Wilkinson named LBA delegate

BATON ROUGE — Samuel V. Wilkinson of First Federal Bank of Louisiana in Lake Charles was installed as the 2022-2023 Southwest Region delegate of the Louisiana Bankers Association’s Board of Directors during LBA’s 122nd Convention

Founded in 1900, the LBA’s mission is to help banks grow and prosper in Louisiana. For more than 122 years, the LBA has provided Louisiana’s bankers with top-quality professional development, revenue-enhancing products and services, governmental relations and public advocacy.

Financial firm opens in LC

Raymond James & Associates today announced that Tim Woods, Blake Brignac, CFP and Mitchell Woods, CFP have joined the firm in establishing its first office in Southwest Louisiana.

The advisor team – now known as Woods Brignac Wealth Management of Raymond James — is joined in transition by client service associates Debbie Ardoin and Mackenzie Wright.

The five-person team is now welcoming clients at its office at 3220 Second Avenue.

Prior to joining Raymond James, the Woods Brignac team worked with Merrill Lynch. Woods, a 23-year veteran of the financial services industry, also spent 18 years as a CPA before becoming an advisor. A graduate of McNeese State University, Tim is active in the Kiwanis Club of South Lake Charles.

Brignac brings nearly 10 years of advisory experience to Raymond James. A graduate of Louisiana State University, Blake is a Certified Financial Plannertm professional, and holds a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designation from NAPA, the National Association of Plan Advisors. He is an active member of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, a board member for New Life Counseling and is involved with the LSU Alumni Association.

Woods brings more than five years of experience to Raymond James, all with Merrill Lynch. A graduate of LSU, Mitchell is a board member for Fusion Five, Southwest Louisiana’s young professionals’ organization.

CPSO recognizes deputies

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office recently held its annual Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony.

Awards were given to the following deputies for their outstanding accomplishments and service to the Sheriff’s Office in 2021 in their respective divisions:

Deputy of the Year:

Sgt. Luke Pierrotti – Support Services Division

Sgt. William “Freddie” Powell – Investigations Division

Sr. Cpl. Christopher Hathaway – Enforcement Division

Sgt. Darin Castro – Correctional Division           

Mark Anthony – Special Services Division           

Dari Guillory – Financial Division

Cpl. Bobby Benjamin –Security Enforcement Division

Sgt. Remy Broussard – Logistical Support Division

Sgt. Darin Castro was also chosen as “2021 Deputy of the Year” for the entire Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.  Donna Rubin was chosen as “Support Employee of the Year.” Andrew Davies, M.D. was awarded the “Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Volunteer of The Year Award.”

Guillory, Sonnier named to board

NEW ORLEANS — Cynthia Clay Guillory and Shayna L. Sonnier, both of Lake Charles, have been made members of the board of directors for Louisiana Bar Foundation.

The Louisiana Bar Foundation is the state’s largest funder of civil legal aid. The group partners with a trusted network of more than 70 organizations that lead community driven efforts to help families facing non-criminal, civil legal challenges.

The foundation’s goal is to make sure that all Louisianans, regardless of their background or income level, have access to civil legal services that they need.

United Way recognized

Casey Tingle, director of the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, and Vicki Travis, president of Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association awarded United Way of Southwest Louisiana with the 2022 LEPA Dedication Award. The award ceremony was part of the annual Louisiana Emergency Management Conference at Golden Nugget Lake Charles.

Denise Durel, president and CEO for United Way of Southwest Louisiana, accepted the award. The LEMC includes education, outreach and training tailored to the needs of federal, state and local government, business, labor, industry and volunteer organizations specifically pertaining to homeland security, emergency preparedness, disaster recovery and mitigation.

“United Way of Southwest Louisiana responded to each disaster with promptness, generosity and flexibility,” said Sister Miriam MacLean, Director for Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana. “Denise Durel found a way to keep United Way responding to people’s needs and collaborating with other agencies, even while her own offices were damaged.”

LEPA is a nonprofit statewide organization of emergency preparedness and response organizations. The common goal is improving public safety in emergencies.

Richard-Boudreaux earns certification

Summer Richard-Boudreaux with Castle Real Estate has been awarded the nationally recognized Military Relocation Professional Certification. The National Association of Realtors awards the MRP certification to Realtors who help military personnel, veterans and their families.

When military staff and their families relocate, the services of a real estate professional who understands their needs and timetables can make the transfer easier, faster, and less stressful. Realtors who earn this certification know to work with active duty military buyers and sellers, as well as veterans.

The certification provides NAR’s members with resources to accommodate current and former military service members at any stage of their military career, and is an approved elective for NAR’s Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation.