supply little-bylittle, which usually would cause a significant jump in price — given the principles of supply and demand. But that’s not happened, so why? Well, for one, there’s a supply glut, so the loss of Venezuela’s oil hasn’t been missed so far on the market Enhanced output by the United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia is creating a situation where there is almost 1.5 million barrels more
JOINING OUR FAMILY IN MARCH 2019
the price — like we saw this past winter. “In a market that’s looking for direction, there’s concern that any slowdown in the manufacturing sector would slow down demand,” oil analyst Phil Flynn told CNBC. So what happens next? The situation in Venezuela is likely to go unresolved for many months with more nations recognizing Guaido and others digging in their heels in support of Maduro — namely China and Russia. How the unrest plays out and how heated tensions between oil producing nations on each side of the issue get will likely decide the price throughout spring and summer. Projections call for a continued steady climb toward the $65-70/barrel range throughout the year — which is being described as a “slow, steady” year of growth, according to projections.
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
per day than consumers need, according to an estimate of the market by Forbes. That glut is keeping the supply of oil rich — even without the South American oil. The reason for that glut is part-politics globally and part a miscalculation for how much is needed around the world. Studies show there’s a general lack of demand compared to projections. Studies throughout the past 3-6-months indicate the global demand is not as high as anticipated due to a slowdown in both the United States and worldwide economies — a somewhat unexpected drop given the highs our national economy have climbed under President Donald Trump. In November, the production of U.S.-made goods fell and demand for use of machinery dropped around the country. These indicators, according to heavy oil investors, show that demand is often on a downswing, which leads to lower ceiling on
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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Barely into its second month, the year 2019 has marked some milestones for Terrebonne Parish, in particular when it comes to flood protection improvements. Other signs of progress include what appears as a rejuvenation of the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, which has begun holding home-grown concerts and other events organized by its new director, Dean Schouest. A significant development as well is the start of new low-income housing on lots in east Houma that boosters see as a residential living renaissance for the neighborhood. The jewel in Parish President Gordon Dove’s administrative crown, however, remains construction of new protection as well as levees and flood gates, an expansion of existing protection. A key piece of the flood protection puzzle is the Falgout Canal floodgate, part of the combination of gates and levees that Terrebonne taxpayers opted to fund themselves, through a tax, rather than wait for federal funding that consistently failed to materialize over a period of decades. “With a 180-foot opening, this is the last of seven floodgates on the southern sections of the Morganza Flood Protection System and ties Falgout Canal to Pointe-aux-Chenes,” Dove said. “The project cost is $35 million and is fully funded by Terrebonne Parish, State of Louisiana and the Terrebonne Levee & Conservation District. The system includes 35 miles of levees, as well as lifts of numerous miles of levees in Terrebonne.” Dove said thanks are due first to the citizens of the parish, but also to levee district director Reggie Dupre and board chairman Tony Alford. He characterized the progress as an “unheard of and great achievement” accomplished in the short span of a decade. An important component of work being done in the area is the completion of Falgout Canal Road between La. 315 and La. 57. Construction projects contributed to what engineers said was “extensive settling” and pavement deterioration. The project consisted of repaving nearly
“THESE INVESTMENTS REPRESENT A PROACTIVE MINDSET BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND CPRA, ALLOWING US TO BETTER DEFEND AGAINST A HURRICANE OR NATURAL DISASTER AND SHOWING THE CITIZENS OF OUR STATE WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT WAIT ON SOMEONE ELSE TO PROVIDE US THE PROTECTION WE DESERVE,” - John Bel Edwards
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three miles of roadway, and raising of more than a mile of it. The project was awarded to Huey P. Stockstill, LLC in January of 2018 and construction began the next month. It was completed in December at a cost of $3.4 million. Dove and other parish officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the project’s completion, which they said was an important development for both Dulac and Dularge. Progress, Dove said, has also been made on construction of the Chacahoula Basin pump station. The pump is rated for 1,000 cubic feet per second, which translates to a million gallons every two minutes and fifteen seconds. Terrebonne – and Lafourche – received good news shortly after the year started, with word that nearly $130,000 from Gulf of Mexico oil lease money collected by the federal government will be invested in coastal projects. Gov. John Bel Edwards said the money is from the statewide Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act and will be dispersed from 2020 to 2022. The state’s Louisiana’s Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority made the announcement jointly with Edwards. “These investments represent a proactive mindset by the state of Louisiana and CPRA, allowing us to better defend against a hurricane or natural disaster and showing the citizens of our state we cannot and will not wait on someone else to provide us the protection we deserve,” Edwards said. The Morganza system will receive $22 million for specific projects within its scope. Another component of Terrebonne flood protection that will be paid for with GOMRESA money is the Houma Navigation Canal lock. It will be linked to the Bubba Dove floodgate – named after the parish president’s late son – and is expected to aid coastal restoration as well as provide protection from flooding. The Bayou Chenes floodgate in St. Mary Parish will receive more than $70 million from the special funding. Although not located in Terrebonne, that structure will benefit the Good Earth. When the Atchafalaya River floods, waters travel to the Gibson area. In the past, barges have been used to slow down the flow of water from the Atchafalaya, but a permanent structure is preferred. On the housing front, work to begin on the Parkwood Place subdivision is expected to add affordable options for homebuyers. GEM Builders is constructing the 144
9
single-family homes that are expected to grace the East Street location. The developers have been working closely with the parish council, and the parish office of Housing and Human Services. Slab and wood construction will be the method used for building the houses. Pricing is expected to begin at around $139,000. In early 2018 the parish council voted to accept streets and drainage servitudes on the project land, and to include the subdivision’s proposed streets into the parish 911 emergency response system. The vote, following a public hearing, was unanimous.
