Bayou Business Monthly - August 2020

FREE SOUTH LA BANK CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

PUBLISHER’S NOTE |

AUGUST 2020 • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 8

TABLE OF CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE:

SPOTLIGHT ON: CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESSES 10

VCHS CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF FAITH & FAMILY

Through name and campus changes, the school’s mission remains unchanged.

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FAITH, FAMILY AT HEART

15

FLEET SUPPLY DELIVERS QUALITY PRODUCTS & SERVICE

16 17 18

Faith Family Shrimp

Fleet Supply Warehouse

GALLIANO FOOD STORE FOCUSES ON FAMILY, SERVICE Galliano Food Store

STRONGER TOGETHER Synergy Bank

04

GOVERNMENT UPDATE

06

OIL AND GAS UPDATE

HB57 Signed into law by Governor Rig Count a Thermometer for Industry’s Economic Checkup

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FROM THE TOP

13 20 22

THE FINAL CLASS - LEADERSHIP

Donna Brunet

Nicholls State University MBA

BUSINESS NEWS News briefs

MOVERS & SHAKERS Headlines and accolades

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing EDITORIAL Mary Ditch EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Drew Miller CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Keely Diebold CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CREATIVE Amber Duplantis SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lauren Pontiff GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ADVERTISING Deanne Ratliff DIRECTOR OF SALES Beth Tabor

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Michelle Ortego

CONTACT Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: editor@bayoubusinessmonthly.com

STANDING STRONG FOR 40 YEARS

Sales: sales@rushing-media.com

South Louisiana Bank marks a milestone anniversary

SUBSCRIPTIONS Bayou Business Monthly is published monthly.

CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESSES

O

ur August issue celebrates the accomplishments of our local businesses. More than just milestone anniversaries, this edition takes a closer look at all businesses in our community and the contributions they are making to our current business climate, despite set-backs from a global pandemic.

This year, Vandebilt Catholic celebrates 150 years of faith and education. The Brothers of the Sacred Heart school has boasted many different names and many different campuses in its long history, but as VCHS approaches its 150th anniversary of existence this fall, its central mission remains the same.

Now the oldest chartered bank in Terrebonne Parish, South Louisiana Bank has grown substantially throughout the last 40 years. President and CEO Mickey Thomas shares challenges and success over the years, and lessons the institution has learned along the way.

Our local businesses showcase the best in leadership and innovation. In our special section, Celebrating Local Businesses, we take a closer look inside local businesses, focusing on their

successes and achievements, outstanding customer service, and even perhaps lessons learned over the past few months and how they are moving forward into the future.

I know I’m always talking about the strength and resiliency of local businesses. But it’s something that as I travel I realize is unique to our area. We are always willing to help others in need along our own journey to success. That’s a big part of what helps us get there. Continue to support your local businesses. They are the backbones of our community and what helps us all to thrive.

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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 |

STAFF REPORT

“Tort reform” bill was most sought after legislation this session

I

n mid-July, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed HB57 by Speaker Clay Schexnayder (R-Gonzales), known as the Civil Justice Reform Act of 2020.

HB57 sets rules and procedures for demanding a jury trial, including requiring a cash bond for the party requesting one.

The bill also repeals the two sentences in current state law that forbids using failure to wear seatbelts as a way to reduce what is owed for injuries caused in a car wreck.

Whether the injured person was wearing a seatbelt now would be allowed into the trial.

The legislation lowers the “jury threshold” – the amount sought that triggers having a jury decide rather than a judge – from $50,000 to $10,000.

Supporters of the bill wanted a $5,000 “jury threshold,” saying the threat of jury trial would incentivize more settlements.

Opponents of the bill repeatedly said the lower threshold would marginalize municipal courts and swamp state district courts, many of which already have to juggle criminal and family dockets.

HB57 would also limit medical damages to the amount actually paid. But a trial judge

after the verdict can look at the difference between what was paid and what was billed, then award up to 40 percent of the difference or decrease the award.

“HB57 is now law thanks to the hard work of a diverse coalition of stakeholders and a dedicated, bipartisan group of legislators who understood the urgent need for common-sense legal reform,” said LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack. “This legislation passed with overwhelming majorities in both chambers and we appreciate Gov. Edwards signing the bill into law. The enactment of the meaningful reforms in HB57 will help bring competition back to our insurance markets and provide both our state’s working families and job creators with affordable insurance options. While this is the culmination of many years of work for LABI and the entire business community, we look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature in future sessions to bring more reforms that will improve our poor legal climate to the table. Our work has only just begun.”

Daniel Erspamer, chief executive officer of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, said the following: “For far too long, Louisianans have felt the pain of lawsuit abuse, both on

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their personal finances and through the departure of jobs and opportunity from our state. HB57 is an important first step forward, and we thank House Speaker Clay Schexnayder for showing true leadership and rejecting the entrenched special interests that have dominated the process for far too long.”

He continued, “It’s past time to get Louisiana working and we are excited to see this legislation help to make our state a place that creates and encourages, rather than chases away, jobs and opportunity for all its citizens. We are happy that Governor Edwards joined the

supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, as well as Louisiana’s taxpayers and working families, by signing this vital legislation into law.”

The legislation also forbids the mentioning of the defendant driver’s insurance company and policy except at the beginning and end of the trial. Insurers argue that juries tend to render higher awards when they know that an insurance company will be paying, instead of an individual.

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

OIL & GAS |

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BY GIFFORD BRIGGS, LOGA PRESIDENT

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their existence in this state in great part to an oil and gas job a parish away.

