Fo usA monthly publication of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce

Volume 13 | Number 7 | July 2020

A Monthly Publication of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce

Volume 13 | Number 7 | July 2020Volume 13 | Number 7 | July 2020

A Monthly Publication of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce

2H o u m a - T e r r e b o n n e C H a m b e r o f C o m m e r C e f o C u s / J u n e 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 www.HoumaChambe r. c om

terrebonne generalfull page ad

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Calendar Contact Us!2020 OFFICERS: Chairman of the Board Chuck Weaver Jr. South Louisiana Financial Services

Chairman-Elect Michael Garcia, M.D. South Louisiana Medical Associates

Treasurer William “Bill” Eroche Watkins,Walker,ErocheandHoychick,AttorneysatLaw

Vice Chair-Community Development Division KristineStrickland,Ph.D. Fletcher Technical Community College

Vice Chair-Chamber Development Division LaDonna Cruse Stephanie Hebert Insurance Agency

Vice Chair-Infrastructure & Economic Development Division Mitchell Marmande Delta Coast Consultants, LLC

ViceChair-GovernmentActivitiesDivision Nicholas “Nick” Hebert Quality Energy Services

ImmediatePastChairmanoftheBoard Chad Hebert SafeworxSafetySolutions,LLC

Melissa AdamsDanos

Deanne BenoitSouthern Human Resource

Solutions,LLC

Carleton Casey, Jr.BuquetDistributingCompany

Kevin ChampagneMacDonell United Methodist

Children’s Services

Monique CrochetNicholls State University

Kevin GhirardiTerrebonne General

Medical Center

Charles KornegayTrapp Cadillac-Chevrolet, Inc.

BrettMeansSynergy Bank

Janel RiccaPedestal Bank

Blanca RobinsonVIVAConsultingGroup,LLC

John RogersPedestal Bank

Brian RushingRushing Media

2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

6133 Hwy.311 | Houma, LA 70360 | 985.876.5600 | Fax 985.876.5611 | www.houmachamber.com

JULY 2020: 7/3 Happy 4th of July! ChamberOfficeclosedforJuly4thObservation

7/7 ChamberDevelopmentCommitteeMeeting ChamberOffice|Noon

7/8 ChamberGovernmentActivities&EconomicDevelopment/InfrastructureCommitteesMeeting ChamberOffice|Noon

7/15 ChamberFinanceCommitteeMeeting ChamberOffice|7:30a.m.

7/15 ChamberExecutiveCommitteeMeeting ChamberOffice|8:00a.m.

7/15 VirtualPitchYourNiche www.houmachamber.com|11:30a.m.to1:00p.m.

7/21 ChamberBoardofDirectorsMeeting ChamberOffice|8:00a.m.

7/28 GeneralMembershipLuncheon:TerrebonneParishSheriff-electTimSoignet CourtyardbyMarriott|11:30a.m.to1:00p.m.

For more information about Chamber Events call (985) 876-5600 or Email: info@houmachamber.comEvents in red denotes Chamber events

On the Cover:TaxdeadlineisJuly15th!Checkoutthismonth’sarticlefromLaPorteCPAs&Business

Advisorsonpage5,“FederalandLouisianaExtensionsGiveTaxpayersaBreak”!Forhelpwithyourfinancialneeds,callLaPorteat(985)851-2433,visit

http://www.laporte.com,orstopbytheirHoumalocationat304CorporateDrive,SuiteE.

STAFFNicol Blanchard

CEOnicol@houmachamber.com

Heidi GuidryCommunicationsandEvents

Coordinatorheidi@houmachamber.com

Cyndi WilsonExecutiveAssistant

cyndi@houmachamber.com

Tara WolfeSales and Membership

Coordinatortara@houmachamber.com

H o u m a - T e r r e b o n n e C H a m b e r o f C o m m e r C e f o C u s / J u n e 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 www.HoumaChambe r. c om

Everybody’s Favorite TwinsCherry Wilmore(985) 381-8165

Entertainment, Media

Interested in becoming a member? Contact us today!

tara@houmachamber.com(985) 876-5600

New Member

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Member Milestones June & July Anniversaries

50Years

Foley & Judell

35Years

Bluewater Rubber & Gasket Company, Inc.

Nobles Tire & Service, Inc.Regions Bank

South Louisiana BankT. Baker Smith, LLC

Vida Paint & Supply, Inc.Walther Animal Clinic

START

30Years

Amelia Belle CasinoBayou Reserve ApartmentsHeartland Payment Systems

Propriete Shoppe LLCRaising Cane’s-

Grand Caillou Location

10Years

Edward Jones- Lee StielFinancial Advisor

25Years

Charles L. McDonald Land Surveyors, Inc.

West Park Veterinary ServicesAcadiana Contractors

Piggly WigglyBlanchard’s Refrigeration

20Years

Peppers Pizzeria

15Years

Access HealthAscent Health, Inc.

Eastside Credit Corp.

5Years

Happy Anniversary!Thank you for trusting

the Chamber!

Join the Chamber today!(985) 876-5600

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The same day the World Health Organization classified the coro-navirus as a pandemic, the White House declared a national emergency. To provide financial relief to taxpayers affected by the pandemic, the IRS began postponing tax payment and filing dead-lines. Virtually all Federal tax returns and payments that were due between April 1 and July 14 are now due on July 15. Taxpayers can file these returns and make payments as late as July 15 without incurring underpayment or late filing penalties or interest.

These extensions are helpful for some, but it may not be in all tax-payers’ interests to wait until July to file or pay taxes due. Those who expect to receive a refund should file as soon as possible. And although taxpayers may appreciate a temporary reprieve from paying taxes, some may find it difficult to make those payments all at once on July 15.

