Spotlight On: Legal Leaders

FREE LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKS OFF

CANDIDATES ANNOUNCE FOR DISTRICT JUDGE

ALL EYES ON THE CORONAVIRUS

HOW THE VIRAL ECONOMY IS

AFFECTING OUR INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT ON: LEGAL LEADERS

APRIL 2020

PRESORT STD US POSTAGE PAID HOUMA, LA PERMIT NO. 17

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

PUBLISHER’S NOTE |

APRIL 2020 • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS SPOTLIGHT ON: 14

LEGAL LEADERS

BRENT RHODES

Law Offices of Brent Rhodes

15

HUNT DOWNER

16

ST. MARTIN & BOURQUE

17

BROUSSARD | DOVE

18 18

Waitz and Downer

Christopher St. Martin and Charles “Chuck” Bourque Sye Broussard and Jackie Dove Broussard

RIVIERE ABEL, PLC

Christopher Riviere, Will Abel, Todd Magee, and George Riviere

IN EVERY ISSUE: 04

GOVERNMENT UPDATE Session is in Full Swing

06

OIL AND GAS UPDATE

08 20

FROM THE TOP

22

Viral Economy Matt Rookard

BUSINESS NEWS

Nicholls, Fletcher Finalize Cross-Enrollment Agreements

MOVERS & SHAKERS Headlines and accolades

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing EDITORIAL Mary Ditch EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Drew Miller CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Colin Campo CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CREATIVE Amber Duplantis SENIOR DESIGNER Lauren Pontiff GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ADVERTISING Deanne Ratliff DIRECTOR OF SALES Beth Tabor

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Michelle Ortego

JAC CULVER

Triple Oak Investigative Services, LLC

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

SPOTLIGHT ON LEGAL LEADERS

SUBSCRIPTIONS Bayou Business Monthly is published monthly.

Subscriptions are available for $24 for 12 issues.

W

hat a crazy month this is turning out to be. All eyes are on COVID-19 or coronavirus as the pandemic crosses our country.

As we upload this issue on Friday morning, March 13, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose around 1,200 points, with the S&P and Nasdaq jumping by around 5 percent each. Yesterday was the official end of the longest bull-market run in history. The S&P 500 plummeted 9.5 percent and the Dow tumbled by 10 percent by the end of day. The future of the coronavirus stock market correction — now a bear market — and the economic cost of the Covid-19 pandemic depend on how soon countries can safely return to something approaching normalcy.

In this month’s issue, we shine a spotlight on our area’s Legal Leaders. We profile six legal firms in the Houma-Thibodaux area. We explore what makes these firms and their lawyers stand out and what sets them apart. From serious personal injury to help with contracts, wills and successions, our area boasts some of the most talented Legal Leaders.

We also take a closer look at the start of the 2020 Regular

For more information, email

Session. There are new faces representing us and many new bills were filed. We take a closer look at two of the most interesting.

One of the top legal leader positions in our community are our district judges. While the election isn’t until November, we profile three candidates who have already announced their intentions.

As a business owner, all eyes are on the global market and on what is happening with the prices per barrel. Stay informed and try to keep your dollars local. Our community can stay thriving when we support one another.

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mail@rushing-media.com or visit rushing-media.com/subscriptions.

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Bayou Business Monthly is a free publication. The entire content of this publication is copyrighted by Rushing Media, with all rights reserved.

Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphics content in any manner is prohibited.

Bayou Business Monthly is published monthly by Rushing Media.

GOVERNMENT UPDATE |

BY COLIN CAMPO

SESSION IS IN FULL SWING T

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

he work of the Louisiana 2020 Regular Legislative Session is in full swing as of Monday, March 9, 2020. This is a “general” session, which means that specific revenue raising and tax measures cannot be considered. These issues can only be considered in odd numbered years. However, this session, legislators may consider a wide-range of other issues.

Legislators have pre-filed over 1,100 measures for consideration – 416 Senate Bills and 704 House Bills. Not only are there several measures to consider, but there are several new legislators to consider them. The House has 45 new members, including two former senators and the Senate welcomes 20 new members, including ten former representatives.

The measures are wide ranging and address a variety of important topics – from insurance reforms and transportation funding to maternal welfare and public safety. Senate President Page Cortez is confident that members of the legislature will be able to work together to bring meaningful change to the citizens of Louisiana.

“In light of Governor Edwards’ comments during the joint address, I am more optimistic than ever that we will be able to work with the administration and the House of Representatives to bring about a safer, stronger Louisiana for generations to come,” said President Cortez.

The Regular Session is set to end on June 1, 2020.

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REP PROPOSES RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSGENDER FEMALE ATHLETES A proposed bill in the State House would, if made law, prohibit transgender females from competing in women’s sports.

House Bill 466, the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” was prefiled Friday, February 28. Its authors are Beryl Amedee, Larry Frieman, Mike Johnson, and Danny McCormick.

“It only affects those sports where we have designated teams - male and female,” said Beryl Amedee, Republican, State Representative for district 51.

“This is not going to affect the school chess team, this will affect the school track team.”

The bill argues that individuals born as biological males have inherent advantages against their female counterparts, even if they are in the process of, or have completed, transitioning. As such those having transitioned, or in the midst of it, should not be allowed to compete with biological females.

The restrictions would not apply to transgender individuals competing in male sporting events.

It leans on the U.S. Supreme Court case from 1996, United States v. Virginia, et al, 518 U.S. 515, 533, as the basis for acknowledging, “’[i]nherent differences’ between men and women.” Then expands this by identifying which differences lead to unfair advantages in sports.

If passed into law, said Amedee, only biological females would be allowed to compete against one another at all levels of education.

“The purpose of the bill is to specify that only females will play on girl’s teams,” said Amedee. “This will apply for elementary, secondary, and college sports.”

This would also apply to private schools, but only if the schools accept state tax dollars.

These rulings could be implemented by athletic organizations/institutions, said Amedee, but this bill would avoid costly court battles.

“The athletic associations could, but if the government would actually put this into statute, then it can save athletic associations a whole lot of court battles that are going to be costly and take up time,” Amedee stated. “It’s to keep the athletics fair.”

She said the private sector, such as the NFL, can take care of themselves, but the State is responsible for education.

There is no standard method for tracking or reporting court costs, fines, or fees across Louisiana, making it difficult for lawmakers to have an accurate accounting of just how much money is involved in the state’s criminal justice system.

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State Rep. Tanner Magee (R-52) has proposed a bill, HB 481, which would require the legislative auditor to create one. Currently, each individual jurisdiction collects, documents, and allocates these dollars in their own way. This can lead to each entity using different coding and filing methods, as well as questions such as which office is prioritized in compensation first.

This creates a lack of crucial information when trying to write legislature: “We can’t figure out all of that, because we don’t even know where it’s all going,” said Magee.

