Names in the news: The man shaping the future of business in the Lake District
Posted Sun, Jan 29, 2023 at 5:05am
Visit Lake Charles Accreditation
Awarded by the Louisiana Tourism Association Visit Lake Charles Received three Louey Awards at the Society’s annual Louey Awards Celebration in New Orleans. Visit Lake Charles has been named a 2022 Outstanding Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as a 2022 Travel Event of the Year and Major Event of the Year. The Louey Award recognizes individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to Louisiana tourism.
Outstanding CVB
The award recognizes outstanding efforts in tourism promotion through an event, event or marketing initiative demonstrating a return on investment through increased traffic. In 2022, Visit Lake Charles hosts the PGA Korn Ferry Lake Charles Championship, International Press Conference for 300 journalists at the U.S. Travel Association IPW, the 19th Americas LNG and Natural Gas Summit & Exhibition, and the Louisiana Tourism Summit. The team launched its first podcast, Playgrounds in Louisiana, through one of the state’s destination marketing organizations, to such success that the organization was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame. Visit Lake Charles was awarded for gross budgeted revenue of $1 million and above.
Annual Travel Events/Promotions
The Austin integrated marketing campaign for Visit Lake Charles has been selected as the 2022 winner of the Travel Events Awards in the $30,000 and Over Budget category. The campaign showcases Southwest Louisiana food stories through social media, digital advertising, out-of-home events, wrap vehicles, public relations, and leveraging Austin influencers. Some results include a 65% increase in website traffic, an 8.5% increase in overnight stays and an 8.5% increase in food costs.
annual event
This is submitted to bid-based major events that have proven to have an economic impact on their region. Visit Lake Charles in honor of the PGA Korn Ferry Tour Lake Charles Championship. Professional golfers travel from all over the country and the world for the four-day tournament.
Ochsner Christus welcomes a couple
Ochsner Christus Health Center – Lake District welcomes husband and wife team Kelly PaulkDoctor of Medicine, and emily pawkerMD to the Lake Charles community.
A Lake Charles native, Dr. Kelly Paulk is Board Certified in Pain Medicine Therapy, especially for chronic pain involving the musculoskeletal system and spine. He received his medical degree from LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, where he completed his internship and residency and a fellowship in Pain Medicine. He has been with Ochsner since 2019. He is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine from the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He treats patients in Suite 1, Building G, Lakeland Campus, 4150 Nelson Road.
Dr. Emily Paulk is a primary care physician and board board-certified internal medicine. After completing her undergraduate studies at LSU, she received her medical degree from LSU Health Science Center New Orleans School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She has been with Ochsner since 2017. Paulk treats patients at the Lakes campus in Suite 5, Building G
Cormier Named Senior Vice President
SWLA Economic Development Alliance / Chamber of Commerce SWLA Announces Eric Cormier Has been appointed to lead the business development efforts of the Alliance/Chamber SWLA.
Cormier has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Initiatives for the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance/Chamber of SWLA.
He will oversee the agency’s entrepreneurship and small business development programs and advocacy across the five parishes. He will also manage the SEED Center business incubator.
In addition to these responsibilities, Cormier will continue to be involved in the agency’s economic/community development, government affairs and strategic communications initiatives.
Cormier started working at Alliance/Chamber SWLA in 2013 as Special Projects Manager. In 2016, he was promoted to Vice President of Policy and Strategic Development.
Cormier graduated from McNeese State University in 1993 with a degree in Mass Communication. He completed his studies in the Economic Development Program of the Louisiana Association of Industrial Development Executives.
EXIT welcomes team members
EXIT Realty Southern is pleased to announce the addition of Lauren Bain Hoffmann. Hoffman brings four years of real estate experience to serve residents Southwest Louisiana.
She and her team, The Land Home Group, have been serving Southwest Louisiana since 2019.
Damon Thorne and Rachel Lanclos Also joined by the EXIT Realty Southern office located at 3701 Maplewood Drive, Sulfur.
EXIT Realty Southern is a proud member of EXIT Realty Louisiana’s rapidly expanding network of independently owned and operated brokerages in the region.
Hospital honors five employees
SULFUR — West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently recognized several outstanding employees with “Employee of the Month” titles.
Approved employees are: lolita robertslaboratory; Blanche MatthewsRoom Service; heather millerbreathe; Matthew Walesmarketing communications; and Jessica Sotophysical medicine.