PRESORTSTD USPOSTAGEPAID HOUMA,LA PERMITNO.17
Thibodaux in
Regional Named #1 Hospital
Louisiana When your heart is in our hands, you can have confidence in the safety and quality of cardiac care you will receive. Thibodaux.com Thibodaux Regional Health System ranks first in Louisiana in Cardiac Care according to data from CareChex ®, a rating service of Comparion, utilizing both public and proprietary information to compare the quality of hospital and physician care to national, state and local standards.
O ur healthcare industry has been hard at work over the last three years, overcoming Covid and Hurricane Ida struggles. Despite the setbacks, all the hospitals in our region have stepped up their game with the options our region now has, especially in wellness and preventative care. In our healthcare issue, we take a closer look at three of our local hospitals and discuss how they have grown and continued to thrive in 2022.
FROM THE TOP Toby Hubbell TERREBONNE GENERAL PREPARES FOR A BRIGHTER THIBODAUXTOMORROW REGIONAL EXCELS AND TOBRINGSFAMILYEXPECTATIONSEXCEEDSOFGROWTHBIRTHINGCENTERTOP-NOTCHCAREOCHSNERST.ANNE GOVERNMENT UPDATE Kennedy votes against Inflation Reduction Act; Introduces amendment to return U.S. to energy independence, bring energy jobs back to Louisiana NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY Sponsored Content MOVERS AND SHAKERS Headlines & Accolades ON THE AGENDA Business Calendar of Events TABLE OF CONTENTS 06040810 14131215 PUBLISHER’S NOTE | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 9 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. RUSHING MEDIA P.O. Box 5013 Houma, LA 70361 bayoubusinessmonthly.com985.868.7515 PUBLISHER Brian Rushing ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Mary Downer Ditch EDITORIAL Bonnie Rushing EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Heidi Guidry CONTRIBUTING WRITER CREATIVE Lauren Hemstreet GRAPHIC DESIGNER DIGITAL MARKETING Carlie Johnson CONTACT Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial:Sales:editor@bayoubusinessmonthly.comsales@rushing-media.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Bayou Business Monthly is published monthly. Subscriptions are available for $24 for 12 issues. For more information, rushing-media.com/subscriptions.mail@rushing-media.comemailorvisit
Terrebonne General Health System, Thibodaux Regional Health System and Ochsner St. Anne remain dedicated to the communities they serve.
Terrebonne General Health System is committed to community outreach bringing many programs to lead to a higher quality of life. Just as the organization strives in care, they thrive in providing education to the community.Thibodaux Regional Health System has forged on, opening a new Cancer Center and Sports Complex in the last year. The system’s doctors will see 300,000 patients this year and payroll has gone from $10 million to $118 million. The number of active medical staff has gone from 40 to 160. Ochsner St. Anne is looking forward to the completion of its brand new Family Birthing Center. The private birthing suites will offer a more home-like setting with state-of-the-art technology for monitoring mother and baby.Asone of the largest industries and employment sectors in our area, our healthcare providers are vital to our area. We are thankful to this industry for stepping up this year and keeping our safe.communities•
MARY DITCH THE HEALTHCARE ISSUE
IS THERE ANYTHING NEW ON THE HORIZON? Plenty! Creating a paperless environment to streamline our workflow is important. The biggest goal on the horizon is keeping our team happy and enjoying the work they do. The key to moving forward is involving bus operators, school administrators and the community in the future.
4 MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER FROM THE TOP | QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK:
What a tough question. I have had various situations arise, because of everyone’s professionalism, the situations were handled with grace and strength. The start of the school year is always stressful. This school year is my first start of school and the challenges that have come along have been moments that have all been solved. Having the right attitude turns the hardest parts of the job into just another situation we will create a solution for.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST?
WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
WHAT’S ONE LEADERSHIP SKILL YOU FEEL EVERYONE MUST LEARN? Ownership. Taking ownership for every aspect of your department, team, or company. Taking ownership of what isn’t working carries on to everyone. If something is not inline to what the department needs, I take ownership. Whether it is something small or big it does not matter. If you do the small things well, the larger things will build. Taking ownership pushes you into becoming a doer and self-starter, and you begin seeking constant selfimprovement. It’s also important to set goals, and ensure that all team members know those goals and are a part of achieving them. Finally, never over supervise. Allow mistakes to happen, take ownership of those mistakes, and learn from them.
