FREE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT
MARITIME MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
ENERGY OUTLOOK FOR 2021
JAN 2021
PRESORT STD US POSTAGE PAID HOUMA, LA PERMIT NO. 17
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
PUBLISHER’S NOTE |
JANUARY 2021 • VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS PUBLISHER
04 06
GOVERNMENT UPDATE
Water Resources Development Act Essential for Terrebonne and Lafourche
OIL AND GAS UPDATE
LSU Center for Energy Studies Releases 2021 Energy Outlook
13 14
NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY Maritime Management Program
7887 COLLECTIVE
New Market in Downtown Houma to Bring Together Artists and the Community
08 10
FROM THE TOP
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MOVERS & SHAKERS
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
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ON THE AGENDA
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BUSINESS NEWS
Jerry Ledet
Bayou Community Foundation provides funding to local organizations
Headlines and accolades
Business Calendar of Events
Brian Rushing EDITORIAL Mary Ditch EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Drew Miller CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Hugh Plaisance CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CREATIVE Amber Duplantis SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lauren Pontiff GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ADVERTISING Deanne Ratliff DIRECTOR OF SALES Beth Tabor
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Cenac Marine Services Receives Safest 70 Award
Michelle Ortego
CONTACT Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: editor@bayoubusinessmonthly.com Sales: sales@rushing-media.com
WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR
SUBSCRIPTIONS Bayou Business Monthly is published monthly. Subscriptions are available for $24 for 12 issues. For more information, email
D
id anyone else take great pleasure in throwing away their calendar for 2020? I am ready for a new year and the new opportunities it brings with it. In this month’s issue, we focus on new starts and new beginnings. Despite the various hardships the people of Louisiana faced this past year, the residents of the bayou region have been able to move forward and come together to provide assistance and relief to those in need, with the help of one local organization: the Bayou Community Foundation. In 2020, the Foundation awarded grants totaling over $800,000 used to support the bayou region and help business and individuals move forward or even start over. We also introduce you to the newest business on the bayou, the 7887 Collective. 7887 Collective, a creative art market, was launched in December 2020 as a collaborative space for local artists and crafters to showcase their talents. It is the hope 7887 Collective will help bring in some foot traffic and hopefully encourage people to stay in Downtown Houma to enjoy some food or coffee as well as shopping.
We also share with you the LSU Center for Energy Studies 2021 Energy Outlook. This outlook examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 hurricane season, trade negotiations with China, and potential policies of a Biden administration on the region’s upstream oil and gas activity, downstream investments in refining and petrochemicals, energy exports, electricity demand, and energy sectorspecific employment. This year is sure to be the one for big changes and new, creative ways of doing business. Thinking outside of your comfort zone and past “the way we’ve always done it” will be key in 2021. May the new year bring you and your business much success.
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Bayou Business Monthly is a free publication. The entire content of this publication is copyrighted by Rushing Media, with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphics content in any manner is prohibited. Bayou Business Monthly is published monthly by Rushing Media.
GOVERNMENT UPDATE |
BY DREW MILLER
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT
ESSENTIAL FOR TERREBONNE AND LAFOURCHE
JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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he Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) has been called “essential to everyday American life” by the U.S. Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, which also noted that “nearly 80 percent of trade good traded goods that Americans rely on is moved through our Nation’s ports, harbors and inland waterways.” Locally, two ports are looking for the passage of the bipartisan WRDA 2020, which passed in the House of Representatives but still awaits approval from the Senate, to deepen waterways and potentially increase production. If it passes, the Terrebonne Port Commission will be authorized to deepen the Houma Navigation Canal at 20 feet, adding five feet of depth. “Since the mid-90s, the industry in this area has been screaming for a deeper channel because the oil and gas industry is going out into deeper water and they need deeper vessels, so 15 feet just isn’t enough,” David Rabalais, Executive Director of the Terrebonne Port Commission, told Bayou Business Monthly in September. At Port Fourchon, the Greater Lafourche Port Commission (GLPC) will be permitted to deepen Belle Pass into Bayou Lafourche from 24 feet to 30 feet. “That will allow us to better serve our current customers and also work towards attracting new business,” said Chett Chiasson, Executive Director of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission (GLPC). The longterm goal for Port Fourchon is to make Belle Pass a 50-foot channel, which he hopes would be approved in WRDA 2022. The plan for the port is to have a deepwater rig repair and refurbishment facility in the coming
years. WRDA, which sees a different version of itself pass through Congress every two years, is a bipartisan effort that affects many waterways around the country. “WRDA is the congressional commitment to our Nation’s water infrastructure. It authorizes studies and project construction and provides guidance on agency practices,” the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment wrote. “Regular consideration of locally-driven, rigorouslystudied, and nationally-significant water infrastructure is key to preserving our Nation’s economy, to protecting our communities, and to maintaining our quality of life.” According to a press release from the office of Representative Steve Scalise (R-La.), for Louisiana, in addition to projects in the Houma Navigation Canal and Belle Pass, 2020 WRDA includes HSDRRS Renegotiation, language that allows Louisiana to renegotiate the terms of the deferred payment agreement for the hurricane protection system around New Orleans; Tangipahoa Flood Study, authorization of a feasibility study for flood risk management in Tangipahoa Parish; and Baptiste Collette Deepening Authorization, authorizes the deepening of Baptiste Collette from current depths of 14 feet in the inner reach and 16 feet in the outer reach to depths of 22 and 24 feet respectively. “Overall, this legislation strengthens Louisiana’s position as a leading export state and a top producer of our nation’s oil and natural gas supply,
