Veteran CPA Stephen Moore Jr. is merging his practice with the Lafayette-based CPA firm Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Company.
Veteran CPA Stephen Moore Jr. is merging his practice with the Lafayette-based CPA firm Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Company. A sole practitioner in Lafayette for the past 12 years, specializing in public accounting and financial planning, Moore previously was a partner in the firm Moore and Rolfes from 1983 to 1999. He brings four decades of public accounting and financial planning experience to Kolder, Champagne. Headquartered at 183 S. Beadle Road in Lafayette, Kolder, Champagne has nine additional offices throughout southern and central Louisiana - Breaux Bridge, Abbeville, New Iberia, Franklin, Morgan City, Ville Platte, Marksville, Oberlin and Pineville - and 35 CPAs. The firm was founded in 1997 and is led by Managing Partner Burton Kolder. A Lafayette native, Moore graduated from UL Lafayette (then USL) in 1971. He is an AICPA-designated Personal Financial Specialist, a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant.
Beau Box, a commercial real estate firm with offices in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans, has hired Jeremy Harson and Seth Citron as commercial agents. Harson, who joins Beau Box from Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate, where he served as sales associate, represents clients in the sale or lease of commercial real estate, with a focus in multi-family, 
and office sales/leasing. Harson has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from UL Lafayette and a master's degree in kinesiology from LSU. Citron focuses on clients' industrial needs. Before joining Beau Box, he worked at Stirling Properties as a commercial agent in Lafayette. Citron, who holds a bachelor's degree in business management from UL, began his career in commercial real estate in 2007 and is currently working toward his CCIM designation.
Brandy Dean has rejoined Wealth Advisors as senior administrative assistant. She initially joined the company in June 2007 but briefly left to spend time raising her two children. Dean was born and raised in Dallas and moved to Lafayette in May 2004. Prior to being an executive assistant, she served in the Navy as a cryptologic technician in Winter Harbor, Maine.
Community Foundation of Acadiana has hired Eric Guidry as chief operating officer in charge of operations, administration, finance and strategic projects. Guidry has more than 26 years of 
operations, financial, accounting, strategic development and human resources management experience. He most recently served as COO for Intertek's consulting and training business stream (formerly Randy Smith Training Solutions). Prior to Intertek / Randy Smith Training Solutions, he served in various roles such as chief financial officer and director of human resources for Noble Drilling Corp., as well as finance related positions with Baker Hughes Inteq. He began his professional career with Arthur Andersen & Co. Guidry and has a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in accounting from UL.
Lafayette-based H2O Inc., a water system equipment provider, has named David N. Dixon project manager. Dixon's responsibilities include project management and scheduling for complex engineering, procurement and construction projects, as well as overseeing day-to-day activities. He is also guiding new product development efforts. Dixon has more than 16 years of experience providing sales support and managing projects in the wastewater treatment arena. He received a bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University. H2O is a provider of potable water solutions, as well as comprehensive water safety products, services and rentals through its Bluecube and Crapzapper divisions.
A team of 11 financial representatives from the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, along with the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, committed to donating $250,000 to sponsor a sales and research training laboratory for the Department of Marketing and Hospitality at UL Lafayette. The lab is one component of the comprehensive Professional Sales and Research Program the department plans to launch in the 2012-2013 academic year. The lab facility will be located on the main floor in Moody Hall. UL alumnus and Northwestern Mutual's Managing Partner Steven Dugal put together the team of donors, most of whom are UL alumni. The team of donors includes Dugal, former Managing Partner Bill Hornsby, Stuart Cestia (managing director of the Lafayette office), and financial representatives Paul Nick, Taylor Davis, Stacy Russo Nichols, Bill Cunningham, Kenny Begneaud, Cindy Gunawan, Bill Bowers, and Elizabeth Gessner. In addition to a 10-year sponsorship of the sales and research lab, the Northwestern Mutual donation will also endow two scholarships for students in the Professional Sales and Research Program.
SIDES & Associates' work on behalf of three clients received a total of 10 awards at the Southern Public Relations Federation's Lantern Awards ceremonies at Pointe Clear, Ala. While graphic design competitions focus on creativity, SPRF Lantern Awards are determined by an expert judges' panel review of research, situational analysis, objectives, planning and execution. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness' Community Education and Outreach program received a total of six SPRF awards, three Lantern Awards of Excellence and three Certificates of Merit. With the SPRF recognition, SIDES' work on behalf of the GOHSEP CEO program has now received a total of 20 awards. The Lafayette-based agency's work for the Opportunity Machine brochure, business card design and The Switch logo each won a Certificate of Merit, as did the NEW Fly Lafayette Club program for the Lafayette Regional Airport.
Shipping Etc. has been certified by the International Plant Protection Convention for the local construction and export of shipping crates. This certification means that shipping crates built by Shipping Etc. are allowed to enter more than 138 IPPC participant countries that restrict wooden packaging to prevent the import of potentially devastating bugs and organisms into those countries.
United Way of Acadiana's 2011 Women's Leadership Council video won top honors in the Literacy Awareness category of the Literacy Powerline and Literacy Funders Network video contest on innovative ways to build a more literate community. Literacy Powerline and Literacy Funders Network conducted a national search for literacy visionaries looking to build a better future. Video submissions were received from across the country and judged by the National Literacy Coalition Conference Committee. UW of Acadiana's short video won the Literacy Awareness category due to its ability to "inspire and motivate the community to join in the literacy effort," according to the official award letter. Local advertising agency BBR Creative worked alongside local director of photography Brian C. Miller Richard to capture the importance of early grade literacy in a heart-tugging show of children reading, parent testimonials and beautiful imagery. UW of Acadiana is committed to helping more children enter school ready to learn, and Women's Leadership Council members invest their donations to increase early learning opportunities for children through support of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
Merlin Oil & Gas' $30,000 scholarship donation to UL Lafayette will be matched by the university in the form of a "Moody Match," resulting in a $60,000 scholarship to the Moody College of Business for students studying to become petroleum landmen. Merlin, owned by Mark Miller, has been operating since 1985. Miller believes the landman profession will continue to grow over the next decade with the significant expansion of shale plays. UL currently supports one of only five professional land and resource management degree programs in the country.
The Federal Aviation Administration has named Lafayette Regional Airport the 2011 Louisiana Airport of the Year, marking the second time in six years the airport was bestowed with the award. The airport was first honored in 2005. The Airport of the Year honor recognizes outstanding contributions airports make to enhance aviation in their state.