Oil and Gas 2021 by Rushing Media

NOVEMBER 2021

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OIL & GAS ISSUE

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE |

NOVEMBER 2021 • VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 11

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04

GOVERNMENT UPDATE

FROM THE TOP

OIL AND GAS UPDATE

BRINGING BACK THE BAYOUS ONE BOAT AT A TIME

Voter Checklist November 13, 2021 Joni Tuck

Is The Oil and Gas industry in a rut?

OPERATIONS RESUME NINE DAYS AFTER IDA AT PORT FOURCHON

NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY Maritime Management

FEMA MEETS WITH PARISH LEADERS

BAYOU REGION BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH HOUSING INITIATIVE

MOVERS & SHAKERS

ON THE AGENDA

Headlines and Accolades

Business Calendar of Events

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Mary Downer Ditch EDITORIAL Heidi Guidry CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CREATIVE Lauren Pontiff GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ADVERTISING Beth Ann Tabor

DIGITAL MARKETING Carlie Johnson

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Michelle Ortego

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

ith all the turmoil locally caused by Hurricane Ida, my focus personally as of late has been on reconstruction. I truthfully haven’t watched a broadcast news station with any regularity like I did a few months ago. It’s mostly just the evening news to catch the weather, then the TV goes off again. As we started planning this Oil and Gas issue, I had to actually use the internet to look up several trusted sources when it comes to the energy sector to see what has been happening. The majority of what I was reading was leading up to the OPEC+ meeting on November 4 that wasn’t looking promising for the United States. Oil prices have hit their highest levels since 2014, and crude importing countries are feeling the pain. But relief didn’t seem to be coming. This magazine will hit newsstands after this important meeting, though, so we shall see! At press time, the price of oil is $85 per barrel, so the price has come back after it had plummeted over this past year. Starting in April of 2020, it got down to under $30 and has since then climbed back up. In an interview with Dr. Loren Scott in this issue, he estimates prices won’t stay high, predicting the barrels will go down to the $70 range. We visited with Dr. Scott at length

Sales: sales@rushing-media.com

on his annual Louisiana Economic Forecast and what the future might hold for our area. We also sat down with Joni Tuck of Shell to chat about their support of local oil, gas and marine operations. Shell, and Tuck personally, have donated much time and money to this area post-Ida and have continued to help with our rebuilding process. Even though this issue traditionally focuses mainly on the oil and gas industry itself, we can’t forget the people who make the industry possible. The workforce of our region is still partially displaced, with homes destroyed and portions of the region still unrecognizable. For this reason, we also met with FEMA to discuss the housing issues of our region. We also visited with TEDA on their efforts to provide housing in Terrebonne Parish. The energy sector will always remain the lifeblood of our region. It’s on us to continue to support those people that make the industry go MARY DITCH around.

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GOVERNMENT UPDATE | BY MARY DOWNER DITCH

NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

he following amendments are being presented to voters at the November Primary Election. Visit geauxvote.com and login to the voter portal to register to vote, find your sample ballot, and locate your polling place.

AMENDMENT 1 “Do you support an amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for the streamlined electronic filing, electronic remittance, and the collection of sales and use taxes levied within the state by the State and Local Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Commission and to provide for the funding, duties, and responsibilities of the commission?” AMENDMENT 2 “Do you support an amendment to lower the maximum allowable rate of individual income tax and to authorize the legislature to provide by law for a deduction for federal income taxes paid?” AMENDMENT 3 “Do you support an amendment to allow levee districts created after January 1, 2006, and

before October 9, 2021, whose electors approve the amendment to levy an annual tax not to exceed five mills for the purpose of constructing and maintaining levees, levee drainage, flood protection, and hurricane flood protection?”

major state tax deduction, triggering statutory reforms for individual and corporate income and franchise taxes. AGAINST: Keep the Constitution’s current tax rates and the requirement to allow a deduction for federal taxes paid, which would stop all the statutory reforms.

AMENDMENT 4 “Do you support an amendment to increase the amount of allowable deficit reductions to statutory dedications and constitutionally protected funds from five percent to ten percent?”

AMENDMENT 3: Taxing Authority for New Levee Districts FOR: Allow levee districts created since 2006 to raise a 5-mill property tax where district voters also approve the amendment. AGAINST: Continue to allow levee districts created since 2006 to get voter approval for any tax millage.

So what exactly does a vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” to each of these amendments mean? AMENDMENT 1: Sales Tax Streamlining FOR: Allow a single authority to oversee the collection, electronic filing and policy guidance for state and local sales taxes. AGAINST: Continue to constitutionally require separate collection, filing and policy oversight of sales taxes by the state and local governments. AMENDMENT 2: Tax Reform FOR: Lower the maximum rate of the income tax and allow removal of a

AMENDMENT 4: Tapping more dedicated money to fix a deficit FOR: Allow the transfer of more dedicated funds to fix a state budget deficit. AGAINST: Keep the current 5% limit for tapping dedications to fix a deficit. Read the full Guide to the 2021 Constitutional Amendments at www.parlouisiana.org.