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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GULF SOUTH RISK SERVES WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING Gulf South Risk Services is pleased to announce that the addition of Dean Vaden to their team. Mr. Vaden will serve as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing and will lead efforts for expansion of the companies services throughout the Southeast. Mr Vaden brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare and insurance industry. Before joining Gulf South Risk Services he served as Vice President of Sales, National Accounts for the HHC Group. Prior to that Mr Vaden served as CEO and President of Devon Health Services PPO Network and Consilium Cost Containment Claims Solutions. He also has served as National Sales Director for Coventry/First Health Division responsible for the nationwide sales team marketing the First Health PPO Network and Healthcare Cost Containment Solutions
JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
and I’m glad Congress is supporting the infrastructure so critical to our state and nation,” Scalise said. At press time, WRDA still had to pass the Senate. “This year too has shown just how important Louisiana’s coastal and water future is for America’s best interest and long-term economic competitiveness. Our ports and waterways are the vessels that connect dozens of states to global commerce, we take on the nation’s water, and are the powerhouse for seafood and energy to the country,” said Representative Garret Graves(R-La.), who secured several provisions as a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This bill advances Louisiana and our country, and I am looking forward to seeing the Senate amplify our needs before it is signed into law by President Trump,” he continued. Chiasson noted that they hoped WRDA would pass before Congress breaks for the holidays and it could be included in a larger funding package. “WRDA is always so important to Louisiana because we have so much water,” he added. “The WRDA bill is about coastal protection efforts. It’s about restoration efforts, and it’s about navigable waterways and all of those things are around water resources.” “It’s the avenue by which we get authorized and appropriated funds to do all these projects,” he continued. “Particularly in Louisiana and our region, it’s important for our regional ports, our levee districts and alike to be able to get these projects authorized and funding for them to move forward.”
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OIL & GAS |
BY LSU CENTER FOR ENERGY STUDIES
LSU CENTER FOR ENERGY STUDIES RELEASES 2021 ENERGY OUTLOOK
JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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n November 18, 2020, the LSU Center for Energy Studies released the 2021 edition of the Gulf Coast Energy Outlook (GCEO). The 2021 GCEO examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 hurricane season, trade negotiations with China, and potential policies of a Biden administration on the region’s upstream oil and gas activity, downstream investments in refining and petrochemicals, energy exports, electricity demand, and energy sector-specific employment. David E. Dismukes, executive director and professor, LSU Center for Energy Studies, and Greg Upton, associate professor, LSU Center for Energy Studies, authored the report. In March of 2020, the outlook for the energy industry changed rapidly when the COVID-19 pandemic essentially shut down the global economy. Oil markets were rocked by a historic decline in demand and a failed OPEC deal to curtail output and sustain prices. For its economic modeling, the GCEO assumes that COVID-19 attenuates globally and that the world will return to some level of normalcy over the next two years. The GCEO assumes that trade talks with China will not deteriorate, that new tariffs will not be implemented, and that export commitments on net do not impact demand for Gulf Coast energy products. The GCEO also assumes that the Biden policy of banning permits offshore will not go into effect, at least over the forecast horizon. If some version of this proposed policy were to be enacted, it could have significant negative economic implications for the Gulf Coast region.
FINDINGS INCLUDE: • By May of 2020, Gulf Coast oil production was down 13.7 percent from the prior May. Gulf Coast natural gas production declined by 7.1 percent in May of 2020 relative to May of 2019. On an annualized basis, both U.S. and Gulf Coast oil production are anticipated to decline over the next three years. • Today, futures markets are anticipating that there will be enough supply to meet global demand at between $40 and $50 per barrel for the next decade. • While natural gas prices are currently lower than markets predicted at this time last year, prices are expected to be higher in 2021 and 2022 than futures markets suggested over the past two years. • The U.S. electricity load has been relatively flat over the past decade, while the Gulf Coast load has grown. As a result, the share of electricity usage from Gulf Coast states increased from 15 percent in 2007 (i.e. 2009 pre-recession) to 17 percent in 2019 (the most recent full year of data). Gulf Coast demand is down 4.3 percent relative to 2019, as compared to 3.8 percent for the U.S. • Since 2013, U.S. and Gulf Coast total CO2 emissions from power generation have been down 13.8 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively. The carbon dioxide emissions per MWh of electricity produced has declined by almost exactly 16 percent in both the U.S. and Gulf Coast region. • Gulf Coast wind capacity has increased by more than 19 GW over the past decade. Another 18 GW of wind capacity are currently being planned.
Solar capacity is anticipated to increase by 33GW in coming years. • The 2021 GCEO energy manufacturing investment outlook, until the year 2029, totals $105 billion. This investment is composed of $58 billion in LNG investments (55 percent) and $47 billion (45 percent) in energy manufacturing investments (non-LNG). Most of the total investment will be in Louisiana ($63.5 billion or 60 percent), followed by Texas ($41.5 billion or 40 percent). • Model results suggest that Louisiana’s upstream employment “bottomed out” in September of 2020. The GCEO anticipates that the worst is over for the upstream oil and gas extraction and services sectors. By the end of 2021, Louisiana is expected to regain about 2,600 upstream jobs relative to the trough in September of 2020. • Louisiana refining and chemical manufacturing employment is expected to increase by about 300 jobs by the end of 2021, or about a 0.8 percent increase. • Louisiana continues to employ more workers in refining and chemicals manufacturing than in upstream oil and natural gas extraction.