The best part about my job is supporting the bus operators daily. School bus operators have a lot on their shoulders. Moving the entire parishes’ students safely to and from school, all within two hours twice a day, is a little bit of a challenge. My daily goal is, how can I help them? If they have the correct tools and support the bus operators and students come out on top. When I first started in October 2021 my first goal was to talk to as many of the operators as possible. Getting to know the bus operators was not only important, it gave me and idea of what really matters to them. Getting the students home safe and in a timely manner is the main concern. Seeing the smiles when they speak about the students of Lafourche Parish is more than I could ever ask for.
Favorite food: Fresh sushi. Some of my favorite memories are sitting with my daughter eating sushi and trying new items.
Vanilla. The base flavor. Anything can be made with it if you want to change it up. Early bird or night owl? Early bird. I enjoy the time of being up while everyone is still sleeping. It gives you a moment to prepare for the day.
TELL ME YOURSELF:ABOUT
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME? Sailing. It’s a freedom that many don’t experience in south Louisiana.
FAVORITES/THIS OR THAT:
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING AS A CAREER? I always just wanted to work hard and help others. My father taught me this at a young age. I never really appreciated his teaching until recently.
5 MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 24 HOUR SERVICE HOUMA • BELLE CHASSE • GALLIANO • BATON ROUGE HOUMA 985-851-2400 • GALLIANO 985-632-4200 LOUISIANA LOCATIONS www.BluewaterRubber.com Custom Fabricated Insulation blankets for the Marine, Industrial, Offshore, and Oilfield Service Industries. Applications include but are not limited to: Heat Exchangers, Valves, Manways, Flanges, Pumps, Nitrogen Units, Engine Manifolds, Engine Exhaust, Exhaust Joints, Exhaust Silencers & Turbines. THERMALREMOVABLE/REUSABLEINSULATIONSYSTEMS
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How do you like your coffee? Plain. No sugar, no cream. The stronger the better. Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?
WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST JOB? Changing air condition filters over the summer for the Lafourche Parish School District Maintenance Department. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP? Between 4 and 5 a.m. WHAT’S ONE THING YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Family.
Favorite vacation spot: Waveland, MS. It’s a quiet beach area to get away. The small-town community gives you a sense of family. The area reminds me of growing up in Thibodaux, well Thibodaux with a beach.
The dedication of the experienced physicians and staff has led to Terrebonne General being recognized with many levels of distinction. With many prestigious awards and accreditations, they prove to provide high-quality care.
Among many recognitions, awards include LOPA Hospital Platinum Award, Women’s Choice Award for Outpatient Experience, Gold Plus American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline-STEMI Receiving Center, Leap Frog Hospital Safety GradeA, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center COC and QOPI Accreditations, and more.Terrebonne General is committed to community outreach bringing many programs to lead to a higher quality of life. Just as the organization strives in care, they thrive in providing education to the community. “There’s an opportunity to educate our future generations about health, nutrition, activities, and exercise so that we end up having a new generation realizing that preventative care is a way of life,” Terrebonne General CEO Phyllis Peoples said.
T errebonne General Health System has been serving the community for over 65 years and has grown to serve people in every aspect of their lives. Terrebonne General prides itself on high-quality healthcare, preventative care, community outreach, and meeting the needs of the community in various avenues. It proves to be more than just a building but rather the people that make up the Terrebonne GeneralTerrebonnefamily.
The organization works hand-inhand with local schools teaching about sports safety, health training, STEM programs, and has aided in COVID precautions since the onset of the pandemic. Terrebonne General also works with schools for Sudden Impact, a program that recognizes the issue of distracted driving among the youth. Not only does the program demonstrate the physical consequences of driving distracted, but it also takes the students through the judicial system process teaching life-long lessons. Terrebonne General also recognizes that local higher education is where the future of healthcare lies leading the organization to advocate and invest in programs at Fletcher Technical Community College and Nicholls State University.
Alongside education, Peoples BY HEIDI GUIDRY
General is a stateof-the-art facility with 321 beds, approximately 1,500 employees, and 450 medical staff providers. The system has 42 specialties, various clinics that expand into lower bayou region communities, and satellite locations. With world-class specialties such as internal medicine, pediatrics, neurology, endocrinology, pulmonology, the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and orthopedics, the system has specialties for every piece of the puzzle.
