MOVERS & SHAKERS

GULF COAST ORTHOPEDICS SURGEON SELECTED TO PRESENT AT ANNUAL MEETINGS

Dr. Sina Pourtaheri, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon with Gulf Coast Orthopedics, was chosen to present at the UCSF adult and pediatric spine course in September 2020. His presentation was titled, “Opiate Use in Spine Surgery, Strategies to Prevent Opioid Dependence.” With the known negative impact of the opioid epidemic on our community it is imperative that providers, especially those who treat painful conditions, continually educate themselves on ways to prevent opioid dependence in their patients.

In October 2020, Dr. Pourtaheri was a guest lecturer at the North American Spine Society annual meeting. His talk discussed the use and trends of intraoperative neuromonitoring during the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedure. He discussed the indications for monitoring intraoperatively, current trends in neuromonitoring and recommendations for the future.

Dr. Pourtaheri, a native of New Orleans, completed his medical school training at Tulane University. He did his orthopedic residency at Seton Hall and his spine surgery fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Pourtaheri is committed to engaging in research and education that will improve the outcomes of his patients. He has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters. He regularly speaks on the national level educating other providers about new surgical techniques, treatment options and the overall treatment of patients with spinal conditions. Dr. Pourtaheri sees patients from all over the Bayou Region in Gulf Coast Orthopedics Houma and Morgan City offices. He is on staff at Terrebonne General Medical Center, Gulf Coast Surgical Center and Physicians Medical Center. • LOUISIANA LAUNCHES BUSINESS STARTUP PROGRAM FOR VETERANS

On November 10, 2020, Louisiana leaders Development Center for their hard work. launched an innovative program to hone This comprehensive, hands-on platform the entrepreneurial skills of veterans who will greatly assist our aspiring veteran start a business in the state. Pathway to entrepreneurs in a way that we have not Assist Veteran Entrepreneurs, or PAVE, is a experienced before.” partnership of the Louisiana Department PAVE is open to active-duty personnel of Veterans Affairs, Louisiana Economic and reservists in good standing, as well Development, the Louisiana National as veterans discharged under conditions Guard and the Louisiana Small Business other than dishonorable. Interested Development Center Network. parties may explore the program at PAVE begins with three online courses OpportunityLouisiana.com/PAVE and apply available 24 hours a day. Upon completing online with a $15 registration fee. that self-paced training, veterans register for “Louisiana Economic Development a virtual boot camp. Following the interactive is honored to support the Louisiana boot camp, each veteran receives ongoing small business community, which is a support from a designated counselor in the key component of our state’s economy,” LSBDC Network. The program is open to said LED Secretary Don Pierson. “I am Louisiana military personnel or veterans who particularly proud of our efforts to support intend to start a business. the entrepreneurs who have served our “Through service to their nation, our country in uniform. Through the PAVE men and women in uniform have gained Program, we will ensure that these heroic unparalleled skills, including leadership, men and women have a strong foundation management, assertiveness and technical for successfully operating their own small training, all of which suit them for turning businesses.” business plans into reality,” said Gov. John PAVE is the latest Louisiana program Bel Edwards. “I am proud to join with state designed for the state’s veterans, leaders to announce the launch of the joining other programs that include the Pathway to Assist Veteran Entrepreneurs Veteran Initiative for state procurement Program, which will equip our veteran opportunities, and the Louisiana Veterans entrepreneurs with the resources they need First Business Initiative, which recognizes to see their businesses grow and thrive.” more than 500 veteran-owned businesses The initial online training covers three through an online database. Customers sections: Starting a Business; Securing may visit LaVeteransFirst.org to search for Financing; and Developing a Sales Strategy. goods and services and support those Participants then take part in a scheduled veteran-owned businesses. Statewide, the boot camp for entrepreneurs, hosted by Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs the Louisiana Small Business Development assists 277,000 state veterans and their Center Network. families every day through a network of 74 The virtual boot camp is a one-day parish service offices and 26 student veteran experience in two parts. Instructors help centers, as well as five state-operated veterans analyze the feasibility of their veterans homes and five state-operated business plan and also introduce them cemeteries for veterans. to business resources, including tools “Being able to create and collaborate specific to veteran-owned businesses. Upon on a veteran-focused initiative has been completion of the boot camp, veterans are an honor for the Louisiana Small Business connected with a consultant for long-term Development Center,” LSBDC State business support. Director Carla Holland said. “When LED “The PAVE Program is a tremendous brought this idea to us, we knew we wanted addition to resources available for our to partner in whatever capacity to bring it Louisiana veterans,” said LDVA Secretary to life. Veterans have done so much for us, Joey Strickland, who is a retired U.S. and it’s an honor to be able to help them Army colonel. “I commend Secretary reach their goals and bring their dreams Pierson, a veteran himself, his team at Louisiana Economic Development of entrepreneurship to reality through this program.” • and also the Louisiana Small Business

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DANOS AWARDED SHELL PIPELINE CONTRACT

Shell Pipeline Company LP has awarded Danos a contract to provide significant upgrades to its Houma, LA, facility. Danos’ instrumentation and electrical team will install a new, elevated motor control system for the company. This will control the mainline shipping pumps and associated controls supporting Shell’s commitment to long-term reliability of its assets. Project work began at the end of September and is expected to wrap in late 2021.

“Because we have a long-standing history with Shell Pipeline, our crews are familiar with the work and with the facility. This allows us to provide a turnkey solution for our valued customer,” said Owner Mark Danos.

Danos also supported phase one of the facility upgrades. Approximately 30 Danos and partner employees will be utilized to complete the work in phase two.

