Discover Lafayette

Brent Henley, the founder of The Pyramid Group, joined us to discuss his life mission to build leaders and improve human performance. We post this interview with great sadness, as shortly after our interview, Brent passed away suddenly on August 8, 2021. We devote this show to Brent's memory and his life's legacy of encouraging all of us to be the best possible version of ourselves.

Brent worked with clients to increase performance in sales, customer service, supervision, and leadership. People would clamor to attend his executive retreats on strategic planning, product launches, and organizational growth.

Many listeners know Brent Henley for his leadership in running a simulated society, known as SIMSOC, for Leadership Lafayette and many other organizations. Participants are forever changed as they experience real-life societal challenges they’ve never encountered.

Brent Henley grew up in Oklahoma in a family that was highly active: his mom, B. Glorine Henley, served as Oklahoma Secretary of State (and also worked for the DNC when Bill Clinton was President), and his father, Thomas H. Henley, was chief of surgery at a large hospital. All of his family members were educated at Oklahoma institutions of higher learning.

However, with an early calling to be a United Methodist Minister, Brent moved to Louisiana to attend Centenary College where he got a full scholarship. He fell in love with the people of Louisiana. He also eventually met a beautiful woman (his future wife, Tammy) who was a “half Spanish/half redhead from New Iberia” who turned his head and eventually brought him to Lafayette.

We dedicate this show to the memory of our dear friend, Brent Henley. (November 9, 1957 - August 8, 2021)

Henley discovered through an internship at Broadmoor UMC that full-time pulpit ministry really wasn’t his calling. He changed course and got double degrees in sociology and business. He credits his many mentors at the Centenary's School of Church Careers for encouraging him to follow his God-given path. They didn’t want to force him to be “another miserable minister.”

While this was unfolding, Brent waited tables at a steakhouse in Shreveport, at Mississippi River Company owned by Dobbs House, at a time when Louisiana Downs first got started and Downtown Square was hopping. Brent became headwaiter and hired all the serving staff and trained them while he was a senior in college. They wanted him to become a management trainee and to get into the restaurant world, but Brent didn’t want to work in restaurants for the rest of his life.

Brent had a particular client at the restaurant who always requested him as a waiter on Saturday nights and talked to him about coming to work in the Human Resources Department for his organization which owned a variety of companies and employed 110 employees. Brent was hired!

He joined the local SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) chapter in Shreveport as he jumped into his new job feet first. In his first two months on the job, when he found out that his company was paying three people who were no longer employed, he stopped that abuse. At that point, he made up his annual salary in three days!

After a year, the owner of the company asked Brent to become president of the company, when he was 24 years old! He helped grow the company from $14 million to $40 million per year in eight years.

At the end of that eight years, he quit the company at 32 years of age on Christmas Eve when the partners declined to give him a bonus in lieu of using those funds to buy another business. Brent felt this was unfair, so he handed them the keys as he walked out and went home to tell his wife he had started a ...

Discover Lafayette welcomes Joel Fruge, owner of Acadiana Prescription Shop and expert on all things relating to independent pharmacies.

Acadiana Prescription Shop has been in continuous operation since 1969 and under Fruge’s wing since 2002, where they have five pharmacists on staff. “I feel privileged to be able to work in the Oil Center, we have a great clientele,” Fruge said.

Fruge grew up with his five siblings in Eunice, three of whom now also live in Lafayette. While Fruge was attending college at LSU-Eunice, his first gig was a delivery job for a pharmaceutical company, which sparked his interest in the profession immediately. He later went to Northeastern Louisiana University’s Pharmaceutical School, and thereafter made several important connections at his first job working at the University Medical Center (now Ochsner University Hospitals & Clinics).

Fruge then went to work for K&B Drug Stores in Lake Charles, which was later acquired by Rite Aid. After moving to a small town in Texas to work for a management company, Fruge knew he wanted to come back to South Louisiana.

The first independent pharmacy that he worked for was Carmichael’s in Crowley. “Ted Carmichael was very successful, he taught me so much,” Fruge said. He quickly learned the value of customer relationships through Ted and by witnessing his work ethic firsthand.