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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ssociated Pump & Supply—the locally-and-family-owned business established in 1980—continues to serve communities in south Louisiana, Mississippi and south Texas through the company’s dedication, innovation and hard work in local flood protection and drainage. From its humble beginnings of founder Louis “Booga” Klingman traveling throughout the state to sell pumps from catalogues. Associated Pump’s president Paul Klingman (Booga’s son) and employees continue the extreme work ethic and limitless, high-quality customer service instilled by Booga. “He [Booga] was a great salesman. He started the company back in the eighties, when there was nothing on a computer
to show people. He did it strictly on his knowledge and catalog,” said Paul Klingman. “I think our customer service— our ability to get up, no matter what time of day or night, and go take care of the biggest problems or the smallest problems—is the key to our longevity.” Having a wide variety of pump services that includes the selling and renting of superior equipment, 24-hour service and repairs and maintenance have kept local parishes, counties and municipalities coming back to Associated Pump for their drainage and flood protection needs. Paul attributes the company’s recent increase in work with the local government to the area’s 2018 economic upswing. “We started to see [in 2018] the beginning, hopefully, of the end of that
two to three year kind of rut in the oil field industry that we were experiencing before. A lot of people in our local areas were going back to work,” he said. “With that being said, the tax base rose. So, we started to see lot more work being done municipal-wise in 2018.” Now, the business is carrying that positive momentum it gained the previous year, as it expands not only its presence but also its technology to cater to its customers. For instance, to meet Terrebonne Parish’s efficient yet cost-effective requests, Associated Pump introduced to them a dual hydraulic-driven pump with an electrical motor and diesel engine. “It’s really nice to see that the parish is open to considering and trying the new technology out there because a lot of
things have improved in flood protection, pumps, pump-related equipment and pump station-related equipment in the last 10 years,” Paul said. In addition to investing in the newest proven technologies, the company also refurbishes and upgrades older equipment, giving them new service life. “Part of our business is not just to sell and take care of equipment, but to try and educate. There’s a lot involved with planning out a particular station or a situation where you’re going to put pumps or equipment,” Paul said. “We really do our best to educate them so they can make an informed and right decision.”
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
THE PROGRESSION OF DRAINAGE AND FLOOD PROTECTION A
11
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
12
BY HOWARD J. CASTAY, JR.
“WE HAVE THE HARDEST WORKING PUBLIC WORKS CREW OF ANY PARISH. THEIR WORK SPEAKS FOR THEMSELVES, DESPITE HAVING TO DEAL WITH TIGHT AND IN SOME INSTANCES, ALMOST NO BUDGET, AS WELL AS RAIN.” - Jimmy Cantrelle
P
arish President Jimmy Cantrelle said he can look back at 2018 and be proud of his public work staff and the amount of drainage projects they completed, despite inclement weather conditions and a lack of funds. “We have the hardest working public works crew of any parish. Their work speaks for themselves, despite having to deal with tight and in some instances, almost no budget, as well as rain,” Cantrelle said. “For instance, we have saved this parish at least $7 million, by rebuilding our pumps instead of replacing them with new ones.” Cantrelle said the parish has 81 pump stations, and when he took office only half of them were working. That number is far greater at presstime — one of the biggest feathers Lafourche
has in its cap in 2018. By the end of 2019, Cantrelle said the goal is to get that number up to 100 percent in operation. Cantrelle rattled a list of the completed parish drainage projects including the Coastal Pump Station in Lockport which cost nearly $3 million and it is situated on the Company Canal; and, part of the Larose Pump Station between Lockport and Valentine, almost $2 million in improvements. He said in Chackbay, in the Sugar Ridge subdivision, there were numerous problems, and that public works has corrected the substantial ones by adding pumps in key areas. “Sugar Ridge is not perfect, however, we feel we’ve corrected some of the major problems there,” Cantrelle said. Other areas saw pump installation including Point Au Chien and Bayou Blue. Cantrelle said Lafourche has also installed automatic on and off switches so that the pumps are working more efficiently, especially when the parish canals are filled. “We continue to clean outfall canals, and are still surprised to find many that were so full of debris, we did not know they even existed,” he said. Additionally, the parish president said
building in the Thibodaux. “We remodeled the first floor, and now they’re working on the second floor. This has been done all in house. If you attend the civil service meeting there, you won’t believe you’re in the same building,” Cantrelle said. “Since year one of my administration, we have tripled the amount of work orders of any administration, since the day the parish changed its status as a police jury.” The parish president said at the end of his first year in office, 2016, his administration completed over 750 work orders; in 2017, 850 work orders; and in 2018, almost 900 work orders. Cantrelle also addressed some of the issues he has at times with the Lafourche Council — a contentious relationship that has spilled publicly into several meetings in the past year. Cantrelle said he wants better communication between both he and the council in 2019, but added that some of the anger the group feels toward him is misguided and off base, in his opinion. “Although we have a lot of arguments with the council, there are a few of them who want to do a good job, and they are working with me. I’m hoping to move forward with all of them this year, to make this parish even better for the people of Lafourche Parish,” Cantrelle said.