Louisiana Extensions

Even though the Federal government postponed filing and payment deadlines, not all states followed suit.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue pushed Louisiana tax dead-lines back to July 15th to mirror Federal laws but could not legally extend quarterly declaration payment deadlines for individual tax-payers. To compromise, the Department offered to waive the Under-payment of Estimated Tax (UET) penalty under certain conditions. Unfortunately, the waiver is not as generous as one might hope.

Under normal circumstances, taxpayers who do not make adequate or timely declaration payments will be liable for UET penalties unless they meet one of five exceptions. One exception is granted when taxpayers’ declaration payments equal or exceed 100% of the

previous year’s tax liability. Now that Louisiana’s filing deadlines have been extended, taxpayers may not know their prior year tax liability when it’s time to make their first two declaration pay-ments. To address this problem, Louisiana’s new ruling waived the UET penalty if taxpayers have done all of the following:

1. Made timely first quarter and second quarter declaration payments on April 15 and June 15

2. Ensured their April 15 payment was at least 90% of the dec-laration payment they made on April 15 of last year

3. Ensured their June 15 payment was at least 90% of the dec-laration payment they made on June 15 of last year

Even though taxpayers cannot defer declaration payments, Louisiana gave them a new opportunity to avoid UET penalties. Contact your tax advisor if you have additional questions regarding these extended filing deadlines.

Jodie Arceneaux, CPA, is a tax director with LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors, one of the largest accounting and business advisory firms in the region, with over 190 personnel in Louisiana and Texas.

Federal and Louisiana Extensions Give Taxpayers a BreakBy: Jodie Arceneaux,CPA

Tax Form Original Due Date Revised Due Date

IndividualsForm 1040 April 15 July 15

Form 1040-ES, Installment 1 April 15 July 15

Form 1040-ES, Installment 2 June 15 July 15

Partnerships and S Corporations (Calendar-year entities)Forms 1065 and 1120-S March 15 March 15

C Corporations (Calendar-year entities)

Form 1120 April 15 July 15

1120-W, Installment 1 April 15 July 15

1120-W, Installment 2 June 15 July 15

Exempt Organizations (Calendar-year entities)

Form 990 May 15 July 15

Form 990-W, Installment 1 April 15 July 15

Form 990-W, Installment 2 June 15 July 15

Trusts and EstatesForm 1041 (calendar-year entity)

April 15 July 15

Form 706 Within 9 months after the decendent passed

July 15 if the original due date falls anywhere between April 1 and July 14

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Not A Deposit • Not FDIC InsuredNot Insured by any Federal Government Agency

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315 South Hollywood Rd • Houma, LA 70360www.slfsllc.com • 985-851-4281 • 1-888-488-2435

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Junior Auxiliary of Houma to Host “Junk In The Trunk” Sale Junior Auxiliaryof Houma (JA ofHouma) will host aunique garage andbake sale Saturday,July 11 from 7-11a.m. in the FirstUnited MethodistChurch parking lot,locatedat6109Hwy311inHouma.TheeventisopentothepublicandbenefitstheserviceprojectsofJAofHouma. Dubbeda“JunkintheTrunk”sale,memberswilllineuptheirvehiclesandselldonateditemsoutoftheirvehicletrunksinapop-upstyleevent.Itemssuchasclothing,homegoods,furniture,andmorewillbeavailableforpurchase,aswellasdelicioushomemadetreats. DuetoCOVID-19,JAofHoumahadtocanceltheirannualDancingWithTheStarsfundraiser,whichprovidesmostofthefundingforthegroup’sserviceprojectsthroughoutTerrebonnePar-ish.Theorganizationwillpivotthisyear’sfundraisingintosmallereffortsthroughouttheyearinanattempttorecoupfundstoprovideimportantprogramstolocalwomenandchildreninneed.ServiceprojectsthatwillbenefitfromthiseventincludeJA’sworkwithresidentsattheMacDonellChildren’sHome,LouisChildren’sCrisisCenter,TerrebonneARC,andTheHaven. DonationsofgaragesaleitemscanbemadethroughanyJAofHoumamemberorbyemailingJAofHouma@gmail.com.

Nicholls Professor Named 2020Outstanding Educator TheAssociationforBusinessCommunica-tion–Southwest U.S. named Nicholls StateUniversity Professor Laura Valenti its 2020OutstandingEducator. The assistant professor of marketingjoined the College of Business Administra-tionfacultyin2010. “When I read the congratulatory emailfromtheassociationpresident,Itearedup,”Valenti said. “I genuinely care about theimpactImakeonmystudentsandtheirca-reers. IamhonoredtoberecognizedbyanassociationthatIholdinsuchhighregard.” Valentiservedontheassociation’sboardfrom2013-2019, including servingaspresi-dent and past-president. She received theassociation’sbestpaperawardin2012. Besidesher teaching role,Valentiadvises the college’s competitive sales and socialmediateams.Sheledthesocialmediateamtoatop-threefinishandMostCreativeAwardata2018competitionatBallStateUniversity. In2019,theAssociationofCollegeMarketingEditorsnamedValentiafinalistintheirteachinginnovationcompetition.ShealsoorganizestheBayouSalesChallenge,whichbringsteamsfromallovertheSoutheasttotheNichollscampuseveryspring. ThenonprofitFederationofBusinessDisciplinesisdedicatedtotheadvancementofbusinesseducationandresearch.Founded in1973,theorganization includes10associationsandover1,000professors. Their annual springmeetingdrawsattendees frombusiness schoolsworld-wide. FormoreinformationontheCollegeofBusinessAdministration,visithttps://www.nicholls.edu/business.