On top of great jobs, the oil and gas industry is responsible for enormous investments in our communities all over the state. The energy industry contributes tens of millions in revenue for Terrebonne and Lafourche. For decades, the energy industry has proudly helped coastal communities build countless schools, hospitals, playgrounds, and roads. Finally, as COVID put a magnifying glass on essential services like fuel, first responders, healthcare, and education, we are again reminded of the crucial role oil and gas plays in our everyday lives.

While employment numbers lag months behind, rig counts give us a live update on our state’s oil and gas industry, and it has been more than halved in the price and demand crisis amidst COVID-19. While Louisiana’s economy has increasingly diversified, it is still founded on oil and gas. Demand is understandably down, but it will certainly return. And when it does, it’s important for Louisiana to be well positioned so investors return to Terrebonne, Lafourche, and the rest of our wonderful state. That’s why dealing with taxes, our litigation environment, our regulatory structure and other policy issues around our industry is so critical, even for the accountant, the hairdresser, and the construction worker.

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t has been a recording-breaking year for the U.S. Rig Count. Sadly, these are new records no one wants to set. Each week, producers are operating fewer and fewer oil and natural gas rigs, setting historic lows across the nation.

Each week the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association publishes the LOGA Drilling Report, which examines prices, rig counts in each part of the state, and permits. It’s essentially an economic health check-up for the state’s oil and gas industry, and the Pelican State’s industry is unwell.

A year ago, Louisiana was home to about 70 drilling rigs. Our natural gas giant, the Haynesville Shale, was home to 34, the highest concentration of any play in the state. Two more were in North Louisiana; we had activity and optimism in the Austin Chalk; there were three in South Louisiana, and there were one to five rigs in inland waters last summer.

State offshore waters also had a few rigs running, and Louisiana’s federal waters boasted 24 rigs. Historically speaking, 70 rigs is a small amount for this state.

However, compared to today’s essentially deserted oil patch, we would take last year’s numbers in a heartbeat.

That’s because today, only 31 rigs are running. 21 of those are in the Haynesville, and the other 10 are in federal waters.

That’s it.

In Terrebonne and Lafourche, one out of every 13 jobs is directly attributable to oil and gas operations. Our industry boasts the single highest average weekly wage in the state at $2,343.

The refining, chemicals, and pipeline sectors are responsible for the state’s other top three highest wages, and they are here in Louisiana thanks to our state’s oil and natural gas industry, Those high paying jobs produced more than $339 million in direct wages for hard-working families in Houma, Thibodaux, and other communities across the coast. The oil and gas sector’s multiplier effect creates 3.7 more jobs in other parts of our economy for each single job in industry. Engineers, accountants, hairdressers, realtors, manufacturers, restaurateurs, construction workers, and so many other positions owe

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FROM THE TOP |

QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK:

Terrebonne’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program was created to assist children who are subject to court proceedings due to abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. CASAs are trained volunteers who are appointed by a judge to provide one-on-one advocacy for a child who is under the jurisdiction of the court. The CASA is responsible for conducting an independent investigation, helping the court understand the needs of the child, ensuring that court-ordered services are being provided and making child-focused recommendations to the court based on the best interest of the child.

CASA of Terrebonne has accomplished a great deal since its inception 20 years ago.

The CASA program has given a voice to hundreds of children in the dependency court system. CASA of Terrebonne has trained hundreds of volunteers to advocate on behalf of children experiencing an intensely confusing and frightening time in their lives within a system that may be impersonal, slow and lacking the financial support needed to provide adequate care. CASA of Terrebonne’s goal is to raise awareness within the dependency system and the community of children’s unique needs, especially their need for services aimed at helping them live the healthiest life possible.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? One great aspect of my job is meeting with the volunteers and hearing their stories about their “CASA kids”, especially when the story involves a good outcome like a reunification or adoption. Another great part of the job is getting to travel around the country to attend conferences and trainings where I get to meet CASA’s from all across the US and learn how they do things differently/better than we do. Any learning opportunity is a plus for me.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST?

AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

DONNA BRUNET

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CASA OF TERREBONNE, INC. 8

The hardest part is reading the 72-hour hearings which explain why the children were taken from their homes and put into state’s custody. The stories are all heartbreaking.

Also, having to continually find sources of income to keep CASA up and running.

None of the funds we receive are guaranteed. We have to apply for funding and grants every year and hope that we get them. That is why community donors are so important to CASA.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE SUPPORT CASA’S EFFORTS? The work that our CASA volunteers do for the children in foster care is invaluable.

These children are ripped from their homes, usually placed with a stranger, possibly moved several more times and put with more strangers. Their CASA volunteer is the one true constant in their ever-changing lives. Studies have shown that children who have a CASA spend on average 7.5 months less time in foster care than those who don’t; they are more likely to graduate from high school on time; more than 90% never reenter the foster care system; and complex cases receive more attention so they can move forward in a timely way. CASA volunteers save hundreds of millions of dollars in child welfare costs alone each year.

Society as a whole is impacted by our advocacy. Helping ensure that a child in foster care receives the consistent presence and resources needed to thrive will increase the chance that the child will become a productive member of society as an adult.

When you support CASA you help change a child’s life for the better.

WHAT’S ONE LEADERSHIP SKILL YOU FEEL EVERYONE MUST LEARN? How to delegate authority. It’s hard to let someone else take on a task that you believe you could do better. I think some people look at it as a sign of weakness, when in fact it is the sign of a strong leader who trusts his/her employees implicitly. When you delegate tasks this leaves you more time to focus on the tasks that cannot be delegated due to security/confidential reasons.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF: AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING AS A CAREER? As a child I wanted to be either an actress or a veterinarian.

WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST JOB? Lifeguard at Bayou Bien Country Club when I was 15.

