Galan named to board of directors

First Federal Bank of Louisiana is pleased to welcome Alberto C. Galan to its board of directors. A seasoned public administrator with expertise in government operations, strategic planning, and community development, Galan’s leadership will help guide the bank’s continued growth.

Galan serves as director of parish operations for the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, overseeing policy implementation, intergovernmental relations, and major projects, including long-term disaster recovery.

A graduate of Southern University Law Center and LSU, Galan is a Leadership Louisiana and Leadership Southwest alumnus, a former Fusion Five board member, and an active leader in regional development initiatives.

Fowlkes joins local law firm

Todd Clemons and Associates welcomes attorney Samuel Fowlkes to the firm. He is a graduate of Southern University Law Center, and he previously completed a summer internship with the firm during his studies.

Fowlkes joins attorneys Todd S. Clemons and Micah O. Clemons.

Growing up in Lake Charles, Fowlkes attended Barbe High School and McNeese State University. After his freshman year, he transferred and later received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Louisiana State University.

Fowlkes is driven by helping others. He said he hopes to use his new position to affect positive change in the community that helped shape him into the person he is today.

Thornhill presented Teacher of Year award

Sowela Technical Community College Business Instructor Linda Thornhill was recently honored at the Louisiana Business Educators annual conference, where she was named Postsecondary Teacher of the Year.

Thornhill was nominated for her work ethic and dedication to the Sowela School of Business and Applied Technology. She continuously seeks new ways to enhance and align the curriculum with the modern workplace. Thornhill does an excellent job in the classroom, blending theory with real-world applications.

In addition, many of her students enjoy her classes and feel comfortable seeking her out for help outside of the classroom. She consistently teaches an overload of courses while taking Ph.D. courses in economics and participating on several college committees.

Thornhill joined Sowela nearly two years ago. Before that, she was a Calcasieu Parish School Board business teacher.

Traweek named  regional director

SULPHUR — The Health and Safety Council Louisiana is pleased to welcome Tyler Traweek, MBA, MS, CSP, as the regional director of operations – East Louisiana. Traweek brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in health, safety, and environmental leadership across diverse industrial sectors. He will manage operations in HASC Louisiana’s new office in Gonzales, where he will lead efforts to enhance safety training, strengthen industry partnerships, and drive operational excellence in the region.

Most recently, he served as the HSE Director at Conco Services LLC, where he was instrumental in harmonizing policies across multiple entities, implementing ISO 45001-compliant systems, and achieving prestigious safety awards including accolades from the Gulf Coast Safety Council and Industry Business Roundtable. Under his leadership, Conco Services LLC achieved over five years with more than two million manhours worked without recordable incidents.

An Army veteran and distinguished honor graduate, Traweek holds advanced degrees in occupational safety & health and project management, along with professional certifications, including Certified Safety Professional and Certified Associate in Project Management. Recognized as a “Rising Star in Safety” by the National Safety Council in 2022, he is committed to continuous improvement and innovation in safety programs.

Traweek is a member of the Executive Board of the Greater Baton Rouge ASSP.

Visit Lake Charles recognized

NEW YORK — Visit Lake Charles was honored at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Adrian Awards Celebration, receiving two awards for excellence in marketing. HSMAI is a global organization dedicated to advancing the sales, marketing and revenue optimization disciplines in the hospitality industry.

The “As Much Joy As You Can Pack In” campaign received a Bronze Adrian Award for the second consecutive year. The campaign showcases the endless excitement and fun that makes Lake Charles the ideal destination for adventurers, families and leisure travelers alike.

The campaign played a key role in driving tourism growth and supporting Visit Lake Charles’ goals of increasing overnight stays and visitor spending. During the 2023-2024 shoulder season — the period between a destination’s  peak season and off-season — Southwest Louisiana experienced a 15% year-over-year increase in average visitor spend, a 23% rise in restaurant spending, 14% growth in retail spending, and a 57% boost in accommodations spend.

Visit Lake Charles’ Tripscout campaign was also recognized for its exceptional performance, winning a Bronze Adrian Award. The campaign reached millions of potential visitors by leveraging influencer partnerships and targeted email marketing, sharing the region’s attractions and cultural richness with key markets.

The Tripscout campaign, launched in March 2024, delivered 5.2 million impressions, surpassing its target by 10%. It included 35 engaging social media posts and 11 bonus reels and was featured in the Tripscout Travel Digest newsletter, reaching 448,217 subscribers with a remarkable 28.3% open rate.

Foundation elects new board members

At its annual meeting held at the McNeese Legacy Center on March 17, The Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana elected three new members to its Board of Directors.

Joining the board are: Andre Bonton, retired from Sasol; Amanda McElveen, retired insurance agent and former co-owner of McElveen Insurance; and Harold Rowland, vice president and general manager of L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles.