“You can’t track the dollars into the system.”

The bill calls the court costs, fines, and fees “fragmented,” and as such does not give a total scope of the operating costs of the judicial system. The bill then asks the legislative auditor to come up with a uniform method to audit state and local reports, and require those reports to provide certain information.

“At a minimum, the amounts of all pre- and post-adjudication court costs, fines, and fees assessed or imposed; the amounts collected; the amounts outstanding; the amounts retained; the amounts disbursed; and the amounts received from disbursements,” the bill says.

Another requirement from the bill is that legislative auditors, along with the Louisiana Supreme Court, come up with standardized terminology. This lack of uniform terms leads to difficulties in transparency.

“What’s coded one way in one jurisdiction is coded another way in another - some places it’s not coded at all,” said Magee.

As for prioritization, Magee used an example of someone on probation who owes $1,000 to the court, but cannot afford it. The judge decides he will pay the $300. Various entities are due a portion of the $1,000, and a question arises: who receives what amount?

“The problem we had, as we tried to work our way out of the system, is that we don’t know how much money we are talking about, and the reason we don’t know is you can’t tell,” Magee explained. “Every parish is different, every jurisdiction is different, the fees aren’t the same, and what’s called one thing in one is called something else in another.”

Hopefully, said Magee, with the implementation of HB 481, the money would able to be tracked through the process.

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

OIL & GAS |

6

BY COLIN CAMPO

Figures are accurate as of press date, March 9, 2020. For up to date information, visit houmatimes.com.

T

he viral threat to the global market has affected stock values in a significant way.

Houma’s downward trending economic woes are tied to a different problem.

The ever-present viral threat of Covid-19 continues to send ripples across the stock markets, and those ripples grew to tidal waves as Saudi Arabia and Russia began a trade war on March 8, 2020. Like a cypress facing the oncoming surge of a hurricane, Terrebonne Parish’s deep roots in the oil field leaves it caught in the crossfire as the collapsing oil prices halt our recovery.

The downward trend has been slow, but steady, and this weekend saw a sharp plunge leaving Brent Oil at $33.49 and WTI at $34.07 as of Monday, March 9, 10 a.m.

The transportation industries have been strangled by fears of Covid-19 and this has

been causing a drop in the demand for oil. According to Dr. Loren Scott, economist, Opec Plus began negotiations with Russia to take more oil off the market in an attempt to stabilize prices. When Russia declined, the response was swift with oil prices losing as much as 25%.

“Looks like the Saudis said, ‘okay,... here’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to drive prices to the floor until we get you to come back to the table,” said Scott.

Houma has to hope Russia capitulates quickly, because this plunge in prices only accelerates a years long downward trend.

“Over [20]16, ‘17, ‘18, and ‘19, you guys lost 17.5% of your jobs - 17.5% drop in your employment is huge,” Scott explained.”That doesn’t happen.”

To put that into perspective, said Scott, “during the Great Recession, the national economy went through, in ‘08, the number of jobs lost was 6.1%.”

Instead of the stock market, Terrebonne residents’ number one concern should be

The higher-interest, lower-stress CD. according to Scott, because when confidence falters, people stop buying durable goods. Louisiana has a small durable goods sector and as such, isn’t hit as hard as states which produce things like automobiles.

“They get hammered… mainly because of what they quit spending money on,” Scott said. “They quit spending on the very thing that made those states.”

Neither Scott or Lawrence expected the impact of the virus on the stock market to cause another recession. Lawrence said investors were looking for a correction and this dip was an emotional response.

When the stock market dips 10% or more, that is known as a correction.

The Federal Reserve has levers to avoid another recession, which is beneficial for businesses, explained Lawrence.

“If the Federal Reserve is concerned about us falling into a recession, they may lower interest rates, which is good news for businesses because it makes money cheaper,” she said.

This could incentivise oil companies to take on projects because it could make them more profitable.

Both said a rebound is to be expected because once this scare recedes and consumers regain their confidence, they will invest right back into the stocks.

“Where in the heck else can you put your money,” said Scott.

Lawrence had the same outlook.

“Just ride it out,” said Lawrence. “If you have some cash on the sidelines, this is a good time to be buying.”

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

the price of oil, said Scott. The price of oil had climbed to about $60 a barrel, he said, but since December has been back on a decline.

Exploration in the Gulf demands the higher price tag, said Scott.

Dr. Shari Lawrence, a professor of Finance at Nicholls State University, said she attended a conference just before Mardi Gras in Texas, and the outlook was grim.

“A guest speaker was talking about the oil industry and they don’t expect it to rebound for a couple of years,” she said. “They think it’s bottomed, they don’t think it will recover for a couple of years.”

Companies that service the oil and gas sector, explained Scott, will be watching the market trend of oil with trepidation.

Fabricators who build for the oilfield were regaining confidence, but when the price began to fall recently, “now they’re getting this kick in the stomach with the price of the oil drop.”

“It was doing well, there were some very positive things happening in the Gulf and then you have this lick that’s a pretty substantial lick,” Scott said. “A $15 drop of the price of oil is going to make some of these companies table some projects until they see how bad it’s going to get.”

As to the stock markets as a whole, when values dip, people reduce spending. This tightening of the purse strings relaxes once people have their confidence restored.

Louisiana as a state is insulated from the worst of stock market blues,

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FROM THE TOP |

QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK: WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? Easily the best part of the job is the impact we are able to have on the community – even when people don’t realize it. As a lot of our work is behind-the-scenes and in partnership with other groups, I think we have a much broader impact than many people realize.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST? The hardest part recently has been trying to find ways to support businesses and employees who have seen setbacks during the most recent bust cycle in the oil industry. It is difficult when you run across people or organizations that were doing everything they can do and were hit hard by the rapid change in a global markets.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE SUPPORT TEDA’S EFFORTS? TEDA works very hard to make sure that we understand and assist businesses that are already here in Terrebonne Parish. Last year, for example, we met with over 70 executives one on one to discuss their challenges, their growth plans, and any policy or market issues that we can help address. This also gives us the chance to thank them for doing business in Terrebonne Parish. Keeping our current businesses happy and growing does not get the headlines in the paper, but it can be some of the most important work in the community.

We have also been really pushing some diversification efforts which will help the economy be better positioned for the next bust cycle.

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

WHAT ON THE AGENDA FOR 2020?

8

MATT ROOKARD CEO, TERREBONNE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

This year we are really pushing hard on real estate projects and trying to leverage the possibilities created through new investments.

With Entergy Louisiana’s support, we are identifying key industrial real estate tracts and will be marketing those aggressively to decision makers in the targeted sectors.

We are also partnering with TPCG and the local American Legion to rethink the ways we can engage local veterans while creating new facilities for community use.

