People & Flashes

PEOPLE & FLASHES

Shanna Perkins was promoted to editor of Acadiana LifeStyle.

Shanna Perkins was promoted to editor of Acadiana LifeStyle. Perkins is a graduate of UL Lafayette, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in journalism. She joined the New Iberia-based publication’s staff in August 2014 as associate editor. A Leesville native, Perkins has lived in Lafayette for nearly 10 years, having worked as a freelance writer for various local publications and online magazines. Professionally, she has had the opportunity to work within a variety of media outlets. She has worked as the producer of a lifestyle television program and as an Internet marketing manager with a specialization in social media management and online content creation.

IberiaBank has named Virginia Freshley Kelly and Russ M. Cantrelle vice presidents and business banking relationship managers for Acadiana. Kelly has 22 years of banking experience and recently served as Acadiana commercial underwriting manager for the bank. She is a graduate of Louisiana College where she earned a bachelor’s of science in finance and economics. Cantrelle most recently served as branch manager for the bank’s Admiral Doyle and Jefferson Terrace locations. He has 10 years of banking experience and is a graduate of LSU with a degree in economics. Kelly and Cantrelle are both located at the Jefferson Terrace branch in New Iberia.

David Romero has joined Home Bank as assistant VP/banking center manager at the Kaliste Saloom Road location. Romero has more than 17 year of experience in banking, most recently with Bank of America in Fort Worth, Texas. Romero graduated from UL Lafayette with a bachelor of science degree in business administration.

Connie Chachere, Danielle Toups, Katri Culotta and Linda Matthews recently joined the firm of Keller Williams Realty Acadiana as real estate agents. Chachere is a graduate of the UL Lafayette with a degree in general studies and has 21 years of experience in insurance, sales and marketing. Toups is a graduate of Nicholls State University, and has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, with a concentration in public relations; she also received her teaching certification from UL. Toups worked in public relations for two years before becoming a teacher. She started her sixth year of teaching this past fall at Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy. Culotta graduated from UL with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science. She was a records coordinator and assisted the vice president of operations as well as the vice president of membership at the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for several years. She has also been the liaison to several committees, including Leadership Lafayette and Education and Workforce. Matthews is a graduate of Northwestern State University and has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics Education, as well as an MBA, from Tulane University. She was previously an IT project leader at UL.

Washington State Bank is investing in South Louisiana Community College by providing tuition support for local students. The bank recently created an annual $5,000 scholarship benefiting students studying business. In addition to majoring in a business-related program, students must also have and maintain a 2.5 GPA and maintain at least 12 credit hours, among other standard criteria. The first scholarship will be awarded for the 2015-2016 academic year. Applications are available at www.solacc.edu. The recipient will be determined by the college’s Scholarship Committee, comprised of faculty and staff.

Kenneth Hughes has joined Broussard Poché as audit in-charge. Hughes has 10 years of banking experience in auditing, investment portfolio management and corporate accounting. In the audit department, he will work closely with Audit Partners P. John Blanchet III; Joey L. Breaux; and Audit Department Head John Istre. A native of Leesville, Hughes attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles where he received a bachelor of science degree in accounting before moving to Lafayette.

Kathan “Kit” Musgrove was appointed director of convention services at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville. Musgrove, who has 20 years of management and corporate sales experience, was previously director of sales for SB Yen Management in Chicago (The White Hall Hotel and Best Western University Plaza), overseeing all daily operation requirements of the convention, sales and catering departments. Musgrove studied business management at the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a past president and member of the board of directors for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, Gulf South Chapter. Paragon has more than a million square feet of convention and gaming entertainment space.

Shannon Richard has joined Mid- South Bank as banking center manager of the Oil Center location. Richard is running the day-to-day operations of the location and working to develop new business in the Lafayette market. The Lafayette native has 15 years of banking experience, having most recently worked for Capital One Bank as assistant branch manager. She also previously worked for IberiaBank. Richard attended UL Lafayette for two years, majoring in criminal justice, and is a volunteer for Junior Achievement.