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NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

FROM THE TOP |

QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE

JONI

TUCK

CORPORATE RELATIONS ADVISOR, DEEPWATER GULF OF MEXICO SHELL

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK:

NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? I am grateful to have

a job that offers a lot of variety – from working with our local, state and Federal officials to meeting and telling the stories of the incredible men and women who work for Shell offshore and on across the Gulf of Mexico to helping to lead volunteer efforts to restore or coast or rebuild our communities – every day is different.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST? Making sure that we stay connected to each other and to our communities through the pandemic and now the storm which have both been so disruptive to gathering in person. Not being able to connect with people has been challenging not just professionally, but personally. I think a lot of people have struggled with feeling disconnected when we actually need each other the most – I know I have.

SHELL HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN RECOVERY EFFORTS FROM HURRICANE IDA. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE? I feel very blessed to work for a company that wants to make a difference not just today, but for the long haul. Colette Hirstius, our new Senior Vice President for the Gulf of Mexico, grew up in New Orleans, and has family from up and down the Bayou, so she’s been great

about stepping up to fund our Bayou Region commitment to response and recovery, including a $1 million commitment to the Bayou Community Foundation. This donation to BCF will help the Bayou Region respond and recover from Ida with some specific programs and projects that are designed to help the Bayou be more resilient to future storms. I’ve also been able to volunteer directly for distribution days, and we’re planning plenty more volunteer activities in the weeks and months to come. Additionally, I have been working with the Fisheries Recovery Task Force to try and come up with new tools to help our commercial fishermen recover and get back out on the water.

WHAT’S ONE LEADERSHIP SKILL YOU FEEL EVERYONE MUST LEARN? Listen with empathy. It doesn’t cost you anything to be kind to people, and kindness comes from understanding where people are and what they are experiencing.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF: AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING AS A CAREER? I wanted to be a scientist. I started college in engineering, but finished in Mass Communications and then have spent my career around scientists and engineers and communicating what they’re working on in a way that people can understand.

WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST JOB? I worked at a gas station and tire shop in Labadieville in high school.

WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP AND HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY? Somewhere between 5:30 and 6, and then get my girls to school and either head to the office, a meeting or back to work from home.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT? I would very much like to live

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WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME? This time of year, I love to be outside by a fire pit or watching some Colonel football!

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FAVORITES/THIS OR THAT: Favorite food: I haven’t met a deep fried carb I didn’t love.

How do you like your coffee? Favorite is a Flat White No Sugar from Starbucks, but the strongest Dark Roast Community with a splash of cream is also pretty great. Chocolate or vanilla ice cream? Coffee ice cream. Pen or pencil? Pen. I like seeing my mistakes. Early bird or night owl? I’m a working single mom with twins… Both.

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Favorite vacation spot: Last year, I drove my girls 3,600 miles up the Mississippi River and back down. I LOVED this 100 year old cabin and lodge we stayed at in Bemidji, Minnesota. Honestly, any road trip will do, but that was definitely the best vacation we’ve taken.

OIL & GAS |

BY HEIDI GUIDRY

021 included a new administration, new struggles, and a roller coaster ride for the oil and gas industry. Everyone knows the struggles COVID and most recently Hurricane Ida that has been thrown our way, but here’s a deeper look at how the oil and gas industry affects our lives down in the boot. Dr. Loren Scott is the president and founder of Loren C. Scott & Associates, Inc., a 35-year old firm that provides economic consulting and public speaking services. He is one of the 32-member National Business Economic Issues Council and gives 50-70 presentations a year. He has been interviewed on MSNBC, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and several local TV stations and his work has been cited in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, and the Moscow Times, just to name a few. He is a codeveloper of the Louisiana economic model which is a model used for providing annual forecasts of the Louisiana economy, and he had a lot to share about not only the industry, but Houma, Louisiana specifically. 2021 started with the inauguration of the Biden administration which created waves in the gas and oil industry. Dr. Scott noted the administration has set a target on the industry since the beginning when they stopped the Exxon Pipeline from being built, and he said the appointment of the Department of Interior, Deb Haaland, has also been a hit to the industry. The Department of Interior’s mission is to protect and manage the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage. They review all fossil fuel leasing and permitting programs for the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Scott said Haaland is very outspoken; she is antifracking, believes in the green new deal and climate change. This means she is in charge of pushing forward on Biden’s promises to reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels and create more renewable energy sources. This, of course, is bad news for the oil and gas industry. They started the year by canceling the scheduled lease sales which are detrimental to the Gulf. Since then, a Monroe judge has overruled the ban because the prerogative for selling leases lies within the Congressional Branch and not the Executive Branch.