After his time at Carmichael’s, Fruge was called to work for Acadiana Prescription Shop by its late owner, Philip Comeaux. Unfortunately, Comeaux died shortly after Fruge joined the shop in 2002. “We had so much in common, he really afforded me an opportunity to be here in the Oil Center as an independent pharmacist. We don’t plan on going anywhere,” Fruge said. He took over Acadiana Prescription Shop and kept many of its classic details, such as the “Toot & Scoot” drive-up service while also updating operations by replacing the DOS software and purchasing a fax machine. Over the years he has upgraded software and hardware to be able to consistently offer his clientele the ability to check out in two to three minutes, even when they have up to ten prescriptions filled.

Joel Fruge and his staff love working with their clientele. "It's always a great crowd. Compounding medications have been a godsend helping patients with menopausal symptoms as well as other health issues. The pharmacy even offers medical compounded prescriptions to animal patients.

Acadiana Prescription Shop is a stand-alone independent pharmacy, which means that it isn’t connected to any chain prescription store. “It took me five years to become the owner, but it went by quickly. I was so happy that the customers gave me a chance and stayed.” Fruge mentioned how neat and well-stocked his store is, which will always be of utmost importance to him as he follows in the revered footsteps of Philip Comeaux.

When discussing how outside factors impact his pharmacy business, Fruge said, “One of the biggest challenges is to be able to afford what the insurance companies decide to pay us back.” Fruge mentioned the impact in 2006 that the implementation of Medicare Part D (which covers the cost of seniors’ medicines), had on the pharmacy industry: “It brought people back to buying their medicine from the pharmacy but at a discounted rate.” Part D also ushered in the era of Pharmacy Benefit Managers who have undercut payment of drug manufacture rebates to customers and the government, and have been blamed for the shocking rise in drug prices over the past 15 years.

When discussing pharmacy benefit managers, Fruge said that their original goal was to save the government and insurance companies money. After much legislation, their practices still aren’t extremely transparent. “Last summer,

Executive Director and CEO of St. Landry Economic Development Group, Bill Rodier, joins Discover Lafayette to share news of the growth of St. Landry Parish as well as the current boom in growth along the I-49 corridor.

In his previous position, Bill served as Deputy Director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission and had recruitment roles with Louisiana Economic Development. He also had experience in sales: “In a different lifetime I used to run a large car dealership,” Rodier said.

Rodier began his work with the group in 2013 when the need to focus on the development of the region became a top priority in St. Landry Parish. “As an economic developer, one of the first things that I looked at when the position became available is how many opportunities St. Landry Parish had,” Rodier said. The parish has both LSU-Eunice and South La. Community College, transportation access via the I-49 corridor (north/south) and Hwy. 190 (east/west), and a booming culture and historical background.

St. Landry Parish is one of the larger parishes within Louisiana, encompassing 940 square miles, and has 12 incorporated communities, the most of any in Louisiana. It is bordered by the Parishes of Avoyelles, Point Coupee, St. Martin, Lafayette, Acadia, and Evangeline. 

June 2021 groundbreaking ceremony of a new wastewater treatment facility in St. Landry Parish near the entrance of the Clos De Bois subdivision on the I-49 S. Service Road. Officials expect continued growth in both the residential and commercial sectors of the region.

As Rodier speaks about the work of his group throughout Acadiana, interestingly he hears over and over about the direct ties people have with the parish, such as family, school, and business connections. Statistics bear this out, as many jobs in St. Landry Parish are filled with Lafayette Parish residents, many Lafayette families send their children to St. Landry Parish private schools, and St. Landry Parish residents look to Lafayette for amenities.

The Parish is uniquely known for its trail rides, making it one of the top equine regions in America. The Academy of the Sacred Heart is well-known for its equestrian program offered to its students. It is also home to Evangeline Downs, the area’s premier horse racetrack. In 2021, the Louisiana State Senate passed SR215 commending the equine industry for its cultural and economic impact to the state of Louisiana.

“If I were to describe our job, we’re almost like puzzlers…we put pieces together to make things work,” Rodier said. He strives to stimulate investment within St. Landry Parish and to attract investment from outside of the Parish borders.

Bill Rodier stressed the potential of downtown Opelousas and plans to revitalize its commercial potential. “You will continue to see a progression in downtown Opelousas…Opelousas used to be a mecca of commerce because of its geographical location and accessibility by the highways.”  A master plan has been created by the Downtown Development District that identified long-term plans for growth and development.