HURRICANE SEASON As if a global pandemic were not enough, 12 major hurricanes were recorded, with five reaching Category 3 status or higher. For the first time in recorded history, five named storms made landfall in Louisiana. Most notably, on August 15, Hurricane Laura, the strongest hurricane on record in the state’s history, made landfall in Cameron Parish,
Louisiana. Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 and caused billions of dollars of damage across many sectors of the economy, including damage to elec- tricity infrastructure, agricultural products such as forestry5, and of course damage to residential homes and local businesses. Fewer than three weeks later, Hurricane Sally made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Hurricane Delta made landfall on October 9 as a Category 2 also near Lake Charles. Finally, on October 28, Hurricane Zeta made landfall in southeast Louisiana. Perhaps most notably for our purposes, the Lake Charles area in southwest Louisiana has been ground zero for billions in infrastructural investments in the refining, chemical manufacturing, and export of natural gas in the form of liquefied natural gas. In fact, over 40 percent of the energy infrastructure investment made in Louisiana over the past decade has been in the Lake Charles area. Workers in the energy processing and export industry in the region have confirmed that the industry was incredibly resilient through these hurricanes. Perhaps most notably, news reports have confirmed that neither Cheniere’s Sabine Pass nor the Cameron LNG facility experienced major damage during Hurricane Laura and are now back up and running. Industry insiders reported that this was an important litmus test for other LNG export facilities that are weighing the risk of hurricane damage. The most notable damage to an individual plant was a fire at BioLab in Westlake Chemical’s Lake
Charles Complex. In terms of electricity infrastructure, while final numbers are not yet released, Entergy alone has reported $1.4 billion in damage associated with Laura, with the plurality of this damage on transmission infrastructure. Entergy reported 1,285 transmission structures destroyed, with another 492 damaged, and 297 substations out. Both SWEPCO and Cleco have also reported significant damage, but at the time of this writing specific public damage estimates have not yet been released. At the peak over 600,000 customers had power outages.
WHAT A BIDEN PRESIDENCY COULD MEAN FOR THE ENERGY INDUSTRY At the time of this writing, the U.S. has undergone a presidential election, but the final outcome is not yet known. This election was particularly unique in that presidential candidate Biden made history as the first nominee for
president from a major party in modern U.S. history to propose the ban of new oil and gas permitting on public lands and waters. Further, he proposed modifying royalties to account for climate costs. The Gulf Coast region will perhaps be the most impacted if these policies are enacted. What could this mean for the industry? Consider the two regulatory steps taken to drill for oil and gas in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Leasing: When a company wants to drill for oil or natural gas in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it must first obtain a lease. Federal waters are beyond three miles from the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama shorelines and nine miles from the Texas shoreline. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, conducts lease sales. Companies bid on lease tracts and the winner of those bids is awarded the lease in exchange for a payment that is determined by the result of the
auction. This payment is called a “bonus” payment. Permitting: Once a lease is obtained, the private company will next have to obtain a permit to drill a well from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). The permit to drill gives the operator approval to begin the process of drilling the well and requires the operator to show that they will meet environmental and safety regulations. Once the well is drilled and oil and natural gas is sold to the market, the operator will then pay the federal government royalties. According to Joe Biden’s plan for climate change, there are two changes to this process. First, his plan calls to ban new oil and gas permitting on public lands and waters, which would include the Gulf of Mexico. Second, the plan calls for the modification of royalties to account for climate costs. For perspective, royalties currently range from about 12 to 20 percent, depending on a number of factors.
While modification of royalties could impact the economics of offshore drilling, because compa- nies bid based on the expected economics, this would likely cost the federal government money in up-front bonus payments. The net effect of this is an empirical question that the GCEO will not address directly. But, the effect of an outright ban on new permitting would have a clear negative effect on the offshore industry. A few things would likely occur if this policy were enacted as stated. First, there would likely be some drilling over the next several years, as companies that have already received permits would presumably be able to drill these wells. But nonetheless, this would slow drilling. A recent Wood Mackenzie report considers four scenarios of what the Biden policy could entail. It is simply not possible to know which, if any, of these scenarios will actually be enacted.
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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FROM THE TOP |
QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK: WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? The best part of my job is my role in helping customers throughout their financial life journey. I am a community banker and get to witness first-hand the dream of home ownership, the anticipation of starting a new business and the feeling of trust as I advise for a life-changing event such as retirement. Another rewarding component of my job is seeing the development of coworkers in their career.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST? While the government’s intent is to help and protect the consumer, sometimes the regulations put in place can make it challenging for both the banker and the consumer. As a local bank, however, we work personally with our customers to offer direction and advice to help them understand the regulations.
WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA FOR 2021? As banks are critical for the economic wellbeing of our community, we had to adapt to the needs of our customers during the pandemic. I am confident that we can continue in 2021 to provide excellence in service especially under the auspices of a potential vaccine.
JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
WHAT’S ONE LEADERSHIP SKILL YOU FEEL EVERYONE MUST LEARN?
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JERRY LEDET PRESIDENT / CEO OF SYNERGY BANK
I have two. The first is humility. In leadership, I think it is more important to focus on your coworkers instead of one’s self. Success is gained from a mindset of collaboration – a Synergy. The second is being a coach. It is important to create an environment where employees can learn and use their abilities to the fullest.
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF: AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING AS A CAREER? Originally, I thought I was going to be a teacher/educator because I like the idea of helping others understand and grow.
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WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST JOB? My first job was as a student worker in the College of Business at Nicholls State University. It was my first experience working in customer service. It introduced me to the importance of customer service including knowing the best way to manage situations and interact with all types of personalities and people.
