In Episode 3 of FUELED Season 6, Kathryn Fenstermaker sits down with Mike Heinen, Chief Executive Officer of Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative, for a conversation that moves beyond storm restoration to examine what true resilience demands.

Serving one of the most hurricane-prone regions in the country, Heinen has spent decades leading through crisis. After Hurricanes Laura and Delta devastated Southwest Louisiana, JDEC faced a choice: rebuild the system exactly as it had existed or use the disaster as an opportunity to fundamentally redesign it. The cooperative chose the latter.

Heinen shares the remarkable story of working alongside FEMA, GOHSEP, engineers, contractors, neighboring cooperatives, and local leaders to transform recovery into one of Louisiana's most ambitious grid-hardening initiatives. The discussion explores the realities of restoring electricity across hundreds of miles of rural territory, the importance of mutual aid, and the lessons learned from decades of responding to increasingly severe storms.

The conversation also widens beyond infrastructure. Heinen explains why Southwest Louisiana represents critical national energy infrastructure, supporting pipelines, LNG facilities, refineries, and the movement of natural gas across the country. Reliable electricity has become essential not only for residents but for billions of dollars in industrial investment, making resilience an economic development strategy as much as an engineering challenge.

Throughout the episode, Heinen returns to a simple philosophy: every storm should leave the system stronger than before. Whether discussing elevated substations, hardened transmission, wider rights-of-way, or the new 230-kV transmission loop, his focus remains on building confidence—for members, businesses, and future generations.

At its heart, this episode is about leadership under pressure, learning from experience, and choosing long-term stewardship over short-term recovery.

In Episode 2 of FUELED Season 6, Kevin Bihm, General Manager of the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority, joins Kathryn Fenstermaker for a conversation about municipal power, collective strategy, and the evolving energy landscape in Louisiana.

LEPA was created in 1979 as a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana to give qualifying municipalities another path for securing wholesale power. For smaller cities that owned their electric distribution systems, the model created an opportunity to work together, strengthen local control, and pursue more affordable electricity options through a shared structure.

Bihm explains how LEPA differs from investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives, describing a model rooted in public accountability, member governance, and collaboration. LEPA’s members help guide the organization through board representation, budget approval, and shared decision-making, creating what Bihm describes as a cohesive group working toward the same goal: reliable, affordable power for their communities.

The conversation explores the practical realities of managing wholesale power in a changing market. Bihm discusses LEPA’s transition into MISO, the role of The Energy Authority as a market participant, and the importance of adapting as the industry moves from real-time balancing to broader regional coordination. He also explains how industrial growth, data centers, changing capacity markets, and new technologies are shaping long-term planning for municipal power systems.

Throughout the episode, Bihm returns to the value of collective action. From power-side prepay savings to mutual aid after storms, LEPA’s strength lies in helping communities access opportunities they may not be able to pursue alone. That same philosophy shows up in how LEPA supports its members through education, lineman training, resource planning, and future-looking conversations around generation, workforce, and technology.

At its heart, this episode is about more than electricity. It is about service, stewardship, and the belief that power systems work best when communities have a voice in their future.

Season 6 of FUELED opens with Katherine Domingue, CEO and General Manager of SLEMCO, for a conversation about community power, member ownership, and the cooperative model. Serving more than 120,000 meters across Acadiana, SLEMCO is one of Louisiana’s largest electric cooperatives — a not-for-profit utility owned by the members it serves.

Domingue traces SLEMCO’s roots to the rural electrification movement of the 1930s, when communities came together to bring power to homes, farms, and businesses that investor-owned utilities were not positioned to serve. Today, that cooperative structure still shapes how SLEMCO operates: dollars are reinvested into the system, capital credits are allocated to members, and decisions are made with the end user in mind.

The conversation explores how SLEMCO purchases wholesale power as a distribution cooperative, why affordability and flexibility guide long-term power contracts, and how the organization is preparing for the future through integrated resource planning. Domingue also discusses SLEMCO’s recent power agreement with NextEra, its long-term solar agreement, and the evolving questions surrounding capacity, reliability, and emerging technologies.

Throughout the episode, Domingue returns to the human side of power delivery. She shares how trust begins inside the walls of an organization, why clear communication matters when circumstances are difficult, and how SLEMCO’s employees serve members through storms, outages, mutual aid, and everyday operations. From vegetation management and smart meters to flooded marshes, saltwater corrosion, snakes, and bucket trucks, the conversation brings a deeper appreciation to the labor-intensive work behind reliable power.

At its heart, this episode is about more than electricity. It is about stewardship, service, and the people who keep communities connected.

On this episode of Fueled, we sit down with State Representative Ryan Bourriaque, a sixth-generation native of Cameron Parish whose leadership has been forged on Louisiana’s fragile coastline. From LNG negotiations and parish-wide coastal master planning to statewide infrastructure reforms and disaster recovery, Ryan’s career reflects both concrete action and character-driven leadership.

