People & Flashes

People & Flashes for July 22, 2014

by Patrick Flanagan

A look at recent hirings, promotions and other announcements from Acadiana's business community.

Joseph C. Giglio Jr., an attorney with Liskow and Lewis; Bryan J. Hanks, president and owner of Beta Land Services; William A. Hendrix III, Lafayette market president of Whitney Bank; Henry C. Perret Jr., an attorney with Perret Doise; and John Wright, a certified public accountant with Wright, Moore, DeHart, Dupuis and Hutchinson were elected to serve three-year terms on the board of directors of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation. The foundation manages investments and serves as trustee of endowed funds and other private assets contributed for the benefit of the University.

Lafayette wealth advisor Andrew Ahrens appeared on CNBC in an interview from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange July 14 and was also interviewed by TheStreet Inc. that same day in New York. Additionally, Ahrens, principal of Ahrens Investment Partners, was interviewed by a panel of financial experts on CNBC June 2. This year Ahrens was recognized among the 2014 Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in the US by Barron's magazine.

LAGCOE announced four staff appointments: Danielle Morrissey was named events manager, Lauren Rabalais marketing coordinator, Jillian Dickerson special projects coordinator, and Claire Thom was promoted to industry relations director. Morrissey moved from intern to the full-time position of events manager. Morrissey is a recent UL Lafayette grad with an MS in communication. The Lake Charles native earned a bachelor's degree in communication with a concentration in PR from McNeese State University. Rabalais has experience in non-profit communications and marketing, including Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation and the Foundation for Historical Louisiana in Baton Rouge. She graduated from LSU's Manship School of Mass Communication with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and minors in history and geography. Dickerson, who is also serving as Young Professionals of LAGCOE liaison, has experience as an executive assistant at LEDA and UL. Dickerson earned a bachelor's degree in communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in business from UL. Thom served as communications director for LAGCOE for 3.5 years before her promotion to industry relations director. LAGCOE will be held Oct. 27-29, 2015.

Brian T. Kirk, CFO at University Hospital & Clinics, has earned the professional designation of Certified Medical Practice Executive by the American College of Medical Practice Executives, the certification entity of the Medical Group Management Association. The designation demonstrates that Kirk has achieved board certification in medical practice management. Kirk moved back into a CFO role with Lafayette General Health's management and operation with the newly privatized University Hospital & Clinics, effective in June 2013. Before the transition, he was VP of physician practices for Lafayette General Medical Doctors. Prior to working with Lafayette General, Kirk was CFO at Opelousas General Health System.

Emprint/Moran Printing of Baton Rouge (Emprint) has acquired the assets of TriStar Graphics of Monroe. TSG's Lafayette facility's sales and customer service staff will remain unchanged while some of its production capabilities are being moved to Emprint's Baton Rouge facility. The staff in TSG's Monroe offices was not affected by the buyout.

Victory Addiction Recovery Center formed a partnership with the Lafayette Parish School System to better educate students and their families about drug and alcohol abuse. On June 11, Victory provided a workshop for LPSS social workers and mental health professionals, its clinicians and staff sharing information to help the LPSS get a better understanding of addiction and how it works. LPSS staff was also introduced to methods and training for handling a crisis involving a student or family member when substance abuse is present. The free workshop was held at the Victory Center auditorium at 111 Liberty Ave. in Lafayette.

New Orleans-headquartered Dynamic Industries will soon be treading South American waters for a new project in the Gulf of Venezuela. The project involves two sub-contracts recently awarded by an unnamed entity to the company, including the fabrication of subsea and topside components for a new project development off Venezuela's coast. The client did not give Dynamic permission to release any additional details, including its name or the project's cost. "This is a significant project for Dynamic for the development of procedures and expanding our experience in the fabrication of large and medium-size clad piping components as well as other structural subsea equipment and platform installation aids," says Dennis LaFleur, Dynamic's VP of sales for the U.S. fabrication division. Seventy employees will be deployed for the six-month project, which will involve the use of a new welding procedure.