Additionally, we are looking to help drive key businesses who can take advantage of the diversification initiatives that are already underway. LUMCON’s new Blue Worx facility will leverage the unique research capacity here. The new Maritime Education Campus which that will drive education initiatives with a focus on technology in the marine industry. The Houma – Terrebonne Airport’s unmanned aviation initiative is also going to drive a new type of job to this market that does not currently exist today.

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WHAT’S ONE LEADERSHIP SKILL YOU FEEL EVERYONE MUST LEARN? Perspective. I have always felt that there are a lot of people who work hard in this world. There are a lot of smart people in this world. And there are a lot of people with more resources in this world. So, how do we compete? You compete by approaching the problems you run into a little differently than everyone else – through the perspective of other’s. That is where I think people can really add value in most any thing you do; both personally and professionally. And as byproduct, I think you become a more empathetic and understanding person over time.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF: AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING AS A CAREER? It sounds silly now, but I always thought I would be a professional baseball player.

We were lucky to be on some good teams growing up and did very well. People would always tell my parents that I had a real shot. I never believed it until I made a team representing the US playing the Canadian all-stars. Obviously, it did not work out that way, but I learned a lot of lessons about following a process, staying committed, and being driven everyday to a cause.

You can count on us to get the job done right, every time!

WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST JOB? My grandfather owned a mobile home dealership. We always would “work” for him growing up during the summers. But as I got into middle school and high school, it became a real job.

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WHAT TIME TO DO YOU WAKE UP AND HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY? My two boys (ages 5 & 3) are my alarm clock. They like to get up around 4:30 or 5:00, so that is plenty early for me. I generally get my coffee and then get the morning routine started – breakfast, getting dressed, stories, etc. Until I had kids, I did not realize how little time you actually see them during the week. A few hours in the morning and a few more in the evening is really all you get, so I try to enjoy it as much as I can.

And all the whole routine will change soon – as we are having a third boy who is due to arrive in early April. .

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Favorite food: The potatoes in a crawfish boil.

Coffee. If you ever want to meet, just offer to grab a coffee.

Favorite vacation spot: I was a big fan of Morocco.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME?

How do you take your coffee?

All day long and black.

Spending time with the boys. We really do try to get out and about on the weekends as much as we can. I also listen to a ton of audio books and podcasts on my commute.

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Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?

Vanilla Pen or pencil?

They still make pencils?

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird, but not by choice.

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT?

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

BY MARY DITCH

CHRIS ERNY

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As a prosecutor, Erny has handled thousands of criminal cases, and conducted numerous jury trials involving serious felonies such as First and Second- Degree Murder, Manslaughter, Aggravated Rape, Armed Robbery, and many other crimes of violence and sex crimes. On the civil side of the law, he has litigated cases in over 25 Louisiana parishes, in three of the Louisiana appellate courts, the Louisiana Supreme Court and in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, the Southern District of Mississippi and the Southern District of Texas, as well as the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

As a conservative Republican, Erny feels he can call upon those values from the bench.

“I have been tough on crime and have worked to ensure habitual and violent criminals are removed from society and serve proper and justified jail sentences,” reads Erny’s press release. “Understanding that not every person who commits a crime deserves jail time, I have also shown

fairness and compassion and have helped many people who have made mistakes in life by providing the opportunities for second chances and rehabilitation.”

Erny is also a commissioner and an officer of the Terrebonne Port Commission. He has also volunteered as a coach for TPR basketball and baseball and HTSA soccer. Erny is married to Gabrielle Gros Enry. Together they have three sons.

Timothy C. Ellender Jr. opened his private practice, the Ellender Law Firm, in 2004. He continues to provide counsel in both civil and criminal law, while focusing on family law, personal injury and divorce.

Born and raised in Houma, Ellender earned his Juris Doctorate in 1998 from Louisiana State University. Ellender is licensed to practice law in all Louisiana State courts and the Federal courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western districts of Louisiana, as well as the State of Colorado, the United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

“I’ve thought long and hard about practicing law over the years and it has led

TERESA KING me to a higher calling to seek to serve my community in a more productive way as a judge,” reads Ellender’s release. “I know I’ll be an effective judge with my love of the law coupled with my passion for justice and my ability to listen to all sides of the story before making decisions that affect people’s lives.”

Ellender is a lifelong conservative Republican, who believes in personal responsibility and frugality regarding our tax dollars. He believes his passion and zeal for justice combined with a wide array of diverse courtroom experiences places him in a unique position to honor and respect the rule of law.

“I firmly believe I’ll be able to positively impact my community by taking this step from attorney to judge,” said Ellender.

“People have a lot of anxiety and fear associated with a courtroom. I want to make individuals feel they’ve been heard, that their story has been told and someone has listened. I understand and have witnessed first hand the gravity of what hangs in the balance of a decision.

It’s not to be taken lightly and deserves a

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

e can’t have a legal leaders issue without discussing an important portion of leaders: judges.

All five judge seats in Terrebonne will be on the November 3 ballot. As of press deadline, all seats will be elected parishwide. A court case is ongoing, currently in federal appeals court, which seeks to create a minority judge district in Terrebonne.

Qualifying for a district judge seat runs from July 15-17.

As of press deadline, three candidates have announced their intentions to run for district judge: Chris Erny, Tim Ellender, and Teresa King.

Chris Erny has been practicing law for over 25 years, serving as an assistant district attorney since 2003.

A 1990 graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor’s in political science, Erny received his Juris Doctorate from LSU Law School in 1994. After law school, Erny returned to Houma where he worked for the law firm of Weeks and Stark for nine years before joining the district attorney’s office.

TIM ELLENDER

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judge’s full attention.”

Teresa King has been working in public service her entire career and still makes time to volunteer for local and statewide organizations.

Raised by a woman in law enforcement and a combat military veteran, King’s traditional values were instilled at an early age. Having watched her brother serve multiple tours overseas, she knows the sacrifices made by military families.

King attended Nicholls State University in 2003. After graduation, King attended Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, and worked with criminal defendants in Orleans Parish Prison through the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice. She remains focused on criminal justice reform and access to justice for all. To provide an emphasis on Criminal Justice Reform, King launched ReformOurSystem.com to allow the community to have a voice on such changes.

In 2014, King became involved with

the Louisiana Bar Foundation by becoming a fellow and a member of the Bayou Region Community Partnership Panel.

Through her work on the Bayou Region Community Partnership Panel, she is able to assist local non-profits such as CASA and Chez Hope in getting grants from the Louisiana Bar Foundation. She is now serving as the chairperson for the Bayou Region Community Partnership Panel for the second year in a row.

On the local level, King served as the President of the Terrebonne Bar Association for 2018-2019. As a member of the local bar association board for the past several years, King has taken on the role of planning and coordinating continuing education courses and special events.

