ABiz Presents

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Steven Coll to Keynote Top 50 Luncheon

ABiz presents:

Whitney Bank and The Allen & Gooch Law Firm return as presenting
co-sponsors for this prestigious event.

ABiz is pleased to announce that respected journalist Steven Coll will be the keynote speaker for the 2012 Top 50 Business Luncheon on Thursday, August 23, at The Cajundome Convention Center at noon.

Whitney Bank Lafayette / Cenla Commercial and Mid Market Bankers: Seated left to right: Kenray Landry, Larry Attenhofer, William Hendrix, Duayne Richard, Byron Breaux, Jeff Blum and Nancy Trahan. Standing left to right: Brannon Menard, Nicholas Richard, Brent Benoit, Jonathan Richard, Kevin Shipp, Matt Bruyninckx, Greg Zaunbrecher, Mike Williams, Craig Pontiff, Harold Smith and Clegg Caffery

Whitney Bank and The Allen & Gooch Law Firm return as presenting
co-sponsors for this prestigious event.

ABiz is pleased to announce that respected journalist Steven Coll will be the keynote speaker for the 2012 Top 50 Business Luncheon on Thursday, August 23, at The Cajundome Convention Center at noon. This is the fourth annual event produced by the magazine in honor of the top executives who preside over the region's largest companies, ranked by gross revenues and based on research exclusive to the magazine.

Allen & Gooch: Back Row: David Ayo, Keith Landry, Brian Perry, Mike Parker, Troy Broussard, Alan Meche, John Hughes. Front Row: Randy Theunissen, Raymond Jackson, Emile Joseph, Jody Zaunbrecher, Frank Flynn, Billy Parker and Clay Allen

Along with the law firm of Allen & Gooch, Whitney Bank returns as a presenting co-sponsor of the Top 50 Luncheon again this year.  "On behalf of our directors, officers, and employees, I would like to congratulate all the top 50 recipients," says Duayne Richard, president of Whitney's Central Louisiana/Lafayette Region.  "From Texas to Florida, throughout the Whitney/Hancock footprint, it is my observation that Acadiana is by far the most entrepreneurial area and this attributes to our amazing growth and prosperity.  This is the reason America considers this area one of the most desirable places to live and work.  We appreciate the recipients who allow us to serve their financial needs and welcome the opportunity to help others achieve their financial goals."

Allen & Gooch managing partner Clay Allen says his firm is pleased to be part of an event that recognizes Acadiana's business leaders and the unique qualities that drive their success. "We have had the privilege of working with many of Acadiana's top businesses and we have witnessed first-hand the innovation, the work ethic, and the bold vision that is a hallmark of our region's economic leadership," he observes. "We congratulate the Acadiana Top 50 Businesses for their corporate citizenship and for their role in our region's economic vitality."

Supporting sponsors for the event are The LHC Group and The Acadiana Economic Development Council, who will announce the winner of The Acadiana Honors Awards that day. The Pinnacle Group Financial Services returns as VIP Parking sponsor and Vidox Productions will again produce the Top 50 video report for the luncheon. Table sponsors include Fire & Safety Systems and Alford, Staples, Lapeyre & Robicheaux.

Steven Coll

Keynote speaker will be Steven Coll, a two-time winner of The Pulitzer Prize, current president of the non-partisan New America Foundation and a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine. Coll previously spent 25 years at The Washington Post, where his roles included foreign correspondent, senior editor and managing editor. He won his first Pulitzer (with David A. Vise) in 1990 for an account of the SEC's battle with Wall Street (later published as a book Eagle on the Street). Coll was awarded a second Pulitzer in 2005 for his book Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, which received three additional prestigious awards for coverage of international affairs.  In May, Coll published the most recent of his seven books: Private Empire: Exxon Mobil and American Power. Critics at BusinessWeek, The Washington Post and USA Today-Money describe Coll as one of the few journalists in the world who could tackle such a daunting topic and laude his impartiality in telling the tale. The New York Times calls Coll's work "meticulous, even-handed and valuable." Last month he announced that that he will transition into a Senior Fellow role at The New America Foundation to pen a follow up to Ghost Wars.

Barnes & Noble will provide books for sale and signing at the event.

Tickets are $50 per person or $450 for a reserved table for eight.  
For more information or to download a ticket order form online, go to www.theind.com/indevents or contact Robin Hebert at 337.769.8603 by phone
or by email at [email protected]