Commercial developments along the I-49 corridor are of utmost importance to St. Landry Parish’s growth. Locals have taken the initiative to keep up the appearance of interchanges such as in grass cutting, a task formerly done by the state only four times a year, so as to present the best face to people traveling through the region. Rodier commended other mayors for their guidance in these issues, such as former Mayor of Scott, Purvis Morrison, and Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux.

The I-49 Midway corridor, situated between Shreveport and New Orleans, has seen incredible growth over the past 10 years. St. Landry Economic Development,

Today’s guest is Kevin Gossen, President of Gossen Architects in Lafayette LA. Kevin specializes in traditional and historic design for custom residential dwellings. He’s followed his dream of being a residential architect that began when he was a young boy of five years old and began sketching home designs.

Kevin's work has been published many times, highlighting the attention to historic vernacular design. His designs can be found throughout the south, spanning from Texas to Florida. People who contract with Kevin Gossen or buy his custom homes know that they are receiving quality designs that will stand the test of time. A "Kevin Gossen" design is a mark of excellence.

A graduate of USL in 1981 with a Bachelor of Architecture, Kevin comes from a large family raised by Alberta and Jerry Gossen, both of whom were much admired in our community. One of seven siblings, all of his brothers and sisters live in Lafayette and remain close by making plans at least once a week to gather for lunch.

Growing up on Ronald Blvd. in the heart of Lafayette, Kevin’s love of architecture was nurtured by his dad, Jerry Gossen, who was a commercial architect and engineer who made his living in commercial and governmental work. His grandfather was a contractor. Design and build are concepts he grew up with.

“As early as I can remember, when I was a young boy, five or six years old, I was sketching houses on a large pad. In fact, I wish I still had the pads depicting those sketches. I’ve known I wanted to do this my entire life. His dad, Jerry, focused on the commercial architectural sector; he would look at Kevin’s sketches and tell him: “You need to get those houses out of your mind. You’ll never be able to make a living doing houses.” His dad meant well, with his message coming from the experience gained at his firm, O’Rourke and Gossen, with fourteen architects who exclusively designed commercial structures. Jerry was well-known for his work on Chase Tower downtown (formerly the FNB building) and Women's and Childrens Hospital, among others.

However, his mother’s creative influence on him gave him the direction to follow his dreams. “There was nothing she couldn’t do. Her influence probably had a greater influence on me than my father.” He was also greatly influenced by the beautiful work of A. Hayes Town, whose late-career was focused on traditional residential structures, after a lucrative career as a commercial architect.

“He’s been a great influence on the type of work I try to do. In the beginning, I tried to emulate Mr. Town and as I got more comfortable with my abilities I brought them to the table. I used his work as a strong influence.  However, I threw my own spin into the architecture. As an example, Mr. Town’s work focused on “living space” and downplayed the kitchen space, closets, and bathrooms. In his day, people wanted kitchens out of site and bathrooms were not the luxurious spacious ones we see today. However, Town's love of salvaged bricks and wood, and earthy textiles, is one Kevin shares and which you will see in many of his designs.

“My first love is beauty in a home and I have learned functionality along the way from clients and living life. Our homes are both functional and beautiful. We design how people live, with an eye for resale. Don’t design for the two events in your life….design for the everyday. That’s what makes a home happy. People’s habits don’t change when they move."

When a client hires Kevin, they get not only an architect but also a professional who guides them in design choices inside and outside the house. He helps clients select paint, flooring, textiles, as well as the look of the gardens, patios….all of these elements need to be integral in the design.

We welcome Joan Savoy and Andrew Duhon of the Lafayette Public Library Foundation. Joan is the current President of the Foundation and Andrew is a longtime volunteer on behalf of the public library, having also served twice as President on the Library Board of Control.

The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created in 1992 that supplements taxpayer funding of our libraries by encouraging private donations and endowments that provide books and services and fund special programs and projects. More than $200,000 has been raised over the years and monies have been dedicated to library improvements such as enhancing the entrance to the children's wing in the Main Library, "wrapping" the bookmobile and purchasing books for the libraries.

