A quick look at your business and community news.
MOVERS
Mike Carson Construction announced the appointment of Connie Landry as marketing director.
Holli G. Thibodeaux has been named marketing director for Preis, Kraft & Roy.
Brady Mouton was recently named director of business recruitment for the Lafayette Economic Development Authority.
Safety Management Systems has hired Dallas Hebert as sales manager.
SHAKERS
C.R. "Rusty" Cloutier, president and CEO of MidSouth Bank, has been elected to the board of directors of the I-49 International Coalition. Also in MidSouth news, the following have been promoted: Pamela Landreneau and Stephen Broussard to vice presidents; and John Caro, Rodney Abington, Yvette Bernard, Gwen Viator, Heidi Williams, Amanda Tanner, Alice Gary, Melanie Riedl, and Dae Knighton to bank officers. In community news, the bank received the Better Business Bureau of Acadiana's 2004 Integrity Award and announced winners of its Singing for Education talent competition for children ages 7-12. Marina Waters placed first, and Taylor O'Brien, Hailey Hanks, Meagan Legnon, and Hallie Boudreaux placed second through fifth, respectively.
Community Coffee is celebrating its 85th birthday this year by releasing its first new packaging design in more than 30 years, unveiled Dec. 2.
The Acadian Home Builders Association announced a new community initiative, Home for Thanksgiving, which will raffle off a new home built by AHBA builder members and associates and enhance funding for its many shelter- and education-related charities. Also in AHBA news, Event Coordinator Arlene L. Haymark attended a three-day education seminar in Memphis.
Nextel Partners opened its first store in Lafayette at 5700 Johnston St. A ribbon cutting was held Nov. 16, and Nextel donated $1,000 in toys and cash to Toys for Tots.
Lafayette native and graduate of St. Thomas More High School, Michael Miley has been selected to direct the feature film version of Evangeline. Miley recently held a screening at UL Lafayette's Bayou Bijou theater for his award-winning film, The Bug Man, and was profiled in the September 2004 issue of Esquire Magazine as one of "20 Student Filmmakers to Watch."
HONORS
Transportation Security Administration presented the Friendship Award to Lafayette Regional Airport for its support of TSA and its cooperation and assistance with the agency's operations at the airport. Airline passenger traffic at the airport has increased over 2003, and total enplanements for 2004 through October totaled 139,423, a 5.5 percent increase over the same period in 2003. November marked the 74th anniversary of LRA, and Carroll J. Robicheaux Jr. was sworn in as a new commission member at the November meeting, and Commissioner Alan Dugas was sworn in to a new term.
Rob Guidry, president and CEO of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, has been selected as Chamber Executive of the Year for Louisiana for the second consecutive year. Also at the Chamber, officers for 2005 and newly elected and appointed members of the board of directors have been assigned. Board members elected to serve as officers on the executive committee are Tyron Picard, Donna Landry and Gary McGoffin. Also elected to serve on the committee are Don Bacque, Robbie Bush, Alan Hebert, Flo Meadows, Douglas Menefee and Ted Power. Individuals elected to serve three-year terms on the board are Bill Blanchet, Brad Broussard, John Butcher, Doug Keller, Meadows, Power, Greg Roberts and Keith Thibodeaux. In addition, members appointed to the board for one-year terms include Bacque, Raymond Blanco, Cameron Cope, Cherry Fisher May of The Independent and Wade Trahan.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana has been awarded the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations' Seal of Excellence for successfully completing the Louisiana Standards for Excellence Voluntary Certification Program.
John and Susan Cunniff with Acadiana Consultants/Y2 Marketing received the 2004 Outstanding New Business Award from the Better Business Bureau of Acadiana.
GOOD DEEDS
Acadiana Outreach Center and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse teamed up to provide Thanksgiving dinner at the Celebration Center of AOC to about 200 area residents.
UBS Financial Services Inc.'s Lafayette office made a $4,500 donation to American Red Cross' Acadiana Chapter Nov. 24. The donation will help support families of local troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Boy Scouts and aspiring Eagle Scout Erick Olson delivered seven new toy boxes to the mothers and children at Acadiana Youth's Maison de Mére shelter. Supplies to make the boxes were donated by Lowe's, Home Depot and Doug Ashy.