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY BY HUGH PLAISANCE
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o look back on 2020, it was a year that reminded many people of the unexpected, unprecedented and unrewarding nature of life. A tumultuous election cycle, social and civil unrest, record breaking natural disasters and a global pandemic tested the mettle of many nationwide. Louisiana specifically dealt with many of these issues, some even simultaneously. After beginning to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19
transmission in June and July, it was then faced with one of the most active hurricane seasons on record. In total, eight named storms had formed in the Gulf of Mexico, with six of them making landfall in Louisiana, most notably Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 hurricane that caused widespread damage and distress statewide. Despite the various hardships the people of Louisiana faced this past year, the residents of the bayou
region have been able to move forward and come together to provide assistance and relief to those in need, with the help of one local organization. This is where the Bayou Community Foundation stepped in. The Bayou Community Foundation (BCF) was formed in 2012 in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008, and the BP Gulf Oil Spill in 2010. Their mission,
“To strengthen our local capacity to create a compassionate and sustainable coastal community for generations to come,” is accomplished through the foundation’s continued commitment to education, coastal protection, human services and disaster relief. BCF is the only foundation specifically serving Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes as well as the city of Grand Isle. BCF works closely with local nonprofits and residents to coordinate
efforts, companies, family foundations and individual donors responded quickly and generously with gifts to the Bayou Recovery Fund for Hurricane Zeta Relief,” Lafont said. BCF awarded nine grantees a total of $57,900 for Hurricane Zeta Relief. These grants were awarded for food distribution, rebuilding assistance and business recovery programs. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana as well as The Al Copeland Foundation funded parts of these grants directly. These grantees included: Plymouth Rock Baptist Church, Houma, $11,000 for food distribution in SmithRidge and Chauvin
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Bless Your Heart Nonprofit, Larose, $10,000 for food basket distribution in Golden Meadow The Hope Center, Galliano, $10,000 for home repair and rebuilding assistance for local residents
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Lifting Hands Ministry, Thibodaux, $5,500 for hot meals for first responders and south Lafourche residents Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church, Grand Isle, $5,000, hot meals distributed to Grand Isle residents Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, Montegut, $5,000 for tarps, building materials, and food assistance for tribal members Terrebonne Churches United Food Bank, Houma, $4,000 for food distribution Friends of Bayou Lafourche, Thibodaux, $3,900 for “Fish Leeville” business recovery program Gulf Coast Baptist Church, Galliano, $3,500 for commercial cooking equipment to provide hot meals in south Lafourche For more information about the Bayou Community Foundation, please visit https://www.bayoucf. org.
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
relief and assistance in times of need through grant awards and donations. For example, in 2020 alone BCF awarded grants totaling over $800,000 used to support the bayou region. Executive Director Jennifer Armand explained that the bayou region needed a way of accepting donations and relief specifically for the community, not just in the wake of emergencies, but for further improvement of the community as well. “Our community needed a bucket to accept donations before, during and after crisis events like those hurricanes, and that was really the impetus of BCF being formed because after Katrina and Rita particularly, as millions of dollars were coming into our state from all over the world, our area did not have a community foundation to be able to accept those donations and allow the money to stay right here,” Armand said. “We knew that you could not just exist for emergencies. It was up to us to help build up the community during good times as well as bad.” In March of this past year during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, BCF was setting its budget for the year, and many soon realized that there was much work that needed to be done. “We opened the Bayou Recovery Fund at the end of March and we were just so grateful for the outpouring of support by donors to that fund. It just continued and continued, and we were able to offer three rounds of Covid relief grants, something we obviously never expected at the beginning of March,” Armand said. BCF rolled out three rounds of COVID-19 relief grants in April, June and October of last year. In total, BCF awarded $616,770 in COVID-19 relief grants. These grants were used for things such as food, mask and supply distribution, rent, mortgage and utility assistance, as well as employment assistance to various nonprofit groups in the bayou region. After Hurricane Laura made landfall on Oct. 28, BCF opened its Bayou Recovery Fund the next day to begin accepting donations for their Hurricane Zeta Relief recipients. At a Dec. 7 meeting to announce Hurricane Zeta Relief grants, President Henry Lafont described the impact that this relief had on the community. “Just as we saw with our COVID-19 relief
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BUSINESS NEWS | STAFF REPORT
JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
ARLEN B. CENAC JR & CENAC MARINE SERVICES RECEIVE SAFEST 70 AWARD
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C
enac Marine Services and Main Iron Works were once again awarded the LWCC Safest 70 Award for 2019. LWCC’s Safest 70 Awards celebrate policyholders who share their commitment to workplace safety standards while also supporting Louisiana through their products and services. The award acknowledges Cenac’s leadership in providing its employees with a safe workplace which has always been at the top of Benny Cenac’s priority list. This is the 9th Safest 70 Award Benny Cenac’s company has received in recent years. Cenac has been headquartered in Houma for more than 90 years and has a proven history of safety in the workplace as an LWCC Policy holder for 27 years. “The safety policy of Cenac Marine Services is based on the conviction that the well-being of our employees is our employees is our first consideration,”
said Tim Moore, Safety Manager at Cenac Marine Services. Arlen B. Cenac, Jr. knows the value of safety and the importance of it for his entire staff. The Cenac team continuously strives for the highest caliber of safety. Cenac credits LWCC for his success in implementing safety standards. “Making improvements and addressing safety recommendations from LWCC is what helps us to stay ahead of the game. Their partnership with us is key to our success in safety for both our employees and any visitors and vendors we may have,” stated Benny Cenac. Cenac Marine’s dedication to safety is matched by its dedication to Houma and its surrounding areas. As the third generation owner of Cenac Marine Services, Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr., has carried on his grandfather’s commitment of hiring Louisiana employees. He also
continues to work to elevate eco-friendly operations and also supports coastal restoration projects. LWCC is a private, nonprofit mutual insurance company that is the largest workers compensation carrier in the state. Since 1992, LWCC has focused on the unique needs of Louisiana business and offers policyholders a full range of services under one roof. Their efforts to promote workplace safety and reduce claim costs have resulted in lower rates for all customers statewide. The Safest 70 Award is a large contribution to those efforts. While shipyards can prove to be hazardous work environments, they have recognized the job Benny Cenac and his team have done to mitigate and/ or eliminate those risks through regular training, safety initiatives, investing in infrastructure improvements, and creating a culture of safety leadership.