There is a study currently being conducted to see how the expiration of the Gulf would impact society where Dr. Scott said it doesn’t paint a pretty picture for the Gulf of Mexico. It has slowed down expansive plans that companies may have had to drill in the Gulf, and there’s a worrisome trend that they are looking at. However, he said there is good news. The good news is the price of oil, and currently, it is $85 per barrel, so the price has come back after it had plummeted over this past year. Starting in April of 2020, it got down to under $30 and has since then climbed back up. Although Dr. Scott estimates those prices won’t stay high, he predicts the barrels will go down to the $70 range, which he said is a decent place to be. One of the many reasons the prices are currently high is there are normally around 300,000 barrels coming in from the Gulf, but it is currently shut-in because of damage from Hurricane Ida. He said that will last, according to some projections, until around the first of the new year. Once this issue is fixed, it’ll relieve some of the pressure on the supply of oil, and bring prices down. Another reason for the current high prices is the winds slowed down in the North Sea. The area relies on wind energy, and when the winds died down, they found themselves needing to find other ways to generate energy other than wind. They didn’t have enough natural gas, so they have been using oil to run the turbines. Dr. Scott guessed that they will either get more natural gas from Putin, or the wind will start blowing again, and they won’t need as much oil. The third factor on gas prices is in July of this year, the OPEC Plus group agreed to start adding 400,000 barrels a day of new oil for the market every month from now until September of next year. That adds up to around 5.8 million barrels of oil that they are going to add to the market if they stay on schedule. This will in turn put pressure on the price at the gas pump. All of these factors are what led Dr. Scott to forecast the price of oil to around $70 a barrel by next year. He said that’s a very good price, and from Houma’s standpoint, it will be well above the breaking point of the Gulf of Mexico, so it will be good for our area.

There is talk about putting wind energy turbines in the Gulf of Mexico. There were studies conducted about the effects where Dr. Scott said if they start talking about that and if he was a member of Ducks Unlimited, he would fight tooth and nail against it. This would be in the middle of a bird migration path. He said wind farms are a tremendous problem when it comes to birds. According to the Audubon Society, wind turbines kill an estimated 140,000 to 328,000 birds each year. Dr. Scott said this is a huge issue. He said another problem is there is a push against the current administration that is surrounded by anti-fossil fuel individuals who don’t understand what will happen if they get away from fossil fuel, “Now we have a President of the United States going to OPEC and saying please sell us more oil, so we can send our money to you, instead of encouraging domestic oil production where we can keep the money in the United States. It just shows you how idiotic these people are when it comes to fossil fuel,” he said. Dr. Scott’s firm recently released the 2021 Louisiana Economic Forecast and he shared the predictions for the Houma area. Houma is predicted to pick up 3,100 new jobs over the next two years which is slightly higher than normal. He said the area has lost a lot of jobs due to COVID-19, the state’s average of jobs lost was around 14 percent, and Houma’s average was a bit less than that. Part of the growth is recovering jobs that were lost from COVID and they forecasted the growth less than average of the state. The primary reason for that is because of the push from the Biden administration on the oil and gas industry. He said it’s making it difficult for Houma and that our area is heavily connected to the offshore oil and gas exploration industry. The fact that the Biden administration has the industry in the cross-

hairs will hold back Houma’s growth. He said under normal circumstances, a barrel of oil going for $70 would cause our area to “rock and roll,” but we’re not because of the push from the administration. He said the good news, however, is that while Hurricane Ida devastated the Houma area, it has created some damage to offshore platforms, which led to companies in our area who specialize in those types of repairs, to get big jobs. “There are jobs being created for a number of your businesses there,” Dr. Scott said, “like Grand Isle Shipyards, Danos, Gulf Island Fabricators, so there is new, but temporary, business.” He said that is some good news to come out of a dreary situation. He also commented on the ship-building companies in the area that are doing well because companies are hiring. This is due to the companies diversifying away from building vessels to serve the oil and gas industry specifically since the industry is looking a little morbid at the moment. For example, Bollinger has built the fast response cutter for the Coast Guard, and they have some contracts with some other sectors to build boats for them, which is hopeful. Another example is Edison Schuest is starting to build new types of boats to serve the offshore wind energy industry. They are also doing Federal Defense work and research vessels. He touted the Houma area because, among the metropolitan areas of the state, Houma has the most dependency on oil and gas extraction, and the fact that companies are diversifying is important to help protect against the swings in oil and gas prices. Houma may have seen ups and downs since 2020, but the area is resilient and will get through the roller coaster of the oil and gas industry- we have done so for years.

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BY HEIDI GUIDRY

he Float the Boat Program is currently focusing on Terrebonne Parish and will expand to other parishes if funds will allow. Helio Foundation President, Jonathan Foret, said the program is a reimbursement program for boat owners for the cost of getting their boats out of the water or getting them back into the water. The foundation doesn’t coordinate or contact the salvage company, it’s the boat owner’s responsibility, simply because Foret said it gives them a chance to choose someone the owners trust. The foundation then reimburses the boat owners, to a reasonable amount, once the invoices and photos of the boat are provided. Foret said the amounts vary depending on the size of the vessel, some range between $3,000-$5,000, and the bigger boats may go

up to $8,000. So far, they were able to help six fishermen start to get their livelihoods back. The challenge for them has been to find a salvage company to assist the larger boats. Initially, the foundation was going to try to contract with a company, but every situation is so different that different companies have different resources and equipment that are necessary to help the varying situations. It was because of this that it made more sense to the organization to allow boat owners to contract someone they trusted to get their boats out. Another issue they came across is the long wait time due to the simple fact of the mass amount of need for the services. Foret said just like people are having to wait for general contractors to get

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to residents’ homes, it takes a while because there is such a large need for assistance. The foundation is also looking to help residents with helping crabs get their traps back, helping get trawlers replaced in some rigging that may have been destroyed so that folks can start working again with the tools they need. These services, just like the Float the Boat program, work on a reimbursement basis. If fishermen need traps, the foundation is able to reimburse them as long as receipts and invoices are provided. The biggest reward, Foret said, is to see the reactions of fishermen that are able to get their boats floating again. He said they are all very excited, “I mean this is their livelihoods. Getting their boats back floating will enable them to be able to start working again.” To apply for the program, message the Helio Foundation directly on their Facebook page at facebook.com/HelioFoundation or email jv4a@yahoo.com.

NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

BY THAD ANGELLOZ

n a challenging year where Port Fourchon was only one year removed from being hit by Category Three Hurricane Zeta, the Port found itself in harm’s way again becoming the official landfall location for Category Four Hurricane Ida on Sunday, August 29. Ida buffeted the Port with winds in excess of 200 mph as well as a storm surge of 10-feet. Following the storm’s passage, initial reports made one believe Port Fourchon had been crippled to the point of inoperability. However, on Tuesday, August 31, the roadways leading to the Port were cleared of debris as GLPC Executive Director Chett Chiasson flew over Port Fourchon for the first time. After returning from this flight, Chiasson gathered members of his team in the Port Commission’s damaged administrative building in Cut Off and told them, “Don’t get me wrong it’s bad, but the damage is not catastrophic. There is hope!” This rallying cry led to an expedited recovery timeline that saw tenant assessment teams being allowed to visit their facilities on Thursday, September 2. One day later, the U.S. Coast Guard deemed Belle Pass (the main entry channel in and out of the Gulf of Mexico) safe to traverse with restrictions in place.

Then, only nine days following landfall, tenants began resuming operations in the Port. Within five weeks of Ida’s landfall, all critical services had been restored to the Port and its tenants. As of today, the GLPC and Port continue to move forward repairing damaged buildings, while simultaneously pursuing construction projects like the Airport Bridge and Connector Road. Phase 2 of the Elevated LA 1 Highway Connector Road also went to bid with this road set to receive its final notice to proceed in the coming months. This project is funded by a federal INFRA grant as well as state dollars. Also contributing to the funds to construct this $450 million-plus elevated road to Port Fourchon are the GLPC as well as Lafourche Parish Government and numerous company stakeholders. Despite all the challenges faced in recent years, the GLPC and Port Fourchon continues to demonstrate an unwavering resolve to maintain its foothold as the country’s key Energy Port due to its strategic location to the Gulf of Mexico because #WeAreFourchon and are #ReadyforTodayReadyforTomorrow.

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NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY |

BY KEN CHADWICK

MARITIME MANAGEMENT eyes “to the opportunities the industry offers, especially for women, and not just locally but worldwide. The courses prepared me with a broad range of maritime knowledge, which I used to narrow down my specific interests.” An internship at Thoma-Sea Marine Contractors provided her with experience in the industry and the confidence to successfully apply the skills and confidence acquired in the program. According to Ms. Dempster, “My career now in Operations doesn’t even feel like a “job” because I get to see and be a part of some pretty exciting projects. I’m not sure I would have realized how happy I could be at work if I wouldn’t have taken advantage of this unique program.” Brett Landry (Purchasing Analyst at Kirby Inland Marine, Class of 2014) has applied the knowledge gained in the program to exploit emerging opportunities in the regional maritime community. In doing so, his expanded capabilities provided the flexibility to adapt to the industry’s ever-changing conditions. “The concentration in Maritime Management is truly one of a kind and what I attribute the early success of my career to.” From the offshore oil sector to inland transportation on the Mississippi River, he credits the maritime management program as having “prepared me for opportunities at some of the largest maritime companies across the region.” According to Mr. Landry, “The maritime industry is ever-changing, and this concentration prepared me for that and more.” Dr. Joe Orgeron, an instructor in the program since its inception, sees the value the program creates for students, the majority of which are from our local and regional communities. “Whether their goal is a career focused on the inland waters of the Mississippi

River, offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, or within the new expanding maritime markets like offshore renewables, the Maritime Management Concentration at NSU will better prepare students for the maritime market of tomorrow.” Employers also recognize the value of graduates who are exposed to industry-specific knowledge and thus better prepared to meet particular workforce needs. This past summer, a maritime management student completed an internship with Guice Offshore. We were excited to hear that, like many of our industry partners, they were delighted with student competencies. Nathan Guice commented, “We recently had the pleasure of employing “a student” for a summer internship. I wanted to let you know that he did an outstanding job. He is a very polite, hardworking and intelligent young man. He fulfilled the tasks given with great enthusiasm. Thank you for your efforts at Nicholls. They are paying off. A+’s for both of you!” Testimonials from students, instructors, industry and other stakeholders are clear indicators of the Maritime Management Program’s success in meeting workforce needs in an ever-changing, increasingly competitive, global maritime sector. In times of uncertainty, students can be confident that they are well prepared to enter the industry as well-educated, responsible and engaged business professionals.

