Moving Up
ACCOUNTING
• Greg Brenan has been promoted to senior manager in the audit division of Hannis T. Bourgeois. Brenan, who has 11 years' experience in the industry, specializes in audit services for the construction industry and financial institutions.
• Jay A. Montalbano has been promoted to partner in the audit division of Hannis T. Bourgeois. Montalbano, who has 12 years' experience in the industry, most recently served as senior manager. He specializes in auditing in the construction industry as well as business valuations.
BANKING AND FINANCE
• Lorin LeBlanc has been hired as chief information officer for MidSouth Bank. LeBlanc, who has 27 years' experience in the industry, most recently served as information systems manager for Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank. In his new role, he will assess the feasibility of integrated projects and ensure that solutions comply with the bank's strategic goals.
• Gustavo Ruiz de Chavez has been promoted to college unit director for Northwestern Mutual of Louisiana-Baton Rouge. Ruiz de Chavez, who has been with the company since 2003, most recently served as a financial representative. In his new role, he will recruit, train and mentor interns while still providing clients with financial services solutions.
ENGINEERING
• Charles Munce has been promoted to vice president and partner of Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. Munce most recently served as an associate. In his new role, he will assist in management of the company's services in the Gulf Coast region, including client-contract management and development.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
• Paul Favaron has been promoted to president of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United's Gulf Coast Region. Favaron, who has been with the company for more than 35 years, most recently served as vice president of sales and division manager for Lafayette Coca-Cola. In his new role, he will oversee territories in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles in Louisiana and Gulfport, Hattiesburg and McComb in Mississippi.
GAMING
• Alec Gibson has been promoted to executive chef of the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel. Gibson most recently served as sous chef.
• Scott Ricci has been hired as operations manager of the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel. Ricci has more than 20 years' experience in the industry. In his new role, he will oversee all functions of the hotel, and food and beverage areas.
• Dr. Mark V. John has joined Baton Rouge Rehab Physicians-Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Intervention Pain Management, which is part of Baton Rouge Rehab Hospital.
• Dr. Hina B. Patel has joined Oak Grove Family Practice, which is part of Baton Rouge General Physicians. Patel specializes in pediatric medicine.
HOSPITALITY
• Karron Alford has been promoted to destination content manager for the Baton Rouge Convention & Visitors Bureau. Alford most recently served on the bureau's sales team. In her new role, she will manage web content and work with industry partners to enrich travel to the Capital Region.
• Lindsey Taylor has been hired as sales manager for the Baton Rouge Convention & Visitors Bureau. In her new role, Taylor will focus on university and nonprofit markets.
• Joy Harringa has been hired as hotel manager of the Renaissance Baton Rouge. Harringa most recently served as director of food and beverage for hotelVetro in Iowa City, Iowa. In her new role, she will oversee food and beverage and room operations of the hotel.
INDUSTRY
• Jerome Lane has been promoted to assistant vice president of operations for Knight Oil Tools. Lane most recently served as operations manager for rental tool services.
• Joe Lee has been promoted to assistant vice president of fishing services for Knight Oil Tools. Lee will continue to serve as director of the jar product line, of which he is responsible for manufacturing and business development of drilling jars.
• Sid Lyons has been promoted to vice president of sales for Knight Oil Tools. Lyons most recently served as vice president of the inspection division for the company's Tri*Drill services business unit.
INSURANCE
• Trent Bondy has been promoted to assistant vice president for LUBA Workers' Comp. Bondy, who has been with the company since 2005, currently serves as new business underwriter.
• Kim Boneno has been promoted to assistant vice president for LUBA Workers' Comp. Boneno, who has been with the company since 2005, oversees the human resources department.
• Katie Crochet has been promoted to assistant vice president for LUBA Workers' Comp. Crochet, who has been with the company since 1993, has overseen the payroll audit department for more than 10 years and provides primary oversight of the company's reporting requirements to the National Council on Compensation Insurance.
PUBLIC SECTOR
• Dennis Manshack has been hired as economic development director for West Feliciana Parish. Manshack, who has more than 25 years' experience in the industry, most recently served as vice president/commercial relationship manager for Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. In his new role, he will be responsible for attracting, retaining and growing businesses in the parish while working to improve the quality of life for its residents.
• Jason El Koubi has been promoted to assistant secretary for Louisiana Economic Development. El Koubi most recently served as the agency's director of state economic competitiveness. In his new role, he will be responsible for managing LED initiatives and programs related to business intelligence, state economic competitiveness, community development, small business development, emergency response and recovery, and entertainment industry development.
• Jeff Lynn has been promoted to executive director of workplace development programs for Louisiana Economic Development. Lynn most recently served as executive director of Louisiana FastStart. In his new role, he will be responsible for the FastStart program and LED's expanding efforts focused on systemic workforce solutions and programs to assist relocating companies with recruitment of experienced professionals and executives, and he will lead the agency's efforts related to coordinating development of targeted workforce programs with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Louisiana Board of Regents and Louisiana Department of Education.
• Chris Stelly has been promoted to executive director of the Office of Entertainment Industry Development for Louisiana Economic Development. Stelly most recently served as director of Louisiana Film & Television and interim executive director of the Office of Entertainment Industry Development. In his new role, Stelly will be responsible for leading LED's entertainment industry division, which manages incentive programs targeting development of the film production, digital media, sound recording and live performance industries.