Benny Cenac’s commitment to safety means constantly ensuring they are improving on systems already in place. In order to do so, the Cenac Safety Team holds daily toolbox safety meetings, monthly overall safety meetings and requires a variety of safety certifications for employees. The team responds quickly to safety recommendations made by LWCC and the company continues to invest in up-to-date PPE, renovations and upgrades to infrastructure. “The Cenac team continuously strives for the highest caliber of safety,” said Ulrich Johnson, senior loss prevention consultant for LWCC. “Making improvements and addressing safety recommendations-sometimes even on the day of LWCC’s visit. It’s this kind of commitment to safety - and to Louisiana - that makes Cenac Marine Services a Safest 70 Award recipient.”
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NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY |
BY KENNETH CHADWICK
MARITIME MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PREPARES A NEW GENERATION FOR EMPLOYMENT
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n the fall of 2013, the College of Business at Nicholls State University, in partnership with industry, launched a 4-year bachelor’s program in management designed to train students for professional management positions in maritime and maritime-related firms. This collaborative effort has resulted in students being well prepared to meet specific workforce needs. More knowledgeable graduates are positioned for greater opportunities and higher starting salaries. Firms benefit from better-trained employees and lower training costs and turnover. The community benefits as highly skilled workers remain in the region instead of leaving the state. Dr Joe Orgeron, an instructor in the program since its inception, recently stated, “I’ve seen first-hand how this concentration prepares students for our ever-changing maritime industry. Whether their goal be a career focused on the inland waters of the Mississippi River, offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, or within the new expanding maritime markets like offshore renewables, the Maritime Management concentration at NSU will better prepare them for the maritime market of tomorrow.” The College of Business is proud of
the relationships developed and enhanced through the collaborative efforts of industry and higher education. The Maritime Management concentration was proposed during a strategic planning retreat. After considering this, the College determined that it could provide students with opportunities that might not otherwise exist and differentiate the school from others in the state. From that point forward, local and regional firms provided the funding and industry knowledge to create content, courses, and the curriculum. The result is an excellent example of industry-university collaboration in pursuit of mutually beneficial objectives. The success of the program is measured by the career-enhancing outcomes
delivered for the students. Since its inception, students have completed over 80 internships in over 60 local and regional firms. Also, almost one-third were offered full-time positions upon internship completion. In just the last two months, three students received fulltime offers following their internships. This despite their not being scheduled to graduate until May 2021. This is a testament to our students, the program, and the support of the industry. In addition, success stories such as these reflect favorably on our instructors, who do an exceptional job in preparing students to contribute to a dynamic regional and global
economy as well as educated, responsible, and engaged business professionals. Further success is noted in that 90% of the maritime graduates received full-time employment in maritime and maritime-related firms. Several of the employers have hired multiple maritime graduates because of their satisfaction with former students who possess industry-specific knowledge and skillsets. As we in the region know all too well, the business environment related to the maritime industry, especially the oil and gas sector, is quite different today than it was in 2013. As a result, like many of the firms in our area, the Maritime Management concentration has sought to respond to these changes. The program has diversified in terms of course content, presentations, and our target markets. As a result, broader ranges of companies, including those along the Mississippi River, have become increasingly involved in the internship program and a source of employment for our graduates. For more information, please contact me at ken.chadwick@nicholls.edu or 985.448.4175.
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
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NEW MARKET IN DOWNTOWN HOUMA TO
BRING TOGETHER JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
ARTISTS AND THE COMMUNITY
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BY DREW MILLER
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brings people together. It helps to bring that critical boost, that critical thinking. And it helps people with their anxiety and their emotions. It’s a healthy environment for a downtown area.” Picou went on to say that 7887 Collective will help bring in some foot traffic and hopefully encourage people to stay in the area to perhaps enjoy some food or coffee as well as shopping at its shops, becoming an economic driver. “I think it’s going to be absolutely a wonderful thing for downtown,” said Lori Underwood, property owner of 7887 Main. “It may not just be a place for artists to display their art. It could also be a medium for people to come in and learn how these artists are actually creating their works of art…I think education will also be an added attraction to this space.” Underwood also highlighted how the allure of the prominent historic building itself can bring in local folks. Established in 1909, the building was once the Houma City Court building, and before that, the Houma Bargain Store. “Downtown is our heart center,” she said. “Without the heart center of our community, you lose sight of the fact that we have a historic district and we do have history in this community. We want to ensure that the youth of today understand why these buildings were built, who built them and how they are a part of this historic district.” “There’s a lot of history to be learned and things we want to share and want people to see,” she continued. “I hope that it brings more community out just to see what’s going on downtown.”
