Whitney Bank has committed $100,000 to the Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Foundation, funds designated to enhance the intercollegiate baseball program by offsetting costs associated with facility upgrades and expansion of Tigue Moore Field. In conjunction with the donation, Whitney’s logo will be prominently displayed on both dugouts as part of a fouryear, non-exclusive agreement.
Allison McElligott has joined BBR Creative’s account service team as account manager, and Brittanny Walker has been promoted to project manager. A Lafayette native, McElligott attended Loyola University in New Orleans where she double majored in public relations and Latin American studies. She previously worked as the brand manager for philanthropic jewelry company The Giving Keys. Her experience also includes internships with Uptown PR in New Orleans and the Russo Group in Lafayette. Walker started her journey at BBR as an online marketing intern and recently transitioned into the full-time role of project manager. Walker received her bachelor’s degree in advertising from UL Lafayette, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in communication specializing in advertising and mass communication. She previously worked at Nexstar Broadcasting as an account executive.
Several Lafayette General Health affiliates received honors from Press Ganey Associates Inc., a national leader in health care analytics. Press Ganey’s prestigious Pinnacle of Excellence Award and Guardian of Excellence Award honors were bestowed on Lafayette General Medical Center, Lafayette General Surgical Hospital, St. Martin Hospital and LGMD Physician Group. The Pinnacle of Excellence Award recognizes top-performing clients from health care organizations nationwide on the basis of extraordinary achievement and consistently high levels of excellence for three years. The Guardian of Excellence Award recognizes top-performing health care organizations that have consistently achieved the 95th percentile or above of performance in select categories. Pinnacle of Excellence Award winners were LGMC for Patient Experience in Inpatient Care, and LGSH for Patient Experience in Ambulatory Surgery. Guardian of Excellence Award winners were LGMC for Excellence for Patient Experience in Inpatient Care and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey; LGMD Physician Group for Patient Experience in Medical Practice; LGSH for Patient Experience in Ambulatory Surgery; St. Martin Hospital for Patient Experience in the Emergency Room; and also St. Martin Hospital for Patient Experience in Outpatient Services.
Dr. Deborah Johnson, a hematologist/oncologist with Cancer Center of Acadiana, has transferred her practice from the CCA location at Lafayette General Medical Center to the new CCA location at Opelousas General Health System. A native of Opelousas, Johnson decided to continue her professional career caring for patients in her hometown at 627 E. Prudhomme St., Suite 2. This is the seventh location of CCA across Acadiana.
AT&T has boosted its mobile Internet coverage at the Cajundome by adding network capacity to the Distributed Antenna System to give customers a better wireless experience during big events at the venue. The network upgrade consists of strategically placed antennas that distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage throughout the Cajundome. It can provide stronger, more consistent wireless coverage to customers, so they don’t have to worry about their service getting stuck in a traffic jam of other people’s calls, texts and posts.
The Blake at Lafayette has hired Kim St. Blanc as director of sales. St. Blanc joined the assisted living and memory care facility, which is tentatively scheduled to open in May, after serving as the donor recruitment representative for United Blood Services covering the southern region. She was born in Wichita, Kan., and has lived most of her life in Lafayette. She earned a bachelor of science degree in health care administration from the University of Phoenix after beginning her education at UL Lafayette.
Max Michael Menard has opened a private law practice at 200 Church St. in Youngsville. The Lafayette native, who has two decades of legal experience in the Lafayette area, received his magna cum laude undergraduate degree in business administration from UL Lafayette. He earned his law degree from LSU, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class.
Lafayette attorney Edwin G. Preis Jr. was awarded the 2015 Distinguished Achievement Award by LSU’s Law Center. The award recognizes LSU Law graduates for professional achievement, high standards of professional ethics and integrity, support of the LSU Law Center and service to the community. A 1972 graduate of the LSU Law Center, Preis is the managing partner and founder of Preis PLC, a regional defense law firm with offices in Lafayette, New Orleans and Houston.
G2X Energy, a developer of advanced natural gas to methanol projects, has begun Phase 1 construction on its methanol production facility located on property owned by the Port of Lake Charles.
Once complete, the facility, known as Big Lake Fuels Methanol Plant, will produce 1.4 million metric tons of commercial grade methanol per year and will have the necessary facilities to convert methanol to automotive gasoline in the future.
University of Louisiana Federal Credit Union is constructing a second branch at 805 Bertrand Drive. The existing branch at 619 McKinley St. on the UL campus will remain open. Architects Southwest will handle facility design, and Rudick Construction is general contractor. Completion is scheduled for spring 2017.
Beau Box Commercial Real Estate has added veteran broker Craig A. Pugliese to its Lafayette team. Pugliese, an established commercial real estate broker, specializes in the acquisition and disposition of office and industrial buildings as well as site selection, development, and office and industrial tenant representation. Beau Box Commercial Real Estate has offices in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans.
The Lafayette Parish Medical Society Alliance Medical Scholarship Fund, at Community Foundation of Acadiana, is accepting applications for its annual scholarship cycle. The cycle is open to residents of Lafayette Parish who are currently enrolled in or entering a full-time accredited medical school. Students must be residents of Louisiana for at least 12 months prior to applying (which they can do online at www.cfacadiana.org/LPMSA). Students must provide two letters of reference, proof of enrollment and a one-page essay. The deadline for applications is June 1. This scholarship is made possible by contributions from LPMSA members.
Craig Shilow, a licensed massage therapist at Message Envy Lafayette, has been selected as therapist of the year for the Massage Envy Louisiana/ Mississippi Gulf Coast Region. Shilow heads to Las Vegas to represent the region at the Massage Envy Annual Franchise Conference April 18 – 21, where he will be honored and considered for national therapist of the year. Shilow is from Eunice and has been a massage therapist with Massage Envy Lafayette since 2010. He is a working actor on the side.
Jordan Dugas has joined Russo as a brand developer. The Lafayette native, who has an extensive background in event planning and marketing, earned a public relations degree from LSU.