04-01-2010 Broussard Chamber of Commerce March Luncheon Review

Broussard Chamber of Commerce March Luncheon Review

Reports and News from Local Businessmen and Women:

The imminent vacancy of Our Lady of Lourdes hospital facility affords an opportunity to bring a VA Hospital to Lafayette. Newly elected board member, Ray Bourque of Touche Printing spoke briefly about the benefits of this prospect and requested that BCC members, all veterans, veteran's organizations, and elected officials sign the petition requesting support from La. Dept of Veterans affairs in this endeavor.

 

Jackie Glover of Acadiana Republican Women's Club extended to those present an invitation to the Constitution Revolution Rally to be held May 8 at Parc International in Lafayette. "Your political affiliation does not matter." Speakers lined up include Governor Bobby Jindal; U S Senator David Vitter; Representative Charles Boustany, MD; Parish President Joey Durel; Republican National Committee Director of State/Local Development, Shannon Reeves; and lastly, author of Why This Cuban is a Republican, Gisela Chevalier.

 

Johnny Foco, Councilman-At-Large announced the upcoming opening of Ambassador Caffery Parkway extension. ?We put up 10 million dollars and that is a lot for a small town. Every chance I get I just let people know what we did. Nothing happens without the people and the businesses in Broussard,? Foco stated, inviting all present to attend the city council meetings.

 

Three-Minute Presentation by Teresa Green of Town Planner of Acadiana

The calendar is a great resource for area residents and has been well received in Broussard. 13,000 copies of the new calendar were distributed in the Broussard/Youngsville area and next year that number will increase. Ms. Green has a number of improvements slated for next year?s calendar including the use of local photos and full color ads.

 

Guest Speaker - Rick Broussard, CEO/founder of Advanced Composite Manufacturing, Inc.

Mr. Broussard presented information on unmanned aerial vehicles or as more commonly known in military and aviation circles, UAV's. In ten short years ACM has become the number one Department of Defense contractor in Louisiana. ACM also manufactures unmanned aerial targets for the military. Rick holds the U.S. patent for the Infrared Emitter; the first of its type used on sub-scale aircraft and has been featured on History Channel's Mail Call with R. Lee Erny. The future of UAV's is wide open with upcoming applications in military conflict, reconnaissance and a number of other fields.