Additionally, Danos has been awarded a significant contract with a midstream services provider to deliver facility upgrades of all automation and control systems for two platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. At the same time, Danos will enhance the human machine interface, which controls facility operations. Work on the project began in August, and pre-installation work is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

While Danos has been providing automation and instrumentation and electrical services for decades, the company established each as independent service lines in 2014 after Danos acquired a control system company with an extensive 30-year history. Danos’ energy services offerings now include automation, instrumentation and electrical, mechanical maintenance, power generation, and valve and wellhead.• EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ADVISORS COMMERCIAL INSURANCE | PERSONAL INSURANCE

Christian D. Lapeyre, Eldridge Robichaux, Ken Staples Betty Thibodaux Rene Thibodaux Melissa Hunter Philip J. Hebert

Courtney Brinegar Sadie Hamby Ashley Adams Sky Acosta Natalie Hargis Angela Ledet Alison Hadaway

BOLLINGER SHIPYARDS DELIVERS 41ST FAST RESPONSE CUTTER STRENGTHENING DEFENSE CAPABILITIES IN THE ARABIAN GULF

Bollinger Shipyards LLC delivered the USCGC CHARLES MOULTHROPE to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Florida. This is the 164th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 41st Fast Response Cutter (“FRC”) delivered under the current program.

The USCGC CHARLES MOULTHROPE is the first of six FRCs to be homeported in Manama, Bahrain, which will replace the aging 110’ Island Class Patrol Boats, built by Bollinger Shipyards 30 years ago, supporting the Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA), the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest overseas presence outside the United States.

“Bollinger is proud to continue enhancing and supporting the U.S. Coast Guard’s operational presence around the world by delivering the USCGC CHARLES MOULTHROPE,” said Bollinger President & C.E.O. Ben Bordelon. “It is our top priority to ensure that the brave men and women of the Coast Guard stationed in PATFORSWA have the most state-ofthe-art, advanced vessels as they work to build and maintain the necessary regional alliances to ensure maritime security in the region. Building ships for the Coast Guard provides critical assets to bolster our national security and advance America’s interests, both at home and abroad.”

At a PATFORSWA change of command ceremony earlier in the summer, U.S.

The Lorio Foundation donated over $175,000 to renovate space on the Nicholls State University campus for more socially distanced classrooms. The Thibodaux-based nonprofit donated $177,000 for a new heating and ventilation system in Shaver Gym. Named for former Nicholls student Richard Shaver, the gym has undergone a transformation this year to hold classes and St. Thomas Aquinas Mass during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Commander Vice Adm. Steven D. Poulin emphasized the importance of the unit, saying, “During these historical times it is important, now more than ever, that we maintain maritime security operations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. [PATFORSWA is] pushing forward into the unknown to protect American interests in the region.”

PATFORSWA Commander Capt. Willie L. Carmichael echoed Poulin’s comments, saying PATFORSWA “plays a key role in maritime security, maritime infrastructure protection, theater security cooperation, and counter-smuggling operations.”

PATFORSWA is composed of six cutters, shoreside support personnel, and the Maritime Engagement Team. The unit’s mission is to train, organize, equip, support and deploy combat-ready Coast Guard Forces in support of U.S. Central Command and national security objectives. PATFORSWA works with Naval Forces Central Command in furthering their goals to conduct persistent maritime operations to forward U.S. interests, deter and counter disruptive countries, defeat violent extremism and strengthen partner nations’ maritime capabilities in order to promote a secure maritime environment.

Bordelon continued, “The FRC hot production line continues to produce and provide stability in the industrial base for the U.S. Government and our Bollinger

LORIO FOUNDATION DONATES TO SHAVER GYM RENOVATIONS

workforce, assuring economic benefit for summers, Shaver Gym is also used by Colonel Campers.

“This is a historic building on the Nicholls State University campus, and we believe this donation will benefit the university as they work toward their mission,” said Cam Morvant, chairman of the Lorio Foundation. “We are always looking for ways to help make Nicholls a better educational institution for the students.” For 23 years, the nonprofit named for our region, our vendor partners in the 40plus states that support the FRC program, and our country.”

The last 20 weeks of the USCGC CHARLES MOULTHROPE build occurred despite the COVID-19 global pandemic and six named storms impacting the Gulf region, all of which affected Louisiana and two of which made landfall in the state as hurricanes, including Hurricane Laura – a Category 4 storm and the strongest to hit the state since the Great Storm of 1856. Bollinger undertook precautions to ensure the health and safety of employees and maintain its delivery schedule. For the COVID-19 pandemic, Bollinger increased and enhanced sanitization practices across the shipyard, and enacted more liberal leave and remote work policies as well as altered shift schedules to promote social distancing.

Each FRC is named for an enlisted former Thibodaux letter carrier Lloyd Lorio has donated more than $3 million to improve facilities on the Nicholls campus. Projects they have contributed to include the resurfacing of tennis courts, renovating the steps at the Donald Bollinger Student Union, buying a new playground at Little Colonel’s Academy and building a pavilion at Ayo Pool. • Coast Guard hero who distinguished himself or herself in the line of duty. Born in Massachusetts in 1873, Charles Moulthrope was a member of the crew of Revenue Cutter Commodore Perry. Seaman Moulthrope gave his life in the performance of duties in 1896. Moulthrope had previously performed a heroic deed while serving on the Perry. Moulthrope rescued four of his shipmates who had fallen into the sea from the cutter’s launch after they had gone to rescue another crewman, Boatswain Alfred Halfell who had fallen overboard. He grabbed a line and leaped over the side into the freezing water to rescue the four who were rapidly succumbing to hypothermia. Moulthrope worked the line around all four of the sailors and those on board the cutter then pulled the

men aboard the Perry. •