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VirtualVirtualWednesday, July 15th11:30 am - 1:00 PM

ONLINE

Visit www. houmachamber.comfor more information. See you then!

Wednesday, July 15th11:30 am - 1:00 PM

ONLINE

Visit www. houmachamber.comfor more information. See you then!

SLCC Foundation Recognizes Gulf Coast Bank as 2020 Benefactor of Year The SLCC Foundation is honoring a strongsupporterofthecommunitycollegeandcom-munitiesacrossAcadianawithitsmostpresti-giousaward.TheSLCCFoundationnamedGulfCoastBankits2020BenefactoroftheYear.TheCollegeplanstorecognizeGulfCoastBank’s widespread impact throughout theVermilion Parish and Acadiana communitiesduring a ceremony later this year when it isdeemedsafetogather. GulfCoastBankhaspartneredwithSLCCsince 2013 in a number of ways. The Bankhas offered time and expertise through itsPresident and CEO, Paul Patout, serving as akeyvoiceontheSLCCFoundationboardinitsearly years of development. In addition,GulfCoastBankhaspartneredwiththeLt.DronetMarineCorps League inAbbeville toofferanannual scholarship for a student who gradu-ated fromaVermilionParishhighschoolandwhoisstudyingatSLCC’sGulfAreaCampusinAbbeville.TheBankalsohelpedtounderwriteseveralinitiativesandeventsatSLCC,includingtheFoundation’sscholarship5K. “Icannotthinkofamoredeservinghon-oreethisyearthanGulfCoastBank,”saidLanaFontenot,executivedirectoroftheSLCCFoun-dation.“LeadersandemployeesatGulfCoastBankhavepoured theirhearts into this com-munity through the generosity of their time,talent, and treasure, andwe look forward to

celebrating their overall investment and de-cades-longsupportforthiscommunity.”UndertheleadershipofthePatoutbrothers,PaulPatoutasPresident&CEO,andPatPatoutasChairmanoftheBoard,GulfCoastBankhasbecome known throughout Acadiana for itscontinuedgeneroussupportandcommitmenttothelocalcommunity.PatandPaul’sdedica-tion and enthusiasm cannot help but spreadthroughoutthecompany.GulfCoastBank’sim-pact includesnotonlyfinancialcontributions,butalsothevolunteeredtimeandeffortofitsteam;employeesareregularlyencouragedtovolunteerateventsinthecommunity,andonaverageserveover250hourstotaleachyear. Manyorganizationshavebeenimpactedby Gulf Coast Bank’s support over the years,including theBoys&GirlsClubsofAcadiana,theVermilionChamberofCommerce,Leader-shipVermilion,theVermilionEconomicDevel-opmentAlliance,OneAcadiana,theUniversityofLouisianaatLafayette,SLCC,theCommunityFoundation of Acadiana, LARC, St. Jude’s, aswellasmanyotherlocalfestivals,fundraisers,andevents.PaulPatoutandPatPatouthavebeenrec-ognizedovertheyearsfortheirgenerosityandcommitment to Acadiana. In 2019, they re-ceivedaCertificateofAppreciationonbehalfof theAmerican LegionVermilion Post 29, inappreciationoftheireffortsandcontributions

over the years. Gulf Coast Bank was namedBusinessoftheYearbytheVermilionChamberofCommercethisyear,aswellasbytheLouisi-anaCattleFestivalin2016.In2015,PaulPatoutandPatPatoutreceivedtheCommunityFoun-dationofAcadiana(CFA)LeadersinPhilanthro-py award for their contributions toVermilionParishandthegreaterAcadianaarea.“GulfCoastBank’spassiontogivebacktothecommunityisrootedinourhistory.WeareinspiredbythosethatcamebeforeusatGulfCoast Bank,” said Paul Patout, president andCEO of Gulf Coast Bank. “My father Charles

Patout,LorraineLeBlanc,RichardDubois,andmanyotherstrulyputtheirheartintothisBankand the communities it serves, and we arehonored tocontinue the legacy,whichwouldnotbepossiblewithoutouramazingteamthatcaresasmuchaswedo.” TheBenefactorof theYear award is thefourthfortheSLCCFoundation,whereanout-standing partnership is recognized each year.Previous honorees are the Hugh and ByrnesYoung Foundation, Lafayette General HealthandElderOutreach.

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Vandebilt Catholic High School Announces Retirement of Long-Time Teacher, Coach Luigi Vegas Vandebi l tCatholic HighSchool an-nounces thatLuigi Vegashasretiredaf-ter dedicatingforty years ofteaching andmentoring tothe studentsand facultyof VandebiltCatholic. Mr.LuigiVegaswasreared inaveryclose-knit family in the small community of GrandIsle.Hisparents,HerbertandHelenVegas,in-stilled values that led to his formation into adedicated, caring individual with integrity. Inaddition to spendingmany of his early yearsasanaltarserver,LuigihasbeenaffiliatedwithCatholic education for forty years in severalcapacities.Afterteachinginhishometownfortwoyears, Luigi joined theVandebiltCatholicfaculty in1980andhasbeenan integralpartoftheScienceDepartmentsince.Afterreceiv-inghisBachelorofSciencedegreefromNich-ollsStateUniversity,Mr.Vegasworkedonhis

