Stanley receives
Rising Star award

The Louisiana Travel Association named Taylor Beard Stanley, senior sales manager of Visit Lake Charles, winner of the 2019 Rising Star of the Year during its annual meeting in Charenton. This year, LTA presented 19 “Louey Awards” to honor and showcase individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the Louisiana tourism industry.

A graduate of Grand Lake High School and McNeese State University, Stanley began her career at Visit Lake Charles in October 2016 as sales manager. She was then promoted to senior sales manager. Stanley recently developed and launched the Hotel Onboarding Program to educate hotel partners’ management on the role of Visit Lake Charles and how to create a better experience for visitors.

Additionally, she has developed several other programs such as the Partner Shadowing Program for the VLC sales department, the Meeting Planner Incentive Program to increase association and corporate meetings, and the Softball Housing Program to coordinate the lodging of 95 softball teams, to name a few.

She has also developed and organized Baton Rouge and Houston sales missions to market Southwest Louisiana as a corporate, associate and group business destination. Stanley has also worked to bring in the 18th CWC World LNG & Gas Series: Americas Summit & Exhibition to Lake Charles, which is the first-ever international conference to be hosted in Southwest Louisiana.

LyondellBasell makes ‘Most Admired’ list

For the third consecutive year, LyondellBasell, operator of a Westlake polymers plant near Lake Charles, has been named to Fortune Magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies.” LyondellBasell is ranked fifth.

Fortune Magazine’s “World’s Most Admired” list identifies the world’s most respected companies, as ranked by peers, board members and financial advisors on the company’s performance in nine key areas.

In 2019, LyondellBasell:

l Celebrated 60 years of safe operations in Lake Charles and received the Louisiana Chemical Association’s Best in Louisiana SAFE Award;

l Played a leadership role in creating and launching the first global, cross-value chain Alliance to End Plastic Waste;

l Collaborated with Samsonite to create a suitcase collection made of 100 percent post-consumer plastic waste; and

l Advanced their molecular recycling capabilities and announced the construction of a small-scale pilot plant in Ferrara, Italy, to convert post-consumer plastic waste into feedstock;

“Credit for this recognition goes to our employees who work tirelessly to operate safely, responsibly and deliver products that meet or exceed our customers’ needs,” said Bob Patel, CEO of LyondellBasell.

Visit Lake Charles receives event award

Visit Lake Charles is the winner of the 2019 Major Event of the Year award from The Louisiana Travel Association for hosting the USA Boxing National Championships and Olympic Trials for Boxing. USA Boxing, the national governing body for Olympic-style amateur boxing, chose Lake Charles to host the USA Boxing National Championships and Olympic Trials for Boxing which took place Dec. 7-16, 2019.

The event generated more than 8,000 overnight stays, with an estimated economic impact of more than $3 million. It included more than 900 boxers vying for titles.

“It was the largest-ever sports group to visit Lake Charles,” said Eric Zartler, sales director at Visit Lake Charles.

In 2018, Zartler made a presentation to the USA Boxing Board of Directors in Salt Lake City, Utah, on behalf of Visit Lake Charles, Lake Charles Civic Center and local event partners.

Reams named to West Cal Port board

Carlyss Resident Buddy Reams has been appointed to the West Calcasieu Port five-person board of commissioners by the Calcasieu Parish police jurors of the western portion of the parish.

Reams’ appointment was confirmed on Feb. 6. His term will expire in October 2024.

Reams assumed a port board commissioner position that was previously held by Dave Aguillard.

Reams serves as NACE International’s Chief Maritime Officer, a position he started in April 2016 after retiring from the United States Coast Guard. From 2006 to 2009, he served as the commander of Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles.

In his current civilian role, he leads the development of corrosion control programs and services. He is also the organization’s accredited representative to the International Maritime Organization.

He is a 1992 honors graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a BS in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering. Reams also holds two Master’s of Science degrees from the University of Michigan — in naval architecture and marine engineering and industrial operations engineering.

Moss Bluff welcomes accounting firm

Members of the Ward One Economic Development Board welcomed M. Randall Branch, Certified Public Accountants, PC, to Moss Bluff. Their new office is located at 340 N. Highway 171, Suite C.

“Since 1985 our company has been providing services to Louisiana, the United States, and abroad with unparalleled accounting services, including tax preparation, corporate bookkeeping, strategic planning and more,” said M. Randall Branch. “I am excited to be expanding our office in Moss Bluff because I see a need for the type of services we provide,” said Branch.

The office can be reached by phone at 337-855-2186 or www.mrandallbranchcpa.com.

LABI announces board, officers

BATON ROUGE — Several locals have been named Louisiana Association of Business and Industry officers or to the Board of Directors for 2019, along with the members of the 2019 LABI Emerging Leaders Council, a group of distinguished entrepreneurs and young professionals.

Sonia Pérez, president of southeast states for AT&T, will serve as the chair of LABI for 2019. She replaces Tim Stine, CEO of Stine Lumber Company, who becomes the immediate past chair.

Steve Jordan, CEO of Central Crude Inc. of Lake Charles has been named to the board of directors.

Paula Ramsey, vice president of the The Chamber Southwest Louisiana/Lake Charles, has been named the board’s chamber of commerce representative.

Rusty Vincent of Century Group Inc. of Sulphur has been named the board’s secretary treasurer.

Other current members of the LABI Board of Directors include: Boyd Boudreaux, president and CEO of JD Bank in Jennings; Kim Cusimano, manager of government and public affairs for North American Operations, Sasol Chemicals USA in Westlake; Michael Eason Sr., vice president of Michael Eason-Merrill Lynch in Lake Charles; Courtney Fenet Jr., vice president and special assistant to CEO and president of R.E. Heidt Construction Company in Sulphur; and Dana Keel, government and public affairs manager of Citgo Petroleum Corporation in Lake Charles.

Dustin Granger, financial manager and CEO of Toujours Planning in Lake Charles, has been named to the 2019 LABI Emerging Leaders Council.

Garrett Stine, director of training for Stine Lumber Company, and Robert Williamson, commercial lender, Lake Charles Market for JD Bank in Lake Charles, are returning members to the council.