Throughout her career, King has offered free consultations to incarcerated clients and pro bono services to indigent clients. She has successfully defended thousands of clients in criminal court. She handles uncontested custody matters and represents parents involved in Child in Need of Care cases.

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY |

BY RAY PETERS, MS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

READ ANY GOOD LEADERSHIP BOOKS LATELY? Whenever someone asks, “Hey, Ray, read any good leadership books lately,” my mind immediately harkens to a Dilbert comic strip, a copy of which is hanging in my office. In the piece, the pointy-haired boss is sharing with Dilbert the benefits of a new book he is reading about the “rules of leadership.” Dilbert goes into this lengthy discourse about the thousands of books on leadership that have been written, each one with a different leadership approach. Dilbert goes on to explain that none of the great leaders throughout history achieved success by reading a random book. Dilbert skillfully places the notion in context for his boss.

Leadership is not easy; that is why many capable contributors fail when they are assigned their first-time leadership role.

They are ill-prepared and fail to continue evolving – learning and growing. While I fully appreciate that all leadership is situational, we can all learn and grow by sharing in the experiences of other leaders. These learning opportunities are often manifested in the form of a book. I am always looking for that ah-ha moment while reading.

In my class, students are not only guided by our leadership textbook; they are assigned supplemental readings to draw a better connection between theory and

application. For each new class, I assign recently released leadership books that help make the before-mentioned connection.

These are generally books that I have either already read or have an interest in reading.

Before I give you the titles of the books we are reading this semester, I want to share with you three books that always make an appearance in my class. I have used two of the books for several years now in leadership development programs that I have facilitated in the private sector. The first is The 360° Leader by John C. Maxwell. Maxwell’s book firmly establishes the notion that you can lead from any position you occupy within any institution, which is a fundamental takeaway from my leadership course.

The second book is Jim Collins’s Good to Great, wherein Collins explains the concept of Level 5 Leadership, which outlines a person’s development from a highly capable individual to a pinnacle leader. By the way, the most significant barrier to being great is accepting good.

The third book and the one I most recently added is Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy. In her book, Cuddy details presence as “the state of being attuned to and able to comfortably express our true thoughts, feelings, values, and potential.”

Now for the leadership books that my MBA-level leadership students are reading.

The first is Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership by Alden Mills. A former Navy SEAL, Mills introduces readers to his C.A.R.E.-based leadership recipe – Connect, Achieve, Respect, and Empower.

The second book is Vision to Results: Leadership in Action by Jim Fischetti. Here Fischetti outlines the case for organizational vision and its role assisting leaders in guiding organizations successfully. I tell my students that vision is the ability to see around corners – identifying the next opportunities or threats that your organization will be facing.

I’ll continue to misuse an out of context Biblical quote, “without vision, the people will perish.”

Thirdly, students are reading, Stephen Schwarzman’s book, What it Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence. Schwarzman is the Chairman & CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, a global private equity firm.

He shares with readers his concepts on building, transforming, and leading thriving organizations.

Our final book is Nine Lies about Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World, by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall. Here Buckingham and Goodall

argue that many of the accepted truths (lies) associated with the workplace are deeply flawed. From my forty-plus years of experience, I can verify that there are many workplace myths, like, the best ideas always win.

Given that our ultimate mission is to prepare students to meet workforce needs, which includes perfecting platform skills, students are divided into workgroups where they work collaboratively in developing and delivering a presentation on their assigned book. The presentations consist of a review of the critical elements from the book and how they relate to topics addressed in class. These presentations tend to be very enlightening and often include visiting business leaders assisting in assessing the outcomes.

So, while I agree with Dilbert that one single author may not have found the magic formula to transform his point-haired boss from a “gullible baboon into a great leader,” experiencing the business world through the eyes of successful leaders can broaden our perspective and provide critical thoughts to ponder. Happy Reading!

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

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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LEGAL LEADERS |

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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ouma native Brent J. Rhodes is a trusted personal injury attorney that has served thousands of individuals from the Bayou Region and beyond who have lost their livelihood from serious personal injuries caused by the fault of others.

Over the course of his 20 years of practicing law, Rhodes has never backed down from his duties, litigating hundreds of trials against insurance companies and corporations with a rigorous pursuit of getting justice for his clients.

Personal service matters to Rhodes, as he takes pride in always being there in-person for his clients.

Rhodes has handled cases of on-the-job injuries, maritime/offshore injuries, 18-wheeler accidents, automobile accidents, wrongful death and other serious personal injuries. Just a few of his settlements include totals of $1.079 million, $1.9 million, $1.85 million and recently $2.8 million.

In 2009, Rhodes became a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. There are over 3000 members throughout the country and fewer than 1 percent of U.S. lawyers are members.

“I think the reason why I still have clientele coming in is because of the results that I’ve gotten for other clients,” Rhodes said. “A lot of it is of word of mouth, and they know that because I’m local, there’s an accountability factor here. They know where I live. They know where my office is located. If they have a problem, they can come directly to me.”

Rhodes also explained the importance of those who are involved in an accident in the Tri-Parish area to get a local lawyer, as the insurance companies will also get local counsel who know the area’s judiciary system.

And certainly, there isn’t a more trusted name for personal injury in the Bayou Region than Brent J. Rhodes. “My work ethic is second to none. I’m very, very meticulous, almost to a fault. I am also detail-oriented. I really emphasize the law and the facts as they are and don’t try to manipulate the facts,” he said.

“I’m always going to be honest and tell the truth about a case.”

“I’m always going to be a strong, aggressive advocate for a person when I represent them. I really want to make them happy,” he continued. “I want them to be proud that they chose me and willing to choose me again.”

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LEGAL LEADERS |

SPONSORED

HUNT DOWNER Waitz & Downer

National Guard – and Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.

“At the end of the day, more times than not, I was the only person in the courtroom with a maritime background,” Downer said. “I would learn the language, the technical terminology, and gained knowledge of how it could be applied to law. If you told me you were on a rig and what you were doing, I understood what could go wrong.”

The care with which clients are handled reflects the family-like atmosphere at the firm overall. Attorneys at the firm include the children of Mr. Waitz: son Joe Waitz Jr, who is the Terrebonne Parish District Attorney and of counsel; daughter Mary Waitz Riviere; and his grandson, Joseph Waitz III. Rounding out the firm are attorneys Ellen Daigle Doskey and David C. Pellegrin, Jr. “Our philosophy is when you are our client you are part of our extended family,” Downer said. “Mr. Waitz instilled that into us and into me. You are not a number; you are not a dollar sign; you are a person who has experienced a devastating loss. We are going to treat you as we would any member of our family.”

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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lot of people who have reached Hunt Downer’s station in life would have long ago retired. But that’s not in the plans for the Houma attorney, whose legal career spans nearly 50 years.