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Peoples grew up surrounded by family in the healthcare industry. A nurse by trade, Peoples has inherited a passion for caring for others. “You never forget where you started,” Peoples shared. “We’re taking care of friends, we’re taking care of family, and they have to trust you...We have the training and the expertise. We care immensely, and that’s the philosophy we push through this organization.” The organization continues to adjust and adapt to the needs of the community to keep residents close to home for quality acute and preventative care. “It’s not the brick and mortar, it’s not the building, it’s not the service, it’s the people,” Peoples said. The most prideful moment in her career was when Hurricane Ida ravaged the area and the staff of the organization was there to pick up the pieces despite their own homes being damaged. She said it was humbling to see the team come together through an unprecedented time to be creative to meet the needs and challenges of a natural disaster such as TheIda. morning after the storm revealed devastating damages, no running water, and no electricity. Due to the circumstances, they had to think quickly and get all 120 patients evacuated to other accommodating facilities. Following this decision, they were able to execute emergency services a week later utilizing tents, vans, drive-throughs, and anything else that met residents at their doorsteps for needed care. The CEO said they then set a goal of 30 days to reopen the largest healthcare facility in the region. This was no simple feat, however, Peoples graciously gives thanks to partners, staff, and faculty for making it happen. Being at Terrebonne General for 20 years has brought pride to Peoples. The system has grown in regards to employment, services, people, and partners. She shared they don’t expand or start anything new without having the people around them in support. She looks forward to continuing the push in preventative care and education.
Terrebonne General will continue to invest in technology, services, people, and be a communityfocused organization. “Terrebonne General will always be the largest facility throughout the region to offer anything to care for our community,” Peoples said. The organization will continue to be strategic, dedicated, and committed to taking care of the people in and out of the region alike. They plan to expand services such as an on-site pharmacy that will be open to the public.
shared that the organization supports the belief that one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle is recreation.
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The organization is the presenting sponsor for the Bayou Country Sports Complex and has worked beside local leaders to advocate for getting kids back to being active. Their passionate for supporting nutrition and lifestyle changes is exemplified by the establishing of the successful Market at the Marina which promotes community gatherings, overall health, and supports local small businesses.
“We would like to be a state-ofthe-art place where people come for cardiovascular care, cancer care, and all the different specialties,” Peoples shared. Terrebonne General is striving to maintain their high-quality care with wonderful outcomes, “and we have achieved that in so many ways.“•
Thibodaux Regional brings over 91 years of high-quality care to the bayou region. Opening in 1929 as St. Joseph Hospital with just 101 beds, the hospital has grown into a system that provides highly specialized services proving you don’t have to travel far to receive excellent care. Since then it has grown into a 180-bed regional medical center that employs over 1,200 staff members and more than 250 physicians. The healthcare system prides itself on providing care that not only is top-notch but extends into surrounding communities. In the fall of 2019, the Thibodaux Regional opened the region’s first
D
As other hospitals closed due to Hurricane Ida damage, Thibodaux Regional had as many as 60 ambulances come through a day.
8 MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
BY HEIDI GUIDRY
espite the challenges our region has faced in the past year, Thibodaux Regional Health System continues to move forward with the strength to provide highquality care, and exceed expectations of growth. CEO Greg Stock said the hospital has been through it all, including Hurricane Ida which followed an unprecedented Covid pandemic, “I was really happy, honestly, with the way people stayed focused. They solved numerous problems and I didn’t see anybody lose their composure,” Stock said, describing the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. “They epitomized teamwork and there were moments when things could have gotten completely out of hand, but we handled it very well.”
“It was very challenging, but our purpose is to serve our area and the communities in which we live,” said Stock. To accommodate patients, the hospital built a 30-bed critical care unit in 45 days. “We had to have beds available for critical Covid patients along with other heart patients. The way we built it was unique to be able to treat patients in a more patientspecific manner and get better results,” he shared. In addition to these unique challenges, the hospital is combating common challenges as well. With a nationwide staff shortage, Thibodaux Regional has to maintain staffing to meet the patient load demand. Stock shared that while staffing is a challenge, Thibodaux Regional has the lowest employee turnover rate in the region. The staff actively works to improve clinical quality which has resulted in receiving many awards and recognition for superior patient care, technology, community involvement, education and outreach, and more. “I’m so happy with our staff, our doctors, our board, and everything that has contributed to these accomplishments,” he said.
“OUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROVIDE HIGHQUALITY HEALTHCARE TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE RIGHT HERE.” - GREG STOCK
Stock said, “It has enabled us to provide more specific cancer-related care that we thought was needed in the region in a much larger capacity. That was completed during Covid and just the fact the building was built and dedicated during that time frame, to me, is a marvelous thing.”
Recently, Thibodaux Regional opened phase one of the Sports Complex, situated on 12 acres of land behind the Wellness Center.
MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Services include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, radiosurgery, and hormonal therapy. They also offer WellFit cancer care that integrates cancer care with wellness to give patients the education and resources needed to increase a healthier lifestyle.
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Thibodaux Regional is proud to offer a space for the community and athletes to gather and remain active, as well as provide a venue to host events.
Reflecting on his nearly 30 years with the hospital, Stock is proud of the growth that Thibodaux Regional has experienced. He especially is proud of their expansion of services, “We wanted to bring more specialty services to the people in this region.”
The healthcare system has extended caring hands to Houma, Raceland, St. Mary Parish, and Assumption Parish, with the addition of clinics and 42 new physicians in the past two years.
“Being able to operate the clinics, to be able to do the procedures some of these doctors were doing that were not being done in the region… It was really a big accomplishment,” Stock said.
Growth is key to successful healthcare and Thibodaux Regional Health System has proven that every experience aids growth. The system’s doctors will see 300,000 patients this year and payroll has gone from $10 million to $118 million. The number of active medical staff has gone from 40 to 160. The growth has led to the size of facilities being five times bigger than it was, and Stock said there’s more to come. It’s the resiliency and strength of Thibodaux Regional staff that Stock says propels the system forward. He shared they will continue to use wisdom and experiences to grow. They are currently building four new state-ofthe-art operating rooms which will be completed by October 2022 and will continue to grow in areas where they think they can do more to provide more accessible care, specialty services, and higher-quality care. “Our purpose is to serve our community. We do everything in our power to provide high-quality healthcare to the people who live right here. Having a vision is a great thing. Where there’s no vision, people perish,” shared Stock. “Here, it’s also about having the skills and ability, the right people, the right places – all of those things that are needed to bring the vision to reality. I’m also very happy with the performance level. We greatly appreciate the support people have given us and the privilege we have to serve everybody.” •
The complex offers extensive venues including beach volleyball courts, a basketball court, tennis courts with a viewing stand, a multi-purpose field and track, and a recreational pond.
freestanding Cancer Institute, providing compassionate care along with the area’s best physicians. Not only does the institute provide superior care, but they also offer well-rounded services.
10 MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
A t Ochsner St. Anne our goal is to deliver the best healthcare available as we seek to make our community healthier. With the help of dedicated physicians and employees, along with the continued support and encouragement of our patients, we continue our passionate pursuit of excellence.Delivering quality healthcare close to home is the single most important contribution we make. But there are many other ways we make a positive impact on the communities we serve. Our Obstetrics and Gynecology program is another way we are making a difference.Beingpregnant is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life and how important it is to find the right OB/GYN.