WHAT TIME TO DO YOU WAKE UP AND HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY? During the week I’m up by 7:00 am and out the door by 7:45. I usually get to work about 8:15, I’ll read and respond to all my emails, have breakfast at my desk and then continue the work day. However, on Saturday and Sunday, I’ll stay in bed until 9 or 10.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT? I couldn’t live without three things: My family, books and my dogs (in that order of course!)

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME? Reading, traveling, spending time with family and fishing/boating (whenever I can get my husband to take me)

Favorite food: Liver and creamed potatoes Favorite vacation spot?

Any beach, especially those along 30A in Florida How do you take your coffee?

Don’t drink coffee Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?

Chocolate, specifically Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Pen or pencil? Blue Pen Early bird or night owl?

Definitely a night owl

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FAVORITES/THIS OR THAT:

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VANDEBILT CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF

FAITH & FAMILY

BY KEELY DIEBOLD

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Academy.

In 1888, the sisters were asked to open a boys’ school. By May of the next year, boys were admitted to St. Francis for the first time, often moving to different locations and buildings due to inadequate facilities for the Academy’s growing enrollment.

In 1952, the school building would become St. Francis de Sales Boys’ High School, while a new St. Francis de Sales High School for Girls, which also housed a primary school for boys and girls, opened on Verret St. St. Francis Boys’ School was then staffed for the first time by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, who would ultimately take the reins in continuing VCHS’ legacy begun by the Marianites.

By 1964, ground was broken for Houma Central Catholic High School, and the rest is history.

For many who have served at VCHS, being a part of that 150-year story holds a powerful meaning.

“We are part of something that is so big—150 years. It gives you a different perspective, that we are only stewards of this great gift of Catholic education,” David Boudreaux, former VCHS president, says.

Boudreaux, who handed off his presidency to Gueldner in July after announcing his retirement last fall, first came to VCHS in 1978 as a music and religion teacher. He would ultimately go on to leave VHCS and return two more times in his career, once as a teacher and administrator and again, most recently, as president of the school.

“I came here three times, and every time I left, there were great schools I went to, but Vandebilt just felt like the place you wanted to go back to. It felt like home. It felt like the charism of the Brothers was alive here, and it’s just something I wanted to be part of,” Boudreaux says.

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ur Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy.

St. Francis de Sales Academy. St. Francis de Sales High School. Houma Central Catholic High School. Vandebilt Catholic High School.

Houma’s lone Brothers of the Sacred Heart school has boasted many different names and many different campuses in its long history, but as VCHS approaches its 150th anniversary of existence this fall, its central mission remains the same.

“It would be short-sighted to say that we’re just celebrating 150 years of being open. We’re celebrating 150 years of excellence,” VCHS President Jeremy Gueldner says. “I believe Vandebilt is one of those special places where you can get a world-class education, develop your faith and we take a holistic approach to child development.”

VCHS as it stands today on South Hollywood Rd. opened its doors on Sept.

1, 1965 as Houma Central Catholic High School. At the time, it was an institution with separate wings for boys and girls.

In the spring of 1966, the school was dedicated as Vandebilt Catholic High School in memoriam of Father August Vandebilt, a longtime pastor at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. At the start of the 1966-1967 school year, VCHS officially took on its new name. In 1968, it ended its two-division model and became the coeducational school it is today.

However, VCHS’ history dates back to 1870, when the Marianites of the Holy Cross made their way to Houma to open an all-girls Catholic high school housed in the former property of Houma College, which resided on what would become Point St. The school, known as Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy, officially opened on Oct. 11, 1870 with 25 students enrolled.

Nine years later, the Marianite sisters changed its name to St. Francis de Sales

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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Gueldner’s path to VCHS, his wife Mary Catherine’s alma mater, looked a little different, as he accepted the vacant principal’s job just four years ago.

Now stepping into his new role as president, Guelder says that being part of the continuation of VCHS’ legacy can be “intimidating” at times.

“For me, as someone who moved here four years ago and now will become only the third president in the history of the school, it can be intimidating. This school is a staple of this community,” Gueldner says. “It can be daunting when you think about just the history of the school and the impact the school’s had on the community.”

Boudreaux says the key to VCHS’ lasting impact lies first in the success of its students, both within the school’s walls and beyond graduation.

The other factor in its longevity lies in its most important, unchanging factor: its Catholic principles.

Every ounce of formation of educators, administrators and leaders within Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools like VCHS is rooted in the tradition of the charism, or gift, of the Brothers and is passed on to students through education, Boudreaux

says. For example, administrators are required to participate in the Coindre Leadership Program, named after Father André Coindre, founder of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.

“If you look at our mission statement as it exists today, it’s pulled directly from a document from the Brothers,” Gueldner says. “The Brothers have their own vernacular of terms that they use for how the educational experience is supposed to be. I think that, sometimes even when we don’t realize it, the Brothers have worked their way seamlessly into our everyday existence as a school and how we do business.”

A 150-year existence brings a great deal of defining moments along with it.

Some of those moments carry joy and victory.

In 1953, the baseball team won its first state championship in school history.

It then went on to win the next four consecutive state championships. At the conclusion of its 1959 season, the football program won its first state championship under the leadership of legendary Head Coach Lucas “Buddy” Marcello, the namesake of the Terrier’s stadium.

Most recently, the school has boasted

championships in soccer, volleyball, cheerleading, band and more.

Of course, a school isn’t complete without beloved traditions, both old and new, that leave lifelong memories.

“The first year that we brought back the bonfire and that homecoming pep rally at night, that will always be a special memory,” Gueldner says. “The amount of community participation we had that night, the looks on people’s faces, just the number of people that showed up and just the excitement surrounding that night...those are the nights why you do this job.”

In the midst of the good times, though, come challenges as well.