Donors can create an endowment fund in the name of a family member, individual, or business organization with a minimum contribution of $100; once the endowment is fully funded at $1,000, one book will be donated annually in perpetuity in honor of the named endowment. The foundation's largest fundraiser is the annual luncheon which highlights local authors and awards proponents of the library system. The theme of this year’s event was “The Future Is Local!” where Second Harvest Food Bank was honored with the Foundation Award and Andrew Duhon received the President’s Award.

Since 1992, the Lafayette Public Library Foundation has purchased over 10,000 books for our libraries through private donations.  Through the endowment program, the foundation has established a continuous, long-term revenue stream for the purchase of new books and media for the library.

The Foundation is currently focused on educating the community on the many services offered by the public library system. With a 1.8 mill property tax renewal on the October 9, 2021 ballot, which raises approximately $4 million a year, Discover Lafayette is proud to share the many ways our public libraries sustain our quality of life. We also want to inform the public on the importance of adequate funding and acknowledge the many volunteers who work to maintain this community asset. We thank Joan and Andrew, along with their peers, for the selfless time they give to our library system.

The Lafayette Public Library System has nine locations to serve the citizens of Lafayette Parish. People of all ages and demographics utilize the library daily and enjoy its free Wi-Fi, meeting spaces, and of course, the ability to check out books and digital resources.  Makerspaces and Tech Labs offer the use of 3D printers and classes in digital media, paper and textile arts, electronics, and fabrication. Adults can receive free assistance from library staff in crafting or updating their resumes.

During 2018-2019, over 1 million people visited the Lafayette Public libraries, 13,338 library cards were issued, and over 2 million materials were checked out (including digital resources). During the COVID shutdown, people flocked to the libraries to use to take advantage of the free computers and Wi-Fi; the volume of materials checked out went up and the library responded to the crisis by offering a 23% increase in programming.

Of course, while the library offers 'free' services and resources to the public, its annual budget of $12 million must be met to sustain operations. Annual tax revenue is now approximately $11 million, resulting in a $1 million shortfall each year.

Just a few short years ago, the library's reserve fund was flush with a balance of $40 million. Plans were underway to build a much-needed Northeast Lafayette Parish Regional Library with the intent to tie services into underperforming schools such as Northside High, JW Faulk, and NP Moss. Additions to public meeting space at regional libraries were in the w...

We welcome Jaci and Michael Russo, authors of “He Said, She Said: Branding," to Discover Lafayette.

Their new book shares the wisdom they've garnered through their combined decades of experience working in branding and with each other as a married couple.

It's important to understand that in today's world, a company's "brand" is much more than a logo or type of product. The Russos define brand in the same way as Marty Neumeier, an American icon in the world of advertising and business creativity: "A brand is a person's emotional connection to a company, product or service." That emotional connection is why consumers seek out the products that they like, that make them feel good, and that they're willing to pay more for. We can all relate to products that we're proud to wear or drive....the things that make us feel good every time we encounter them.

Jaci and Michael Russo are the co-founders of brandRUSSO, a strategic branding agency in Lafayette, LA. The agency focuses on helping their clients build their brand, help them effectively tell their story, and decipher their best business practices to effectively distinguish them from the crowd of competitors. Experience has shown that their clients may then command a premium price for their products or services once their targeted market identifies with their brand and trusts that they will deliver on their company's promises.

"He Said, She Said: Branding" can be purchased online at Amazon or at Beausoleil Books on Jefferson Street in downtown Lafayette. Michael and Jaci Russo share not only their tips on effectively branding a company but how they have managed to stay married while working together for over 20 years!

About 15 years ago, the Russos sat down and analyzed how they strategically solved their clients' problems and trademarked it "Razor Branding." In a nutshell, the Russos ask clients the following questions: "Who are you talking to?" "Why should they pick you?" "What are you trying to say?" "Where should you say it?"

Razor Branding has four core elements that work for any type of business or service for which you are wanting to build a solid and loyal client base: focus (the "Who"), promise (the "Why"), connection (the "What"), and harmony (the "Where"). It works by "first identifying their client's target audience and then developing messaging, strategies, and creative that builds awareness, loyalty, and eventual advocacy."