Van Eaton & Romero, a Latter & Blum Company, honored its top producers in residential and commercial real estate from 2014 at its annual awards breakfast at the City Club in River Ranch.

Last year Van Eaton & Romero Realtors closed a total of $558 million in residential sales. Commercial, multi-family, lot, and land sales of $69 million brought the year-end total to $628 million. During 2014, nine Van Eaton & Romero agents and five teams achieved a total closed dollar volume of more than $10 million each; 18 agents and four teams closed between $5 million and $9.9 million; 34 agents and four teams closed between $2.5 million and $4.9 million; and 46 agents and two teams closed between $1 million and $2.5 million. Van Eaton & Romero’s top 10 associates, based on individual closed dollar volume, were Stacey Arceneaux, Charlie Baudoin, Beau Bourque, Missy Guilliot, Melanie Lunn, Sylvia McLain, Penny McGehee, Patricia Powell, Lori McCarthy and Teresa Scarsella. The top five teams were the Robbie Breaux & Team of Robbie Breaux, Heather Breaux, Amber Beauregard, Laurie Kraemer and Robin McDaniel; The Gleason Group, which includes David Gleason, Cassie Goldsboro and Caitlyn LeCompte; Teresa Hamilton & Team, which includes Teresa Hamilton, Eliana Ashkar, Sharon Henderson, Jason Louviere and Joel Bacqué; the team of Carole Horn and Calvin Legé; and The Over The Top Team of Lynette Bagala, Linell Champagne, Laci LaBry, Zonnie LaBry and Rebekah McGee. Reid Smith received the Rising Star Award. To qualify, the recipient must be an Agent in his or her initial year or first year as a Van Eaton & Romero licensee.

Wendy Jones was named branch manager of IberiaBank’s Tower Branch location on Congress Street in Downtown Lafayette. Jones has more than 22 years of banking experience and most recently served as assistant branch manager and senior relationship banker at the Tower Branch and Settlers Trace Branch location in River Ranch. Jones’ background includes financial planning and banking for the Bank of Nova Scotia in Canada and Chase Bank in Lafayette. She holds a Mutual Fund Series 6 License and Life & Health License. She is active in the community where she has served as a volunteer with the United Way of Acadiana, UL Women’s Leadership, Bridge Ministries and Junior Achievement.

In early April Cox Communications announced that it has increased the speeds on two packages of its Internet service. Cox High Speed Internet Essential increased from 5 megabits per second to 15 megabits per second. Cox High Speed Internet Starter is now five times faster, increasing from 1 megabit per second to 5 megabits per second. The new speeds automatically went into effect for customers on these packages.

In February, March and April, Lafayette’s Painting with a Twist held three “Painting with a Purpose” events that benefitted Acadiana Pride, SOFA (service, outreach, furniture, Acadiana, an outreach program of The Episcopal Church of Ascension) and Relay for Life. As part of its ongoing commitment to give back to the community, the local business, owned by Tammy Milam, sponsors a monthly fundraising event called Painting with a Purpose and donates a portion of the proceeds to local nonprofit organizations.

Sasan Daneshvar, a professional engineer with more than six years of experience in design, planning, transportation studies, utilities and project management, has joined Fenstermaker. As a key member of Fenstermaker’s engineering team, Daneshvar serves as engineering manager and will determine project feasibility, prepare and direct preparation of roadway plans, specifications, transportation reports, construction schedules and designs. Daneshvar has been involved with major P3 design-build projects for the Texas Department of Transportation and is particularly interested in highway design and construction, structures, pipelines and other infrastructure. Daneshvar attends the University of Texas at Arlington and is working toward his Ph.D. In 2010, he earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington with an emphasis on infrastructure engineering and management.

He received his B.S. in civil engineering from Tehran Azad University in Iran in 2006. Prior to his position with Fenstermaker, Daneshvar was project engineer and utility relocation manager for Ferrovial-Agroman U.S. Corp. in Fort Worth from April 2011 to December 2014.