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NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

ast December, my article in the Bayou Business Monthly discussed a partnership formed between the College of Business Administration at Nicholls State University and the regional maritime industry to develop and implement a Maritime Management Concentration. The program’s goal is to prepare graduates to meet specific workforce needs in the regional maritime community and beyond. Student success was defined as the creation of career-enhancing outcomes for our students. As a follow-up to that article, I thought it may be appropriate to hear how stakeholders have benefited from the program. Stephen LeBouef (Fleet Manager at American River Transportation Co., Class of 2016) recently stated, “The Maritime Management program opened many doors for my future.” The base knowledge learned about multiple facets of the maritime industry allowed me to “stand apart from other candidates in the U.S.” and provided me with tools that afforded success early in my career. Since then, the knowledge and experience gained has taken me from ports in South Louisiana to the Midwest, where the bulk of agricultural commodities originate and are loaded onto barges. “It leaves me in awe that such a “niche” or “specialized” program can provide so much knowledge and equip an alumnus like me with tools to succeed in three different cities, almost 800 combined miles apart.” A recent graduate, Ashlynn Dempster (Operations Coordinated at Bordelon Marine, Class of 2021), also benefits from her commitment to completing the program. She recently stated, “I’m truly grateful to have graduated with the maritime concentration.” As the Director of the program, I was especially pleased to hear that my insight opened her

NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

EMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Terrebonne Parish Parish Gordy Dove, Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson, and Acting Director of GOHSEP Casey Tingle met the first week of November to discuss the recovery process in the bayou communities. FEMA Administrator Criswell said there have been challenges and they will take what they learned in the south back to Washington D.C. to address and move forward with the process. She said, “there are still things we can continue to improve on, and I’m committed to doing that.” State Director Tingle said that the conversations they are having are important to know what is needed to understand what the community needs are, what’s going well, and what the gaps are so they can know what resources and services are needed to close those gaps. He praised FEMA for being flexible in the process of beginning the Ida Shelter Program. The program allows the state to purchase units for families and in turn, FEMA reimburses and pays the state. This allows the process to run faster, although Terrebonne Parish President Dove said it hasn’t been fast enough. They are working daily to get what is needed for residents and various moving pieces come together when it comes to the recovery process.

BY HEIDI GUIDRY Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson said that he and President Dove face constituents daily when it comes to the housing issue, recovery, and FEMA response, and he said it’s been a good thing that FEMA can come back and listen to what our areas need. Administrator Criswell said that FEMA temporary housing units are already in the state and they will continue to license people in them as they find space to put them so they can meet family needs. “This is a process, and it is one of our processes that takes a long time, but it has started. We are putting families in those units as we speak,” she said. Criswell also said they understand that every individual is specific and unique to them. She said they have a suite of resources available to help individuals with temporary housing needs as they repair their homes. Direct housing is an option that takes longer to implement, but they do have a suite of tools to assist families with temporary needs. “What I suggest to families if they are having trouble,” she said, “is to go to one of our Disaster Recovery Centers and talk to someone face to face. Have them help you, have them walk through your situation with you so we can find what the best solution is for you because everybody’s need is going to be different. The same solution that works for me isn’t going to necessarily work for them.”

NFIP Proof of Loss Deadline Extended for Hurricane Ida Policyholders On October 29, FEMA extended the deadline to submit a Proof of Loss form to 180 days after your reported date of loss to allow Louisiana policyholders who suffered flood damage from Hurricane Ida additional time to evaluate their losses and the adjuster’s reports. Normally, the deadline to submit a Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) Proof of Loss is within 60 days of the loss. FEMA also issued a conditional waiver to allow flood insurers to pay claims based on the unsigned adjusters report. You must submit your signed Proof of Loss and supporting documentation of your loss within 180 days after the date of loss even if: • You do not believe that the adjuster’s report fully settles your claim, and • You believe you are entitled to additional payment(s) under your SFIP. To support the proof of loss, you will need to provide documentation, such as a contractor’s estimate, bills, receipts, photographs, list of personal property loss and any other proof of the amount you claim. A downloadable Proof of Loss – Building & Contents (Policyholder-Prepared) form can be found at National Flood Insurance Program Claim Forms for Policyholders at FEMA.gov.

What is a Proof of Loss form? • A Proof of Loss form is your signed statement explaining how much it would cost to repair or replace the damaged property you are claiming under the insurance policy. It provides FEMA with information such as:

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NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

• Date and time of loss • A Brief Explanation Of How The Loss Happened • Details of any other insurance that may cover the loss • Type and extent of damage to buildings and its contents • Names of lenders in a mortgage or anyone who has a claim or legal right against the insured property • Details about who lived in the insured building at the time of loss Send it within 180 days, you can change it later • Even if you are not certain about the amount it will cost to repair your covered flood damage, it’s important that you submit the Proof of Loss form within 180 days after your date of loss. • Your adjuster will give you a detailed loss estimate, and you should review it to see if they forgot something or got something wrong • You can fill out a Proof of Loss form on your own. Again, a downloadable Proof of Loss form can be found at National Flood Insurance Program Claim Forms for Policyholders at FEMA.gov. • For more information, contact your insurance agent, flood insurer, visit FloodSmart.gov or call NFIP at 877-336- 2627. • To speak with a FEMA Community Education and Outreach staff member about steps you can take to reduce your risk of future flood, wind, and other damage, call 833-FEMA-4-US or 833-3362487. You can also visit: Louisiana Mitigation (connectsolutions. com). For Spanish: Spanish Repairing and Rebuilding after a Hurricane (connectsolutions. com). For Vietnamese: https://fema.connectsolutions. com/la-vie-mit/