At Ochsner St. Anne, our physicians will make you feel at ease throughout all stages of your pregnancy, and the construction is almost finished on the completely renovated “NEW” Family Birthing Center. The new birthing center will include six luxurious private birthing suites. New moms will be given the best of care in very comfortable and pleasant BY OCHSNER HEALTH
MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
11 MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER surroundings. The new rooms will offer a more home-like setting with state-of-theart technology for monitoring mother and baby.The rooms are very fashionable with beautiful furnishings creating a comfortable “at home” feeling. We know that patient comfort is very important during this time, and we want to provide all the comforts of home along with healthcare professionals that you know and trust. All of this combined with our special type of caring spirit makes all the difference. Best of all, the care you need is found right here at home. That means less travel time and better care when you need it the most. St. Anne also offers complimentary services for our patients such as Prepared Childbirth classes, breastfeeding support and has a Milk Bank Depot. Recognized America’s Best Maternity Hospital 2022 by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, new moms will receive quality health care in an awardwinning environment. • HEPA FILTERS • ULTRA VIOLET LIGHT • ION GENERATORSHEPA FILTERS • ULTRA LIGHT • ION GENERATORS 876purifyeffective6187HighlywaystoyourindoorairandHVAC bbgulfstates.com Christian D. Lapeyre, RHU Rene PhilipThibodauxJ.Hebert 985-360-486 1051 W. Tunnel Blvd. Houma, Louisiana 70360bbgulfstates.comEMPLOYEE BENEFITS ADVISORS COMMERCIAL INSURANCE | PERSONAL INSURANCE Christian D. Lapeyre, RHU Rene PhilipThibodauxJ.Hebert 985-360-486 1051 W. Tunnel Blvd. Houma, Louisiana 70360 bbgulfstates.com EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ADVISORS COMMERCIAL INSURANCE | PERSONAL INSURANCE Christian D. Lapeyre, RHU Rene PhilipThibodauxJ.Hebert 985-360-486 1051 W. Tunnel Blvd. Houma, Louisiana 70360
“Senator Manchin and Senator Schumer’s massive tax-and-spending bill has unfortunately, in my judgment, now passed.
Most people understand this: Corporations don’t pay taxes, people do. And, those taxes, when they’re increased, are passed on in higher prices, lower wages, lower stock prices and lower 401k balances.
O n August 7, 2022, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) shared the following statement upon voting against the Senate’s tax and spending bill, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022:
“For example, Senator Manchin’s bill raises taxes on oil and gas. Now, when you tax something, you get less of it which causes prices to “Senatorrise.Manchin’s message seems to be: “Since you can’t afford gas, because of my bill, go buy a seventy-five-thousand-dollar electric vehicle. That’s not going to work in Louisiana. That’s not going to work across America.
“Number two. According to the nonpartisan Joint Tax Committee, which doesn’t take sides—it’s not Republican or Democrat— the burden of Senator Manchin’s bill will fall on everyone, everyone and their taxes. Not just people making more than four-hundred thousand dollars a year; everyone. “So, most Americans—if not all Americans— are going to have even less money to spend as prices continue to rise. “Point three. Senator Manchin’s bill raises taxes on businesses, especially manufacturers.
“It’s a special kind of stupid, in my judgement, to raise taxes during both a recession and inflation—that’s called stagflation, which is what we have right now as a result of President Biden’s policies.
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“Because of inflation, Louisianians are really getting good at barely getting by—and that’s true for most Americans, too. As a result of Senator Manchin’s bill—and I hope I am wrong on this—I predict that Joeflation, as some people call it, will now refer to Joe Manchin, not President Biden.
“Look, I’m not saying that Senator Manchin intentionally wants to hurt people. I’m not saying that he intentionally wants to have even more people living in a tent behind Whataburger, but that’s going to be the result of this bill. I hope I’m wrong, but I think I’m right. This bill is tier 1 moronic.”
The day prior, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) had introduced an amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to unleash U.S. energy production by mandating oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico. “On day one, President Biden launched a full-blown war on America’s oil and gas jobs, and we see the results: Louisianians’ cost of living has skyrocketed and the price of almost every product in this country has gone up—thanks to his attacks. My amendment is the first step to restoring the thousands of energy jobs killed by this administration, and returning Louisiana and America to the days when families did not have to choose between putting food on their tables or gas in their cars,” said Kennedy’sKennedy.amendment requires the Department of the Interior to authorize two leases per year for five years in the Gulf of Mexico to oil producers, and requires the department to authorize one lease in the CookSupportInlet. for this legislation includes the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, National Ocean Industries Association, International Association of Drilling Contractors, Consumer Energy Alliance, International Association for Geophysical Chemistry, Petroleum Equipment and Service Association and others. •
13 MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBERNICHOLLS.EDU/MBA EARN YOUR MBA ONLINE NOW OFFERING: EVENING•ONLINE•FLEX•EXECUTIVE ENROLLING NOW
Finally, there is a huge job market for business graduates with specific degrees. The demand for Nicholls State University graduates with these degrees has been as high as I can recall since I started working at Nicholls in 2007.