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
887 Collective, a creative art market, was launched in December 2020 as a collaborative space for local artists and crafters to showcase their talents. Devin Molina, property manager of the historic 7887 Main Street building in downtown Houma, said the market is set to oppose the typical idea of a formal gallery, encompassing several different mediums of art — from paintings to woodcraft. “It’s all to support local people,” he said. “This gives them an opportunity to come to a local space and just have their own work on display and available and to just to get their name out there.” Once the artist’s application is reviewed and accepted by a committee, the new outlet will assist the artist in various ways so their work has a successful occupancy in the space. “It really gives an opportunity for [newer artists] who might not know where to start or how to do it,” said Randy Roth, Executive Director of the Bayou Regional Arts Council — which partnered with 7887 Main and the Houma Downtown Development Corporation (HDDC) to create the art market. Roth added that the new gallery will link artists to residents who have yet to be involved in the art community as well. “It’ll be a space for artists to interact with them,” he said. In addition to giving opportunities to local talented individuals and connecting them to new and existing art enthusiasts, 7887 Collective is also lining up with the ongoing effort to breathe some new life into downtown Houma. “Our Main Street is definitely in a situation right now where we desperately need to revitalize,” said Anne Picou, Main Street Manager. “As we all know, art
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
MOVERS AND SHAKERS |
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HEADLINES & ACCOLADES
CIS UNVEILS RENOVATION, EXPANSION OF THIBODAUX CLINIC
BOLLINGER DELIVERS NEW BAYOU TECHE FLOOD GATE
On December 3, 2020, the Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) unveiled the renovation and expansion of its Thibodaux clinic. Now featuring new services and providing more convenience for patients, the facility located at 1320 Martin Luther King Drive added a vein clinic, second elevator and new parking lot as well as 11 new exam rooms, bringing the total to 31. A fourth treadmill room and an eighth ultrasound room were also added. “Our mission is and continues to be to provide our patients with the highest quality cardiovascular care available, and I think this facility stresses that,” said CIS CEO David Konur, who also welcomed Dr. Ross Melvin, interventional cardiologist, to the CIS Thibodaux team during yesterday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. CIS opened a Thibodaux location in 1986, just three years after founder Dr. Craig Walker laid the foundation of the organization with a one-man practice in Houma. After moving to its current location in 2000, the clinic went through its first renovation in 2006.
Bollinger Shipyards LLC (“Bollinger”) delivered the Bayou Teche flood gate to St. Mary Parish Levee District at the end of November 2020. The steel flood gate— measuring 84 feet long, 40 ft wide and 19 feet high—is designed for a 25-year rain event and to provide flood risk reduction for a 10-foot storm surge. The Bollingerbuilt gate is the heart of the Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure project announced in January 2020. “Bollinger is proud to play a role in helping to protect the homes, businesses and communities along Bayou Teche,” said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “After what has been a particularly tough 2020 storm season for south Louisiana, it’s important to get projects like this completed before next season so folks can have peace of mind.” The Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure is designed to reduce the risk of heavy rain event and hurricane storm surge flooding when water comes through the Charenton Canal into Bayou Teche. It is located where the Charenton Canal meets Bayou Teche and will consist of a levee
“We have been able to grow because of the trust of the community,” said Dr. Denys, who has been serving the residents of Thibodaux and its surrounding areas for over 25 years. With 20 locations across Louisiana and Mississippi and 60 physicians, CIS provides cardiovascular care for the heart in addition to the entire body, including diagnosis and treatment of coronary, carotid, valve, peripheral and venous disease as well as heart arrhythmias. “My hope is that we can continue to do what we do: focusing on prevention, focusing on giving the best possible care, educating patients in the correct lifestyle — which at times is a challenge in southern Louisiana,” Dr. Denys commented on the future of CIS heading into a new year. “We have the good life that is sometimes not that good for our heart,” he continued. “Come by and have yourself checked out. We can accommodate you and would be happy to take care of you.”
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section from the northward high ground across the old Bayou Teche through Victory Island and across to the east side of the Bayou Teche. The structure will protect an area containing 6,500 properties and the 13,500 people that reside there. The Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure is the first of two projects Bollinger is contracted to build for the St. Mary Parish Levee District and the fifth overall flood control structure built by Bollinger Shipyards. Bordelon continued, “I’m proud of our team at Bollinger Shipyards’ Amelia facility. With six named hurricanes impacting the Gulf region and the COVID-19 global pandemic, they remained steady and were able to safely deliver a high-quality product despite facing some serious adversity. I’m also thankful for our partnership with Sealevel Construction and St. Mary Parish Levee District.” The project is being funded partially by a grant from the Louisiana Department of Transportation “Louisiana State Wide Flood Control Program” and the St. Mary Parish Levee District.
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NICHOLLS AWARDED DRA GRANT, WILL CREATE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has awarded Nicholls State University $150,000 to establish a cybersecurity and cyberdefense training program. Using on-campus knowledge, local nonprofits and economic agencies, Nicholls will create a sustainable program that expands cybersecurity training and cyber-defense knowledge. Nicholls Continuing Education will work together with the Institute for IndustryEducation Collaboration to develop the training curriculum. Their goal is to train nearly 150 workers in Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Mary parishes over one year. The program is expected to begin in early 2021. The demand for information security
analysts will increase by 28 percent through 2026, according to estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of 2018, the median pay within the industry is $98,000 per year. Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune noted that this program aligns with the goals of Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “The downturn in the oil and gas industry combined with the economic impacts of COVID-19 have left many Louisiana workers without jobs. This is a unique opportunity to provide our state and the Bayou Region with sustainable training in a high-demand industry,” said Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune. “This collaboration is the best of both worlds. We can offer continuing education for our community while strengthening our state’s
DR. OWEN GROSSMAN HONORED AS RECIPIENT OF TGMC GOLDEN STETHOSCOPE AWARD
and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt. For more information, visit www.dra.gov/ workforce or contact Liz McCurry, director of continuing education, at 448-4521 or liz. mccurry@nicholls.edu.
