Bush named board secretary

Visit Lake Charles Chief Marketing Officer Timothy Bush has been appointed to serve as secretary on Southeast Tourism Society’s Board of Directors. The announcement was made during this year’s STS Connections Conference in Auburn, Ala.

Bush is no stranger to the board, having served multiple terms since 2016. In this role, Bush will contribute his expertise to shaping strategic initiatives, providing insight into industry trends, and supporting the promotion of travel across the 14 Southeast Tourism Society member states. Bush has also served as the Recognition Pillar Committee chair since 2020, working to expand recognition programs that support STS member achievements.

For the past 20 years, Bush has built a career in the travel and tourism industry, driving innovative programs and campaigns, leading organizations and teams, as well as actively educating and advocating for the industry’s growth and advancement. His career spans six different destinations in three states.

CFO welcomes new specialist

Eric Waetjen, MD, hand and wrist surgeon, has joined the medical staff of the Center for Orthopaedics.

Originally from Texas, Waetjen earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and his Medical Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio. He completed a residency in general surgery at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa, where he was recognized as the most outstanding resident. Dr. Waetjen completed a fellowship in hand surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

He has been involved in numerous research projects relating to hand surgery. He practiced as a general surgeon before beginning his fellowship and worked as an anatomy teaching assistant at the University of Texas School of Medicine while completing his doctorate. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Waetjen joins Dr. Andrew Foret as the hand and wrist surgical specialists at the Center for Orthopaedics. They specialize in hand and wrist surgery and treatment, including forearm and hand fractures, wrist arthroscopy, micro-surgery, endoscopic carpal tunnel release, small joint replacement, nerve compression, pediatric hand surgery, sport-related injuries and more.

Visit Lake Charles recognized

The Southeast Tourism Society honored Visit Lake Charles with the Shining Example Award for Best Digital Marketing at the STS Connections Conference.

Visit Lake Charles received the accolade for its Tripscout campaign, which utilized social media partnerships with Becky’s Travel List and Explore with Westley, and targeted email marketing to effectively showcase the region’s attractions, culinary scene and culture to visitors in the Texas drive market.

Tripscout, under the @hotel umbrella alongside 140+ travel-related social media accounts totaling 70M+ combined followers, is a leading industry partner for travel marketing content.

The Tripscout campaign, beginning in March, delivered 5.2 million impressions, surpassing its goal by 10%. It featured 35 social media posts, including 11 bonus reels. The campaign was also highlighted in the Tripscout Travel Digest email newsletter, which reached 448,217 subscribers (about half the population of South Dakota) with a 28.3% open rate.

Doctors merge their practices

Andres Guillermo, MD, and Jason Burklow, MD, family medicine physicians with Imperial Health, have merged their individual practices into a new, shared office location at 711 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive in Lake Charles.

Originally from Thibodaux, Guillermo received his undergraduate degree in pre-med/biology form Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and earned his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten.

He completed his family practice residency program at the LSUHSC School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program in Lake Charles. He has been practicing medicine in Southwest Louisiana for 17 years and joined Imperial Health in 2016. Dr. Guillermo is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Originally from Lake Charles, Burklow earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He received a Doctor of Medicine from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine on the island of St. Maarten. Dr. Burklow completed a Family Medicine Residency at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital as a part of the Louisiana State University Health Science Center Family Medicine Residency Program. He has been with Imperial Health since 2017.

Hoffpauir joins DeRidder clinic

Christine Hoffpauir, APRN, FNP-C, has joined the clinical staff of Imperial Health at the group’s DeRidder Primary Care Clinic, located at 501 Shirley St.

Originally from Lake Charles, Hoffpauir earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from Lamar State College in Orange, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from McNeese State University.

After working as a nurse for over 20 years, she completed a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Herzing University in Milwaukee, Wis. She brings a total of over 25 years of clinical experience in the areas of family medicine, obstetrics, surgery and inpatient care to her new position.

She is licensed as a registered nurse by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and board certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is also certified in basic life support and advanced cardiovascular life support.

Society honors Stanley

LAFAYETTE — The Louisiana Society of Association Executives recently recognized a Lake Charles professional for her dedication and contribution to the society. Taylor Beard Stanley of Visit Lake Charles received the Associate Member of the Year Award.

The Louisiana Society of Association Executives is a state-wide association comprised of chief executive officers and association professionals of many different types of associations in Louisiana, as well as allied vendors from multiple states.