Most recently, the school has faced its greatest challenge in the last few years with the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

For a school that has survived the yellow fever epidemic, global conflicts, the Great Depression and other economic recessions, devastating hurricanes and more, though, there is always hope.

“It’s incredible when you look back and realize that this school and the history of this school has spanned two world wars [and] multiple conflicts. If you just think

about the history of our country since 1870...you realize that this school has been present for all of those incredible moments in history,” Gueldner says.

“Sometimes we as a faith community are best when things are at their worst,” Boudreaux says. “I remember how, as a community, we respond to tragedy, but I also have some very poignant memories of how, as a community, we reacted to triumphs...Listening to some of the students from years ago, [and] they relive that, I think they’re drawn to triumphs and tragedies.”

As VCHS faces new challenges and experiences new joys into its future, its legacy will live on through the shared vision of those who are a part of it, Boudreaux and Gueldner say.

“The only thing I think that’s certain is that the world changes. In 150 years, the world has changed. In one way, we’ve remained the same because it’s the same message of Christ, but what sets Vandebilt apart is that we’re willing to change to make sure that our students are prepared for the world of today and tomorrow,” Boudreaux says.

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NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY |

BY RAY PETERS, MS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

THE FINAL CLASS - LEADERSHIP

B

efore wading into the depths of my bi-monthly column, I want to share some positive news with you concerning our evening (traditional) and executive MBA programs at Nicholls State University.

As we approach the fall semester, our enrollment applications for the evening MBA program have spiked. I am not sharing numbers because enrollment remains fluid, but the jump is considerable compared to our last several semesters. The reasons might include unexpected job loss, growing unemployment, and the realities of COVID19. I like to think it is student insightfulness as they recognize the need to upskill for the future. We are still accepting and reviewing applications daily.

Concerning our executive MBA (18-month) program, we are completing the 10th cohort.

(Someone asked me the other day, what’s a cohort? A cohort is an academic term for a class of students being educated at the same time.) As I write this column, the 10th cohort has only one class session remaining, and it is my Leadership class - more on that in a moment.

Concurrent with the completion of the 10th cohort, we are beginning the 11th. Both groups are very near capacity. The mix of participating students is widely representative

of individuals living and working in the Bayou Region. Partakers include health care providers, lawyers, military officers, engineers, corporate executives, supply chain leaders, entrepreneurs, financial analysts, and other professionals. It is in this diversity of experience that enriches the overall learning experience. Students travel to Nicholls every other Saturday from locations as far away as Houston, Alexandria, and of course, New Orleans.

So, as the end of the 10th cohort draws to a close, you might wonder what is on tap for our final session on Leadership. Since each class session is eight hours in length, I attempt to break the lecture and discussion into specific topics-smaller bites.

On our first face-to-face class session, we start by spending most of the morning, learning to understand who we are and how our personalities impact those around us. I call it “Understanding Self & Others.”

Before leading others, leaders must be able to conduct themselves effectively. Next, we move to influence. According to leadership guru, John Maxwell, “Leadership is influence and influence is Leadership.” We end the day talking about trust. According to Jim Henderson, President of the UL System, “Trust is the conduit of influence. It’s the

medium through which ideas travel.”

With the start of our second in-class meeting, we take a deep dive into Emotional Intelligence (EI). Typically, I have a working leader visit the class to share their EI experience. Leaders must be capable of managing their emotions while showing empathy towards the personal situations and conditions of others. Next, we cover two very critical leadership elements: Diversity & Inclusion, and Ethics. I reinforce that diversity without inclusion has limited value.

For an organization to reach its maximum potential, every employee must be treated respectfully, believing that they can bring their very best “self” to work and that their contribution is valued. Concerning Ethics, my go-to illustration directs me to one of John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - The Rule of the Picture. People do what they see. “When the leaders show the way with right actions, their followers copy them and succeed.”

In our third and final class session, we begin with Leadership as a competitive advantage.

Organizational leaders have two significant toggles at their disposal. Both need to be managed exquisitely: Strategy and Culture.

Vision is the promise of the future, while culture is how we expect people to

work together to execute that strategy.

Without having an organization capable of understanding and effectively implementing the organization’s longer-term operating vision, the strategic plan has no real value.

By the way, executing an effective strategy and creating a positive work culture is an example of how leaders continue influencing others, even when they are not always physically present. Towards the end of the class session, participants (in groups) give oral presentations on a leadership book they read during the course period.

Now, it is time for celebration and reward.

These individuals, with their freshly minted MBA, have been working diligently, for the past 18 months. Each will tell you that what seemed like a lifetime, in the beginning, went by in a flash. I hope that they take the knowledge they acquired and combine that with their individual experiences to shed the light of Leadership on those they are responsible for leading.

Ray Peters is MBA Director & Leadership Instructor at Nicholls State University. He can be reached at ray.peters@nicholls.edu.

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

13

CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESSES | BY KEELY DIEBOLD

FAMILY, FAMILY AT HEART S

AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

hrimping runs deep in the family for Cocodrie-based company Faith Family Shrimp, owned by Chad and Angela Portier.

Though the company wasn’t founded until 2015, the Portiers possess a lifetime of experience in the seafood industry as multi-generational fishermen.

Chad’s father, Russell Portier Sr., built over 150 boats in his lifetime, with roughly 80 percent of those boats being shrimping vessels. Today, Faith Family Shrimp unloads many of those boats at its dock.

Growing tired of working in the shipyard, Chad went shrimping with his father on one of his vessels for the first time at age 15, and the rest was history.

He and Angela went on to run several shrimp boats before accepting an offer

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from Angela’s father to own their own vessel: the Angela Marie, named after Angela herself.

The couple would go on to own five boats in total, ultimately deciding to create Faith Family Shrimp as a parent company for their vessels.