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
construction work began last year on the $4 million Lockport Community Center - pilings were driven and now more foundation work has started. Work also began last year on a $6 million system to get water to the Forty Arpent Canal from the Twenty Arpent Canal, in the Cutoff area. Cantrelle explained that there is a big ridge behind St John Catholic Church, which does not allow water to get across it, as it is 6 1/2 feet above sea level, and Bayou Lafourche drops down to one foot above sea level in that area. The object of the project is to have the water pumped out and across the South Lafourche Levee to get the water from the 20 arpent canal to be pumped out across the South Lafourche levee. “This is much needed for the people in that area,” Cantrelle said. Another project on Cantrelle’s agenda is the Choctaw Levee, which he said, “was constructed in the wrong place.” He said this construction occurred during a prior administration. “The Environmental Protection Agency fined the parish $168,000 for this mistake,” Cantrelle said. But since he has grappled with the snafu, he has been able to get the fine reduced considerably as public works began degrading the wrong levee, and started construction of a new, correct one. Still another project he touted was the remodeling of the old agriculture
The Virtual Academy of Lafourche
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POSITIVE & NEGATIVE
CHANGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
BY JOHN DESANTIS
14
L
aw enforcement agencies in Terrebonne and Lafourche made news for both triumphs and difficulties over the past year, but even some defeats for administrators have had some silver linings. The biggest law enforcement news in Lafourche by far is the completion — and opening — of a new parish jail, which Sheriff Craig Webre fought for over many years. In Terrebonne, Sheriff Jerry Larpenter is still struggling due to budget problems, particularly after voters vetoed his proposed half-cent sales tax. Some relief has come from the Terrebonne Parish Council’s approval of payments to the Sheriff’s Office for housing inmates. Larpenter has always had the authority and ability to request that the parish – which owns the Terrebonne jail – foot part of the
bill for inmate care. Such arrangements are common in other Louisiana parishes. On Jan. 18 more than 240 inmates were moved to the new lockup from the parish’s dysfunctional, old jail, which posed dangers for both inmates and the officers overseeing them. Inmates exiled to Catahoula Parish because of the shortcomings of the old structure were also returned to Lafourche. “A new era of corrections has begun in Lafourche Parish,” said Webre. “The Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex not only provides increased security for our employees and inmates, but it affords us an incredible opportunity to rehabilitate offenders before they are released back into society.” Long-time proponents of programs designed to cut down on recidivism and address needs like job skills and substance abuse, Webre and his warden,
“A NEW ERA OF CORRECTIONS HAS BEGUN IN LAFOURCHE PARISH. THE LAFOURCHE PARISH CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX NOT ONLY PROVIDES INCREASED SECURITY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND INMATES, BUT IT AFFORDS US AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO REHABILITATE OFFENDERS BEFORE THEY ARE RELEASED BACK INTO SOCIETY.” - Sheriff Craig Webre
in the transfer of about 25 percent of the jail’s inmates to distant parishes, which could have resulted in costs of $3 million or more to Terrebonne’s government, which by law ultimately bears the responsibility for inmates. Although the Sheriff operates the jail, he is not required to bear the cost of feeding and housing them from his budget. Parish President Gordon Dove came to the conclusion that paying out the $1.5 million for inmate care and housing that Larpenter requested was a better deal for the parish than the costs that would be generated from keeping inmates out-of-town. In addition, costs would have been incurred for transportation of inmates to and from court appearances, with parishes that were going to hold them located more than 200 miles from Houma. The Sheriff personally addressed the Council on the night it gave the approval, asking that his response be included in the record. He noted that he had been running three separate jails at various points in time. They are the main facility at Ashland, a smaller operation above the Terrebonne Parish courthouse annex, and a new women’s jail that was once the site of the parish’s juvenile detention center. Totally refurbished through inmate labor, using materials purchased by the parish, the women’s jail is a state-of-the-art facility that Larpenter closed within its first year of operation due to funding problems. He has expressed hope that the
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
Capt. Cordell Davis, were frustrated in attempts to put plans into action because of crowding and other problems at the old jail. Now, Webre said, the increased space and physical structure of the new jail will allow for more imaginative approaches. A vital component of the new jail’s operation is that it was built to accommodate an inmate management approach called “direct supervision.” “The officer is in the housing unit along with the inmates,” Webre said. “There are many advantages from a management perspective. It is a radical transformation … and will require an extensive amount of training and re-indoctrination. It minimizes the issues that you would normally have, and a lot depends on the proper classification of inmates.” The old jail, now empty, is in the care and custody of the Lafourche Parish Government. Plans for its future have not yet been formulated. In Terrebonne, council members a p p ro v e d a c h a n g e i n t h e p a r i s h government’s operating budget to allow payments to Larpenter’s office of up to $1,500,000 to cover the cost of inmate maintenance. To cope with dwindling revenues over a period of years, Larpenter sent termination notices to 29 deputies effective the end of December. The bulk of those slated for dismissal were correctional officers working at the Ashland jail, which is operated by the Sheriff but owned by the parish, about a quarter of the total force. This resulted
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building can be used to house state inmate sentenced to prison time for low-level offenses, for which the Sheriff’s Office is paid by the state. During the entire time that he has operated lock-ups in the parish, Larpenter noted, he has never floated an added millage or other form of additional taxation even though he has the authority to do so if needed. The ordinance authorizing the expenditure passed unanimously.
