The Sixth Annual Chamber SWLA Legis Gator Luncheon presented its distinguished Legis Gator of the Year and Chairman's award, respectively, to Rep. Rick Gallot of Ruston, who chairs the House and Governmental Affairs Committee, and U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany of Lafayette. Both were recognized for their efforts to keep the Southwest Louisiana region whole during redistricting. More than 750 attendees helped the Chamber SWLA honor these legislators, recapping legislative efforts undertaken in 2011. This year's awards focused on legislators supporting pro-business legislation targeting transportation, insurance and ethics reform, workforce development and other issues the Chamber SWLA has been monitoring in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. The first-ever Legacy of Service Award went to State Sen. Willie Mount of Lake Charles and the Governmental Affairs Award went to Rep. Mike Danahay of Sulphur. Title sponsor for the event was L'Auberge Casino Resort, and presenting sponsor was CITGO Lake Charles.
Knight Oil Tools has named Joe Lee director of its jar product line. Lee oversees new jar manufacturing operations in addition to the maintenance and servicing of used equipment at the Knight Oil Tools Jar facility in Broussard. Lee's other responsibilities include business development, HSE and quality systems for the Jar product line. Lee holds a BS in civil engineering from Mississippi State University. Prior to joining Knight, Lee served as VP of operations at Foxxe Energy Services. Lee has also held management positions at Halliburton, Expro Group, Altec Gas Lift and Schlumberger.
Healing House; Hope for Grieving Children has installed four new members and five new officers to its board of directors for the 2011-2012 term. New officers are Daniel Graffeo, past president; Louise Lambert, secretary; Vicky Taylor-Brignac, president; Rena Cottam, vice president; and André Broussard, treasurer. New members are Tina Guidry, Sonya Tedesco, Laurie Foreman and Mary Courville. The mission of Healing House is to provide support and education for grieving children, their caregivers and the Acadiana community.
John Romero, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate, was ranked No. 5 in closed adjusted gross commission income for the southern region for 2010. The region is made up of 14 southern states and Puerto Rico. Romero competed among 400 independently owned and operated affiliated companies in the Coldwell Banker system.
Claudette Holder has joined Learning RX Lafayette as director of First Impressions. Claudette was previously the area publisher for The Shepherd's Guide, the Christian business yellow page directory, and is an independent distributor/senior manager with SendOutCards. Learning RX specializes in treating the cause not the symptoms of learning struggles.
Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate is excited to announce the addition of several new agents to its Lafayette team. After spending the past seven years selling real estate in Orange Beach, Ala., Todd Duke relocated back to Lafayette and has joined Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate. A graduate of Cathedral Carmel and UL Lafayette, Duke served as vice president of Duke Transportation before entering the real estate market. Holly Olivier, a native of Lawtell and a 2009 graduate of UL Lafayette, also joined the real estate agency.
Advanced Data Concepts Managing Partner Ken Babin announced the creation of a new division to help businesses in the Acadiana area focus on smart technology based on data backups, disaster recovery and business continuity. Babin, who is also the IT manager for Delmar Systems, opened Advanced Data Concepts eight years ago in Broussard. The company offers computer programming, wireless network setup, antivirus, computer/server sales and management and website development.
Keith Mosing has been named president and CEO of Frank's Casing Crew & Rental Tools Inc., a provider of tubular technologies for drilling and completions, and Robert Gilbert has been named executive VP and COO. Former President Donald Mosing will remain with the company as chairman emeritus of the board of directors.
Cathy S. Newhouse has joined LHC Group as senior vice president of clinical program development and innovation. Newhouse, a registered nurse and health care executive with more than 25 years of experience in home health management, will lead clinical program development and innovation initiatives for LHC Group's more than 300 locations in 19 states. She will also oversee clinical relations at each of LHC Group's 123 hospital joint venture locations. Newhouse previously served as senior vice president of sales and clinical programs at Almost Family in Louisville, Ky. She has more than 20 years in operations and clinical leadership roles at Gentiva Health Services. She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in management and holds certification in nursing administration from the American Nurses Association.
RLC, the largest privately held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, has hired Dru Milke as CEO. Milke has domestic and international management experience and a proven track record in both the offshore rotorcraft services and oil and gas industries. The company also recently promoted Larry Adams to COO and Michael Guidry to VP of operations. Milke spent almost two decades at Offshore Logistics, a major provider of marine and helicopter transportation to the oil and gas industry and the parent company of Air Logistics (now Bristow). Milke served as VP of western hemisphere operations, VP of international operations, CFO and ultimately president of the company. During this time period, the company grew from less than $100 million to greater than $600 million in annual revenue and expanded from a Gulf of Mexico operator to a respected global leader in offshore helicopter operations. Most recently, Milke served as CFO of Moreno Group Holdings. Adams, who most recently served as director of operations for RLC, previously held roles as president and COO of ERAMed and VP and GM of flight services for Keystone Helicopter Corporation. Earlier in his career he served for 25 years in various roles for helicopter operator PHI, including 14 years as a line pilot. Adams began his flying career in 1970 with the U.S. Army where he flew combat missions in Vietnam as a pilot. Guidry has been with RLC for the past 14 years, most recently as director of training. Guidry served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years.