Coastal Mechanical Contractors

NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

coalition of local business and industry organizations lead by the Terrebonne Economic Development Foundation launched on Tuesday, November 3, 2021, a privately funded initiative to provide shortterm temporary housing to local residents and workers displaced by Hurricane Ida.

“With the support of business and industry in our region and charitable investments from private donors, we are excited to launch this housing initiative for Terrebonne and Lafourche to get individuals and families into safe and stable housing. We believe that the private sector can play a critical role providing housing solutions that supplement the public programs for emergency housing,” said, Dr. Michael Garcia, Chair of Terrebonne Economic Development Foundation Board. Other local business groups participating in the housing initiative include HoumaTerrebonne Chamber of Commerce, Lafourche Chamber of Commerce, Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, South Louisiana Economic Council, South Central Industrial Association, and Bayou Industrial Group. Additionally, the program will enhance the efforts of many community nonprofits which have been working on the ground to provide housing assistance to impacted residents of Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes. The program is providing new and used travel trailer housing, with the first delivered to

BY HEIDI GUIDRY some of the hardest hit families. These families are identified by community partners who are doing work in these communities and assisting us with ensuring the limited supply gets to those who are most in need. These community partners include Hache Grant Association, the Helio Foundation, the United Houma Nation, the InterTribal Council, the Pointe – au – Chien Tribal Council, Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Terrebonne Parish NAACP, and Louisiana Shrimp Industry Coalition. The first phase investment was led by a group of very generous donor organizations which have committed to help provide stable housing in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, including: Bayou Community Foundation - $500,000 Chevron - $100,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation - $250,000 Chandamuri Foundation - $100,000 BHP - $500,000 “We truly appreciate the generosity of these donors and their commitment to the bayou region. We have got a lot of work ahead of us, and these donations will assist in our efforts to provide stable housing for our citizens in Terrebonne Parish (The Good Earth),” said Gordon Dove, Terrebonne Parish President.

“As our region begins the long road to recovery, thousands of local residents remain homeless or continue to live in unsafe or unhabitable dwellings. Addressing this housing crisis is a priority for Bayou Community Foundation. This innovative program will help to fill our critical housing needs, provide safe housing to some of our neediest residents, and help our community begin the process of rebuilding,” said Bayou Community Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Armand. “The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation has committed $5M to Hurricane Ida relief and as part of this we are proud to partner with these organizations to address the critical need for housing in South Louisiana,” said Michael Tipton, President of the Foundation and Head of Community Relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. “We know that having a safe and stable place to live is a critical social determinant of health and given the devastation of Hurricane Ida, this investment is one way we can begin to help meet the housing needs of those who are supporting their neighbors and are helping the region move forward on the path to long-term rebuilding. We hope other businesses and philanthropic organizations across the country will join us in addressing the housing needs in the Bayou Region.” “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the

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HOUMA • BELLE CHASSE • GALLIANO • BATON ROUGE people of southeast Louisiana who have been impacted by Hurricane Ida,” said Leah Brown, public affairs manager for Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit. “We’re proud to partner with the Terrebonne Economic Development Foundation on this important initiative and help the Bayou Region during this challenging time. Our hope is that by having access to housing, residents will have the stability they need to recover from the storm and rebuild their lives.”

Terrebonne Economic Development Foundation and the business organizations will continue efforts to seek additional funds to implement the second phase of this program to continue to provide support for rebuilding our community. If you would like to contribute to the Bayou Business Community Housing Initiative, you can donate at www.paypal.me/ TEDFO or contact TEDFo at 985.873.6890. If you need emergency housing, please contact the community partner listed above.

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Keeping Your Business Clean So You Can Focus On Success

Pelican Waste & Debris proudly services Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption & St. Mary parishes with state-of-the-art equipment and professional crews.

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NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

“At BHP, our purpose is to bring people and resources together to build a better world,” said Graham Salmond, General Manager, North America, and Caribbean for BHP. “Housing – one of the most basic needs – is critical to the economic and social recovery of those in our host communities in South Louisiana. We are pleased to partner with Terrebonne Economic Development Authority to stand in the gap and help the communities rebuild from the effects of Hurricane Ida.”