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
BENEFIT FROM CHANGE
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he past month brought a huge change in the local economy with a pioneer marine transport company shifting an aspect of its operations in an effort to ultimately enhance another. Cenac Marine Services LLC, a privately held company, and Kirby Inland Marine, a publicly traded nationwide transport firm, announced an agreement in early February by which Kirby will acquire Cenac’s fleet of 36 tugs and 63 barges. According to information supplied by both firms, Cenac’s marine crews will continue working for Kirby and the Cenac vessels are expected to navigate on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and other routine routes. Kirby officials stated at the time of the sale that the deal involved the payment of approximately $244 million in cash to Cenac. Cenac’s vessel repair and construction operations, including recently acquired Main Iron Works, will continue under its ownership and management. Vessels of the existing Kirby fleet and those newly acquired, will be among those serviced at Main Iron Works facilities. The company’s campus on La. Highway 182 has not been sold, and operations will continue at that location, company officials said. Cenac’s Chief Executive Officer, Arlen ‘Benny’ Cenac, the grandson of company founder Jock Cenac, said this deal will
effort to give back to local people in need. “We are confident that they will be a good corporate citizen in this parish just like we are,” Cenac said. “They employ many people over here but have never had an office or a facility here. They will be renting a facility, at our location. My current personnel crew, transferring to Kirby, will be operating that office for them. There is no loss of jobs involved here. There is the gain of bringing in a big company.” The Cenac fleet has an estimated 1.9 billion barrels of capacity. They move petrochemicals, refined products, and black oil, including crude oil, residual fuels, feedstocks and lubricants on the lower Mississippi River, its tributaries, and the Intracoastal, for major oil companies and refineries. The deal is expected to formally close late in the first quarter of this year. “The acquisition of Cenac’s young fleet of well-maintained inland tank barges and modern boats is an ideal complement to Kirby’s operations,” said David Grzebinski, Kirby’s President and CEO. “Cenac has a strong history of operational excellence and is well respected by the industry and its customers. Cenac’s inland fleet … has an average age of only four years. Similarly, Cenac’s fleet of modern inland towboats and offshore tugboats has an average age of only six years. The addition of these vessels to Kirby’s fleet will not only reduce our average age profile, but also further enable us to avoid significant capital outlays for new vessels in the future.”
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be beneficial to both sides. Cenac offered those comments in an exclusive interview granted to Rushing Media. “We welcome this opportunity for our vessels to integrate within Kirby Corporation’s fleet, while we independently foster growth for our company’s construction and maintenance operations,” Benny Cenac said. “Our company has remained strong through the generations by adapting to new opportunities within the oil, gas and marine transport industries and this continues in that tradition.” According to Cenac, the transition will be an economic win for Terrebonne Parish — one that’s much-needed during the recent prolonged economic slump. As a result of the transaction, he said, Houston-based Kirby will move some personnel and related operations resources into Terrebonne Parish. All of Kirby’s personnel and support operations, including those that involve its current employees living or working out of Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary, were previously based in Houston. This change will bring more dollars into the economy, according to Cenac, who said the Kirby office in Houma is a huge piece of the deal. “Kirby will now be operating a satellite office here,” Cenac said. “They will run their local crew changes out of Houma.” Taking care of the community is something that Cenac said was a must as this transition takes place. Cenac said he would not have entered the deal without assurances that Kirby would be heavily involved with local community service efforts. That is an area in which Cenac, and his company, have earned a strong reputation, with multiple philanthropic ventures in education and other fields. In recent months, Cenac has donated thousands of dollars to local causes in an
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
LAFOURCHE SCHOOL BOARD
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he past 12 months have marked unquestioned progress for both the Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish School Systems. Both parishes made progress — both in the classrooms and with its facilities. In Lafourche, we also saw a leadership change and a drastic move by a new school board to begin the process to shrink in size from 15 members to 9.
LAFOURCHE SCORES HUGE ACADEMIC LEAP, WHILE TERREBONNE ALSO PROGRESSES The Lafourche Parish School District is officially one of the best in the entire state of Louisiana. The school system earned an “A” rating and 90.5 points from the Louisiana Department of Education — a mark that was third among school districts in the state. The “A” grade and solid ranking mark the continuation of a steady climb for Lafourche, which placed No. 14 amongst school districts in 2016 and 13th in 2017. In the 2018 rankings, Lafourche finished only behind the Zachary Community School District and Ascension Parish. Former Lafourche Parish School Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews, who retired at the end of last year, said the high marks were a byproduct of the “total team effort” approach that her employees have bought into over the entirety of her tenure.
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“We are very proud of this rating,” Matthews said. “Our success is a direct result of the commitment of our teachers, staff, students and parents — and their dedication to high academic standards and the pursuit of excellence.” In the same scoring system, Terrebonne Parish schools received a “B” grade — the same grade they earned in 2017. They earned 83 points — ranking 20th in the state. But Terrebonne had five total “A” schools — H.L. Bourgeois, South Terrebonne, Terrebonne, Dularge Elementary and Mulberry Elementary — something that Superintendent Philip Martin said was a source of pride.
