NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2015
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

D ear Members,

We would like to extend a special thanks to Carey Chauvin from DPW for speaking to BRGC membership at our August 19th luncheon. His informative and candid remarks on the DPW's current reorganization, as well as his patience in answering numerous questions from attendees, were greatly appreciated by all. We look forward to continuing our relationship with this dedicated public servant in his new role as Director of Development at DPW. We also extend our congratulations on his being chosen for this newly created position and wish him well.

Best to all,

Larry S. Bankston

In This Issue
DPW's Six New Department Directors Named

At the Growth Coalition's August 19th Membership Luncheon, Carey Chauvin, DPW's newly-named Director of Development, told BRGC members that, after several years of study and planning, the reorganization of EBR's DPW is well underway and all six directors of the newly created departments making up Baton Rouge's revamped DPW have been hired. Most have already hit the ground running in their new positions. Chauvin shared an inside view of the unfolding improvements, including the attached document detailing the number of employees and budgets being allocated to the new departments.

The six new directors are:
  • Chris Burnett, a senior manufacturing operations manager for Starbucks Coffee Co., will oversee maintenance.
  • Steve Bonnette, a senior vice president with San Antonio-based Pape-Dawson Engineers, will be in charge of transportation and drainage
  • Stephanie Rivers, a U.S. Army officer with experience in operations, maintenance and intelligence, will head up buildings and grounds.
  • Karen Khonsari, a Baton Rouge-based environmental engineer, will oversee environmental services.
  • David Childress, a maintenance and operations director with 20 years experience in the trucking and utilities industries, will be in charge of the fleet.
  • Carey Chauvin, assistant DPW director of maintenance, will head up development. Chauvin, the only former DPW employee to lead one of the new departments, will also serve as interim assistant chief administrative officer for the city-parish.
Thanks to everyone who attended the luncheon on August 19th!
Connecting with "The Fed"

Following the 2015 Signature Speaker Series where Dr. David Altig, Executive VP for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, was the keynote speaker, the New Orleans office of the Atlanta Fed reached out and requested a small meeting with BRGC leadership as part of its Regional Economic Information Network (REIN). Two officials from the New Orleans office met with a small group of BRGC leaders in a roundtable format, soliciting input and on-the-ground experience of market conditions in the Baton Rouge area. The conversation was enlightening for all and BRGC leaders were encouraged by the officials' genuine interest in the Capital Region's economic conditions. 

"The information shared is valuable and allows us to provide pertinent, leading, grass roots information from the Baton Rouge area to our economists and President [Dennis] Lockhart, who sits on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) form a view of the economy and inflation risks," explains Gail Psilos, REIN Director.

Want to learn more? Click here to access the Fed's Beige Book, published eight times per year. Each Federal Reserve Bank gathers anecdotal information on current economic conditions in its District through reports from Bank and Branch directors and interviews with key business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources. The Beige Book summarizes this information by District and sector.

BRGC on Complete Streets Committee

Laurence Lambert, PE, PTOE, of  Stantec , will represent BRGC on the Complete Streets Citizen Advisory Committee. The committee will be advising the Planning Commission and Metro Council on recommendations concerning the Complete Streets implementation. An ordinance passed by the council provided for various stakeholders to appoint representatives to the advisory board. Thanks to Laurence for contributing his time and expertise.
C ongratulations Rose Award Winners

The American Institute of Architects Baton Rouge honored eight local projects at the 2015 Rose Awards at a gala held on July 31st. Special congratulations go to BRGC Board Member Trula Remson's firm,  Remson Haley Herpin Architects, for receiving the Rose Award for the Alliance Safety Council,  and BRGC member Tipton Associates, which received the Gold Rose Award for their work on the Creative Bloc project. Well done!
 

WELCOME NEW MEMBER

The Growth Coalition welcomes new member  Urban Restoration Enhancement Corps!  There is power in numbers - thank you for joining our ranks! 

 

Know someone who is interested in Growth Coalition Membership? Contact Sage Foley  here.