In March of 2018, the Portiers purchased their current location in Cocodrie and decided to operate with their five vessels, as well the boats unloading at that location.

Angela says it is a “blessing” to play a role in the seafood industry, which is such a vital part of Louisiana’s culture.

“I see it as a legacy, a heritage.

It’s a blessing to be able to provide Gulf shrimp—American shrimp.

It’s an amazing product,” Angela says.

What lies at the heart of Faith Family Shrimp are two important aspects of the Portiers’ life, which are listed in the name itself: faith and family.

“That puts my life into perspective.

I want to always have my faith first, my family second and then my business. That is my goal. It’s hard to balance a lot, but when I see the name, I think...what are you putting first today?” Angela says.

The most rewarding part of the Portiers’ business in the shrimp industry is their ability to work closely together as a family, Angela says. Both of her sons, her daughter, her brother-in-law and her daughter-in-law all work for Faith Family Shrimp, and her nephews pitch in during the summer.

“It’s been a blessing to us because we’re together, and that’s what’s good about our culture, our shrimping industry. Families can work together and provide for their families and not have to be separated,” Angela says.

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CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESSES | BY FLEET SUPPLY WAREHOUSE

FLEET SUPPLY DELIVERS QUALITY PRODUCTS & SERVICE F leet Supply Warehouse, LLC has been providing the highest quality brand name filters, batteries and related products to the oilfield industry over four decades.

Founded in 1974 as an AC-Delco warehouse distributor, our company initially operated from a modest 1,500-square-foot warehouse in Houma, Louisiana. Over the years our facilities have expanded to encompass a 63,000-squarefoot warehouse complex – and our product lines have grown to include many leading brands such as Baldwin, Racor, Donaldson, Gates and Fleetguard, and Crown battery just to name a few.

In 2012 Fleet Supply expanded its product offering with the addition of our companion store Bayou Black Electric Supply, offering a full line of electrical products.

While Fleet Supply Warehouse is

nationally known for our most popular brands, we are focused on more than providing quality products – we are also committed to providing reliable delivery

and proven expertise to find the exact items required and are dedicated to meeting our customers unique needs.

Our personnel attend factory-authorized

and outstanding customer service.

Our experienced team of sales personnel has the product knowledge

training on a regular basis to maintain the product knowledge needed in our technology driven world.

Located at 205 Venture Boulevard in Houma, Fleet Supply Warehouse offers a large inventory and a full team of dedicated employees who deliver the highest quality products and services.

We provide daily delivery service to customers throughout south Louisiana including Bayou Lafourche, New Orleans, Morgan City, Houma, New Iberia, Lafayette, Thibodaux and Baton Rouge. In addition, we ship products to any location worldwide at our customers’ request.

We are proud to be a locally owned and operated company delivering unmatched quality service that larger nationwide companies can only hope to deliver. We invite you to contact us today to discover how Fleet Supply Warehouse can provide you with the highest quality products and reliable delivery service to help your business succeed.

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MARINE BATTERY SPECIALISTS

Batteries 985-868-0430

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESSES | BY KEELY DIEBOLD

GALLIANO FOOD STORE FOCUSES ON FAMILY, SERVICE O

wned and operated by the Burregi family for nearly four decades now, Galliano Food Store stands today as the only small, family-owned grocery store in its area and upholds its commitment toward ensuring customers have access to any and every item they need.

Operating Galliano Food Store has run in the blood of the Burregi family since Sam Burregi opened the store in 1976 alongside his brother Joseph. Today, Sam’s son Dannie and his grandson Jaedon continue the family tradition of running the store.

“It means a lot that we’re all here, and we all work together every single day. It really means a lot to especially my grandpa, how his legacy is being kept on through all these years and these generations, and

that it’s still part of the family,” Jaedon says.

The store is set apart by its efforts to make every item that customers request available, Jaedon says. When the store had to close its doors for nine months due to the impact of Hurricane Gustav in 2008, the Burregi family realized the value their store brought to people through its personal approach to business.

“If we don’t have something in the store or if somebody wants a certain item, we try our best to get every single item here,” Jaedon says. “We bring in so many new items a week because people request them, and they know they can come to us.”

In addition to its general services, Galliano Food Store partners with the local marine industry to provide grocery orders to people working on

boats. It’s important to the Burregi family to support such a valuable industry in South Louisiana, Jaedon says.

“They’re gone for weeks at a time, so it’s so important for us to make sure we fulfill every single thing as much as possible on their order...We try our best to make sure they are set and that they can do their job,” Jaedon says.

The Burregis take pride in being the only independent, family-owned store in their area and being able to serve their community in the way they do.

“We attribute our success to maintaining friendly, personal relationships with our shoppers. It hasn’t always been easy, but God has blessed us through it all.” Jaedon says.

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

Boat Orders

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Galliano Food Store is proud to work with our local marine industry to provide the freshest ingredients and necessary supplies for your crew. Just try us once and you’ll understand why exceptional customer service sets Galliano Food Store apart from the rest!

we offer dockside delivery! drop off or email your grocery order to us today!

18210 W Main St. Galliano, LA 70354 • Phone: 985-632-7195 Email: boatorders@gallianofoodstore.com New Inquiries: Contact Jaedon Burregi, Director of Sales and Marketing, at jaedon@gallianofoodstore.com

CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESSES | BY KEELY DIEBOLD

STRONGER TOGETHER A

trusted name in the HoumaThibodaux area since 1999, Synergy Bank has upheld its commitment to addressing the needs of the community and ensuring that customers receive personal service as they adapt to the “new normal” brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Synergy Bank team makes it a priority to get to know their customers.