A partner emeritus at the law firm of Waitz & Downer, Downer and his fellow attorneys focus on helping injured persons and devastated families who are the victims of oil field accidents, maritime accidents, auto or boating accidents that result in serious personal injury or wrongful deaths. For over five decades, Waitz & Downer has represented Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region.

Downer is proud that the firm bearing his name holds close to traditions created at its inception when founded by the late Joseph L. Waitz Sr. “I am still so thankful to have been with Mr. Waitz all those years, to have been trained and mentored by him,” shares Downer.

Downer points to all of his life experiences as helpful to his practice of law, calling each and every of them, working as a roughneck and roustabout to driving a school bus among them, as benefitting his ability to help clients.

His resume also includes the titles Major General – as in U.S Army/Louisiana

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LEGAL LEADERS |

SPONSORED

ST. MARTIN & BOURQUE Christopher St. Martin and Charles “Chuck” Bourque “We have a history that spans more than forty years and our firm is uniquely experienced in defending the rights of individuals against some of the most powerful corporate interests,” said Charles “Chuck” Bourque, partner and lawyer at Houma’s St. Martin & Bourque Attorneys at Law.

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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ounded by Michael X. St. Martin, the law firm that also consists of attorney and partner Christopher St. Martin and attorney Joseph G. Jevic III, specializes in personal injury litigation. The team’s expertise expands throughout various areas of litigation that include maritime/offshore, truck, aviation, nursing home negligence and automobile accidents.

“When industrial accidents happen or accidents happen offshore, the first people that the companies call, generally, are their lawyers, and they make those calls because they want to know what their legal rights are,” Bourque explained. “Not everyone injured in an industrial or an offshore accident needs to file suit. But we think they should at least contact a lawyer to know their rights.”

Many locals involved in such personal injuries have retained St. Martin & Bourque because of their experience and proficiency — handling cases in both state and federal court — and commitment to their clients.

“Whether it’s a platform in the Gulf of Mexico or a helicopter crash while transporting workers to and from those platforms, we have the experience in bringing claims arising out of such accidents,” Bourque said. “…When something goes wrong and the results are catastrophic — for years — families of individuals injured or killed in such accidents have depended on us to protect them.”

Even after the litigation is resolved, Bourque noted, the lawyers at St. Martin & Bourque still keep in contact with their clients in case there are any remaining issues with their injuries. “We take pride in that,” he expressed.

Not only does St. Martin & Bourque take pride in being there for their clients — before, during and after litigation — they also proud of helping out communities here in the Bayou Region. The firm has donated bullet proof vests for security officers who work courtroom security details, give out Christmas gifts every year to children in need in the parish, work with the Louis Children’s Crisis Center and sponsor local high school students participating in the Close-Up program.

“We always want to give back to the community that has given us so much,” Bourque shared.

To Know Your Rights, visit St. Martin & Bourque Attorneys at Law’s website at www.stmblaw.com.

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LEGAL LEADERS |

SPONSORED

“We take the time needed to get to know our clients and their legal issues to find a workable solution based on their needs, not ours. Client satisfaction and open lines of communication are our top priority.” has been appointed a member of the Terrebonne Election Board of Supervisors by Governor Jindal, the Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission by the Terrebonne Parish Council, and the LA State Bar Association House of Delegates.

Jackie was born and raised in Houma and graduated from Vandebilt Catholic.

“I met Sye in law school and moved back to Houma when we graduated to start our firm. We treat everyone at our firm like family and take the same approach with our clients. When you come to Broussard|Dove, we guarantee you will not be just another client file.”

Jackie currently serves as Vice President of the Gordon Dove, Jr. Foundation, was appointed as a board member of the Terrebonne Children’s Advocacy Center, and served as a board member for TFAE. “The lion’s share of our work is getting a deal to close,” shared Jackie. Whether it be a contract or a real estate sale, we know how to efficiently and effectively negotiate, draft, and close a transaction. The next time you have a deal, you should #GeauxClose with Broussard|Dove.”

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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roussard|Dove is a boutique law firm situated in a historic office built in the early 1900s in downtown Houma with a focus on corporate law, business and real estate closings, general litigation, wills, and successions.

“I believe what sets us apart as corporate lawyers is my wife and I have business degrees and masters of business administration,” commented Sye. “In addition, we personally manage and provide consulting services for multiple companies in various industries. This provides us invaluable insight to fully understand a corporate client’s business and fully customize a transaction or litigation strategy based on their desires and goals. If we keep this our focus and help others, I have found our firm’s success naturally follows. Most of our business comes from referrals. I think that is a great testament to our firm’s expertise.”

Both Jackie and Sye were elected by their peers to serve as President of the Terrebonne Bar Association and were appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to grade bar admissions exams.

Sye handled over 1,000 cases as an Assistant District Attorney for Terrebonne Parish for over seven years prior to stepping down to focus solely on Broussard|Dove. He

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LEGAL LEADERS |

SPONSORED

RIVIERE ABEL, PLC

Christopher Riviere, Will Abel, Todd Magee, and George Riviere

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iviere Abel, PLC prides itself on servicing its clients’ needs with effective representation both in the courtroom and in the boardroom. Attorneys Christopher Riviere, Will Abel, Todd Magee, and George Riviere are all committed to their clients and dedicated their client’s needs on a daily basis.

Combining a wealth of experience with a commitment to diligence, the attorneys of Riviere Abel, PLC continue to represent many local businesses, individuals, public entities and nonlocal businesses who find themselves in need of local representation. This representation extends to state and federal courts, both in Louisiana and Texas. As a testament to the firm’s reputation, Riviere Abel, PLC’s clients often refer new clients to the firm, and it is not uncommon for former opponents to later seek counsel of Riviere Abel, PLC. The firm routinely represents clients in matters pertaining to agriculture, business collections, lease obligations, contract review, maritime matters, construction claims and disputes, protection of company intellectual property, and disputes regarding company management and ownership.

Outside of the practice, Riviere Abel, PLC’s attorneys are vested members of the community.

They are actively involved in providing service to the local volunteer fire departments, civil service boards, and local nonprofit organizations.

For more information, please call 985.447.7440 or visit Riviereabel.com

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JAC CULVER

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

Triple Oak Investigative Services, LLC ~ Since 1998

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ased in Raceland, Louisiana Triple Oak Investigative Services L.L.C. specializes in courteous, diligent, personal and professional service. This special process and investigative services company is trusted by many local and nationwide companies and is known for its dedicated service across rural and coastal Southeast Louisiana.

Triple Oak is led by owner Jac Culver, a licensed Louisiana private investigator and special process server. In addition to being licensed for 22 years, Culver has 28 years in Louisiana Law Enforcement and was a member of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and The New Orleans Police Department.

Through his experience in law enforcement, Culver has vast knowledge of the areas and communities he services, including Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Charles, Assumption and St. Mary parishes.

