Julie Dronet
Julie Dronet, executive director of Cox’s Acadiana operations, will lead the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce as chairman beginning in January 2014. She takes over from 2013 chairman Rob Eddy of Pinnacle Group and will be 79th chairman of the board.

As part of the transitional leadership program in place at the local business lobbying group, Joseph Zanco, chief financial officer of Home Bank, was selected chairman-elect.

Beginning in August, the chamber solicited nominations from its membership for individuals to serve on the board of directors for a three-year term. The Nominating Committee, led by Immediate Past Chairman Jerry Greig of Fugro Chance Inc., considered the nominees with the goal of selecting a diverse slate of eight candidates to effectively meet the current and future needs of the chamber. The Nominating Committee then presented its slate of candidates and officers to the Executive Committee and board for ratification and election.

Selected to serve a three-year term on the board are the following members:
• Kevin Blanchard, Attorney, Onebane Law Firm
• Donald Broussard, CFO, The Lemoine Company
• Todd Citron, general manager/owner, Hub City Ford
• Grant Guillotte, commercial banking section manager, Capital One Bank
• Dr. Natalie Harder, chancellor, South Louisiana Community College
• Jay Jackson, president/CEO, Stuller Inc.
• David Mann, director of fleet management, Knight Oil Tools
• Mike Moncla, CEO, Moncla Companies

“There is a palpable energy around the chamber as we begin an exciting new phase,” the chamber’s new president and CEO Jason El Koubi noted in announcing the new board. “These board members will provide enormous talent and business focus as the chamber moves forward, including improving its membership services and benefits, cultivating stronger public policy and advocacy capabilities, becoming a stronger partner to other economic development organizations in the region, and providing business leadership across Acadiana.”

According to chamber bylaws, the chairman of the board has six one-year appointments, including at least one past chamber chairman. Appointed to these one-year seats by Dronet are the following members (one seat is still being confirmed):
• Stephen Bartley, Agent, New York Life Insurance
• Elise Bouchner, Managing Partner, Excelerant
• Erick Knezek, Founder and Managing Partner, Truston Technologies, Inc.
• Donna Landry, Chief Operating Officer, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center (Past Chamber Chairman)
• Drake Pothier, Agent/Owner, Allstate Insurance

Selected as officers to serve on the 2014 Executive Committee are the following members:
• Julie Dronet, executive director, Cox Acadiana (chairman)
• Joseph Zanco, CFO, Home Bank (chairman-elect)
• Rob Eddy, owner, Pinnacle Group (immediate past chairman)
• Jason El Koubi, president and CEO, Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
• Dr. Natalie Harder, chancellor, South Louisiana Community College
• Jay Jackson, president/CEO, Stuller, Inc.
• Donna Landry, COO, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
• Frank Neuner, managing partner, NeunerPate
• Allyson Pharr, senior VP of legal and governmental affairs, Acadian Companies
• Jerry Vascocu, president, Acadiana Market, IberiaBank

The chairman, executive committee and new board members begin their terms Jan. 1.

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