Young joins Visit Lake Charles

Matt Young was recently hired as the director of association sales at Visit Lake Charles where he will focus on convention sales and growing group business to enhance the local economy. He joins the team after serving as the public information officer for the city of Lake Charles Mayor’s Office, and most recently, the director of cultural affairs.

Young has a vast amount of experience with governmental relations, marketing, event planning and facility management. While at the city of Lake Charles, Young served under two mayoral administrations, as well as organized events such as Downtown at Sundown and Light Up the Lake Christmas Festival. He also coordinated traveling exhibitions at Historic City Hall and managed Central School Arts & Cultural Center.

A Southwest Louisiana native, Young returned to the region in 2009 to serve as executive director of the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana. Under Young’s leadership, the Council initiated the first Live at the Lakefront concert series, and that event has continued to thrive over the years as a signature event for the spring.

Young is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in communications, political science and public relations. He has volunteered for the community in a number of capacities with the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Cancer Society, Junior League of Lake Charles, and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.

Andreas renews membership

Local financial advisor Tim Andreas of Global Asset Management Group has renewed membership with the Financial Services Institute in Washington, D.C. FSI advocates for Main Street Americans’ access to objective, affordable financial advice, delivered by a growing network of independent financial advisor members.

Andreas’ practice offers services such as: retirement, estate and financial planning. He has been an independent advisor for 10 years, a part of FSI for 10 years and is affiliated with Raymond James.

Tim, along with his wife Tammy, is a co-founder of the Local Heart Foundation here in Southwest Louisiana.

Darbonne  joins JD Bank

JD Bank is pleased to announce that Joseph Darbonne has joined JD Prime Investment Services as a financial consultant in Lake Charles. Darbonne will work with clients to provide personalized financial advice that aligns with our values, allowing JD Bank to expand the depth of services we can offer access to in the communities of south Louisiana.

Darbonne brings three years of experience in the financial services industry to this role. He is a licensed securities agent through LPL Financial. He is well versed in helping individuals of varied backgrounds pursue financial stability and success.

Born and raised in Lake Charles, Darbonne graduated from Louisiana State University and received his MBA from the University of New Orleans. He is active in the community and a founding member of the professional band, Flamethrowers.

Salvador earns Science Award

Former Texas A&M Department of Nutrition student and registered dietitian Anna Salvador, Ph.D., of College Station, was recently awarded the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Salvador earned her doctorate in nutrition from the Department of Nutrition in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2021. From 2021 to the present, she has been a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the Texas A&M School of Medicine. She also works as a registered dietitian for Aramark Healthcare assigned to Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, College Station.

She did her graduate work in the lab of David Threadgill, Ph.D., a University Distinguished Professor, Tom and Jean McMullin Chair of Genetics and head of the Department of Nutrition, Bryan-College Station.

The Distinguished Scientist Award honors a Texas dietitian who has made outstanding and significant contributions to research in the field of dietetics, nutrition, food science or related sciences.

“I have known Anna since she contacted me about her interest in my research lab during her senior year at McNeese,” said Threadgill. “I knew immediately that Anna was a remarkable student. She demonstrated her potential and developed into an outstanding scientist. She is, by far, the most talented trainee that I have had in my lab over the last 25 years.”