Personal attention is given to every case; the delivery of subpoenas, complaints, petitions, citations, writs, summons, protective orders, notices to vacate, requests for medical documents and any other important legal documents with delivery occurring in a timely, efficient manner is a top priority at Triple Oak Investigative Services L.L.C. Culver’s dedication and due diligence is why many Louisiana and numerous out of state law firms, Service of Process Firms, Investigative Agencies and Insurance companies rely on Triple Oak. For more information, please visit our web page at www.tripleoakinvestigations.com

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ALL THE NEWS ALL

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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BUSINESS NEWS |

STAFF REPORT

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

NICHOLLS, FLETCHER FINALIZE CROSS-ENROLLMENT AGREEMENTS

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icholls State University and Fletcher Technical Community College signed three agreements on March 10, including an emphasis on preparing students to enter the early childhood education field.

Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune and Fletcher Chancellor Dr. Kristine Strickland signed the agreements at Fletcher’s main campus in Schriever. The goal of the accord is to ensure credits transfer between the two institutions for various programs, including early childhood education and petroleum engineering.

“Chancellor Dr. Strickland and I decided early on that we were not going to

compete,” said Dr. Clune. “We decided we were going to benefit one another, complement one another, be completely transparent with one another and share everything. There are so many things we can work on together to better the Bayou Region.”

One memorandum of understanding connects Fletcher’s applied science in care and development of young children program with Nicholls’ birth-to-five/early interventionist program. The second will connect Fletcher’s integrated production technology program with Nicholls’ petroleum engineering technology and safety management program.

“Across the board in the state of Louisiana, birth to five education as a major is a top priority,” said Dr. Scot Rademaker, dean of the Nicholls College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. “I think this agreement between Nicholls and Fletcher will help bolster that and help us prepare students ready to go into the early childhood education field.”

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is prioritizing the state’s early childhood education during his second term.

“This program is perfectly timed to align with that new emphasis and the importance of educating our youth,” said Dr. Strickland. “Investing in and focusing

on early childhood is where we create opportunities for our children and their futures.”

Dr. Clune and Dr. Strickland also completed an update to the two school’s cross-enrollment agreement.

“We know people want a pathway to achieve not only an associate’s degree but a baccalaureate degree and beyond,” Dr. Strickland said. “And it is through the strong foundation that has occurred over the years and continues in our partnership with President Dr. Clune and his entire staff that we can say to our community, that all the options you need for education are right here in your backyard.”

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS |

HEADLINES AND ACCOLADES

DUVAL LAW FIRM ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNER AND NEW ASSOCIATE The law firm of Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Richard and Watkins in Houma, Louisiana, is pleased to announce that attorney Rachel South Boquet is now a partner in the firm, and attorney April Trahan has joined the firm as an associate.

A life-long Houma resident and attorney for over 15 years, Boquet specializes in estate planning, successions, special needs trusts, and continuing tutorships for individuals and families. She has been with the Duval firm since 2017 and also supports its general civil practice. Boquet is member of the New Orleans Estate Planning Council and the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys. Locally, she is a life member of the Junior Auxiliary of Houma, a committee member of Bayou Community Foundation, and an active volunteer for St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and St. Matthew’s Episcopal School.

Trahan is an associate in the Duval law

firm’s litigation section. She is also a lifelong resident of Houma and a graduate of Nicholls State University in Government.

Trahan earned her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and during law school, served as a judicial intern for Justice John Weimer, Louisiana Supreme Court, and Judge Elizabeth Lanier, Workers Compensation District 9. She also served as the Online Editor of the Loyola Law Review.

“In the two years she has been with us, Rachel’s expertise in estate planning and successions has been a tremendous asset to our firm and to our clients. We are delighted to announce her as partner.

Likewise, April joins the firm with valuable experience in local business and state courts that greatly benefit the clients we serve in general litigation. It is a pleasure to welcome April to the firm,” says partner Berwick Duval.

ships in service with the US Military Sealift Command.

Gulf Island will build the vessel at its shipyard in Houma. Completion is scheduled for July 2021.

This is just one of the vessels Gulf Island has been awarded to complete for the Navy. This past October, the company held a keel ceremony for the USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6).

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

GULF ISLAND LAYS THE KEEL FOR USNS CHEROKEE NATION

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Houma’s Gulf Island Shipyard held a keel laying ceremony for the USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7) in February at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

Elected officials; U.S. Navy, Cherokee Nation and Gulf Island representatives; and other local attendees filled the room.

Michael Kosar, Navy Program Manager for the Support Ships, Boats and Craft Program Office; Chuck Hoskin Jr., Principal Chief of Cherokee Nation; and Victoria Vazquez, Deputy Speaker for the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council and sponsor of the USNS Cherokee Nation, gave remarks.

Following the remarks, the keel was authenticated by Vazquez and Hoskin, who signed their initials that were then engraved into the keel plate – which is the symbolic backbone of the ship.

“We recognize the strong foundation of the ship and the crew that will serve our great country,” Vazquez said. “May she continue to be strong and carry on our tradition, culture and strength in all

her endeavors.”

This is the second ship in the new class of T-ATS. The future vessel is expected to replace the existing T-ATF 166 and T-ARS 50 class

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ELLENDER LAW FIRM WELCOMES CAMILLE SALTZ BABIN families in our region and take pride in offering high-quality legal representation focused on individual client needs and productive outcomes.”

“Backed by nearly 24-years’ experience, I provide honest and compassionate legal advice to help guide the client through this important time of his/her life,” said Babin. “I have been trained as a Family Law Mediator and was a founding member of the Collaborative Professional Group of Southwest Louisiana. I believe it is important to empower my clients through objective and honest legal counsel to assist him/her in what is often the most contentious and emotionally charged situations so they do not lose sight of what is most important. I work hard to forge strong relationships with every client to better understand the client’s unique goals and for us to work together to accomplish them.”

Babin is married to Troy Babin, a Houma native, and they have been blessed with two children, Elise and Samuel. She is a member of Living Word Church and a Life Member of Junior Auxiliary of Houma.

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

The Ellender Law Firm has announced the joining of Camille Saltz Babin to their team of attorneys.

Babin is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 1993 and received her Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, in 1996 from Southern University Law Center.

Babin also served as Managing Editor of the Southern Law Review during her time as a law student. She has been licensed to practice law in Louisiana since October 1996. Babin clerked for two years for the Honorable Marc T. Amy (now retired) of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal from 1996 until 1998 prior to entering private practice in 1998.

Since moving to Houma in 1999, Babin has focused her practice primarily on family law, including but not limited to divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, community property, adoptions, as well as successions and wills.