"In the entrance to our building, we have a quote from Jef Richards: 'Creative without strategy is art. Creative with strategy is advertising.' I came across this quote while I was touring agencies in Texas back in college. I like to think if Jef had written that today, it would have said, "Creative with strategy is branding." Michael Russo

Our interview is full of colorful anecdotes that will inspire both budding entrepreneurs and established business owners to closely examine their business practices and how they place media ads. Since 2008 there has been a drastic change in marketing due to the explosion of social media. Before then, television, radio, and print ads were the way to go.

Today, Jaci and Michael call themselves 'media agnostic," meaning that there is no one (media) size that fits all businesses to effectively share messaging about a client's offerings. For some clients, it is still best to place tv ads. Others will advertise solely on digital platforms. It all depends on who the targeted market is and how best to reach them. It is interesting to note that South Louisiana is a huge radio market....." people here love their radio!"

"Consumers have all the power now. They have the ability to communicate their experience,

Discover Lafayette welcomes Sean Trcalek, Vice President and General Manager of KATC, who is also known for his wide-ranging musical talents.  With over 30 years of experience in broadcast and sales, Trcalek previously served as general manager for KADN, KLAF, and My Network Acadiana. An active volunteer, Trcalek serves on the board of United Way of Acadiana, Acadiana Open Channel, and the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters.

After graduating from USL (now UL-Lafayette) in Public Relations with an English Minor, Trcalek’s career began in 1989 at KATC. When he was just a small child, his passion for music began. “I’ve always been around music, I guess I figured at some point in time when I was growing up I would somehow make a living using my voice, and that’s kind of what happened,” Trcalek said. His enjoyed working in radio at KMDL when he was in high school. What started as a weekend disc jockey gig turned into a lifetime passion.

Sean Trcalek is a talented singer and musician who has always had a passion for his craft. “I’ve always been around music, I guess I figured at some point in time when I was growing up I would somehow make a living using my voice, and that’s kind of what happened,” Trcalek said. His career started in radio at KMDL when he was in high school. What started as a weekend disc jockey gig turned into a lifetime passion.

In college, Trcalek was involved in political media until he joined KATC right after graduation. In his career, he’s launched Cable Ad Sales for LUS Fiber, helped to build Delta Media, and created various coffee table books, but at heart, he’s a broadcaster. With a staff of over 80 individuals at KATC, Trcalek specializes in getting the station on the air. “When I started in 1989, I never thought that I would become a general manager,” Trcalek said.

“I was drawn to television because of KATC,” Trcalek said. KATC is affiliated with ABC and owned by the 150-year-old media company E.W. Scripps. KATC is a journalist-based company, which owns primarily news stations. KATC is more than just a television news station, they have mobile apps and streaming services. Starting next year, they will be the home of SEC Football. “We’re in the business of Impressions,” Trcalek said. KATC provides news in the morning, but their website stays active all day.

KATC is an ABC affiliate serving viewers in the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion.

In regard to how Covid affected advertising, Trcalek mentioned that the economy has a direct correlation to ad sales. “The big product categories for TV stations are food, restaurants, dining, medical services, legal services and the automotive industry and as a whole, all that stuff came to a halt.” Trcalek said, “The nation saw about a 40% drop in ad revenue last year.” With anchors working from home, some viewers were put off by the inevitable change.

“The role of local media hasn’t really changed…no one else can provide information on which schools are closing and what to wear to school and where to buy a car in Crowley,” Trcalek said.  He mentioned the heated term “fake news” and said, “For me as a local broadcaster, obviously it’s very troubling and concerning for a bunch of reasons.”

He states his fears that the local news may be getting lumped into opinion-based news. “We are there to provide a voice to the majority (of Lafayette) and the minority,” Trcalek said, “We are there to give voice to the voiceless.” The polarization of the country may be affecting viewers opinions on their local stations, as well as the people buying ads for the station. “Our company recognizes the dilemma that sometimes we are in, we have to address issues through newscasts that peopl...

Our guest is Scott Angelle, who discusses balancing Louisiana's "3 E's" – Environment, Energy, and Economy.

Angelle was the longest-serving Director of the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), from 2017 through 2020. He also served as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, from 2004 to 2012, and as Lieutenant Governor in 2010.