During such a challenging time, the bank’s commitment to offering personal customer service allowed them the ability to work with customers to address their specific financial needs.

Additionally, Synergy facilitated over 700 local businesses with the Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program and provided guidance on other programs and solutions to sustain

their businesses.

“We recognize that our customers have been greatly impacted by the pandemic, and we feel that it’s our responsibility to remain committed to providing the highest level of customer service that they have come to expect from Synergy,” President and CEO Jerry Ledet says. “Though we may not be able to go back to our usual routines, we were able to adjust our processes to accommodate our customers and give them the sense of comfort and normalcy that they need in this difficult time.”

Those accommodations included normal operating hours with limited lobby traffic at every Synergy Bank location, as well as enhancements to online, drive-thru and by-appointment banking processes. In addition, Synergy Bank adapted new health and sanitation protocols to protect both bankers and customers.

“To ensure the safety of our employees and customers, and for business continuity, many of our processes were enhanced, including extensive cleaning and sanitation of the offices as well as the implementation

of our Mask Up Synergy initiative,” Executive Vice President and CFO Ben Borne says. “Employees also worked in groups that were rotated while others worked remotely.“ Synergy’s response to the needs of their customers and employees because of the pandemic is reflective of the bank’s commitment to the Bayou Region.

“Our mission is to serve our community, and we live our motto each day: ‘Your Bank. Our Community. Stronger Together,’” Senior Vice President Marie Morris says. “As a community bank, we are meant to do the out of the ordinary.

With our local management, we can make decisions that allow us to respond to the needs of our customers rapidly with the best interest of the community in mind.”

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STRONGER

Together

banksynergy.com 985.851.2217

Jerry Ledet

President & CEO NMLS# 450028

Marie Morris

Senior Vice President

Ben Borne

Executive Vice President

AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

In these challenging times, Synergy Bank’s experienced management team and knowledgeable bankers are here to help you with all your financial needs.

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

BY DREW MILLER

SOUTH LOUISIANA BANK IS NOW THE OLDEST BANK THAT WAS CHARTERED IN TERREBONNE PARISH

T

financials; that’s something very personal.

So, our customers want confidence in who they’re doing business with.”

That confidence is brought by the stability of the South Louisiana Bank employees, Thomas explained. “Whether it’s the teller that you see every day who you bring your deposits to or do other transactions with,” he continued, “or it’s your loan officer, or if it’s somebody in wealth management or selling insurance, it’s stability with those people that make a difference for us.”

The organization has faced and overcome a number of challenges over the years, Thomas said, but the most significant one is the 1980s oil crunch because SLB learned tremendous lessons from that time.

“We had to build a balance sheet that gave the bank resiliency,” he recalled.

“We had to have financial strength,

capitalization, strong reserves, so that we we’re not having to focus inward on ourselves during a crisis – like the oil crunch of the eighties, or like the oil price cycle since 2014 that were still in – and that we can focus on our community and customers.”

Thomas continued: “And so we take great pride that we have the strength that lets us stand with our community and work with our customers when the economic chips are down.”

In addition to the renovation of a facility in Baton Rouge that will be the next SLB branch, Thomas said, it’s hopefully remaining on the foundation that was created is in the bank’s future: maintaining exceptional capitalizations and strong reserves that put South Louisiana Bank in a position to help its customers during trying times, such as the downturns in the oil and gas industry and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For us it’s more of the same,” he added, “which means we’re going to maintain the balance sheet that we have so that we can be here for our community and our customers.”

A business that continues to grow and be there for its customers, Thomas said he is also proud that South Louisiana Bank has stayed on the path that was originally established in 1980. “It takes so many good people to make this work,” he said, before noting the valiant effort the staff has put in during the pandemic to take care of customers.

Personally, Thomas said, he is proud of mentoring the staff and “trying to make sure we have people in place who have learned the lessons that we learned over the years.”

“That is something I’m proud of,” he shared, “because I do think we’re doing a good job there.”

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

his year, South Louisiana Bank (SLB) is celebrating 40 years in business.

“It’s really pretty neat,” said Mickey Thomas, President and CEO. “One one hand, it personally makes me feel old,” he smiled. “On the other hand, it makes me very proud that the bank is now the oldest bank that was chartered in Terrebonne Parish.”

Originally started in Houma, SLB has grown substantially throughout the 40 years, with five full-service locations in Terrebonne and two in Lafourche.

Thomas, who joined SLB in 1985, said it’s the people of South Louisiana Bank that make it stand out from other banks. “We have an exceptional group of employees with significant longevity of employment, and our owners, our directors and our customers as well,” he continued.

“We’re in the people business,” Thomas added. “We deal with somebody’s

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BUSINESS NEWS |

STAFF REPORT

ROUSES MARKETS CELEBRATES 60 YEARS

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tanding today as one of the largest family-owned grocery store chains in the United States, Rouses Markets is celebrating its 60th anniversary of operation this year.

A staple for grocery shopping among residents of the Gulf Coast, Rouses Markets was established in 1960 when Anthony J. Rouse, Sr. and his cousin and Ciro DiMarco opened the chain’s first location in Houma.

In 1974, the company opened a second location, marking the first Rouses store in Thibodaux.

Under the management of Anthony’s sons, Donald and Tommy Rouse, the chain began its expansion into other parishes across Louisiana, including Jefferson and St. Tammany Parishes, over the next few years. By 2007, Rouses Markets increased its reach into New Orleans and across state lines into Mississippi.

In 2009, Anthony passed away at the age of 79, leaving his legacy in the hands of his children and grandchildren. Two years later, Donald’s son, Donny Rouse, and Tommy’s daughter, Ali Rouse Rosyter joined the

family business as managing partners.

