Tri-parish Newsmakers

Ellender named A+PEL ’09 School Volunteer of the Year

Choupic resident Chantel Ellender, who regularly donates books and serves as a Parent-Teacher Committee secretary at Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School, has been named a Volunteer of the Year by the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL).

Ellender and nine other top volunteers were honored June 9 at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge.

The co-owner with her husband Jamie of General Contracting Co., Ellender regularly helps in the classroom, chaperones field trips, photographs school events, assists with special events and holiday activities and was an asset during the cleanup after hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit last year.

“Volunteering at P.A.C. Elementary means a lot to me,” she said. “I spend that time with my daughter and her class, and I spend time with caring people that appreciate the little things you do for them.

“The teachers and staff members at P.A.C. are wonderful and caring,” Ellender added. “I wish I could spend more time there.”

Ellender is the mother of four children – Fallon, Sean, Madison and Montanna – and grandmother of Lilly.

Another Tri-parish resident, Gina Arnold of St. Mary Parish, was among A+PEL’s 2009 Volunteers of the Year.

Mauldin elected to state CPA Society board

Shawn Mauldin, CPA, Ph.D., has been tapped to serve a new two-year term as a board member at-large on the Society of Louisiana CPA’s board of directors.

Mauldin is dean of Nicholls State University’s College of Business Administration and the Cenac chair of accounting.

He earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA in business administration from Nicholls State University. He also holds a doctorate in philosophy, which he earned at the University of Mississippi.

In 2005, Mauldin was given the LCPA’s Lifetime Achievement in Accounting Education Award, recognizing his accomplishments as an outstanding educator and his contributions to the accounting profession. He served as the 2006-07 president of the LCPA’s South Central chapter.

Abayomi ‘Yomi’ Sanusi, M.D., joins TGMC staff

Dr. Abayomi Sanusi, who specializes in internal medicine, is the newest appointment to Terrebonne General Medical Center’s active medical staff.

Sanusi received his medical training at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria, and did his rotational internship at Sokoto University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria. He completed his internal medicine residency at Columbia University Harlem Hospital Center in New York.

Sanusi is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Echocardiography. Before joining TGMC’s staff, he had a private internal medicine practice in Anniston, Ala.

Sanusi practices at Omnicare Medical Clinic on Liberty Street in Houma.

Morgan City framer received PPFA honors

Deborah Price, owner of The Frame Shop in downtown Morgan City, was awarded first place in the 2009 Professional Picture Framers Association International Open Framing Competition.

Price competed in a field of 15 international entries – all regional chapter competition winners – at the spring show in Las Vegas.

The Open Framing Competition includes the framer’s choice of item, object or collection. Price framed an original paint and wax piece by St. Mary Parish artist Catherine Siracusa entitled “Encaustic.”

“I chose it because of its uniqueness and coloring,” Price explained. “I wanted something that would be lively, so I played up the colors and textures.”

The competition is designed to judge framing, design, creativity and technical skills. Framers also submit a four-page form detailing their work with the submission.

Price was also awarded High Point First-Time Entry.

“This is really a great honor for me, and is the top award in my industry,” she said. “This is actually the first year I’ve ever entered the competition, so imagine my surprise when it was announced that I took first place! It was so totally unexpected to win first place at International.”

The PPFA is the only trade association for professional framers. The annual competition aims to encourage the creativity of association members; to establish a standard of expertise and craftsmanship within all areas of framing; to showcase individual creative flair; foster art preservation knowledge; and to continually raise the standards of framing excellence and professionalism in every phase of the framing field at all levels.

Chabert doctor honored for work with diabetes patients

Dr. Theryll Johnson, a physician with the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center Ambulatory Care Clinic Family Practice, was presented the Louisiana Health Care Review’s 2008 Platinum Level Physician Quality Award for her work with diabetes patients.

The Platinum Level award is the highest-level honor the LHCR gives.

The Physician Quality Award is given annually to doctors who have exhibited continuous, significant or improved quality of care for Medicare patients.

Dr. Johnson achieved 75 percent on each of the quality measures considered for this award. That included the percent of Medicare patients receiving the following clinical tests or services: HbA1C treatments, eye exams, lipid profiles and mammograms for female patients.

Vedros latest physical therapist to join TRMC staff

Physical therapist Lauren Vedros has joined Thibodaux Regional Medical Center’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Center staff.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in English and kinesiology from Louisiana State University, Vedros was awarded a doctorate in physical therapy at LSU’s Health Science Center in New Orleans.

She has special interests in the neuromuscular patient population, including traumatic brain injury and stroke, and plans to specialize in neuromuscular therapy.

Bradberry joins MidSouth Bank HR Department

Monique Bradberry has joined MidSouth Bank’s Human Resources Department as an HR generalist.

As such, she is responsible for overseeing the department’s administrative and benefit functions, including interpreting and maintaining current HR policies and resolving employee issues.

A Houma native, Bradberry has 12 years of human resources experience, most recently working for Emerson Heating Products in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

She attended Nicholls State University, majoring in accounting, and later transferred to Middle Tennessee State University. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and is on track to receive her PHR certification later this year.

Terrebonne attorney awarded Community Service Award

Houma attorney Darryl Christen was recently given the Terrebonne Parish Bar Association’s Community Service Award.

A graduate of the University of Illinois, Christen served two years active duty in the U.S. Army. He later returned to the university to complete law school.

In 1981, Christen returned to Houma to join a local law firm. He is currently admitted to the State Bars of Illinois, Florida and Louisiana. He previously practiced with a national title insurance company and law firms specializing in real estate.

Christen is a past-president of the Houma Rotary Club, the Experimental Aircraft Association, International Aerobatic Club, the Terrebonne Bar Association and Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce. He sits on the board of South Louisiana Bank, serving as past chairman from 2002-04.

Christen has a passion for flying and serves as an active flight instructor, Civil Air Patrol mentor and is a designated pilot examiner for the Federal Aviation Authority.

Christen has fulfilled many wishes through “Angel Flights,” transporting cancer patients, and has made significant contributions to the “Make a Wish Foundation.” The Leadership Terrebonne graduate also provides “Voice of the Wetlands” flights.

He also contributes to a number of local causes, including providing free legal services to the Bayou Region’s Habitat for Humanity.

He is married to Mona Martin Christen, owner of Mona and Company Inc., and they have two children, Kelli and Dylan.