Angelle served as an elected member from District 2 of the Public Service Commission, as a member of the LSU Board of Supervisors, and chaired Louisiana’s Water Resources Commission. He also served 16 years as a police jury member in St. Martin Parish and as their first Parish President.

Growing up in St. Martin Parish in a large family, Angelle was one of nine children who were raised to respect others. "Family is everything. We were blessed to have two wonderful parents. To those who have been given a great opportunity comes a great responsibility to improve the world. We were always taught that our community is a reflection of our individual efforts." Angelle's parents owned the local Ford dealership and he recalled how values of inclusion and kindness to all were instilled in him at a young age.

Angelle's career experiences have afforded him a deep understanding of the need to protect the environment while the drilling for fossil fuels continues. His most recent experience as Director of BSEE involved promoting safety, protecting the environment, and conserving resources through the regulatory oversight and enforcement of energy industry operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. During his first days in office at BSEE in 2017, the General Accountability Office placed offshore oil and gas drilling on its list of unsafe and dangerous high-risk programs, not a list anyone wants to be on; over the next few years, Angelle successfully focused efforts to improve safety and on getting the industry off this list. Today, the offshore oil and gas industry is ranked as the second safest high-hazard industry in America.

Angelle stresses that the U. S. is not well-served by being reliant on foreign energy sources. He's become a student of history and shared trends that can't be ignored: from 1973 to 2019, there were six U. S. recessions that were each preceded by a spike in energy prices. His conclusion: It is in our nation's best interest to keep energy prices flat in order to keep the economy on an even keel, maintain our national security, and protect the quality of life for our citizens. "History tells us that if we lose energy independence and prices rise, we will go into a recession. People will be laid off and cars will sit on the lots. It's called 'demand destruction.'"

But not all barrels of oil are created equally. "We can be big, big winners in the Gulf of Mexico." Angelle wants people to understand the science of drilling offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and the desirability of pursuing this ecologically friendly option. The carbon intensity of oil that is extracted from the Gulf of Mexico, particularly in the Central Gulf, which is loaded with hydrocarbons (offshore of Louisiana,) is very low, in fact, its low-intensity rating is only exceeded by Saudi Arabian oil. The importance of this? The higher the carbon intensity, the more likely burning of the fuel will cause an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which will trap heat, leading to climate change. According to Angelle, "Gulf of Mexico oil is good for our economy and the environment. We can improve our environment by replacing foreign oil with Gulf oil and create jobs locally."

A big issue in America is how we are responding to climate change challenges. Angelle cited a 2016 Obama/Biden report that concluded "if we don't have regularly schedule resale of leases in the Gulf of Mexico,

Discover Lafayette welcomes Jerry Prejean, newly named Acadiana Market President of IBERIABANK, a division of First Horizon. Jerry brings talent and kindness to all of his interactions with others.

Prejean has 28 years of experience in the world of banking. His most recent position was Senior Vice President and private client group manager of IBERIABANK. Prejean was head of the private banking team since 2002. Though busy in the bank, Prejean still finds time to give back to his community. He has been highly involved in the Boys and Girls Club, AMIkids, Lafayette Central Park, One Acadiana, Ragan Cajun’s Athletic Foundation, Community Foundation of Acadiana, Lafayette Economic Development Authority and United Way of Acadiana.

Prejean’s parents, Joe and Inez Prejean, had limited education and were shaped by the Great Depression. “Because of their lack of education it was really forced on their kids to really focus on getting a good education and breaking the cycle of poverty,” Prejean said. Prejean graduated from Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lafayette, and then went on to major in Finance at USL where he graduated in 1992. His four siblings are also highly educated.

Prejean heard other kids at his school talking about the Boys Club. “It really resonated with me the impact that the organization had on those kids at an early age,” Prejean said. As he got into banking, an opportunity presented itself to serve as a representative on the Boys and Girls Club board. “I really probably got more out of it than the kids got out of it,” Prejean said. He sat on the board for 25 years and recently stepped down in 2019.

Prejean got his start by working full time in retail for the Abdalla family, in college. At 19, he was the full-time manager of Brother’s mall store. “I think I learned more about people and about sales, networking and getting along with people, in that retail environment than in the class room,” Prejean said. He was exposed to dealing with vendors, learned how to manage client complaints, and mastered the general business of retail. He took his people skills from retail and his analytical skills from the classroom and combined them to become the banker he is today.