HOUMA 985-851-2400 • GALLIANO 985-632-4200

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NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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Movers and shakers. Leaders. The face of the company. Influencers take on many monikers, but it’s how they shape your company’s brand that matters most. From delivering exceptional care to providing unforgettable customer service, Influencers are on your front lines defending your image within the community. Celebrate your Influencer in Bayou Business Monthly’s 2022 Bayou Region Influencers special advertising section. Each Influencer will be given the VIP treatment with a full page profile in BBM’s February issue. Profiles will include a photo of your designated Influencer, a brief introduction and a “get to know” Q&A session. Influencers look for opportunities to interact with their community. Our readers — your customers — are anxious to meet them

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS | HEADLINES & ACCOLADES DR. JEFFREY RAU ELECTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PATTERSON STATE BANK, PATTERSON BANCSHARES

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DANOS EXPANDS WORK IN RENEWABLES In recent months, Danos has expanded its portfolio of work in the renewable energy sector. Through a partnership with provider SOLV, a division of Swinerton Renewable Energy, Danos has completed five solar contracts in the western United States in 2021. The contracts have primarily been for cable maintenance and repair on solar panels through Danos’ instrumentation and electrical services group. Project locations include Kingman, Picture Rocks and Tuscon, Arizona, Clawson, Utah, and Coyanosa, Texas. “Many of our established service offerings easily carry over to the energy transition happening in our industry,” said CEO Paul Danos. “We are excited for the growing number of opportunities to deliver the Danos difference to new customers in the renewables market.” In addition to instrumentation and electrical, Danos offers the following services: automation, coatings, construction, fabrication, intelligent integrated materials management, mechanical maintenance, power generation, production workforce, project management, regulatory compliance, scaffolding and rope access, shorebase and logistics, and valve and wellhead. With nearly 2,400 employees, Danos is currently registered to work in 18 states and holds electrical licenses in half of those. The company has eight office locations across Texas and Louisiana.

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NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

Bill Marin, Board Chairman of Patterson State Bank, announced that Dr. Jeffrey Rau of Houma/Schriever area has recently been elected to the board of directors of both Patterson State Bank and Patterson BancShares, the holding company of PSB. Dr. Rau is the owner of Rau Plastic Surgery which is in Houma. He is a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School and Nicholls State University. He obtained his medical education at Tulane University (MD), LSU General Surgery Residency, and UT Chattanooga Plastic Surgery Fellowship. Dr. Rau founded Rau Plastic Surgery in 2017 as the sole surgeon, along with his wife Katelyn as aesthetic nurse. A creative mind and desire to be challenged are what led Dr. Rau to his branch of the medical field. “I thrive on being creative in my craft,” he shares. “There’s an art to the procedures I do like in many technical professions, but plastic surgery, to me, just seemed more intense.” Supporting the education of future doctors is important to Dr. Rau as well. He taught general surgery residency in Lafayette before returning to Houma. He also has worked with Nicholls University to help organize a senior level course at the university. Dr. Rau is also involved with mentoring local Native American students in the Houma area school system. Marin commented, “Having Dr. Rau on our bank board helps us to understand and learn more of the nature of medical professionals and the direction that medical industry is taking. Jeff has already played an important part in expanding our network of medical professionals that have chosen to use PSB as their primary bank.” Dr. Rau and Katelyn live in Schriever, and recently welcomed their first child, a son, Nolan Frederick.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS | HEADLINES & ACCOLADES

NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

ULS HONORS NICHOLLS’ RENEE HICKS WITH SERVANT LEADER AWARD

The University of Louisiana System has recognized the career of Renee Hicks (BS ‘89, MEd ‘03) by giving her the James Callier Servant Leader Award. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate servant leader qualities and characteristics that inspire others to develop their leadership potential. Hicks, assistant vice president for institutional effectiveness, access and success, first joined the Nicholls team in 1997 as a research assistant in the office of institutional research. In 2019, Hicks was elevated to assistant vice president. In 2017, Hicks identified trends within the Black male student population that lead to the creation of the Colonels Retention of Winners Network (CROWN). The successful program has increased retention and graduation rates among Black male students since its inception.

Recently, she worked with the system as they introduced the first R.F. Lewis Scholars. “I have a great working relationship with the system and have great respect for their leadership team,” Hicks said. “Dr. Claire Norris, Associate Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity, and Effectiveness, has a contagious energy and positive nature and a true appreciation of data. She assembled a group of leaders to work in this area that was truly amazing. I feel humbled to be recognized because I feel like I learned so much from the group. All are so focused on meeting students’ needs and supporting educational attainment. It has been truly inspiring to be a part of the system’s effort towards greater support for our black males.” During her nearly 25 years with the university, she has served as the liaison

with the SACSCOC accreditation body and guided the university through a successful reaffirmation in 2016. Today, her role has expanded. In addition to her work in institutional research, effectiveness and student academic support, she also oversees the university’s enrollment and admissions offices, the CROWN program and its female counterpart for women of color, Legacy Leaders. The award’s namesake, Dr. James Caillier, is a lifelong Louisiana secondary and post-secondary educator. He was the first ULS president and holds the distinct honor of being president emeritus for the ULS. He continues his service to higher education as the executive director of the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation.

