Hunt joins  Sulphur hospital

SULPHUR — West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Cassie Hunt as the talent acquisition and employment specialist in the human resources department.

An alumna of Louisiana State University, Hunt returns to her hometown of Lake Charles from Baton Rouge, bringing valuable experience in health care and customer service to WCCH. In her new role, Hunt will support key human resources functions, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, employee engagement, performance management and policy development.

Hunt is actively pursuing a Master’s degree in healthcare administration at LSU Shreveport, with an anticipated graduation in December 2024. Her commitment to the well-being of both patients and staff reflects WCCH’s mission to deliver exceptional care to our community.

Craven qualifies for council

Chris Craven has qualified for the 2024 Chairman’s Council in Paris, France, for New York Life Insurance. Only the top 350 agents qualified this year.

Craven began in 1993 and has qualified for 31 consecutive councils based on sales performance. He is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and has received numerous awards. He has also qualified in the Top 5% in the nation out of 12,500 licensed New York Life Agents.

LyondellBasell recognized

The LyondellBasell Lake Charles sites were named the 2024 recipients of the Clean Biz Leadership Award during the recent Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s Everyday Hero Awards, which was held in conjunction with the annual Keep Louisiana Beautiful state conference.

This year, LYB stood out for its significant contributions as leaders in the efforts to end plastic waste and develop sustainable solutions.

The Clean Biz Leadership Award is granted to an organization that has demonstrated dedication to Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s mission and has adopted operational practices to support a cleaner, greener community. LYB earned this recognition through its approach to environmental stewardship, including a robust, site-wide recycling program, “Spotlight on Sustainability” newsletter and involvement in community-driven environmental initiatives and events.

In Southwest Louisiana, LYB actively supports community improvement through financial contributions, volunteerism and various environmental programs.

Abshire receives forensic award

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Lt. Jerod Abshire was recognized as one of the “Top Forensic Examiners” throughout the United States by the National Computer Forensic Institute (NCFI) for the fourth consecutive year.

Abshire was awarded after being ranked 53 out of about 3,800 forensic examiners in the nation for his productivity of digital forensic exams. Digital forensic exams are used in all types of investigations, to include violent crimes, crimes against people, and financial crimes.

This award is given by the U.S. Secret Service’s NCFI to the top 100 state and local law enforcement officers trained in digital forensic examination techniques.

Hunter named committee VP

Nic Hunter, mayor of Lake Charles, has been appointed as vice chair of the National League of Cities 2025 Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee.

Hunter was elected to a one-year term and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities on crime prevention, corrections, substance abuse, gun violence, municipal fire policy, juvenile justice, disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and homeland security.

Hunter will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocating on behalf of America’s cities, towns and villages before Congress, with the administration and at home in Lake Charles.

Safety Council becomes HASC

The Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana is proud to announce its evolution into the Health and Safety Council (HASC) Louisiana, reinforcing its commitment to the community while building on its strong legacy. With this transformation, HASC Louisiana will continue to provide world-class safety training, occupational health services, and screening services, significantly benefiting the local Louisiana region.

By combining over 70 years of history in Southwest Louisiana with HASC’s industry-leading expertise, HASC Louisiana is poised to deliver unmatched services to the local community. This milestone represents a significant advancement in the organization’s journey to provide even greater value to its members, contractors, and industry stakeholders.

As part of this transition, Sarita Scheufens, who has led the Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana as president and CEO, is named president of HASC Louisiana.

Cramer earns FACMPE

Celeste Cramer, FACMPE, SHRM-SCP, practice director of Lake Charles Memorial Health System, has earned the title as a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives.

ACMPE is the certification entity of the Medical Group Management Association. Fellowship in ACMPE’s industry-leading program demonstrates mastery and expertise in the profession of medical practice management.

To achieve Fellowship, Cramer first earned the Certified Medical Practice Executive designation by passing rigorous examinations that assess knowledge of the broad scope of medical practice management. In addition, she completed a minimum of 50 continuing education credit hours to achieve CMPE status.

Cramer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Evangel University and a Master of Science in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas College of Engineering. She is also a Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management and holds a Graduate Certificate in Project Management.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Cramer is deeply committed to community service. She was appointment by Governor Parson to the State of Missouri Workforce Development Board’s Executive Committee and held board leadership roles with the HOPE Foundation (as Chair), the GO CAPS Board of Directors (as Vice Chair), and Leadership Springfield.