Wednesday, June 29, 2011**
Business News**
Iberia Wealth Advisors has named Todd Hoffpauir senior trust relationship manager for Lafayette.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011**
Business News**
Iberia Wealth Advisors has named Todd Hoffpauir senior trust relationship manager for Lafayette. Hoffpauir works with IberiaBank's high net worth clients to develop and maintain wealth preservation and asset transfer strategies to meet their long-term financial goals. He joins the company with more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry, including 16 years of experience in trust and investment services. Hoffpauir also previously worked in public accounting as a CPA. He earned an MBA from UL in 1995.
Lafayette-based branding agency Russo Group is growing westward with an expansion into Dallas and two new team members to head its new market operations. The expansion means the addition of two branding consultants with decades of experience and notable résumés, Tom Marcantel and Gordon Law. Marcantel joins Russo after his latest position as large brand strategist for Little Rock-based CJRW. His work with CJRW included creative development for Tony Roma's, Bennigan's Grill & Tavern, Mr. Rooter Plumbing and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Gordon ran his own consulting firm before signing on to Russo, and in his more than 30 years of advertising and marketing experience has worked with McDonald's, Fujitsu, Taco Bell, Sprint, McAfee, Chuck E. Cheese's, American Heart Association, Greyhound, Subway and a number of other companies.
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre has opened a new Lafayette office in River Ranch. Attorneys Dennis L. Doise, John W. Kolwe and Kyle M. Bacon will work from the River Ranch office. The New Orleans-based law firm also has a downtown Lafayette office.
Marty Davis has joined The Carwash, formerly Pinhook Auto Laundry, as manager. He previously worked at LARC where he served as director of vocational services for three years. Founded in 1972, The Carwash, formerly Pinhook Auto Laundry, is locally owned and operated by Terry McFillen.
Allison LeBlanc has joined the Lafayette office of Brett Broussard, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., as an associate financial advisor. Her office is located at 3909 Ambassador Caffery Parkway in Lafayette. LeBlanc brings five years of experience as a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, where she developed her own practice in the Virginia Beach, Va., area. She previously worked as a product specialist with Larry Broussard, an agent of Horace Mann Insurance. A Louisiana native, she received her bachelor's degree from UL Lafayette in 2003 and earned the professional certification of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor in 2006.
Goldin Metals Inc., a distributor and manufacturer of metal building components, has opened a new facility in Lafayette at 112 Zonolite St. Family-owned since 1942, Goldin Metals is headquartered in Gulfport, Miss. Using state-of-the-art equipment, the company offers both residential and commercial steel roofing and siding panels in a variety of colors, profiles and thickness, and has a complete line of metal building component parts available to both individuals and contractors.
Business First Bank has named Chief Administrative Officer Jude Melville the company's chief executive officer, succeeding Buddy Roemer, who will continue to serve as president of the bank. In addition, Chief Credit Officer Robert Bond has taken on the additional job of chief operating officer. Melville is a graduate of Harvard University and the London School of Economics and a former officer in the U.S. Air Force. Bond has more than 25 years experience in corporate banking in the Louisiana market including the past two with Business First.
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Honors**
Charley G's, known for its twist on southern Louisiana seafood, has been selected by the National Restaurant Association as a state winner of its distinguished Restaurant Neighbor Award. The restaurant received this award for its Frequent Diner Program, which allows customers to donate a 5 percent credit from their purchases at the restaurant to local charities. Once the charity has accumulated a certain number of credits, Charley G's gives gift certificates in any denomination to use in their fundraising, such as door prizes at charity events, or to award their volunteers.
The Lafayette City-Parish Council recognized Le Centre International de Lafayette, the international trade division of LCG, for earning the President's "E" Award for Export Service. The "E" Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports, and only one award was earned by a Louisiana organization this year. Councilman Don Bertrand traveled last month to Washington D.C., in place of C-P President Joey Durel, with Philippe Gustin, director of Le Centre, to receive the "E" Award from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke.
Keith Poirrier, a Lafayette insurance broker and senior VP of HUB International Gulf South Ltd., was ranked one of Risk & Insurance Magazine's 2011 Power Brokers. Power Brokers are recognized as the leading commercial brokers in their field who provide the highest level of customer service to their clients. Poirrier provides insurance expertise and service to the marine and energy industries in the Gulf region, specifically the lift boat sector of the marine industry.
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Government**
Brian McGrath has been named arts and culture manager for LCG/the Heymann Center, replacing Frank Bradshaw, who retired in March after 37 years of service. McGrath is a native of Lafayette and most recently was the general manager of Texas A&M Reed Arena. He also served as technical director/event production at the University of North Carolina Charlotte/Halton Arena, and was once assistant production coordinator at the Cajundome. McGrath will also supervise the managers of the Lafayette Science Museum and Acadiana Nature Station.