The past year also was a year of transition for Lafourche schools. Louis Voiron took over as Superintendent of Schools after Matthews retired following a lengthy and successful tenure in the position. Matthews’ last day on the job was the ending to the fall semester. Voiron took over the next day. It’s a position he earned after a nearlifetime working in the school district. He was the Lafourche Human Resource Director before his appointment. He’s spent the past 23 and a half years working in the distirct. “I want parents to know that my top priority is having their children’s best
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
LAFOURCHE SCHOOLS GET NEW SUPERINTENDENT
interests in mind,” Voiron said when taking over the position. “I want to ensure that we have an environment that cultivates caring and understanding for kids.” Voiron earned the position in a narrow school board vote, beating out fellow finalist Aubrey “Bubba” Orgeron by one vote. Voiron said one of the biggest points of emphasis he will have in the early stages of his tenure will be to steady the budget shortcomings that Lafourche has endured in the past several years due to drops in sales tax collections in the parish. In recent years, Lafourche has had to cut employees to try and offset the deficit. The school attempted to pass a tax to fix its issues, but were narrowly shot down by voters. “The current financial situation that we are in and the current status of losing teachers to surrounding districts, that is a challenge we are not going to fix overnight,” Voiron said. “But through collaborative efforts with the community and through collaborative efforts with the community and the school board, we are going to have to address stabilizing our general fund, and educate everyone on what the different funds are comprised of.” The school board that Voiron inherited is also new and they’ve enacted drastic change. In their first meeting together in January, the newly elected officials voted to shrink the school board from 15 members to 9 — a decision that will now head to Baton Rouge for approval.
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TURF HIGHLIGHTS TERREBONNE PROJECTS FOR 2019 After years of fighting, Terrebonne Parish athletic coaches let out a collective sigh of relief this past fall when the school board voted to lay turf onto the parish’s two public high school football fields. In October, the school board allocated $2 million out of its Buildings, Food
Service and Transportation Fund to pay for the project, which, officials say, will be completed by the 2019-20 athletic year. News of the decision to pass turf brought joy from coaches who’d struggled to keep grass safe for several-straight years because of overuse. Studies show there should be about 2530 contests per year on a field. Terrebonne
High School’s field alone has more than 130 events from August-May, according to football coach Gary Hill. When it’s a wet summer and fall, fields get wet and are never given ample time to dry, which causes mud-games, dead grass and either cancellations or slick, unsafe fields. “It becomes a safety issue, first and
foremost,” Hill said. “We want to make sure that we’re taking care of our student-athletes. We do the best we can, but with the amount of activities on our fields, there’s nothing we can do to keep up. This isn’t about just football. This is about football, soccer, track, baseball and softball — they can all use it. Band uses it. It’s great for everyone.“
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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tumultuous focus on how public recreation is administered, handled and is paid for continues in Terrebonne Parish. The local government’s own recreation department, which administers programs at various gyms and playing fields, has a new director who so far has gotten positive marks while the system he oversees is reorganized. B u t e v e n m o re c h a n g e – w h i c h proponents call progress – could occur if people who want consolidation of some
recreation districts get their item on ballots this year. Rec Reform for Terrebonne, which bills itself as an ad hoc organization of concerned citizens, wants to streamline how individual recreation district lines are drawn, and to equalize the millage paid from recreation district to recreation district. Recreation districts area distinct entities, one legislatively created, that levy taxes to pay for fields, gyms and other facilities where people play basketball, football, baseball and other games. They do not organize teams, the way the parish recreation department does.
On the parish government side of things, Parish President Gordon Dove chose Golden Meadow boat company manager Roddy Lerille to be recreation director, replacing resigned director Sterling Washington. “I was searching for someone who has administrative, operational, human resources, budgeting, purchasing and business skills, and safety training with some coaching experience,” Dove said, explaining his pick. Lerille now oversees a $2 million annual budget. His agency, along with two parish recreation districts, is undergoing audits
ordered by Dove in the face of various alleged improprieties. Washington, Dove said, voluntarily resigned his position from supervising an agency that is the subject of a criminal investigation. The probe is focused on disappearance – or lack of posting – of gate receipts from a 2017 softball tournament that was supposed to go to the parish. Washington resigned his post after criticism surfaced because he was in the presence of a former coach who faces a human trafficking charge at an out-oftown girl’s basketball tournament. The former coach was not supposed to be in
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the same place as children, and Washington appeared in a photo taken at the event. No accusations of untoward behavior have been made against either Washington or the coach. Following two years of scrutiny regarding some recreation districts, reform advocates have developed a campaign to change how those districts operate. Rec Reform for Terrebonne would like to see a revised organizational structure in Terrebonne Parish Recreation and the districts. “We want to see continued improvements at the TPR level and a system-wide improvement at the districts in north Terrebonne,” said Houma attorney Nicholas Hebert, a Rec Reform spokesman. “Current policies and procedures need to be reviewed and amended to meet the demands of modern-day recreation and be applied consistently. That’s the whole goal. You have arbitrary lines drawn three decades ago dictating modern policy,” Hebert said, branding the current system inefficient and flawed. “You can put ten people on a board, fifteen people on a board, and that system is a handcuff to those people. The best people are limited by the system they must operate in.” Reorganization of some recreation districts with a single, “balanced” millage is another goal. Such reorganization will not include the districts that serve Terrebonne’s bayous, where residents appear to be happy with the work being done. “The bayou districts are more spread out, more like the old model,” Hebert said. “In North Terrebonne you have multiple districts covering a denser population. The rooftops are a lot closer than in the bayou communities. Over half of the households in Terrebonne fall within four districts.” The group, Hebert said, supports merging Rec Districts 1, 2-3, 8 and 9.
