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LAFAYETTE – Monday, One Acadiana (1A) announced Jason El Koubi has been selected by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the state economic development authority for the Commonwealth of Virginia, to serve as its executive vice president, the no. 2 position in the organization.
El Koubi served as 1A’s President and CEO since September 2013 beginning with 1A's predecessor organization, the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
Jim Bourgeois, currently One Acadiana’s Executive Director of Business Development, will serve as interim CEO effective immediately. “Jim has been with One Acadiana since its inception. His leadership over the last 2 1⁄2 years gives us every confidence in his ability to guide our organization through this transition,” said One Acadiana’s Chairman Frank Neuner, Managing Partner of NeunerPate.
“Jason has made the kinds of transformational impacts on our organization, community, and region that we aspired to achieve when we hired him four years ago,” said Julie Simon-Dronet, Vice President, Cox Acadiana Market. “He has positioned One Acadiana for great success as one of the state's strongest regional economic development organizations, and we wish him well on his next endeavor.”
Since joining One Acadiana in September 2013, El Koubi worked with top business and civic leaders to develop and launch "The Campaign for One Acadiana," a five-year, $15 million initiative to deliver a new, nationally competitive regional economic development program for the nine-parish region.
Pursuing a vision to make the Acadiana Region one of the most sought after in the South, the organization has established an unprecedented platform for regional leadership and cohesion across nine parishes; helped secure public support to catalyze major infrastructure projects including the new Lafayette Regional Airport terminal and the I-49 Lafayette Connector; and launched a business-focused regional workforce development strategy that has among other things supported rapid retraining and reemployment for hundreds of displaced oilfield workers.
Focused on creating jobs and opportunities for the region, One Acadiana launched a business attraction, expansion, and retention program with an accompanying target industry strategy to generate more economic development project leads and wins, as well as created a site development program that has dramatically increased the inventory of Acadiana’s certified industrial sites.
Other notable accomplishments under El Koubi’s leadership include achieving a new level of alignment and focus on urban revitalization and development as a top economic development priority for the area and producing hundreds of engaging events, programs, and other activities for its investors and members.
“We are disappointed to lose Jason, who has been an exceptional leader for our organization and community; however, the ongoing initiatives that Jason developed in partnership with our Board of Directors, investors, members, and partners, coupled with a very capable and committed staff, position One Acadiana to accelerate its impact on improving our area’s economic competitiveness,” said Donald Broussard, CFO of The Lemoine Company and One Acadiana Chair-elect.
“Jason’s ability to bring together business leaders from across the region, including the CEOs of many of Acadiana’s largest organizations, will provide an enduring foundation for Acadiana’s future success. He has helped focus our efforts on the biggest opportunities and generated momentum through meaningful progress on our strategic priorities. As a result, One Acadiana is in a great position to secure another talented leader to carry out this important work,” said David Callecod, President of Lafayette General Health, who served as Chairman of One Acadiana’s CEO Advisory Council during its first two years.
El Koubi said, “Leading One Acadiana has been one of the greatest privileges of my career, uniting my passion for our state and region with my professional interests. I’m particularly grateful to the leaders who had the courage and vision to create One Acadiana, the group of investors whose leadership and commitment turned the One Acadiana vision into reality, and the tremendously capable One Acadiana staff for their commitment to passionately advance our mission every day.
He also emphasized the importance of continuing One Acadiana’s work, “One Acadiana is a catalyst for unlocking our area’s tremendous potential through business and civic leadership. Sustaining these efforts will have a direct and positive impact on the long-term economic trajectory of our community, region, and state.”
Prior to joining One Acadiana, El Koubi served as assistant secretary of Louisiana Economic Development. He had previously served as policy director of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, or BRAC; performance auditor with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor; and project consultant/environmental engineer with Trinity Consultants.
El Koubi will remain with One Acadiana through the end of July. Plans to begin a nationwide search for a permanent replacement will unfold in the coming weeks.
About One Acadiana
One Acadiana is the leading economic development organization for the nine-parish Acadiana region located in south Louisiana. With more than 1,200 investors, members, and partners, One Acadiana serves as the voice of the regional business community. The organization is located in the city of Lafayette and serves a region of roughly 700,000 people with a vibrant culture and unique entrepreneurial spirit. Learn more at OneAcadiana.org

Living Legend Paul L. Landry celebrated another year of independence with a party at his home in Perry.
God has blessed him with '103 years of life experiences and he treats each day as a gift.
He and his wife Edola Perry Landry shared 77 years together and had three daughters: Judy Choate, Paulette Landry and Connie Durand, eight grandchildren, 10 grand children, and two great-great grandsons.
Edola passed away at the age of 99.
This year Mr Paul retired his lawnmower and weed eater because of failing eyesight, but he can be seen walking in his yard , sitting on the porch.
He treasures visits from family and friends and spirited conversations on past and present events.
Listening to Cajun music and eating a good meal are also on his list of favorites.
By turning 103, he may be one of the oldest, if not the oldest living person in Vermilion Parish.

October 30, 1968 ~ July 6, 2017

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Nolan Colomb Jr., 48, who died Thursday, July 6, 2017.
He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Pastor Glenn Dehart officiating the services.
Pallbearers will be Eric Broussard, John Nelms, Kevin Akers, Michael Stahl, Kory Aube and Dennis Tuna.
He is survived by his companion, Angela Marceaux; daughters, Amiee Tuna and her husband Dennis, Jenna Duck, Courtney Colomb and Sydney Colomb; parents, Nolan and Sue Colomb; and grandchildren, Kaleb LeBlanc, Lauren Tuna and Melody Music.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Ronnie Colomb; paternal grandparents, Simeon and Azena Colomb; and maternail grandparents, Sinclair and Jeannette Jones.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

April 18, 1949 ~ July 5, 2017

KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Devons “Mr. V” Vincent, 68, who passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at his residence.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Rebecca “Becky” Boggs Vincent of Kaplan; one son, Lance Vincent of Lafayette; one daughter, Rachel and her husband, Luke Lopez of Welsh; four grandsons, Taylor, Trevor, Trent, and Tanner Lopez of Welsh; one brother, Conroy Vincent and his wife, Cheryl of Kaplan; and two nieces, Kate Vincent and Claire and her husband, Justin Guidry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy P. Vincent and the former Mary Hazel Mouton.
The family would like to thank the physicians, nurses, and staff of Lafayette General Medical Center and Hospice of Acadiana. In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to Hospice of Acadiana (2600 Johnston, Ste 200, Lafayette, La 70503) or Reel Recovery (160 Brookside Road, Needham, MA, 02492).
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Saturday, July 8, 2017 from 9:00 AM until services with a rosary being prayed at 12:30 PM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Vincent family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.