The Foundation also elected new members to its Executive Committee: Clair Hebert Marceaux, Vice Chair; Owen Thompson, Treasurer; and Kody Cannon, Secretary

Jim Rock continues to serve as Chair, and Marshall Simien is the immediate past Chair.

The Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana connects people who care with causes that matter, working to enhance the quality of life in Southwest Louisiana — now and for generations to come.

Pete to lead LC  Housing Authority

The Lake Charles Housing Authority is proud to announce the hiring of Mitchell Greg Pete to take over as the new executive director, upon the retirement of Ben Taylor. Taylor will stay on in a transition role through July.

A Lake Charles native, Pete brings over 30 years of executive leadership, project management and engineering experience. His background includes leadership roles at Sasol, APTIV, and Delphi Electronics & Safety, where he managed multi-million-dollar projects, led cross-functional teams, and championed community engagement initiatives. His deep ties to Lake Charles and commitment to public service will guide LCHA’s mission of providing safe, affordable housing.

With the LCHA’s recent settlement of its insurance claims from Hurricanes Laura and Delta, the LCHA can now embark on a new exciting chapter of growth and service to the community. With these resources secured, LCHA’s immediate priority under Pete’s leadership will be addressing the housing stock damaged by the storms. Plans are already underway to demolish and/or repair the impacted units.

Stenvick named director of council

The Board of Directors of the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is pleased to announce the appointment of Lee Ann Stenvick as executive director.

A native of Gonzales, , Stenvick is a graduate of Louisiana State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in theatre performance. Her professional journey began at the LSU Foundation, where she discovered a passion for mission-driven work — setting the course for a decade-long career in nonprofit fundraising.

Over the years, Stenvick has built a career rooted in purpose, developing a strong record of cultivating generosity and nurturing meaningful partnerships. Her work has supported both academic programming and institution-wide initiatives, with experience spanning strategic operations and frontline development.

In 2023, Stenvick relocated to Lake Charles when her husband accepted a faculty position as assistant professor and Director of Theatre Productions at McNeese State University. She brings with her a deep commitment to the arts and a firm belief that investing in arts is vital to strengthening communities, enriching lives and fostering a vibrant cultural landscape.

Hite earns Instructor of Excellence Award

Sowela Technical Community College Information Systems Instructor Paul Hite recently received the 2024 Instructor Excellence Advanced Level Award from Cisco Networking Academy. The award recognizes the contributions of the top 25% of academy instructors based on a global ranking of outcomes, learner performance and course feedback. It celebrates the skills, experience and expertise of instructors who deliver impactful educational experiences for learners.

Hite is an adjunct instructor at Sowela, teaching networking and cybersecurity courses in the Information Systems Technology program. He is also an Infrastructure and Security Supervisor at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Cisco Networking Academy offers industry-based credentials for Information Systems students. IBCs are certifications created by industries to confirm that individuals have mastered the critical skills necessary to be effective employees. Sowela students in all programs complete IBCs related to their area of study and career goals. Individuals who earn IBCs have a real advantage when applying for jobs in high-demand careers. They also help build confidence, enlarge students’ professional networks and advance their careers.

Dentist receives humanitarian award

BATON ROUGE — Dr. James Richard Churchman was presented the Humanitarian Award during the 144th House of Delegates of the Louisiana Dental Association.

The LDA Humanitarian Award recognizes dentists who have distinguished themselves through outstanding dental service activities in the USA or abroad. Churchman has been a dedicated tripartite member of the LDA, the American Dental Association, and the Southwest Dental Association for 34 years.

Churchman’s long-standing devotion to providing quality dental care stretches beyond his community. Since 1998, he has attended more than 35 international mission trips to provide dental, medical and water sanitation services to those less fortunate. He has visited countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico. In 2015, he donated his time in Baton Rouge to provide dental services with the Louisiana Mission of Mercy. In 2023, he served with LaMOM again. This event provided over $1 million in dental care to 910 patients in the Lafayette area.

He served initially in the Rotary Club of Greater Lake Charles and currently serves with the Lake Charles Club, which he has been a member of since 1994. He participates in the Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group and has chaired the Rotary Action Group for Dental Volunteers.

He earned the Avenues of Service Citation, the Service Above Self award, the Citation for Meritorious Service, and the Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award for his involvement. He also received the “Philanthropy Award” from The Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana. He is a graduate of both McNeese and the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry.

Hidalgo recognized by University of Ala.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala — The University of Alabama’s Department of Human Resources recently held its annual ceremony recognizing Student Employee of the Year nominees. Among them are Erin Hidalgo of Sulphur.

The University of Alabama employs about 5,000 students each year. The 2024-2025 honorees demonstrate exemplary leadership skills, apply critical thinking to generate innovative ideas. Eligible students are undergraduate student assistant employees and work-study student employees working in on-campus positions. Students must have worked a minimum of six months part time or three months full time.