ore than ever, savvy consumers are examining the quality and value of higher education. As the Dean of the College of Business at Nicholls State University, I frequently meet with high school students and their parents to discuss their decision of whether to go to college, where to attend, and what to study. A college education demands a significant investment of time and money, and there needs to be a corresponding return.Icoach these potential students to consider important elements of a future career in making this decision. They need to balance the cost and quality of the education with the potential to land a job upon graduation. That is where the Nicholls College of Business comes in. We offer a high-quality, AACSB accredited education at a value while coaching our students to focus their education towards a high-demand field. Less than 5% of the world’s business schools have earned this accreditation; the College of Business at Nicholls had held this distinction for almost 40 years. I frequently interact with regional employers as I advocate for job placement for the Business College’s graduates. I have noticed several trends in the last few years. First, businesses are looking for students with a focused degree path. They want to see a subset of skills and knowledge that make them ready to move into specific organizational roles. A management degree, for instance, will prepare a student with academic insight into general management. However, I encourage them to think more strategically and add a concentration such as Maritime Management or a minor such as Data Analytics to focus on specific management jobs and industries. They can also supplement their academic work with an internship or parttime work at an entry-level job. Students with academic degrees and real-world experience set themselves apart from other applicants.
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NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY | BY MARILYN MACIK-FREY
BUSINESS DEGREE GRADUATES IN HIGH DEMAND IN OUR REGION
In particular, I receive more job announcements to pass on to these graduates than we have graduates to fill them. The areas with the most open positions are Accounting/Finance, Maritime Management, Human Resource Management, Digital Marketing, Professional Sales, Computer Information Systems, Data Analytics, and Computer Science with Business Applications. Potential students would be wise to explore these options.
Second, businesses are looking for students with professional polish and strong interpersonal skills to supplement their academic work. At Nicholls College of Business, we are addressing the development of these skills through our new Career Ready University (CRU), where students must complete four non-credit courses to graduate. These courses cover communication, interviewing, resume development, political skill, emotional intelligence, and other critical aspects of communicating a message, holding a conversation, dealing with conflict, and leading others. I am frequently complimented by business leaders who employ our graduates that the quality of their business knowledge is exceptional. With CRU, we hope to further polish that knowledge with practical leadership and professionalism.
In summary, my experience as the Business Dean at Nicholls tells me that a business degree option is a sound investment in today’s business climate, especially in our region. The programs at Nicholls State University are highly regarded by our regional business partners, putting our graduates in high demand. Many of the leaders of these organizations are Nicholls Business graduates, and they know our strengths. Finally, college students should consider their degree’s value, quality, and longterm demand. They should consider Nicholls College of Business. Marilyn Macik-Frey is the Dean of the College of Business Administration at Nicholls State University. She can be reached at Marilyn.macik-frey@nicolls.edu.
14 MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER BAYOU COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF 8TH HOME BUILT FOR HURRICANE IDA SURVIVORS IN DULAC
BIOTRONIK
Bayou Community Foundation, Holy Family Catholic Church, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux along with other project partners welcomed Hurri cane Ida survivors Wayne and Angela Solet and family to their new home in Dulac nearly a year since the family lost everything in the Category four storm. The storm-resilient house along Grand Caillou in the bayou community of coastal Terrebonne Parish is the eighth new home completed so far by the volunteers of Penn sylvania-based Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Storm Aid as part of Bayou Com munity Foundation’s Bayou Recovery Fund housing efforts. From January to June of this year, over 400 rotating volunteers with MDS worked and lived in Dulac, building ten new homes and repairing over 80 damaged homes for local residents. Bayou Community Foun dation granted $850,000 to MDS to fund building supplies, tools and tradesmen for the project.• Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet announced that a generous donation was received from three local law firms, to purchase much needed equipment for the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office received close to $4,000 dollars from the Law Office of Edward J. Gaidry Jr., LLC., and $1,000 dollar donations from both The Schwab Law Firm and St. Martin and Bourque, LLC. The generous donations enabled the Sheriff’s Office to outfit six employees with ballistic vests, which will be utilized in the daily scope of their duties. •
CRAIG WALKER
LOCAL LAW FIRMS DONATE BALLISTICS
VESTS TO TPSO
MOVERS AND SHAKERS | HEADLINES & ACCOLADES
The Lumen Christi Award is Catholic Extension’s highest honor given to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve. Each year, extension dioceses across the country submit nominations for the award. They remind us that faith is still a relevant force in our society and culture. They remind us that there is so much energy and generosity in our Church. They remind us that there are people willing to sacrifice for the good of others.
Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait, Vicar for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux and Pastor of St. Bridget Catholic Church in Schriever, and Karen David, Catholic Charities Board Chair and Interim Chief Administrative Officer, have been chosen as one of the seven Lumen Christi finalists from an impressive group of 40 nominees.•
Dr. Craig Walker, interventional cardiologist and founder, president and medical director of Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS), is the first in the country to use the Pulsar-18 T3 peripheral self-expanding stent system to improve implantation procedures to treat artery blockages in the legs. The procedure took place on August 3 at the CIS Ambulatory Surgery Center in Gray, Louisiana with Dr. Matthew Finn, interventional cardiologist, who recently joined the CIS team. “The smaller sheath size of this system expands the delivery and access options to treat our patients, giving them a lower risk of bleeding complications,” said Dr. Walker. “This stent has also been demonstrated to show excellent patency. The tri-axial delivery system allows accurate stent placement and it is incredibly useful in cases using the pedal approach. We are proud to be the first to pilot this beneficial system at the CIS Ambulatory Surgery Center in Gray and make it available to our patients.”•
DR. IS THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO USE NEW STENT SYSTEM TO TREAT PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE
FR. SIMON PETER, KAREN DAVID AWARD FINALISTS FOR PRESTIGIOUS CATHOLIC EXTENSION LUMEN CHRISTI AWARD
CHAMBER EVENTS
SCIA MEMBERSHIPGENERALLUNCHEON
ARTS WALK
• September 1 – Chamber Development Committee Meeting and Small Business Diversification Task Force, Chamber office or virtual, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
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SCIA will host their monthly general membership meeting. This month’s meeting will feature guest speakers Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove and Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson. Admission is $25.00 per person with payment required in advance.
• September 27 – General Membership Luncheon with guest speakers Terrebonne Parish Public Schools Superintendent Bubba Orgeron and Houma-Thibodaux Catholic Schools Superintendent Mark Williams, Courtyard by Marriott, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Arts Walk returns this fall inviting you to stroll through Downtown Thibodaux while shopping, dining, and enjoying the talents of a variety of local artists. The event is free and open to the public. September 23, 5 p.m - 8 p.m. Downtown Thibodaux •
HOUMA - TERREBONNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEW MEMBERS: ELEVATED SERVICES, LLC LAFOURCHE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TERREBONNE 200: CULTIVATING THE GOOD EARTH & A GUMBO OF PEOPLE AND CULTURES
CHAMBER EVENTS • September 22 – September Bayou Briefing, Career Magnet Center in Lockport, featuring Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson with a State of the Parish Address: One Year Post Ida.
September 20, fellowship 11:15, meeting 11:45 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Cypress Columns
BIG MEMBERSHIPGENERAL
• September 15 – Women Business Alliance Breakfast with guest speaker Briana Juneau Assistant Director of Enrollment at Fletcher Technical Community College, Chamber office, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
MONTHLYBUSINESSBAYOU|2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER In honor of the Terrebonne Bicentennial Celebration Year, presentations will be conducted throughout the year in celebration of 200 years of prosperity and growth. This month three presentations will be held. September 8, 6:00 p.m. - Cultivating the Good Earth September 22, 6:00 p.m. - Good Earth: A Gumbo of People and Cultures Part 1 September 24, 10:00 a.m. - Good Earth: A Gumbo of People and Cultures Part 2 Terrebonne Parish Library MEETING Bayou Industrial Group will host their monthly general membership meeting with guest speaker Scott Angelle. Meetings are held on the 5th Floor of Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center. September 12, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center
• October 21 – Fall Golf Classic, Tidelands Country Club, Cut Off. Reservations are required.
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Losing Weight is Complex. When a healthy diet and lifestyle are not enough, an obesity medicine specialist may be able to help. Sindhura Bandaru is the only physician in the region who is board certified in obesity medicine. She will customize a weight loss plan for you using FDAapproved medications with individualized treatment to improve your overall health. To schedule an appointment for your scientifically-based weightloss treatment call 985.873.3484 or visit tghealthsystem.com.