“I am excited to join the Ellender Law Firm,” stated Babin. “The firm has a focus on the clients and being advocates for justice. I am passionate about helping

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS |

HEADLINES AND ACCOLADES

VCHS ANNOUNCES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR HEAD GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY COACH

APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

Vandebilt Catholic High School proudly announces national recognition for David Malone, head girls cross country coach.

Coach Malone was recently named a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) 2020 National Girls’ Cross Country Coach of the Year Award. Coaches across the nation are nominated for this award in recognition for their achievements in coaching, their years of service to high school sports, and their honors and championships earned while coaching.

On July 23, Malone, along with the 7 other finalists, will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska for the National Coach of the Year Awards banquet where the winner will be announced.

Coach Malone has been teaching at Vandebilt Catholic for 18 out of the 20 years of his teaching career. He currently teaches US History to the junior class.

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Along with cross country, Malone is also the head boys track coach. He has 16 years experience as the head boys and girls cross country coach.

As head coach of the girls cross country team, Malone has won 16 parish titles, 10 district titles, and three state championships. He was named the 20182019 Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA) Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year.

After winning the LHSCA Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year award in 2019, Coach Malone stated, “I am very excited to have won this award in a state that has a legacy of highly successful cross country coaches such as Eddie Cole and Pete Boudreaux. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication that my athletes have put into their craft of running. Without their blood, sweat, and tears, I would never have won this award. It is all about the

PAUL’S AGENCY WELCOMES NEW TALENT Paul’s Agency is excited to welcome a new hire to the team, Cade LeBoeuf to the Morgan City office, and Paul’s Insurance Services welcomes Jena Myhand to the Houma office.

A lifelong resident of Terrebonne Parish and a graduate of Nicholls State University, Cade joins the Morgan City office as an Account Executive.

He joined the team in March and is tasked with assistance in all aspects of insurance, including but not limited to client service, account marketing,

production support, claims and agency operations as necessary.

“It’s not that often you can hire such a qualified person to be a member of your growing organization. Cade brings a skill set to our agency that can’t be matched by our competitors. His diverse background as a risk manager of a publicly traded company brings a level of technical knowledge and experience that will continue to benefit and better serve our clients, and we’re excited to welcome him to our team.” said Philip McMahon,

girls and their ability to perform in the worst possible conditions imaginable for a cross country meet. I owe my success as a coach to their winning spirit and their willingness to compete at the highest level.”

The National High School Athletic Coaches Association serves high school coaches and athletic directors throughout the United States through education, recognition, and support. Their goal is to promote high school athletics and provide professional services and opportunities for all high school coaches.

The NHSACA provides resources to promote professional growth, and attitude of teamwork, sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles for Athletes, Coaches, and Athletic Directors.

The Vandebilt community is blessed to have worked alongside David Malone for nearly twenty years, and he epitomizes the qualities that a Catholic educational institution strives to instill in its students and athletes.

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Chief Operating Office at Paul’s Agency.

Prior to his time at Paul’s Agency, Cade has gained experience through many years of insurance-roles, risk management and human resources positions enhancing his many skills.

“This is a great opportunity for me to bring my years of insurance, risk, and human resources experience to such a great company as Paul’s Agency,” said Cade. “I look forward to providing insight and support anywhere I can, while enhancing an already established and well respected insurance team.”

When not immersed in insurance, Cade enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and other family members. As the time permits, he enjoys traveling, sports, hunting, and playing golf.

In February, Paul’s Insurance Services welcomed Jena Myhand, resident of Lafourche Parish, to the Houma office as a Client Service Manager to work on large commercial accounts.

“We are excited to welcome Jena to our team here in Houma. Her strong work ethic and experience assisting clients in

the commercial insurance industry are valuable assets for our growing company and customers. She is excited to meet our customers and provide them the customer service they deserve,” said Lance Trotti, Vice President at Paul’s Insurance Services.

Before joining the team, Jena has worked for a large national broker for 14 years, holds a Property & Casualty Insurance License in the State of Louisiana, and is a certified counselor through the National Alliance.

“I am very excited to have recently joined Paul’s Insurance Services in Houma,” said Jena. “I look forward to being a part of a growing office with many talented, energetic colleagues, and working with them as a team to help customers with their insurance and risk management needs.”

Outside of work, Jena spends time with her husband and daughter. She enjoys volunteering in the community through the Thibodaux Service League. She loves being outdoors, running, and hanging out by the pool.

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Terrebonne General Medical Center has named Dr. Brian Roberts as Medical Director of the Emergency Department.

Dr. Roberts became a member of the TGMC family as a student nurse extern in 2002. In 2004, he received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nicholls State University, then continued his education and received his medical degree from American University of the Caribbean in 2009. Upon completing his residency at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 2012, he rejoined the TGMC Emergency Department staff in 2013 as a practicing physician.

“We are proud to have Dr. Roberts as Medical Director of our Emergency Department. His knowledge and tenure have made him a valuable asset to our team and we are looking forward to continuing our mission of providing the highest quality care,” said Phyllis Peoples, President and CEO. In 2019, the TGMC Emergency Department treated over 46,700 patients and was awarded first place for Best Emergency Department two consecutive years in a row.

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MPL #442

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

TGMC NAMES NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT MEDICAL DIRECTOR

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS |

HEADLINES AND ACCOLADES

TFAE RECOGNIZES JAMES CHARLES WITH AWARD OF DISTINCTION Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) has named James Charles as the recipient of the 2020 James J. Buquet, Jr. Award of Distinction.

The award is given annually to a Terrebonne Parish public high school graduate recognized for vision and excellence in their chosen field or other areas of personal endeavor. This individual has provided service unselfishly to his or her community, state, nation or internationally.

Mr. Charles has dedicated his life to serving the students of Terrebonne Parish.

He began his career as a math teacher at Southdown High School. He taught throughout the parish before becoming an elementary math curriculum specialist, an assistant principal, and coordinator of migrant education. In 1988, he was named the first-ever principal of Ellender Memorial High School. Mr. Charles has also served as supervisor of secondary, adult, and vocational education, Assistant Superintendent, and Interim Superintendent.

An avid volunteer, Mr. Charles also created many enrichment programs for local underprivileged and at-risk youth.

He is a 1960 graduate of Southdown High School and received his degree from Southern University. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Southern University in 2019.

The James J. Buquet, Jr. Award was established by TFAE in 2008 to honor Mr. Buquet’s commitment to public education.

Mr. Charles will be honored at the annual TFAE Celebrates Excellence event on March 26 along with the named TFAE Distinguished Scholars and Inspirational Educators.

TFAE is an independent local non-profit organization that strives to positively affect academic achievement and to fundamentally improve education. TFAE has awarded more than $1.2 million grant dollars to Terrebonne Parish public school teachers since 2012.

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

FLETCHER, CHEVRON BRINGING NASA SUMMER CAMP, STEM FEST TO BAYOU REGION

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This morning, Chevron presented a $30,000 check to Fletcher Technical Community College, with funds going to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, including NASA’s Astro Camp and the Bayou STEM Fest to be held on Fletcher’s campus.