Master of Education degree while coachingandteachingscience,physicaleducation,anddrivereducation.“CoachVegas,”asheisaffec-tionatelycalledbyformerandcurrentstudentsalike,hasworkedwithstudentathletesinbas-ketball,football,andtrackatVCHS.ScienceDe-partmentHeadatVCHSforovertwodecades,Luigi has taught earth science, physical sci-ence,biology,andanatomyandphysiology.Hehasalsoworkedwithstudentsasmoderatorofthe4-HClub,thesophomoreclass,andthese-niorclass.Hehasenjoyedsharinghisfaithwithseniorboysonannualweekendretreats.LuigihasalsogiventotheVandebiltCatholicfamilybyusinghisgiftofmusic.Hehasplayedhisgui-tarandsungforcountlessschoolMassesandotherfunctionssuchasplaysandtalentshowsat the school. Luigi regularly participates inschool Masses as an extraordinary ministerof the Eucharist. For his contributions to theeducationofthewholechild,VandebiltCatho-lichonoredLuigiwiththeBrotherAlfredKolbTeacheroftheYearAward in2001, forwhichhe was nominated by his peers. He has alsobeentherecipientofan inspirational teacherawardfromNichollsStateUniversity,receivingthe nomination from his former students assomeonewhomadeadifferenceintheirlives.

LuigihasservedasamasterteacheratVande-bilt andhas supervised classroom instructionnotonlyfortheScienceDepartmentbutalsofortheentireschool.HewasinductedintotheVandebiltCatholicHallofFamein2008andhismost recent honor was for the second time,the Brother Alfred Kolb Teacher of the Yearawardin2019.Hecontinuestobearolemodeltostudents,andstillfinds innovativeways tokeep students engaged in his classroom.Mr.Vegas iswidelyrecognized inVCHScircles forhis teaching methods that customarily injecthumorintohislessons.Hisvastknowledgeandentertaining approach to teaching has madehim a candidate for various presentations tothe Vandebilt faculty and at workshops foreducatorsintheDioceseofHouma-Thibodauxand schools in the New Orleans Province oftheBrothersoftheSacredHeart.Asacontrib-uting faculty member at Vandebilt, Luigi hasservedon anumberof committees includingfaculty advisory, discipline, academic, Strat-egyforProgress,andSACS.Additionally,LuigihasservedonSACSevaluationcommitteesforotherCatholicschoolsinthearea.Luigiandhiswife of nearly thirty-three years, Lisa, raisedtheir two sons in theCatholic school system,both attended St. Francis de Sales Cathedral

School and Vandebilt Catholic. Danté (1989-2018) graduated from Vandebilt Catholic in2007andDominic, 2012. Luigi servedon theSt.Francisschoolboardonthefacilitiescom-mitteeandservedoneyearasvicepresident;healsoworkedfortheannualbarbecuesattheschool.PriortojoiningSt.Francisparish,Luigiwas amember ofMaria Immacolata Church,whereheparticipated inseveralcapacitiesasamusicminister.Hehasalsoservedthecom-munityby teachingRedCrossCPRclasses. In1985, Luigi recordeda song that received re-gional publicity, and he generously donatedtheproceedsfromtherecordsalestovictimsofHurricaneJuanandtotheLouisianaChapteroftheHemophiliaSociety. TheVandebiltCatholiccommunityisblessedtohaveworkedalongsideLuigiVegasforfortyyears, and he epitomizes the qualities that aCatholiceducationalinstitutionstrivestoinstillinitsstudents.Thefacultyandstudentswantto thank CoachVegas for her dedication andsupportofVandebilt Catholic throughout theyearsandwishhimnothingbutthebestinhisnextchapter.

Luigi Vegas

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Christian D. Lapeyre, RHU

Eldridge Robichaux, RHU

Ken Staples

Betty Thibodaux

Rene Thibodaux

Melissa Hunter

Courtney Brinegar

Sadie Hamby

Ashley Adams

Sky Acosta

Natalie Hargis

Angela Ledet

VISIT1051 W. Tunnel Blvd.

Houma, Louisiana 70360CALL

985-360-4862

CASAof Terrebonne: Swearing-in ceremony for class #55. Pictured from left:Donna Brunet, ExecutiveDirector,AliciaDove,volunteer,JudgeRandallBethancourt,MelaniePrentice,volunteer,ChristineAucoin,Outreach/TrainingCoordinatorandMartyMajewski,BoardPresident.

Dr.NatalieVoisin,HoumeostasisChiropracticProCorp,raisedover$2,200forTerrebonneChurchesUnitedFoodBank!Abigthankyoutoourmemberswhohaveahearttohelpourcommunity!

TheHouma-TerrebonneChamberofCommercehosteditsfirstvirtualPitchYourNichewheremembersconnectedandsharedwhat’sgoingonwith theirbusinesses!Special thanks toGoldmanSachs10,000SmallBusinesses,EmpowHERed,TheCatholicFoundationofSouthLouisiana,ExpressEmploymentProfes-sionals,HoumeostasisChiropracticProCorp,GoldenEvePhotography,LLC,Wolfe’sPharmacy,SouthernHumanResourceSolutions,HolidayInnHouma,andJani-KingofSouthLouisianaforparticipating!JoinusforanothersessionWednesday,July15th!