As chair of the House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee, he’s leading efforts to modernize Louisiana’s DOTD, tackle a $19 billion backlog in road and bridge projects, and integrate coastal resilience into the state’s economic future.

We explore:

• How parish-level projects shaped his statewide vision
• The balance between economic growth and environmental protection
• Lessons in negotiation, humility, and staying grounded in community
• What it means to lead with the long view of future generations



This episode is about more than politics—it’s about the persistence, resilience, and vision it takes to shape Louisiana’s future.

In this episode of Fueled, we sit down with Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet—a lifelong public servant whose career has spanned regional planning, disaster recovery, and now the helm of Lafayette Consolidated Government. Known for her pragmatic, data-driven leadership and her deep roots in Acadiana, Boulet is guiding Lafayette through a pivotal moment.

From tackling long-overdue drainage upgrades to shaping bold economic development corridors, her administration is balancing near-term fixes with a long-view vision. At the center of her approach: transparency, accountability, and a commitment to protecting the culture that makes Lafayette unique.

Recorded inside the Acadiana Center for the Arts, this conversation explores the infrastructure priorities, leadership values, and future vision shaping one of Louisiana’s most dynamic communities.

In this episode of FUELED, we speak with Iberia Parish President Larry Richard—a leader whose career is grounded in service, collaboration, and a deep commitment to his community. Elected in 2016 after twelve years on the Iberia Parish Council, Richard brings a wide-ranging background to the role, including military service, a career in oil and gas, entrepreneurship, and regional economic development.

Under his leadership, the parish has seen major infrastructure advancements, such as the Acadiana Regional Airport Access Road, vital drainage improvements, and roadway enhancements aimed at spurring economic growth. His administration also played a key role in securing one of the largest investments in parish history: the $1.1 billion First Solar manufacturing facility.

We'll explore what fuels Richard’s leadership—from his infrastructure strategy to the values and vision shaping the future of Iberia Parish.

In this episode of FUELED: A Fenstermaker Podcast, we sit down with Mayor Jan-Scott Richard of Scott, Louisiana—a fourth-term mayor whose steady leadership has helped guide one of the state’s fastest-growing cities through a period of rapid, intentional development.

Known for his quiet conviction and strategic mindset, Mayor Richard discusses the city’s approach to long-term planning, including key initiatives like the Apollo Road corridor, a nationally recognized Drainage Improvement Plan, and the buildout of critical infrastructure guided by Scott’s 2023 Master Plan.

From navigating funding mechanisms to building public-private partnerships, Mayor Richard offers insight into what it takes to move complex projects from concept to concrete—while staying rooted in the values of community, identity, and livability.

Part of our Season 5 theme, Leading Louisiana: Concrete & Character, this episode highlights the power of local leadership grounded in clarity, collaboration, and vision.

In the Season 5 premiere of FUELED: A Fenstermaker Podcast, we sit down with Mayor Charlotte Stemmans Clavier of Carencro, Louisiana—a leader whose dedication to community and thoughtful approach to growth is helping guide the city through its next chapter.

Since taking office in 2022, Mayor Clavier has prioritized both infrastructure and engagement, leading Carencro’s first-ever Comprehensive Plan—Carencro 2.0—with a focus on public input, smart planning, and long-term livability. In this conversation, she reflects on the practical challenges of leadership, the importance of trust in local government, and the values that shape her day-to-day decisions.

This episode kicks off our new season theme: Leading Louisiana: Concrete & Character, exploring the individuals whose work strengthens our communities from the ground up.

In this special episode of FUELED | A Fenstermaker Podcast, we spotlight three outstanding team members—Bryce Teekell, Collin Theriot, and Joe Broussard—who recently earned their Certified Survey Technician (CST) Level I certification.

Listen as they share their unique perspectives:

• Joe Broussard reflects on how certification validates his decades of experience in the field.
• Bryce Teekell discusses the CST exam as the first step toward becoming a licensed surveyor.
• Collin Theriot shares his excitement about gaining new insights in surveying with his background as a landman.

Andy Sellers joined Fenstermaker's Lafayette Engineering group in December 2006 and gained professional engineering licensure over a decade ago in 2013. Andy specializes in civil projects for municipal and parish clients.  Currently serving as the Engineer for the City of Carencro, Mr. Sellers manages client relations, engineering services, and infrastructure projects. His responsibilities span the design and enhancement of drainage systems, floodplain management, roadway design, utility design, site design, construction administration, and plan review for commercial and residential developments. 

In his capacity as a Certified Floodplain Manager, Andy collaborates closely with the City of Carencro’s planning department to oversee and administer floodplains within the city limits. He plays a pivotal role in the annual recertification of the City's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, actively contributing to secure funding for flood mitigation projects through various grant programs, and serving as agency coordinator for these initiatives.