He started with First National Bank of Lafayette in 1993 (in 1998 became Bank One), and moved to IBERIABANK in 2002 at a time when the bank was growing exponentially under the leadership of Daryl Byrd. His focus was on private banking, which caters to an affluent population. He builds relationships with people who desire only one point of contact for their banking needs. “As the relationship evolves, we start talking investments, estate planning and the transfer of wealth from one generation to the other,” Prejean said.

"I like the fact that as bankers, we can help people formalize their dreams and put a plan in place to help them accomplish those dreams,” It is important for young folks to manage credit card exposure and to avoid credit card debt so as not to impede future opportunities to acquire credit." Prejean wants everyone to have a chance to acquire their own wealth, in their own ways. “You can easily paint yourself into a corner with too much debt.”

We did note that Jerry Vascocu, former Acadiana Market President, has recently been named as head of the commercial lending division across the company’s twelve state region for the new combined company of First Horizon and IBERIABANK. Vascocu will remain domiciled in Lafayette.

Prejean has dedicated his life to helping children in need. He focused his volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club and AMIkids. “Early on in working with these kids, I really connected with the kids and really saw them light up when they would have personal connections,” Prejean said.

Managing partner for Salt Capital Equity Group, owner of Cache Real Estate, and broker with Real Broker, LLC, Terrica Smith Joins Discover Lafayette to teach us how to not only survive after trauma, but thrive. Smith shares details about her affordable housing project in North Lafayette, Madeline Cove. She also sheds light on her survival story and how God, determination and pure grit led her to her bright future.

Smith is the driving force behind the Madeline Cove project, a 15-acre mixed-used development planned for Madeline Avenue in North Lafayette, in the University Corridor between downtown and I-10. The community was originally started almost 10 years ago, by out-of-state developers, right after Hurricane Katrina. The original developers spent money and time installing all of the ‘hard costs’ such as utilities, drainage, etc.

Ironically, Smith was slated to be the listing agent for homes to be built in Madeline Cove as she was newly embarking on her career in real estate after earning her real estate license in 2006. After the Madeline Cove project went bankrupt, the property was left vacant; in the ensuing years, it became a dumping ground for old tires, furniture and mounds of garbage. “It was disgusting…..you couldn’t drive through without running over garbage,” Smith said.

Madeline Cove, depicted at left, after sitting abandoned for over ten years, had become a dumping ground for trash. At right, Terrica Smith standing with a depiction of a street within her passion project, Madeline Cove.

After successfully building her career in the real estate world, Smith wanted to tap into the possibilities that North Lafayette had to offer. She mentioned that not many people were interested in the area due to its lack of schools and healthy grocery options. “I know what it’s like to feel abandoned, I know what it’s like for people to walk away from you and act like you don’t even exist. I know what it’s like for people to not believe in you” Smith said.

Terrica Smith, the youngest Black female real estate developer in the state.

Madeline Cove became Smith’s passion project. “I realized very early on that we had to be able to change the hearts and minds of people because if people instantly think that the North side is the bad side, then nobody’s going to want to invest any money over there,” Smith said. She noted how so many commercial establishments have closed down in North Lafayette, leaving a shell of its former self in the midst of a food and healthcare desert.

Smith turned to her trusted investors from around the world to invest in Madeline Cove, but they were all hesitant. She had over 100 rejections when soliciting investments, but that only lit the fire of this determined young woman more. She kept a notebook of tally marks of all the rejections she experienced, along with the name of the very first investor who told her yes.

Smith had thought that the newly developed Opportunity Zone Act established under the Trump administration would attract investors who were looking for solid ways to defer tax obligations on capital gains, but it was not so. “The issue for investors was not so much them deferring their capital gains of 30 to 40%, it was really that they did not see the vision for Madeline Cove,” Smith said. The first “yes” from an investor is what kept Smith going. “Of course it wasn’t time to throw in the towel, it was time to turn up the fire and start making more things happen, Smith said.

After countless late hour meetings and persistence, Smith finally got the investments that she needed to make Madeline Cove a reality.  While she hopes the project appeals to those who want to live in the heart of Lafayette in decent and affo...