News | March 2022

University of Louisiana at Lafayette officials will greet ambassadors, government leaders, academics, CEOs and “thought leaders” from some 20 countries affiliated with the Organization of American States on Wednesday.

The delegation will include about 75 visitors, who will meet with UL Lafayette President E. Joseph Savoie and Ramesh Kolluru, vice president for research, innovation and economic development. The delegates represent the Americas Competitiveness Exchange, which is concerned with economic development, innovation and entrepreneurial networks in the Americas.

Legislation Moves Quickly in Week Two

Legislators got down to business in week two, tackling key economic and workforce development measures in both the House and Senate. Several 1A-supported measures advanced through the process, including efforts to extend LED’s Quality Jobs (QJ) program and make it easier for students to transfer college credits toward completion of associate and four-year degrees.

BATON ROUGE, La. – C. H. Fenstermaker & Associates, LLC of Lafayette was awarded the 2021 Grand Conceptor award for the project Outfall Canals Topographic and Bathymetric Survey project during the annual American Council of Engineering Excellence Awards program held March 10, 2022.

Jennings, LA – JD Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Sarah Barnhill to AVP Treasury Management Specialist. Barnhill joined JD Bank as the AVP Branch Manager for our Carlyss office in July 2021. As Treasury Management Specialist, she will partner with commercial banking and retail branch teams to provide solutions that help businesses fully optimize their banking relationships as well as save time and money.

On Monday, March 21st, the White House released a statement to business owners everywhere about how to secure their information on cyber platforms. With the current war happening between Russia and the Ukraine, the possibility of a cyber attack against America is on the rise.

Here are the steps that the White House is urging companies to execute with the utmost urgency:

1. Give us a brief history of your organization. 

Vitally Fit was founded by Victoria Mouton as an online fitness training platform to give women an opportunity to continue their workouts at home in 2020 immediately after the shutdowns were put in place. We have grown to have an in-person, private studio located within an alternative wellness clinic alongside the online training platform. 

The Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and Board of Directors named Megan Malmay Duhon President & CEO of the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce effective March 1, 2022. Duhon has served as Interim President & CEO since December 2021. 

Regular Session Gets into Swing

The 2022 Regular Session convened last week, with legislators focused largely on procedural actions – reading bills into the record, scheduling committee hearings, and discussing state departmental budgets.

Decision makers from more than 20 countries will explore investment and partnership opportunities across the state at the 14th Americas Competitiveness Exchange

LAFAYETTE, La. – A high-level delegation of more than 50 economic leaders from across the Western Hemisphere will forge business relationships and explore trade and investment opportunities in Louisiana when the state hosts the Americas Competitiveness Exchange March 26 to April 1.

The state legislature convened its regular session Monday, and much of what legislators decide during the next the next three months could have major impacts on businesses and people in the Acadiana region.