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BUQUET DISTRIBUTING DONATES $50,000 TO THE HACHE GRANT ASSOCIATION FOR HURRICANE IDA RELIEF EFFORTS

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NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

Buquet Distributing Company has entrusted the Hache Grant Association with a donation of $50,000 to go towards Hurricane Ida relief efforts. Buquet General Manager, Carlton A. Casey, said they saw what the organization had done with Bayou Dularge, Dulac, and Pointe aux Chenes areas and was impressed with their efforts to reach those in need. The company then decided to provide some monies that were available to them from Anheuser-Busch and they thought the Hache Grant Association was a great conduit to get money into the lower Terrebonne Parish areas. Casey said they went to the organization to ask what they can do to help and they excitedly decided to put on a community event to go towards efforts, and that’s where the idea of the Bayou Terrebonne Tailgate came to fruition. They went from there, built up momentum, and he said he’s excited about the event, “I had seen the good works they have done prior, and I knew after I had talked to them, they said they would concentrate all of their efforts on bayou relief,” he said, “and I said well this is a great conduit. This will go directly to the people.” The Bayou Terrebonne Tailgate and Market will be Saturday, November 6, and will have all of the favorite tailgating foods, a wing eating contest, a kid’s corner filled with family-fun activities, and of course, beer and football! The day’s games will be LSU Vs. Alabama and Nicholls State Vs. McNeese State! So wear your purple, or your red, and let’s geaux! Casey said it has been great to work with the organization, “they are so committed and it has been wonderful,” he said. He said they are men on a mission without a doubt, they know what needs to be done, they’re not afraid to do it, and they’re not afraid to work. “We’ve collaborated very well together, we as in Buquet and Anheuser Busch, are bringing in several assets, so it was a logistical thing as well,” he said. They are all combining their resources together to provide a community event that won’t only be fun, but also go towards a good time. Casey said the organization has its act together and knows the logistics that go into it. Casey ended with saying they’re excited to help the community any way they can, “we’re glad we’re able to give back to the community, because ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’ it’s kind of our motto,” he said, “we’ve been blessed over the years to be in a position that we can give back. It’s been wonderful.”

NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

MOVERS AND SHAKERS |

HEADLINES & ACCOLADES

BAYOU COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OPENS TWO NONPROFIT GRANT PROGRAMS TO AID HURRICANE IDA RECOVERY Bayou Community Foundation is now accepting applications from local nonprofits for two grant programs funded by the Bayou Recovery Fund for Hurricane Ida Relief: The Nonprofit Recovery Support Grants Program and the Community Recovery Grants Program. Since September 5, one week after Hurricane Ida made landfall in South Lafourche, Bayou Community Foundation has awarded over $2 million in grants for nonprofit programs delivering critical relief and recovery services to residents of Lafourche, Terrebonne, and Grand Isle. Nonprofit Recovery Support Grants Designed to provide funding assistance in grant amounts up to $10,000 to 501c3 public charity nonprofit organizations incorporated in Lafourche, Terrebonne, and Grand Isle for: • Uninsured repairs to facilities damaged by Hurricane Ida • Replacement of lost or damaged equipment and supplies vital to the nonprofits’ critical community programs; and/or • Operational support to resume critical programs impacted or interrupted by the storm.

Nonprofits must have facilities and programs located in Lafourche, Terrebonne, or Grand Isle to be eligible. Application Period Closes: November 15, 2021 Grants awarded by December 1, 2021 Community Recovery Grants Designed to fund nonprofit programs serving the Lafourche, Terrebonne, and/or Grand Isle communities and local residents with critical recovery and rebuilding services, and/or nonprofit programs that are filling increased needs for services due to the impacts of Hurricane Ida. This program is similar to the recent Hurricane Ida Relief Grants Program, updated to respond to current recovery and rebuilding needs in our community. Application Period Closes: November 29, 2021 Grants awarded by December 15, 2021

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WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER! The following businesses joined the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce:

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BIG GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Bayou Industrial Group will host their monthly general membership meeting with an industry guest speaker. Meetings are held on the 5th Floor of Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center.

November 8, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING BROOKE’S SNO-WORLD LLC BROOKE CARRERE

MCCOY ROOFING, LLC

The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly general membership meeting with guest speaker Scott Peyton, Louisiana State Director Right on Crime. Admission is $25 per person with payment required in advance.

November 16, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Courtyard by Marriott, Houma

CARRELL WEBB

23RD ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET SHENELLS IT PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC JOVANNA PILLOT

SCIA will host their 23rd Annual Awards banquet featuring guest speaker Paul Mainieri, former LSU baseball head coach. Awards for SCIA members will be given as well. Sponsorships are available.

November 17, 7 p.m. Cypress Columns, Gray

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NOVEMBER 2021 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

985-876-1817 6161 WEST PARK AVE. • HOUMA

World-class Healthcare now in Your Neighborhood.

Your friendly neighborhood world-class Health System is now offering healthcare services at the all new Terrebonne General Multispecialty Clinic in Gray. We know that accessibility and convenience are essential when you need to see your doctor, and that’s why we’ve opened this helpful location. Our Multispecialty Clinic makes access to your primary care needs quick and easy, and offers specialties like pulmonology and endocrinology. Let us help you stay on track to be your best self.

Call 985-873-4729 to schedule your appointment. Walk-ins Accepted Monday - Thursday: 8am – 4:30pm Fridays: 8 am – 12 pm 115 Eureka Dr. | Gray, LA 70359

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