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SEALEVEL RECEIVES EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MERIT AWARD FOR PILING PROJECT
Wyoming. He is board certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. Dr. Grossman says, “This was very unexpected and very sweet”. I am honored to accept this award.”
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Sealevel Construction of Thibodaux has achieved an Excellence in Construction Merit award for their Koch Methanol Piling Project at the new Koch Methanol facility in Vacherie, La. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the award ceremony has been postponed to a later date. President of Sealevel Construction Richard Roth said, “Our deep foundation crews executed this project safely and efficiently. Receiving this award speaks highly of our team’s work ethic, innovation and commitment to safe performance. I am very proud of our team’s accomplishment.” As the subcontractor to Brown and Root Industrial Services, Sealevel’s portion of the project consisted of splicing all pipe piles once galvanized, driving a total of 1,808 concrete and pipe piles and installing 44 drilled shafts. These pilings stand as the foundations for future pipe racks, bridges and buildings throughout the new facility. Though there were several schedule changes and delays, Sealevel managed to complete this $5 million project ahead of schedule, under budget and with zero lost time incidents.
ABC’s Excellence in Construction® Awards has become the premier competition within the construction industry that recognizes outstanding construction projects across the nation. The EIC Awards honor the skill and creativity of the entire team–contractor, owner, architect and engineer– responsible for an outstanding merit shop construction project. “Our industry is essential in ensuring our economy recovers, and these worldclass construction projects are examples of the vital part of that economic engine,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of ABC Pelican. “ABC Pelican members have time and time again met and exceeded the challenges posed by the global pandemic, abiding by the new health and safety standards, employing innovation and new technologies and delivering these projects with excellence in an entirely new reality. Many of these projects began or wrapped while the world grappled with the uncertainty of COVID-19, and these contractors deserve our applause for upholding the prestigious standards set by this competition.”
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JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) announced Dr. Owen Grossman, Emergency Medicine, as the recipient of the Golden Stethoscope Award. The prominent Golden Stethoscope Award publicly recognizes a TGMC physician for his or her exceptional level of professionalism, integrity and teamwork in caring for patients and families, as well as interacting with hospital staff members and other physicians. Nominations can be made by physicians, employees, patients, and volunteers and recognizes two physicians a year. “It is an honor to present Dr. Owen Grossman the Golden Stethoscope Award,” said Phyllis Peoples, TGMC President and CEO. He has been caring for this community and a respected part of the TGMC family for quite some time. “ Dr. Grossman, an Emergency Medicine physician has been a member of the TGMC team for over 16 years. He completed Medical School at Medical College of Pennsylvania, an Internship in Family Practice at University of Oklahoma, and a Residency at the University of
economy. I want to thank Rep. Garret Graves and his staff, who made us aware of this grant opportunity and supported our efforts from day one. I also want to acknowledge the support of Sen. Bill Cassidy and his staff, as well as State Rep. Joe Orgeron.” Instructor of computer and information systems, Terry Evans, will work with the Small Business Development Center at Nicholls, the South Louisiana Economic Council and other industry partners to conduct the training. The DRA awarded 13 total projects totaling $1.7 million across the southeast, including three in Louisiana. The DRA is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2000 to promote
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS |
HEADLINES & ACCOLADES
THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM WELCOMES DR. LAUREN SHARETT, NEUROLOGIST, TO THE MEDICAL STAFF
NICHOLLS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BACHELOR’S RANKED IN TOP 35 Nicholls State University made CollegeRank.net’s top 35 for best bachelor’s in business administration. The College of Business Administration was No. 13 and was one of two schools from Louisiana to make the list. CollegeRank. net based its rankings on affordability, accreditation and potential salary after graduation. Dr. Marilyn Macik-Frey, dean and Cenac Chair of Business Administration, says the entire college shares the ranking. Students take upper-level courses across the business spectrum. “It offers exposure to all areas of business to prepare the student to ‘wear many hats’ as is often the case in small businesses,”
said Dr. Macik-Frey. “Students who are planning to join a family business or are interested in starting their own business are good candidates for this degree.” The Nicholls State University College of Business Administration is AACSBaccredited and offers degrees in accounting, finance, computer information systems, management, marketing and business administration. The college also offers a master of business administration degree. CollegeRank.net aims to rank every college to help students decide where to go to college and what to study. For more information, visit www.nicholls. edu/business.
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Thibodaux Regional Health System is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Lauren Sharett, Neurologist, to the active medical staff. Dr. Sharett is available to care for patients at Thibodaux Regional Neurology Clinic located 726 North Acadia Road, Suite 2300, Thibodaux, (985) 493-3090. Dr. Sharett earned her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her medical degree from Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans. She completed her neurology residency at Tulane Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Sharett specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of neurological conditions including migraine and other headache disorders, stroke, seizure, Multiple Sclerosis, and cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s dementia. She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, American Headache Society, American Epilepsy Society and the International Society of Neuroimmunology.
JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
CORPS APPROVES TERREBONNE PARISH DRAINAGE MODIFICATION TO LOWER WATER ELEVATION LEVELS
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The Corps of Engineers has approved a Terrebonne Parish permit modification request for the 1-1 B drainage system to lower the pump station water pump down sea level elevation by an additional nine inches. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove released the following statement: “The Corps of Engineers has approved our permit modifications request for the 1-1 B drainage system to lower the pump station water pump down sea level elevation by an additional 9 inches. This is the first time in the State of Louisiana the Corps of Engineers (New Orleans District) approved a Drainage Modification Permit to lower water elevation levels. This engineering process took about 1 year and 4 months to get approved. The following areas will have a huge effect in drainage recovery efforts from the Intracoastal Canal in Houma, heading
north to Lafourche along the St. Louis Canal. (Approximately 12 miles): 1. Maple Avenue, Williams Avenue, Central Avenue, Southern Avenue, 9th Street, Estate Drive, Alma Street, Lake Houmas/Bayou Blue, St.Canal Rd, Lisa Park Subdivision etc. (Councilwoman Jessica Domangue’s district) 2. Broadmoor, Westside, Coteau, Bayou Gardens, Bayou Blue, St.Louis Canal Road,etc. 3. Oakshire Subdivision, Coteau, Bayou Blue to LA 24, Southern Estates, Wallace Thibodaux subdivision, Gray, etc. (Councilman John Amedee’s district) 4. Gray, Schriever, Bayou Blue, etc. (Councilman Carlee Harding’s District ) This Permit Modification positively affects thousands of acres along with thousands of homes by lowering the St. Louis Canal/Lake Houma’s water level.”
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Dr. Sharett brings with her six years of experience in active clinical practice. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to provide personalized and comprehensive neurological care to the people of Thibodaux and surrounding communities.
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#IGIVECATHOLIC RAISES OVER $900K FOR LOCAL CATHOLIC MINISTRIES IN THE DIOCESE OF HOUMA-THIBODAUX The results of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s #iGiveCatholic are in! With more than 1,600 donors, a total of $900,422 was raised for our local community during the 24-hour online giving event held on #GivingTuesday (December 1, 2020). The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux raised the second highest figure of all Louisiana dioceses, and was ranked within the top five nationally. “I want to personally thank the generous people of our diocese for their outpouring of love, prayers and financial gifts this past Giving Tuesday during iGiveCatholic,” said Bishop Shelton Fabre. “The words THANK YOU are not enough! I assure you that you are in my prayers and thank you for putting your trust in our ministries.” Within the diocese, the top three ministries in funds raised all surpassed $100,000 during the daylong campaign, which included the advanced giving phase preceding the Giving Tuesday event: 1. Office of Vocations (House of Formation plan) $269,825 from 60 donors 2. St. Bridget Catholic Church (Church renovation) $106,709 from 87 donors
3. E.D. White High School (Parking lot, band practice field) $104,415 from 82 donors The House of Formation plan, where seminarians would live one full year before continuing their seminary formation, was the third most successful campaign in the entire country in this year’s iGiveCatholic. Nationally, over $12.6 million was raised for 1,667 ministries this week – making this the most successful Catholic crowdfunding event to date. “Like Bishop, I am profoundly thankful for all who have so graciously prayed for and given to this year’s iGiveCatholic campaign in support of their church parishes, schools and nonprofits,” said Amy Ponson, Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana. “Despite the extremely challenging year, our amazing community came together and helped us raise more than double our proceeds from last year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” For more information about #iGiveCatholic or to view the full list of results visit https://houma thibodaux. igivecatholic.org, visit catholicfoundationsl.org or call 985-850-3116.
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NICHOLLS NAMES STUDENT AFFAIRS VETERAN VICE PRESIDENT served as the dean of student services for 16 years before becoming dean of students in 2018. “In addition to her passion for our students’ well-being and experience in diversity and inclusion initiatives, Dr. Caruso has demonstrated strong leadership in crisis since being named the interim vice president in February,” said Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune. “I want to thank the search committee and Dr. Alex Arceneaux, the committee chair, for conducting a successful search.” Since 2018, Dr. Caruso has helped bring Mom’s Pantry to campus and create Tillou’s Table and Beyond the Pantry to combat food insecurity for students. She also founded the Colonel Acts of Kindness program to recognize members of the Nicholls community who go above and beyond. Dr. Caruso has played an influential role on campus and across Louisiana in the areas of diversity and inclusion. She also served on the University of Louisiana System Workplace Inclusion Task Force. She is the former chair of the Nicholls Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and was on the team that created the Colonels Retention of Winners Network.
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Join the Thibodaux Chamber for an evening of celebration as they recognize outstanding achievements of individuals and businesses and look forward to the upcoming year. January 14, 6 p.m.
SCIA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
Join SCIA for their monthly membership luncheon, featuring a guest speaker. Admission is $25; reservations are required. January 19, 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. Courtyard by Marriott, Houma
92ND HOUMA-TERREBONNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BANQUET
Join the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce for their 92nd Annual Banquet to celebrate those that have positively impacted our community, and be motivated by a keynote speaker! The Chamber’s newly installed officers, outgoing officers, and board members are recognized at the event along with the announcements of the Chamber Small Business of the Year, Chamber Large Business of the Year, Chamber Ambassador of the Year, The Courier’s Most Useful Citizen award, the Teenager of the Year, and HTV’s Eugene Folse Outstanding Veteran award. Tickets are $70 each or $560 for a table of eight. January 21, 7 p.m. Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center All dates, times and formats are subject to change.
JANUARY 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY
Nicholls State University is naming Dr. Michele Caruso vice president for student affairs, pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. Dr. Caruso has served as interim vice president for student affairs since Feb. 2020. “Nicholls has been my home for more than two decades, so I am thrilled to continue advocating for our students at the highest level,” said Dr. Caruso. “I care deeply about our students and am proud to support them during such a transformational time in their lives. I am honored to work with an exceptional student affairs team and I look forward to continuing working with Dr. Clune and the leadership team to provide the best undergraduate experience in the state.” Dr. Caruso joined the Nicholls campus in 1996. She
THIBODAUX CHAMBER AWARDS BANQUET
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