Joseph C. Giglio Jr., an attorney with Liskow and Lewis; Bryan J. Hanks, president and owner of Beta Land Services; William A. Hendrix III, Lafayette market president of Whitney Bank; Henry C. Perret Jr., an attorney with Perret Doise; and John Wright, a certified public accountant with Wright, Moore, DeHart, Dupuis and Hutchinson were elected to serve three-year terms on the board of directors of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation. The foundation manages investments and serves as trustee of endowed funds and other private assets contributed for the benefit of the University.

Lafayette wealth advisor Andrew Ahrens appeared on CNBC in an interview from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange July 14 and was also interviewed by TheStreet Inc. that same day in New York. Additionally, Ahrens, principal of Ahrens Investment Partners, was interviewed by a panel of financial experts on CNBC June 2. This year Ahrens was recognized among the 2014 Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in the US by Barron's magazine.

LAGCOE announced four staff appointments: Danielle Morrissey was named events manager, Lauren Rabalais marketing coordinator, Jillian Dickerson special projects coordinator, and Claire Thom was promoted to industry relations director. Morrissey moved from intern to the full-time position of events manager. Morrissey is a recent UL Lafayette grad with an MS in communication. The Lake Charles native earned a bachelor's degree in communication with a concentration in PR from McNeese State University. Rabalais has experience in non-profit communications and marketing, including Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation and the Foundation for Historical Louisiana in Baton Rouge. She graduated from LSU's Manship School of Mass Communication with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and minors in history and geography. Dickerson, who is also serving as Young Professionals of LAGCOE liaison, has experience as an executive assistant at LEDA and UL. Dickerson earned a bachelor's degree in communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in business from UL. Thom served as communications director for LAGCOE for 3.5 years before her promotion to industry relations director. LAGCOE will be held Oct. 27-29, 2015.

Brian T. Kirk, CFO at University Hospital & Clinics, has earned the professional designation of Certified Medical Practice Executive by the American College of Medical Practice Executives, the certification entity of the Medical Group Management Association. The designation demonstrates that Kirk has achieved board certification in medical practice management. Kirk moved back into a CFO role with Lafayette General Health's management and operation with the newly privatized University Hospital & Clinics, effective in June 2013. Before the transition, he was VP of physician practices for Lafayette General Medical Doctors. Prior to working with Lafayette General, Kirk was CFO at Opelousas General Health System.

Emprint/Moran Printing of Baton Rouge (Emprint) has acquired the assets of TriStar Graphics of Monroe. TSG's Lafayette facility's sales and customer service staff will remain unchanged while some of its production capabilities are being moved to Emprint's Baton Rouge facility. The staff in TSG's Monroe offices was not affected by the buyout.

Victory Addiction Recovery Center formed a partnership with the Lafayette Parish School System to better educate students and their families about drug and alcohol abuse.
On June 11, Victory provided a workshop for LPSS social workers and mental health professionals, its clinicians and staff sharing information to help the LPSS get a better understanding of addiction and how it works. LPSS staff was also introduced to methods and training for handling a crisis involving a student or family member when substance abuse is present. The free workshop was held at the Victory Center auditorium at 111 Liberty Ave. in Lafayette.

New Orleans-headquartered Dynamic Industries will soon be treading South American waters for a new project in the Gulf of Venezuela. The project involves two sub-contracts recently awarded by an unnamed entity to the company, including the fabrication of subsea and topside components for a new project development off Venezuela's coast. The client did not give Dynamic permission to release any additional details, including its name or the project's cost. "This is a significant project for Dynamic for the development of procedures and expanding our experience in the fabrication of large and medium-size clad piping components as well as other structural subsea equipment and platform installation aids," says Dennis LaFleur, Dynamic's VP of sales for the U.S. fabrication division. Seventy employees will be deployed for the six-month project, which will involve the use of a new welding procedure.