Meet a CASA OurJune“MeetaCASA“isMrs.MaryGuidry.MaryhasbeenmarriedtoLeroyGuidryfor8yearsandtheyhavefourchildren.EventhoughMarydoesnotworkoutsideofthehomeshedoesworkextremelyhardasamom,aCASAandavolunteerforanumberofothercharitableorganizations.Inherfreetime,sheandherhusbandenjoyattendinglivemusicconcerts.MarywasnotborninHouma,however,shehasbeenlivingheresincethe3rdgrade. MarycametoCASAinitiallyasaboardmember.Shehasbeena volunteeradvocate for2 years and iswrappingupherfirstcasewhichisasiblinggroup.Shehasspentnumeroushoursinvisits,researchandtravelforthebestinterestofthesechildren.Whenasked,shestatedthat:“thebestfeelingistobelovedun-conditionallybysomeonewhoisnotrelatedtoyou.Itisamaz-ingtoseetheexcitementwhentheyseeyoucomingdownthedriveway.”Maryfeelsthatthebestpartofhercaseisseeingthesetwochildrenadoptedandknowingthattheyhaveachancetoliveuptotheirfullpotential.WearethrilledandblessedtohaveMaryGuidryonourCASAofTerrebonneteam! JustlikeMary,youcanbethevoiceforachildinfostercare.TojoinournexttrainingclassbeginningJuly7,2020,filloutouronlineapplicationat:www.casaofterrebonne.org

Mary Guidry

Submitting Your Articles for Member News OurMemberNewssectionoftheFocusisagreatwayforChambermemberstopromoteyoureventorproject,and toannouncespe-cialawardsorcertifications.Word Document

articlesof250wordsorlessmaybesubmit-ted to info@houmachamber.com by the 1stofeachmonthforpublicationinthefollowingmonth’snewsletter,spacepermitting.

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®

Fletcher Partners with Nasa, Chevron, and Shell Oil Company to Launch Virtual Stem Camps this Summer FletcherTechnicalCommunityCollegeisexcitedtolaunchtwoinauguralvirtualsummercampexperiences.WorkingwithourpartnersatCentralCreativity, theseuniqueexperiencesallowparticipantstointeractwithindustryprofessionalsfromthe comfortof their ownhomes.Campmemberswillreceiveakitinthemailap-proximatelyoneweekpriortocamp.Thekit includes everything participants willneed during campweek, including par-entandparticipantguides. “Fletcher Technical Community Col-lege is excited to offer the Shell EnergyVentureCampandtheNASAAstroCampthis summer,” commented FletcherChancellorDr.KristineStrickland.“Theseare fantastic opportunities for childrenand teens in our community to learnmore about STEM careers and NASA.Allowing students toexplore careerop-tions through engaging summer campslike these are critical to encouraging afuturegenerationofgloballeaders.” Fletcher is proud to partner withNASA,Chevron,andShelltoprovidetwodifferentcampexperiencesthissummer: • The Shell Energy Venture Camp, July 13 – 17. This camp is designed forparticipantstolearnaboutcareersinen-ergywhileincreasingtheirknowledgeinSTEMandhavingfun.Activitiescoveredwill include learningaboutdifferenten-ergy sources, as well as howwe utilize

energy in our homes and businesses.Participants shouldbebetween the7thand 12th grades to participate in thiscamp.WealsohaveopportunitiesforourWorkReadyUcollegepopulation. “With the new reality of COVID-19bringing new challenges with many ofour community college partners, it hasalsosparkednewandinnovativewaysofdoing things,” said FrazierWilson, ShellManagerWorkforceDevelopment&Di-versity Outreach. “Moving to a virtualcampenvironmentbringsincreasedsafe-tywhilecontinuingvitalSTEMeducationtostudentsinahomeenvironment.Thisyear’scampwillhelpShellandFletcherTechnical College cast a wider net ofSTEM education for students, parentsandteachersduringthistimeofunprec-edentedchallenge.” • NASA Astro Camp, July 20 - 24.Getready to blast off with our NASA Astrosummercamp!Enrollnowfor the inau-guralNASAAstroCamp‘ToGo’SummerCamp experience and be a part of his-tory. This one-week action-packed andhighlyeducationalNASAeventissuretoplease and motivate future innovatorsand engineers. Participants can choosefrom grade appropriate experiences (K-2nd,3rd-6th,and7th-12thgrade). “Despite these challengingtimes,weare tremendously grateful that Fletcherisfindingwaystosafelyprovideaunique,

engaging, educational experience tochildren in Louisiana,” said Leah BrownPublic Affairs Manager for Chevron’sGulf ofMexicoBusinessUnit. “SummerprogramsdedicatedtoSTEMareprovento stimulate greater interest in relatedcareerfields.KidswhoparticipateintheVirtualAstroCamparelayingthefounda-tion for their future success,whilehav-ingfunintheprocess.Chevronisproudtobeapartofitandlooksforwardtoagreatsession!” “I amexcited tooffer this innovativesummercampexperiencetotheFletchercommunity,” commentedDr. Clint Cole-man, Dean of STEM at Fletcher. “Ourteam has been working since the firstday of the pandemic lockdown to findalternative solutions for our traditionalsummercamps.Wearelookingforwardto launching these experiences and thefutureopportunitiesitprovidesFletcherandtheregion.” Spaceislimited,soearlyregistrationisencouraged.Theregistrationfeeforeachcampis$150,butthroughgenerousgiftsfrom Chevron and Shell, needs basedscholarships may be available. Pleasecontact BayouSTEM@fletcher.edu forscholarshipdetails.Registrationforbothcampsisopenandisavailableathttps://www.fletcher.edu/bayou-stem/.

TGMC Board of Commissioners Appoints New Board Chairman and Vice-Chairman Terrebonne GeneralMedical Center (TGMC) andSouthern Regional MedicalCorporation (SRMC)BoardofCommissionersannouncetheappointment of J. LouisWat-kins, III,asChairmanandAn-geliqueT.Barker,CPA,asViceChairman. Mr. Watkins joined theTGMC Board of Commission-ersin2010andhasservedasthe Board Vice Chairman forthe past two years and pre-viously served as the TGMCQuality Committee Chair. He is a practicing attorney for thepast33yearsandisamemberofboththeTerrebonneParishBarAssociationandtheLouisianaStateBarAssociation.HeiscurrentlyamemberoftheRotaryClubofHouma.Hehaspre-viously servedasaboardmember for theYMCAandaspastChairmanoftheTerrebonneEconomicDevelopmentAuthority(TEDA).WatkinscurrentlyownsJ.LouisWatkins,III,AProfes-sionalLawCorporationinHouma.