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Under a plan supporters hope will appear on ballots this year, existing millages should be leveled off to the same figure for the various north Terrebonne districts, while maintaining the current revenue numbers. “The optimal goal would be a fair balanced millage that would be revenue-neutral for one combined district,” Hebert said. Hebert said that to achieve the current level of property tax revenue, a flat millage of 7.0 mills would be able to take care of Rec 1, 2-3, 8, and 9. That’s all of North Terrebonne with the exception of a portion of Rec 11. Shrinking the size of the local districts, leaders said, could result in cost savings across the board, Hebert and other leaders said, in purchasing costs alone. A new district, Hebert and other leaders say, would only require one executive director, one audit and one accountant. As an example, they said, Rec Districts 1, 2-3, and 9 pay their three executive directors more than $170,000 combined. Having one director covering the same territory, the organization maintains, could result in $100,000 savings annually for capital improvements. Additional savings would occur for professional fees, they said. Cresting the change would require an item on the parish’s ballot, and supporters say they would like to see that happen during a regular election, such as in November, rather than in the spring or other times of year when voter turnout is lighter. A parish-wide master plan for recreation, potentially to include elements of a Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce presentation that circulated last year, is also sought by the organization. “For the first time in a very long time, we are dealing with a problem in our parish that has existed,” Hebert said. “And we can effect real change, to improve the quality of life for the residents of Terrebonne Parish.”
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
NICHOLLS STUDENTS LEAD COASTAL FIELD TRIP
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Nicholls State University students gave local elementary school children a first-hand look at barrier island ecology with a tour of a Grand Isle last week. The annual project was created by Jean Landry of The Nature Conservancy and Dr. Gary LaFleur Jr., associate professor of biological sciences and executive director of the Center for Bayou Studies. “The opportunity for our Nicholls students to take on the role of educator is a valuable experience,” Dr. LaFleur said. “By giving them the responsibility of teaching the elementary students, our own undergraduates nurture a deeper understanding of the role that barrier islands play in the cohesiveness of
LAFOURCHE SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO REDUCE BOARD FROM 15 TO 9 After long years of discussion and debate, the Lafourche Parish School Board voted in the start of 2019 to shrink its size from 15 to 9 members. The dust settled during a Jan. 9 meeting, its first of the new year. Board members Marian Fertitta, Ray Bernard, Brooke Huddleston, and Mary Breaud placed the item on the agenda. Only 3 members remained voting
coastal systems.” Ten Nicholls students and faculty members took second and third graders on a hike where the students were able to tour the marsh, forest and beach, followed by encounters with rarely seen creatures, such as the ghost shrimp. “There is a unique magic that exists at Grand Isle; it is inspiring. Scientists and artists have traveled to the coast for millenia,” LaFleur said. “There is an intangible mechanism that becomes available by ‘leaving campus’ that helps students and faculty regain clarity, focus and priorities of mission. It is a great example of an exercise that becomes a high-impact experience.”
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to maintain the board size at 15: Al Archer, Clyde Duplantis III, and Valerie Bourgeois. “Great!,” said Breaud, when asked for her response. “We finally got enough support.” Breaud said the result will be sent to the state legislature to be written it into law. She expressed regret that the process -- presuming the legislature passes a bill allowing it -- will take some time. The 2020 census will determine how the new district lines will be drawn and by the time the 2023 election, the
DAIGRE NAMED CHIEF CRIMINAL DEPUTY IN TERREBONNE Col. Terry Daigre, a 23-year Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office veteran was sworn in as Chief Criminal Deputy in January. At the ceremony, his wife, Tara, and Sheriff Jerry Larpenter looked on in celebration of the great achievement. Deputy Clerk of
Court Christine LeCompte administered the oath. This marks the first time since Larpenter was appointed chief deputy under the late Charlton Rozands, whom he succeeded in office, that Terrebonne had a chief deputy.
new district lines would be in effect. Opponents of the change said they saw no reason or board reduction. Supporters said the downsizing will be more effective and cost less money. Fertitta recalled that the idea of shrinking the board size first arose in 2010-2011 during redistricting. The idea was to have the School Board’s district match that of the Lafourche Parish Council. The idea was raised by Ronald Pere, former board member and member of an advisory committee tasked
with exploring the idea. Pere said he advocated for a smaller school board at that time because with federal and state budget cuts, the school board would have to rely more on the local public. He said around 2010 the board was in the process of redistricting and reapportionment and this was an opportune time to propose the smaller school board.
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Nicholls State University is excited to announce a significant gift by legendary businessman and philanthropist Boysie Bollinger to renovate the student union. Bollinger, the chairman of the Nicholls Foundation Board, donated $300,000 to renovate the interior of the building. Renovations are expected to begin after Spring 2019 ends and be completed before Fall 2019. “I have been impressed with Nicholls’ commitment to the people of South Louisiana,” Bollinger said. “These students will go on to become the leaders of this region and this state. I’m proud to know that I help enhance their quality of life and impact their education.” Originally built in 1967, the building was
named after Boysie’s father and founder of Bollinger Shipyards, Donald G. Bollinger, in 2000. “We are so grateful to Mr. Boysie Bollinger and the entire Bollinger Family for their commitment to Nicholls State University and our students,” said Dr. Jay Clune, Nicholls president. “The Donald G. Bollinger Memorial Student Union is located in the heart of our campus and is the central location for student services and information. A generous gift like this affects each and every one of our students.” Last semester, Bollinger’s sisters, Charlotte and Andie, donated to renovate the Cotillion Ballroom inside the student union, and adjacent conference rooms have been renamed the Bollinger Suite.
