TEDA names new officers

Members of the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority Board of Commissioners selected new executive officers for the 2013 term.

Chosen to be chairman was Technical Marine Maintenance Services project director Clarence Williams. After serving as vice chair for 2012, Williams said TEDA has grown to a new level of business influence and he is looking forward to being an active participant in setting and meeting objectives during the next year.

“I think we have made tremendous progress and look forward to continuing that stead,” Williams said. “I look forward to us making this initiative sound and productive.”

Outgoing chairman Don Hingle served as TEDA board chairman during two consecutive years, following the removal of TEDA’s original CEO Mike Ferdinand in December 2010 and during more than a first full year of work by current CEO Steve Vassallo.

“When I started, we had just moved on from our previous CEO and it took several months to find a replacement,” Hingle said. “That was a lot of work and headache. Steve came on board in August [2011] and it has been a hectic couple of years. I think we are in a good place now with the amount of attendance we have and the things we are getting accomplished.”

Hingle said the board he directed has left TEDA in a better place than where it was when he first took on the top executive role. “The board will continue to give direction to the staff, and I think we have a staff that can accomplish those directions,” he said. Although no longer part of the executive council, Hingle’s appointed term as a board member continues through 2014.

TEDA board member, Options for Independence workforce liaison and Pink Flamingo Properties owner Katie Sims was selected vice chair for 2013. She secured the appointment in a 6-4 board vote as a nominee along with board member and Realtor Synde Devillier.

Returning for a second term as TEDA treasurer is All South Consulting Engineers Vice President Steve Smith.

Alford, Staples, Lapeyre & Robichaux Insurance partner Christian Lapeyre will serve as secretary of TEDA for a second term.

“I am very pleased with the board’s selection,” TEDA CEO Steve Vassallo said. “During 2013, we will be seeing results from many of our efforts in 2012. These are the right people to move us forward.”