Mrs. Barker joined theBoard of Commissioners in2013. She previously servedas Chairman of the TGMCFinanceCommittee. Sheob-tained her Bachelor of Sci-enceinAccountingfromNich-ollsStateUniversity. SheisaCertified Public Accountantand a member of the AICPAandLouisianaSocietyofCPAs.Mrs. Barker is employed asan Audit Partner at Stagni &Company, LLC and has over35yearsofpublicaccounting

experiencewithaconcentrationinauditsofgovernmentsandnon-profit organizations. She also has experience in financialinstitutions,constructionandsmallbusiness. “We are proud towelcome this year’s Chairman andViceChairmantotheirnewroles,”saidPhyllisPeoples,TGMCPresi-dentandCEO.“Mr.WatkinsandMrs.Barkerarebothverycom-mittedtoensuringTGMCprovidesthemostinnovativehealth-caresolutionsforourcommunityrighthereclosetohome.”

J. Louis Watkins, III Angelique T. Barker

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Danos Names Renee Piper VP Danos is pleased to announce thatReneePiperhasbeennamedvicepres-identofmarketing, strategyand com-munityaffairs.Inhernewrole,Piperisresponsible for leading the company’smarketinginitiatives,strategicplanningandexecution,andbuildingcommunityengagementinDanos’keymarkets. “Danos has a vibrant 73-year his-tory,andweareexcitedtohaveReneejoin the executive team to help leadus forward,” said Owner Paul Danos.“Renee’sin-depthmarketingandlead-ership experience across a variety ofindustries will serve as an invaluableassettoourcompany.” Piperhasmorethan25yearsofmarketingexperience,whichincludespositionsinthegaming,retail,economicdevelopmentandhigheredu-cationsectors.BeforejoiningDanosin2014,PiperservedasthedirectorofuniversityrelationsatNichollsStateUniversityforsevenyears. Piper has also been named executive director of the Danos Foun-dation.Founded in2017byDanosemployees, theFoundationawardsfundstonon-profitorganizationsthroughDanosGIVES,theFoundation’sgrant-giving program, and DanosWORKS, a program that contributesmoney to qualified organizations where Danos employees volunteertheirtime.AgraduateofLouisianaStateUniversity,sheandherhusbandhavetwochildrenandliveinNewOrleans,Louisiana. Takingovertheleadershipofthemarketingandcommunicationde-partmentisNicoleWilliams.A25-yearindustryveteranandgraduateofNorthwesternStateUniversity,shejoinedDanosin2008.WilliamsandherhusbandhavethreechildrenandliveinLarose,Louisiana.

ReneePiper

Danielle Mack Promoted to Mary Bird Perkins Vice President and Chief Development Officer Bird PerkinsCancer Centerannounced to-day that Dan- i -elleMackhas beennamed vice presi-dent and chiefdevelopment of-ficer for the cancercare organization.Mack, a CertifiedFundraising Execu-tive, has nearly 15years’ expe- r i -ence building andmanaging fund development, volunteer engagementandspecialeventprograms. Anearly10-yearmemberofMaryBirdPerkins’de-velopmentteam,shehasprovidedoversightandlead-ership in advancing philanthropic support throughoutSoutheast Louisiana. Shemost recently served as theinterimchiefdevelopmentofficer,leadingtheorganiza-tion’sphilanthropic strategy throughout theCOVID-19pandemic. “Danielleleadsbyexampleandinspiresothersbyherpassiontopropelcancercareforward,”saidToddSte-vens,presidentandchiefexecutiveofficer.“Herabilitytoestablishtrusting,long-lastingrelationshipswithdo-nors,stewarddonorsupportandmanageateamoftal-

enteddevelopmentprofessionalsareafewofthemanyreasonsshewillexcelinthisposition.Wewereexcitedtopromotealong-standingteammembertohelpbuildonourmissiontoimprovesurvivorshipandlessentheburdenofcancer.” Throughoutherfundraisingcareer,MackworkedattheLSUFoundationandBaylorCollegeofMedicine inHouston,Texas.Her careerhighlights include securingmultiplemajorgiftsoffifty-thousanddollarsandaboveandleadingstrategyforasuccessfulannualgivingpro-gramresultingin95percentgrowth. In2018,MackwasnamedOutstandingProfessionalFundraiserbytheGreaterBatonRougeChapterofAs-sociation of Fundraising Professionals, serving as theorganization’syoungestrecipientofthisprestigiouslo-calaward. She isagraduateof theBatonRougeAreaChamber’s Class of 2014 Leadership Class, 2019 JohnW.BartonSr.CommunityLeadershipProgramand2019AdweekExecutiveMentee. “I have been blessed to experience firsthand thepowerofphilanthropyeachandeverydaywithintheor-ganization,”saidMack.AsMaryBirdPerkinsapproachesits50thanniversary,IampleasedtoleadandworkwithourgeneroussupportersanddedicatedCancerCenterteamduringthisforthcomingmilestonetoprovidethefunds thatmake the highest-level of cancer care pos-sible.It’sanhonorandearnedresponsibilitythatIwillwork to uphold to the highest levels of transparencyandtrust.”

Danielle Mack

Join Us!

GENERAL MEMBERSHIPL U N C H E O N

Tuesday, July 28 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.CourtyardbyMarriott,142LibraryDrive

GuestSpeaker:TerrebonneParish-ElectTimSoignetAdmissionis$25perpersonwithpaymentrequiredinadvance.

