Mike Tarantino has been named recipient of the 2018 Richard E. Baudoin Jr. "friend of business" award by the Junior Achievement of Acadiana Business Hall of Fame.

Mike — a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a former Marine and a corporate banker — serves as president and CEO of the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation (IDF), which is the primary facilitator of economic and industrial development activities for Iberia Parish and marketing activities for the Port of Iberia and the Acadiana Regional Airport.

He is also executive director of the Iberia Development Foundation a 501c(3) organization that promotes community development activities for Iberia Parish.

With IDF, Mike represents Iberia Parish and the Acadiana region on many boards and commissions, including One Acadiana and the Acadiana Economic Development Council, where he has served as secretary, vice chairman, chairman, and chairman of the marketing committee.

He is also:

• Acadiana’s representative with the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center, connecting economic development and business to disaster coordination and recovery.
• Iberia Parish’s representative on the Workforce Investment Board — Region 40
• Member, Industrial Board of Iberia Parish.
• Co-Chairman of the New Iberia steering committee for LED’s Development Ready Communities program.
• Secretary of the Board for the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association (LIDEA)
• Acadiana’s representative on the Louisiana Board of International Commerce.  

Mike is an active member of the Southern Economic Development Council and the International Economic Development Council. He is also an associate member of the Ports Association of Louisiana, a graduate of Leadership Louisiana and a past recipient of the 20 under 40 award.  

Tarantino and other inductees will be recognized May 1 at 6 p.m. in the Atchafalaya Grand Ballroom in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Student Union.

To sponsor or purchase tables/tickets, click here, or contact jaacadiana@gmail.com.

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