Cutrer joins First Federal board

Charles V. Timpa, chairman of the board of First Federal Bank of Louisiana is pleased to announce the appointment of Judge Lilynn A. Cutrer of Lake Charles to the bank’s board of directors as a director at large.

Cutrer received her Juris Doctorate Degree from Louisiana State University after graduating with a Bachelor of Science from Tulane University. She worked as a juvenile assistant district attorney in Calcasieu Parish before serving the 14 th Judicial District Court, where she was a district court judge from 2000 to 2020, chief justice from 2011 to 2013, and currently acts as pro tempore judge.

Cutrer has an expansive legacy of leadership and community support through her work on various nonprofit and foundation boards, task forces, committees, and advisory boards. Most recently she served on the Louisiana Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Committee, the Louisiana Domestic Violence Curriculum Development Advisory Committee, and various appointments at the Louisiana Law Institute.

Cutrer also served on the boards of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, Lake Charles Cemetery Association, and First United Methodist Church.

She has received multiple awards and accolades for her work in the community, including the Jack V. Doland Citizen of the Year Award presented by the Women’s Commission of SWLA in 2017 and the Light of Hope Award by Family & Youth Counseling in 2010. She has been praised for her extensive work to help the lives of domestic abuse victims, women, and children in Louisiana.

Ortiz named to Hall of Fame

POLLACK — Leslie Cloud Ortiz of Vernon Parish has been inducted into The Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame.

As a 21-year volunteer, Leslie Cloud Ortiz is responsible for the long-serving 4-H Backpack Project in Vernon. She has served as a club leader, project leader, advisory board member and foundation trustee.

She has received the Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Award, National 4-H Volunteer Award Runner Up, Vernon Parish Friend of 4-H Award and recognition for the 4-H Backpack Project.

As a club leader and member of the advisory committee, she finds a way for 4-H to meet the needs in her local community. Her continued efforts have led to a long-standing service project directly benefiting local youth for the last 10 years.

BHS welcomes Tolleson to staff

Beauregard Health System is proud to welcome Dr. Thaddeus R. Tolleson, an interventional cardiologist, to DeRidder and Beauregard Parish.

Tolleson graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in microbiology, followed by his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Texas McGovern medical school in Houston. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, where he also served as chief resident.

His cardiovascular training was undertaken at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., where he completed fellowships in general cardiology, interventional cardiology, and peripheral vascular disease, as well as a master’s degree in clinical research/biostatistics.

He is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association scientific counsel on clinical cardiology and the American Medical Association. He performs diagnostic cardiac catheterization and intervention, as well as treatment of peripheral vascular disease including peripheral angiography and interventions.

Dr. Tolleson will practice at the Beauregard Cardiology Center located at 200 West 5th Street in DeRidder.

Francis named CNA of Year

BATON ROUGE — Bernadette Francis of Landmark of Lake Charles in Lake Charles has been named the Region 6 CNA of the Year by the Louisiana Nursing Home Association.

Each year at the LNHA Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans, the LNHA Awards Luncheon recognizes and honors the selfless individuals who set the standard for quality long-term care in the state. These outstanding staff and volunteers make a difference in the lives of nursing facility residents while striving to improve their quality of life on a daily basis.

“The recipients of this year’s awards were selected because of their unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality person-centered care while treating each resident like family,” said Mark Berger, executive director of LNHA. “Their dedication to enhancing each resident’s quality of life in a compassionate manner is inspiring.”

Guillory named to judicial council

NEW ORLEANS — At general meetings held during the 2023 Fall Judges Conference, officers were elected by the membership of judicial associations representing different levels of courts in Louisiana.

Judge Cynthia Clay Guillory of the 14th Judicial District Court was named to the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Three earn  certification

Recently, three employees at CSE Federal Credit Union  earned their Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor designation through the Credit Union National Association (by completing an 8-week virtual training program with a proctored online exam: Jana Duque, DeAuntrae Mayes and Dawnyetta Ebrottie.

The CUNA CCUFC Program, presented by the Louisiana Credit Union League, is an enhanced, virtual training program for credit union staff to learn skills and knowledge necessary to assist and empower members to improve their financial well-being.

Financial counselors are required to recertify every three years to ensure their knowledge remains current. A total of 35 CSE employees hold this designation in order to serve its Membership and community.