The deadlineforpre-reservationsandcancellationsis4p.m.onWednesday, July 22.Youwillneedyourcompany’sloginandpasswordtoregisteronline

atwww.houmachamber.com.YoumaycalltheChamberofficeat876-5600torequestyourloginandpasswordortoregisterbyphone.

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Wednesday, July 15 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Joinusforanonlinenetworkingevent!What’syour5-minuteelevatorspeech?

SpotsareLIMITED,soreserveTODAY!Visitwww.houmachamber.comformoreinformationandtoregister.

Pitch your NicheDesignedwith yourfamily in mind.

Home + Life

232412

Stephanie Hebert

985-868-1886

854 Grand Caillou Road

Houma

shebert@allstate.com

Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Ins. Co., Allstate Property and Casualty Ins. Co., Allstate Vehicle and Property Ins. Co. and affiliates: 2775Sanders Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062. In areas where Allstate home products are not available, home policies may be written by a third-party company not affiliated with Allstate.Allstate TrueFit is a term life insurance to age 95 policy issued by Allstate Assurance Co., 3075 Sanders Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062, and is available in most states withcontract/series ICC14AC1/AC14-1. In New York, issued by Allstate Life Ins. Co. of New York, Home Office: Hauppauge, NY. Allstate TrueFit is available with contract NYLU818. Thispolicy has exclusions, limitations and terms that may affect coverage, renewal, cancellation, termination or other contractual rights and benefits. © 2017 Allstate Ins. Co.

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Danos Names Reed Peré VP of Permian DanosExecutiveReedPeré,a15-yearindus-tryveteran,hasbeennamedvicepresidentofPermian operations. In this new role he is re-sponsibleforoverseeingallDanosservicelinesandoperationsinthePermianBasin. “ThePermiancontinuestobeaplaceofgreatpotentialforDanos’future,andweareexcitedtohaveanexecutive-levelteammemberover-seeingourgrowingoperationsinthearea,”saidowner Paul Danos. “Reed’s leadership skills,industrycredibilityanddeepunderstandingofourbusinessmakehimwell-suitedforthisnewposition.” Peré joined Danos in 2006, received thecompany’sStaffEmployeeoftheYearawardin2012andbecameamemberoftheexecutiveteamin2015.Heservedasvicepresidentofproductionservicesfrom2015–2018andvicepresidentofbusinessdevelopmentsince2018,anareahecontinuestolead. Establishedin1947,DanoshasbeenworkinginthePermiansince2012andrecently completed construction of a new Permian headquarters in Midland.RoundingoutDanos’Permianleadershipteamarethefollowing: •GeneralManagerofPermianProjectsJuanTorresjoinedDanosinFebruary2020.Hehas15yearsofexperience inoilandgasand industrialconstruction.AgraduateofWestTexasA&MUniversity,TorresholdsaBachelorofScienceinindustrialengineering. •ExecutiveAccountManagerSteveBailey joinedDanos inDecember2019.Heisassistingwithgrowthprocesseswhileworkingtoexpandservicelinesandimprovecommunication.Baileybrings37yearsofindustryexperiencewithmajoroilproducers,includingOccidentalandShell. •PermianOperationsManager JimComfort returned toDanos in2019.HeoverseesconstructionandfabricationprojectsandfacilitatestheacquisitionofnewprojectsinwestTexas.Comforthasover20yearsofindustryexperience,15ofthosewithDanos. •PermianAreaManagerBrianGraybrings15yearsofPermianBasinexperi-ence.HeisagraduateofTexasTechUniversityandbeganhisoilfieldcareerasamudengineeratHalliburton.HeworkedforDanosfrom2012until2014beforerejoiningtheteamlastyear.

ReedPeré

Fletcher Enterprise Corporation Receives $2.1 Million Grant for New Nursing Training Facility Earlierthisweek,U.S.SecretaryofCommerceWil-burRossannouncedthattheDepartment’sEconomicDevelopmentAdministration(EDA)isawardinga$2.1milliongranttotheFletcherFalconEnterpriseCorpo-rationofSchriever,Louisiana,tobuildanewnursingtrainingfacilitytosupporttheworkforcedemandsofregional employers. The EDA grant, to be matchedwith$560,000inlocalinvestment,isexpectedtocre-ate500jobs. “The Trump Administration is committed to notonlyretainingjobsinthiscountry,butalsotocreatingnewopportunities forAmericans,” said SecretaryofCommerceWilburRoss.“Thisnewhealthcaretrainingfacilitywillpreparestudentsforsuccessfulcareersinthehealthcareindustry.” “This investment will support construction of anew,state-of-theartfacilityatFletcherTechnicalCom-munityCollegededicatedtoworkforcedevelopmentin Louisiana’s healthcare sector, said Dana Gartzke,PerformingtheDelegatedDutiesoftheAssistantSec-retaryofCommerceforEconomicDevelopment.“Thenewfacilitywillallowthecollegetoexpanditsnursingprograms, and Fletcher’s partnershipwith local em-ployerswill ensure jobplacement for studentsaftergraduation.” “FletcheristhrilledtobetherecipientofthisEDAgrantfromtheDepartmentofCommerce,”comment-edFletcherChancellorDr.KristineStrickland.“ThesefundswillbeusedtoexpandFletcher’sabilitytotrainandeducateourfutureworkforce.AswecontinuetobattletheCOVID-19pandemic,werecognizethatourcommunitytogreatneedsinnursing.Thesefundsen-ableustomeetthisgrowingdemandandensurethatourcommunityhasaccess to thesehigh-wage,highdemandcareers.” “With this new facility, studentswill have accesstovitalresourcestohelpthembecomeskilledhealth