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
BUSINESSMAN, PHILANTHROPIST, DONATES TO RENOVATE NICHOLLS STUDENT UNION
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
TGMC NAMES JANUARY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
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Terrebonne General Medical Center has named Stephen Laker as its January Employee of the Month. Laker is a 5-year hospital employee. He works as a floor tech in the Environmental Services Department. TGMC names an employee of the month as an effort to recognize outstanding employees. Employee of the Month recipients demonstrate outstanding and constant commitment to the well-being of patients, their extended families and staff. Laker is a caring employee who is always willing to go above and beyond for any department in the hospital. A release issued by TGMC says that he assists family members in need and will gladly help out in any way possible. He has come in on days off and spends his breaks sitting with family members who are in need of a shoulder to cry on. Laker routinely prays with family members, gets wheelchairs for visitors in need, makes staff members laugh in stressful situations and checks on previous patients. He is also lauded for his positive attitude. “When I come to work, it’s show time. I will help fellow employees when and where I can and family members who have loved ones at TGMC,” he said.
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LAFOURCHE AND THIBODAUX CHAMBERS HAND OUT HONORS The Lafourche and Thibodaux Chambers of Commerce had their first-ever combined Installment Banquet in January with Governor John Bel Edwards as the guest speaker. After the banquet, both chambers dished out their annual awards. The Lafourche Chamber awarded its retiring board members, John Rogers, Wanda Theriot and Joni Tuck.
HALLIBURTON APPOINTS NEW WESTERN HEMISPHERE PRESIDENT Halliburton Company is pleased to announce that Mark Richard, currently senior vice president of the Northern Region, has been promoted to succeed Jim Brown as president of the Western Hemisphere. “Mark’s success in managing multiple regions around the world, his substantial industry knowledge and established customer relationships well position him to guide the strategic direction and operations of our Western Hemisphere business,” said
Their Ambassador of the Year was Chad Doucet; Educator of the Year, Amanda Clement; and Community Hero of the Year, Charles “Mike” Callais. Their Business Person of the Year was Vic Lafont and their Business and Industry of the Year was Oschner St. Anne Hospital. The Lafourche Chamber also bid adieu to its 2018 Chair of the Board , Eddie Callais, and installed its 2019 Chair of the Board, Deanna LaFont. The Thibodaux Chamber recognized their retiring board members: Greg Gaubert, Marguerite Knight and Lance
Ledet. The winner of the Mr & Mrs. Lindy Hoffman Music’s Unsung Hero Award was Loretta Mire Andry. The Teenager of the Year was Mary Laura Zeringue; Business of the Year, Rouse’s Markets, and Business Member of the Year, Morgan Stanley. The winner of the Frank Kennedy Citizen of the Year was David Duplantis. The Thibodaux Chamber also bid adieu to its 2018 Chair of the Board, Cody Blanchard, and installed its 2019 Chair of the Board, Donald Barrilleaux.
Jeff Miller, chairman, president, and CEO of Halliburton. “Over the course of his more than 30-year career at Halliburton, Mark has proven himself to be an exceptional leader and valued member of our executive management team.” “I am grateful to Jim for his more than 20 years of outstanding service to Halliburton,” Miller added. “His leadership was instrumental in helping Halliburton execute and deliver industry-leading returns in North America and throughout the Western Hemisphere.” Richard began his career with Halliburton in 1984 in the Gulf of Mexico. Since then,
he held numerous positions of increasing responsibility at the Company, including vice president of the Gulf of Mexico Region, senior vice president of the Asia Pacific Region, and senior vice president of the Europe/Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA) and Eurasia Regions, and senior vice president of Global Business Development & Marketing. Mr. Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University (LSU), and is a member of the LSU Engineering Advisory Board.
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FOSTER RECEIVES PAUL K. ADAMS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Dan Foster of Terminix Pest Control, Inc. of Houma was recently awarded the Paul K. Adams Award of Excellence by the Louisiana Pest Management Association. This award is named after Paul K. Adams, the long-time owner of Adams Pest Control in Alexandria. The award represents a lifetime of outstanding service to the Pest Control industry in Louisiana. In over 50 years of operation, the Association has only recognized 14 people with this honor. Dan was recognized for his
outstanding service and commitment to the industry and his career-long service to his customers. Dan Foster joined his brother, Billy Foster, at Terminix of Houma in 1990. He was President of the Louisiana Pest Management Association Board of Directors in 2000. Since 2011, he has served as the Association Treasurer. Dan Foster has also served for 12 years on the Louisiana Structural Pest Control Commission.
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FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
VANDEBILT STUDENT NAMED TEENAGER OF THE YEAR
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A Vandebilt Catholic High student has been named as the American Legion Lenox Hotard post’s Teenager of the Year, continuing a tradition that has been followed for 62 years. At a special banquet held Saturday night the Vandebilt student, Cassidy Nguyen, learned of her selection for the top honor from a pool of 31 candidates from eight Terrebonne Parish public and parochial schools, as well as homeschooled students. A Bourg Elementary School teacher, Kristi Dardar, also drew honors Saturday as the post’s Educator of the Year. Another high school student, Allison Picou, was honored for the winning essay she submitted for this year’s program. During the event, educators read summaries of the students’ academic endeavors, community involvement, and faith engagement. The keynote speaker was Nicholls State University President Jay Clune. He encouraged the community’s young adults to pursue their dreams, wherever those dreams might lead. But he also challenged them to eventually bring what they have learned home, to make the communities they grew up in better places for people to live and work. Community leaders who attended and took the opportunity to praise all of those nominated for Saturday’s awards included Parish President Gordon Dove, along with former Parish President Michel Claudet. Members of the Terrebonne Parish School Board and Terrebonne Parish Council were present as well as officials of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce. Selection of the outstanding Teenager and Educator are made through a blind review process by a committee of veterans, past American Legion commanders and educators from Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence, said Lee Shaffer, the program’s chairman. Here is the complete list of Teenager of the Year nominees grouped by their respective schools.
DANOS SECURES 2 MAJOR CONTRACTS Danos has secured a contract with Equinor for production operation support on its Titan SPAR platform, located in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The Equinor project began late 2018 and employs production personnel on the floating drilling and production structure located at
Mississippi Canyon block 941 at a depth of nearly 4,000 feet. This is Danos’ second job with Equinor, as it was awarded a contract for coatings maintenance on the Titan platform earlier this fall. “Danos is excited for the opportunity to work with a high-performing company like Equinor,” said owner Paul Danos. “Securing and executing the details of the contract has been a true team effort, and we look forward
to continuing our commitment to customer service and excellence.” Danos has also been awarded a multiyear contract for production operations with another major oil and gas producer in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result of these recent contract awards, Danos has increased its production workforce by about 150 new employees. The majority of these new positions are production operators who will be working on the Gulf Coast,
H.L. Bourgeois High School Jenna Rae’ Pitri Hayden Kidder Reaonna Monae Cage Carlie Youngblood South Terrebonne High School Bailey Marie Dupre Samuel Joseph Robert Cody Paul Arceneaux Brianna Angel Simon Terrebonne High School Allison Picou Allyson Cobb Carlie Kay Christ Armani Pink Home School Student: Sarah Massey Covenant Christian Academy Meghan Renee Belanger Branae Matherne Kyle Anthony Dupre Collin Roger Davis Vandebilt Catholic High School Amelia Ruth Viator Cassidy Nguyen Annemarie James Kylie Domangue Ellender Memorial High Sarah Clement Emily Comeaux Zyae Zamaria Nelson Lindsey Nicole Ugas Houma Christian Academy Madeline Marbrough Victoria Shirley Frankie Matherne Christopher T. Hoob Messiah Montessori School Jillian Voisin Maella Valarezo
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with projects spanning from Galveston, Texas, to Venice, Louisiana. “Danos’ ability to provide a recruiting and retention model for competent and skilled workers heavily influenced both contracts,” said Danos. “I commend Danos’ operations team, as well as our human resources team who worked closely with our customers’ operations and procurement teams to make both projects possible.”
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ON THE AGENDA BIG BANQUET
Join the Bayou Industrial Group for their annual banquet. This year’s master of ceremonies is Rep. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue and the keynote speaker is Brandon Landry, Founder and CEO, WalkOn’s Bistreaux and Bar. The banquet also features the presentation of the 2019 BIG Achiever Awards and music by the Houma Terrebonne Community Stage Band. February 12, 6 p.m. THE WELLNESS CENTER AT THIBODAUX REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
SCIA MEETING
Join SCIA at their monthly meeting featuring guest speaker Mark Hatfield, Chevron Vice President, Gulf of Mexico Business Unit. February 19, 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, HOUMA
BUSINESS AT LUNCH
Business At Lunch presents lunch with Kristine Russell, Lafourche Parish District Attorney. This event is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. February 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. BAYOU COUNTRY CLUB, THIBODAUX
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
NETWORKING LUNCHEON
TGMC ADDS CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON TO TEAM Terrebonne General Medical Center recently announced the addition of Dr. Stephen K. Ball to its medical staff this week. Dr. Ball is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon - a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson. He completed a general surgery internship and residency at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and went on to complete a cardiothoracic surgery residency at St. Luke’s in Chicago. Dr. Ball is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
He’s practiced in cardiothoracic surgery for more than 24 years, most recently in Orlando. He said he’s looking forward to making a positive impact on the Houma-Thibodaux area. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ball to Houma and TGMC,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO. “His immense experience in cardiothoracic surgery is a true asset to our medical staff and community.” Dr. Ball will practice at Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery Care TGMC with Dr. Donald Netherland. For more information or to make an appointment call 985-850-6222.
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The Women’s Business Alliance meeting will feature guest speaker Sydney Doxey, Acadian Ambulance Services Operations Manger, with a presentation on proper CPR techniques and the use of an AED. February 28, noon THE MAIN AFFAIR, HOUMA
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
Join the Thibodaux Chamber for their first Business After Hours of 2019, hosted by Rendezvous (formerly Envie) and Cashios Mobile Catering. February 28, 5-7 p.m. RENDEZVOUS, THIBODAUX
FEBRUARY 2019 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
Join the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber for their monthly membership luncheon featuring guest speaker Gordon Dove, Terrebonne Parish President. Admission is $25/member and $30 for nonmembers. Registration deadline is February 20. February 26, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, HOUMA
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