The company has continued its expansions well into the 2010s, opening locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Alabama and more. Last year, Rouses Markets welcomed its first college-themed location near Nicholls State University’s campus in Thibodaux.

In 2016, the company appointed Donny as CEO: a title he still holds today.

A year later, the New Orleans Saints named Rouses Markets as the official supermarket of the team.

To further its reach, the chain has added an online order service with pickup and delivery options to make shopping easier for its customers.

On its 60-year anniversary, Rouses Markets now has 64 locations across the Gulf Coast, with 53 of those locations housed in Louisiana. The company’s mission remains the same as it was when it was first founded: to serve and support the local community, as well as celebrate local culture.

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

CIS IS NAMED ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN HEALTHCARE

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ardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) has been selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.

“It has been an especially trying year for the world, and healthcare in particular as COVID-19 ravages our communities and your workplaces,” said Aurora Aguilar, Modern Healthcare’s editor. “But the organizations recognized on this year’s list rose to the top and continued to be a source of strength for their teammates.

They have seen their colleagues fall ill to the virus and struggled with the economic impact of the pandemic. The loyalty and trust between employers and their workers is being put to the test now more than ever.

We congratulate the Best Places to Work in Healthcare for continuing to serve their workforce and communities during such an unprecedented time.”

“Our physician-led, employee-driven culture has always been the key ingredient in our success at CIS,” said CIS CEO David Konur, FACHE. “Now more than ever, our team has shown amazing perseverance through these difficult times, and their commitment to our patients has been nothing short of exceptional.”

This award program identifies and recognizes outstanding employers in the healthcare industry nationwide.

Modern Healthcare partners with the Best Companies Group on the assessment process, which includes an extensive employee survey.

Cardiovascular Institute of the South will be recognized at the 2020 Best Places to Work in Healthcare awards gala taking place virtually on October 8 in conjunction with the Workplace of the Future Conference.

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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ADVISORS COMMERCIAL INSURANCE | PERSONAL INSURANCE

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

icholls State University announced that it received a $400,000 donation from BHP Petroleum to renovate dorm rooms in Babington Hall to create more housing for students ahead of the upcoming semester.

The $1 million project will renovate 68 rooms across the 2nd and 3rd floors of North and South Babington Halls. This will aid Nicholls in creating living spaces that align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Over the long-term, this will create 17 more suites for Nicholls housing.

Renovating Babington Halls has been a priority for Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune since he was hired in 2018.

“I have kept a portrait of Mima Babington hanging over the desk in my office as a reminder of the necessity of renovating those buildings, and I’m thankful to BHP for helping us do just that,” Dr. Clune said. “This is going to help us return to campus this fall in a safe environment. They will be able to live on campus and experience campus life, with a decreased chance of being introduced to the virus.”

The 32 rooms under renovation in North Babington will be completed before the semester begins, while the 36 rooms in South Babington will be complete during August.

“BHP recognizes this is a time of great uncertainty for students hoping to return to campus, and a key component of that is safe and affordable housing,” said Myron Protz, BHP Gulf of Mexico general manager. “As a company, we are committed to safety, not only in our operations, but also in our host communities, and we are pleased to partner with Nicholls State University to ensure they meet CDC guidelines for all students to safely return.”

Built as the women’s dorm in 1963, Babington Halls were among the first dorms on campus. Babington was an original faculty member for Nicholls Junior College and was the English department head at the time of her death in 1960. She was awarded emeritus status in 1981.

Babington Halls haven’t operated as dorms since Spring 2015, but still house the nonprofits Restore or Retreat, the South Louisiana Economic Council and the BaratariaTerrebonne National Estuary Program.

Chr istian D. Lap e yr e, r h u

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS |

HEADLINES & ACCOLADES

CONOCOPHILLIPS PARTNERS WITH THE SOUTH LAFOURCHE LEVEE DISTRICT TO ENHANCE FLOOD PROTECTION

AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

HEBERT SELECTED TO LEAD LDWF ENFORCEMENT DIVISION

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Lt. Col. Chad Hebert, a 27-year veteran at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), will lead its Enforcement Division, LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet announced July 13, 2020.

Hebert, 48, promoted to the rank of Colonel, replaces Col. Sammy Martin, who announced his retirement in July. Hebert takes over immediately. He will oversee a staff of 257, including enforcement agents and supporting staff.

Hebert, from Schriever, has earned numerous awards during his LDWF career.

He has twice been honored with the LDWF Meritorious Service Award (2006, 2017), named Statewide LDWF Agent of the Year (2001), Region 9 Agent of the Year (2001) and Outstanding Officer (2001).

“Chad Hebert has the experience and skills that make him an excellent choice as our enforcement division’s top leader,’’ Montoucet said. “I have full confidence that Col. Hebert will continue the outstanding work of our Enforcement office. His wide experience should make for a smooth transition.”

“I join this entire agency in wishing Col. Martin well in his retirement. He has served us and the citizens of this state with honor and dignity,” Montoucet said.

Responding to his promotion, Hebert said, “I thank Sec. Montoucet for the confidence he has in me to lead our Enforcement Division. I am excited and thankful to direct our work to protect our wildlife and fishery resources and the people of Louisiana with the professionalism and dedication that our

citizens expect.”

Named Lt. Colonel in 2018, Hebert helped direct statewide operations and patrols as well as the administrative functions of the Enforcement Division.

He also worked with other federal and state enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security, the Louisiana State Police and state attorney generals and judges.

He served as major from February of 2017 until his promotion and represented the LDWF Enforcement Division on the Crab Task Force, Oyster Task Force, Shrimp Task Force and Finfish Task force.