careprofessionals,”saidSenatorJohnKennedy.“ThisEDAgrantwillnotonlyhelpcreatenewjobs,butalsopromotequalityhealthcare forLouisianacommuni-ties.” This project was made possible by the regionalplanningeffortsledbytheSouthCentralPlanningandDevelopmentCommission,whichEDAfundstocreatean economic development roadmap to strengthentheregionaleconomy,supportprivatecapitalinvest-mentandcreatejobs. This project is funded by the Additional Supple-mentalAppropriationsforDisasterReliefActof2019(Pub.L.116-20)(PDF),whichprovidedEDAwith$600millioninadditionalEconomicAdjustmentAssistance(EAA)Program(PDF)fundsfordisasterreliefandre-covery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence,Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut,wildfires,volcaniceruptions,andothermajornaturaldisastersoccurringincalendaryear2018,andtorna-doesandfloodsoccurringincalendaryear2019,un-dertheRobertT.StaffordAct.

Houma Chamber Annual BanquetThursday, January 21, 2021

Houma Civic Center

Save the Date

Visit our website or social media platforms for updated information

www.houmachamber.com htchamber @houmachamber

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Census 2020: It’s More Than Numbers

The U.S. Census happens every 10 years and it is much more than a count of the population. Did you know that the Census can shape you and your family’s future? Did you hear the 2020 Census deadline was in April? No worries, you have until October 31st!

Census results affect:

• Planning and funding for healthcare for programs such as Medicaid and Medicare

• Planning and funding for education for programs including Head Start, Pell Grants and rural education

• Planning and funding for infrastructure for programs including highway planning and construction, federal transit, and community development

• Planning and funding for employment and training for programs including vocational rehabilitation state grants, dislocated workers and American Indian and Alaska Native employment and training

• Determines the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives

• Used to draw congressional and state legislative districts 1

The U.S. Census tells us who we are and where we are going. It promotes community and economic development that helps grow our nation. Don’t have time to fill out paperwork and mail it? For the first time, all households can answer online in only minutes! As of June, Louisiana has a 55.7% response rate and Terrebonne Parish has a 51% response rate. Let’s get that number higher! For more information about benefits or to participate in the 2020 Census, visit http://www.countdabayou.org/. Let’s make it count!

1. United States Census Bureau. Our Census. 17 March 2020: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/censuses.html.

Census 2020

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Youdonotneedareasontovoteearly!Allvotersmayvoteearly,justliketheyarevotingonElectionDay.Vot-erswhowanttovoteearlyforanyelectionmaydosoinpersonattheirparishRegistrarofVotersOfficeoratdesig-natedlocationsintheparishfrom14tosevendayspriortoanyscheduledelection.Whenoneormorestateholidaysfallwithinanearlyvotingperiod,thefirstdayforearlyvotingwillbegin15dayspriortotheelection.Refertotheschedulebelowforearlyvotingtimeperiodsforupcomingelectionsandrefertothescheduleofelectionsforfuturetimeperiods.Foracompletelistofthelocationsofparishregistrarsofvotersanddesignatedearlyvotinglocations,pleaserefertoearlyvotinglocations.

Theregistrarsofvoterswillopentheirofficesfrom8:30a.m.to6p.m.foreachdayofearlyvoting.Whenyougotocastyourvoteearly,youwillbeaskedtoidentifyyourselfwitheitheraphotoIDorsignatureonavoteraffidavit.YoumayuseaLouisianadriver’slicense,aLouisianaspecialidentificationcard,aUnitedStatesmilitaryidentificationcardthatcontainstheapplicant’snameandpictureorothergenerallyrecognizedpictureidentificationcardthathasyournameandsignature.YoumaywishtocontactyourlocalRegistrarofVotersOfficeforspecificlocations,datesandtimes.SeeLa.R.S.18:1303formoreinformationaboutvotingearly.

July 11, 2020PresidentialPreferencePrimaryandMunicipalPrimaryElectionEarlyvotinghasbeenextendedbyoneweekinaccordancewiththeEmergencyElectionPlanandisnowJune20-July4(excludingSunday,June21andSunday,June28)from8:30a.m.-6p.m.

August 15, 2020MunicipalGeneralElectionEarlyvotinghasbeenextendedbyoneweekinaccordancewiththeEmergencyElectionPlanandisnowJuly25-Aug.8(excludingSunday,July26andSunday,Aug.2)from8:30a.m.-6p.m.

Nov. 3, 2020PresidentialGeneralandOpenCongressionalPrimaryElectionEarlyvotingisOct.20-27(excludingSunday,Oct.25)from8:30a.m.-6p.m.

Dec. 5, 2020CongressionalandOpenGeneralElectionEarlyvotingisNov.20-28from8:30a.m.-6p.m.(excludingSunday,Nov.22,Thursday,Nov.26(Thanksgiving)andFri-day,Nov.27(AcadianDay);earlyvotingisadvancedonedaybecauseoftheholidays)

*Information is from the office of Louisiana Secretary of State website: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/VoteEarly/Pages/default.aspx*

Vote Early

These are unprecedented times — at home, school and work. But one thing remains constant and that is our commitment to the safety and well-being of patients and staff. While we have always adhered to the strictest safety protocols, as we move toward once again fully providing all healthcare services, we have put extra safety precautions in place. If you have had to delay your medical care due to COVID-19, we encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider so that something routine doesn’t become something serious.

And when you need us, we are here.

Times May Be Different But Our Commitment to Your Safety and Well-Being Remains the Same

985.447.5500 | thibodaux.com