“STEM education, I think we all recognize, is becoming increasingly more and more important to the future of our workforce,” said Dr. Kristine Strickland, Fletcher Chancellor. “…We are a global community, and we are remiss if we don’t prepare our students and our community members for the careers of tomorrow in that global community, in that global society.”

“We’re excited to bring STEM

education to the Bayou Region and really capture those young minds, drive them into the industry, drive them into STEM fields and STEM jobs,” said Caitlin Hunter, community engagement specialist at Chevron. “We can’t do it with a better partner than Fletcher.”

NASA’s Astro Camp is set to arrive on campus this summer. Fletcher Dean of STEM Clint Coleman and his staff were unable to attend today’s ceremony in the college atrium because they are currently in training at NASA for the camp, Strickland said. “We are with them in thoughts that they have a tremendous experience there and that they learn a lot that they can bring back to our community,” she continued.

“We know that part of our regional changes that are happening are in the

aerospace industry as maybe some of our historical oil and gas companies begin to diversify what they do,” Strickland said. “And so this is again creating an interest and awareness for those future generations to participate.”

Bayou STEM Fest, which is also sponsored by the Greater New Orleans STEM, is scheduled for May 16 at Fletcher.

“So we have upgraded technology like HoloLens and augmented reality, so a lot of forward-thinking technological tools for kids to play with during the day,” said Hunter. “It’s very interactive, very hands on.”

Hunter said the “Chevron STEM Zone” contains five different stations and it will be traveling to Louisiana from California for only one time and to one place —

Fletcher’s campus for Bayou STEM Fest.

“Here at Fletcher, with the intersection here at Highway 90…we are so conveniently located and accessible for our community,” Strickland said.

Strickland also commented on the importance of K-12 students learning about STEM and the opportunities in the field early on.

“But really for us, it’s about the exposure, and it’s about building the excitement for our next generation and ensuring that they have equal access and equal opportunity to the jobs that are coming in the future,” she continued.

“The Bayou Region is so important to our industry,” Hunter added. “We look to support and provide these experiences as much as we can.”

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ON THE AGENDA SCIA MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON

Join SCIA at their general Membership Luncheon.

The meeting’s guest speaker will be Ryan Lamothe, Director, Gulf of Mexico Operations, Hess Corporation.

Admission is $25; reservations are required.

March 17, 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott, Houma

LUNCH AND LEARN LA’S FIRE CHIEFS MEET IN HOUMA full-time fire departments often have different needs from the vehicle than do volunteer organizations.

Cities, which often employ full-time fire departments, usually have access to water to combat a fire readily available.

Volunteer organizations often need to take water with them to the site.

Robert Triche, Key Associate Manager with Ferrara Fire Apparatuses Inc., displayed numerous fire fighting vehicles.

Some had long powerful lights lining the sides of the vehicle to help with visibility.

Others had hoses built into the ladder to aim and douse flames at high locations.

Another sported a large platform at the top of a ladder.

“This one, I can camp out up there and control the monitor and all – not fatigue standing on a ladder all the time,” he said, pointing at the platformed ladder.

Then he pointed at the one with the hose built in, “but I can’t get it where I can that straight stick – I can run it into places.”

This event is unique to other meetings throughout the year, explained Triche, because while smaller, those in attendance were in control of decision-making and purchasing.

“These are the guys who are going to get the pen and write the check,” said Triche.

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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON

Join the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber for their monthly membership luncheon featuring guest speaker Tim Soignet, Sheriff Elect. Admission is $25 for members and $30 for non-members; advance registration and payment is required.

March 24, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott, Houma

PITCH YOUR NICHE

“Pitch your Niche” is perfect for anyone wanting to pitch your 3-minute elevator speech about your business, or network, and enjoy a light lunch with the business community.

Think about it as expanding your

NICHOLLS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS JOB FAIR

Network with Nicholls students studying: Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Finance, Management (HR, Maritime & General), Marketing (General, Professional Sales & Advertising), and even MBA. Whether you are looking for a part-time, full-time or internship hire, this is a great opportunity for you to network with interested students and alumni.

April 7, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Nicholls Student Union Ballroom

SCIA MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON

Join SCIA at their general Membership Luncheon. Admission is $25; reservations are required.

April 21, 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott, Houma

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON

Join the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber for their monthly membership luncheon featuring guest speaker Matt Rookard, CEO, TEDA. Admission is $25 for members and $30 for non-members; advance registration and payment is required.

April 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott, Houma

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APRIL 2020 | BAYOU BUSINESS MONTHLY

The Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association held its 47th annual conference in March at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

The conference’s purpose is to meet, share ideas, discuss problems, and meet with vendors.

“It’s educational,” said Russell Di Salvo Jr., Coteau Fire Chief and President of Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association.

“It’s officer level classes and a lot of networking.”

Numerous booths were filled with people displaying and selling goods and services such as fire trucks, uniforms, insurance, radios, etc.

These vendors aren’t just about sales, said Amanda Thibodeaux, President of Louisiana Arson and Fire Prevention Association, and vendors. The face-toface meeting is more valuable.

“If they have a problem, and we have a problem, we can create a solution together,” said Thibodeaux.

The Louisiana Arson and Fire Prevention Association helps in the enforcement and education of fire codes.

For vendors who create tools for the firefighters, these events allow them to not only sell their products, but learn how to cater tools to the varying needs of the organizations.

In the case of fire trucks, for example,

The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber will host a Lunch and Learn titled “Growing Your Business: How to Plan For, Execute, and Achieve Success.” The event speaker will be Jimmy Nguyen, Senior Business Consultant with Louisiana Small Business Development Center.

Registration is $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Lunch will be provided.

March 19, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Chamber Office, Houma

network, promoting your business/ services, and getting to catch up with your fellow Chamber members all in one event. Due to the format of the event, please note that there is limited seating! The registration fee is $10 which includes lunch.

April 2, 11:30 a.m - 1 p.m.

Houma-Terrebonne Chamber Office

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Women’s Choice

TERREBONNE GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER IS ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST HOSPITALS FOR ORTHOPEDICS Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) received the 2019 Women’s Choice Award for being voted one of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics. This award indicates that TGMC meets women’s exceptionally high standards regarding care for themselves and their families and is in the top 10% of U.S. hospitals offering orthopedics services.

We’re honored that together with Gulf Coast Orthopedics women think so highly of the compassionate, exceptional orthopedic care TGMC provides. The Women’s Choice Award is only given to the country’s best medical centers based on patient satisfaction, clinical excellence and women’s expectations from their hospital. Another reason why TGMC provides leading edge healthcare for our community.

For more information visit TGMC.com