He also served as an enforcement captain from 2013-2017, an enforcement lieutenant from 2009-2013, an enforcement sergeant from 2005-2009 and an enforcement senior agent from 19942005. As a senior agent, in addition to his other honors, he received the Certificate of Valor from the North American Wildlife Officer’s Association in 2002.

He completed the LDWF Cadet Academy in 1993, earning the high overall achievement award, the high marksmanship award and physical fitness award during the training academy.

Martin, of Chauvin, had been an agent for 38 years. He received numerous awards during his career including LDWF’s Outstanding Agent of the Year in 1992, three Meritorious Service Awards and the Chief’s Award in 2014.

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ConocoPhillips is helping the South Lafourche Levee District raise the elevation of an important gap in the flood protection system for increased protection this hurricane season.

Through its subsidiary, The Louisiana Land and Exploration Company LLC (LL&E), ConocoPhillips is the largest private wetlands owner in Louisiana. The company recently built on its collaborative history with the South Lafourche Levee District (SLLD) to raise a portion of Section D-South of the Larose to Golden Meadow Hurricane Protection System.

When storms threaten the Louisiana coast, levees are a critical part of the state’s line of protection against storm surge and flood waters. Since the 1970s, the SLLD has had the responsibility of providing flood protection for the community of South Lafourche. No one takes this responsibility more seriously than Windell Curole, the SLLD’s General Manager and Executive Secretary of the Board. Windell has been working to protect his community and state by maintaining the district’s intricate levee system for nearly 40 years.

Preserving an infrastructure system as large as the SLLD’s levees is a tremendous undertaking, which is why Windell and his office believe in collaborating with local partners that have the same community resiliency priorities in mind. For years, the SLLD has partnered with ConocoPhillips in levee system enhancement and maintenance efforts. Many sections of the SLLD’s levee system are located on and around ConocoPhillips’ land, and the company has a long history of providing

cost-free servitudes/rights of way and other forms of assistance to the SLLD. Over the years, more than eight miles of SLLD levee have either been built or enhanced on ConocoPhillips’ property with free access to the levee district.

Most recently, the SLLD worked with ConocoPhillips to harvest over 100,000 cubic yards of earthen material along an existing drainage canal on LL&E land to raise approximately 2,200 feet of the D-South levee by 4.5 feet to a height of 18 feet. In the process, a significant portion of the canal was expanded which makes for more efficient flow. The expanded canal further enhances the system that protects approximately 25,000 South Lafourche residents and critical infrastructure and assets belonging to Port Fourchon and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) storage facility.

“I’ve worked with ConocoPhillips for many years on dozens of projects to protect our levees and wetlands. Delivering on this levee enhancement project, particularly in these trying times, is a testament to our longstanding partnership and an example of how we must think creatively to solve the unique challenges facing Louisiana’s coastal communities,” said Windell.

“We are proud to work with Windell and his team to contribute to ensuring our communities are protected from floods. We always keep an open line of communication when it comes to restoration projects.

Coastal restoration will only effectively occur through collaborative solutions and effective partnerships. Through LL&E, ConocoPhillips has worked with state and local agencies on flood protection and coastal restoration projects for more than 60 years. Often the most effective partnerships are those that leverage different strengths. Our land access for levee infrastructure paired with the expertise, management and execution of the SLLD makes for a very successful partnership,” said ConocoPhillips Coastal Wetlands Director John Harrington.

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SEALEVEL CONSTRUCTION RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR FLOOD CONTROL STRUCTURE Barry, and it prevented approximately seven feet of storm surge from devastating the Dularge community, according to the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District.

The project’s scope of work included: wick drains, earthen levees, rip rap placement, sheet piles, pipe piles, an underwater landing truss and an automated barge gate.

The EIC awards program, hosted by Associated Builders and Contractors, is the construction industry’s leading competition that honors general and specialty contractors for innovative and high-quality construction projects. The winning projects, selected from entries across the nation, were judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcame, completion time, workmanship, innovation, safety and cost. The Eagle Award honors all construction team members, including the contractor, owner, architect and engineer.

“The craftsmanship of Sealevel Construction and their hardworking employees continues to raise the bar when

it comes to how we define excellence in construction,” said 2020 ABC National Chair Tim Keating, owner and president of R.C. Stevens Construction Co., Winter Garden, Florida. “It’s an honor to recognize these award winners for their respective commitments to build safely, on time and on budget, as well as contribute to the communities in which they work.”

Sealevel Construction is a locally owned heavy civil construction company founded in Thibodaux, La in 1997.

With 180+ employees, they have been able to expand our capabilities to provide turn-key services for the industrial, municipal, and oil and gas markets in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and beyond. Company services include: driven piles and drilled deep foundations, structural concrete, sitework development, tree grinding and removal and marine construction services. Sealevel also has a structural fabrication division, Specks Fabrication and Cutting, along with a marine yard in Houma called Eagle Drydock and Marine Services.

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AUGUST 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

Sealevel Construction of Thibodaux has earned a National Excellence in Construction award for their Falgout Canal Flood Control Structure in Dularge, La. The company will be recognized at the EIC awards program on Aug. 18 in Nashville, Tennessee.

President of Sealevel Construction Richard Roth said, “This award is a huge honor. We are extremely proud of our team’s accomplishment.”

The Falgout Canal Flood Control Structure is the last major floodgate to complete the southern portion of the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection System, a 98-mile alignment comprised of levees, locks and floodgates designed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to protect South Louisiana from flooding.

Funded by Terrebonne Parish, Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, and the State of Louisiana, this $35 million flood control structure provides approximately 1025 linear feet of flood protection for Terrebonne Parish.

The floodgate, named in memory of Jimmy Dagate, was first utilized in July of 2019 in preparation of Hurricane

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(left) 3D construction created from a scan by the GE Revolution Frontier CT system.