Discover Lafayette – Details, episodes & analysis

Discover Lafayette welcomes Dale Clark, Ursula Quoyeser, and Harriet Hoag to discuss the upcoming 4th annual Fin Feather Fur Food Festival ("F5"). This event raises funds for the Team Gleason Foundation, which supports individuals living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (“ALS”). Team Gleason, through its diverse and broad-reaching programming, brings assistive technology, equipment, and robust support services into the hands of ALS patients – to help individuals with ALS not just survive but thrive after a devastating diagnosis. Each of our guests has either been personally affected by ALS or has supported a loved one with the disease. Event Details: Date: April 24, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette, LA Tickets: $45 Website: https://teamgleason.org/f5/ Attendees can enjoy great food, beer, and wine while supporting a worthy cause. F5 is a cooking competition where teams compete in four categories: Fin, Feather, Fur, and Dessert. Awards will be given to the best dishes, a "People’s Choice" winner, and a "Team Showmanship" winner chosen by a panel of judges. Additionally, a silent auction will offer a selection of valuable items. Teams also compete to raise the most funds for Team Gleason, with prizes awarded to top fundraisers. About Team Gleason Foundation: In January 2011, New Orleans Saints star Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS. Faced with this devastating diagnosis, Steve embraced a new mission: to show that people with ALS can not only live but thrive and to inspire others facing similar challenges. “People were simply expected to fade away quietly and die, that was not acceptable to me. That is not OK.” Steve and his wife, Michel Varisco, founded Team Gleason, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals with ALS lead purposeful and fulfilling lives.  Team Gleason has provided over $55 million in resources to individuals with ALS. Their work includes supplying mobility equipment, power seat elevators, speech-generating devices, and essential home modifications. Personal Impact of Team Gleason: Ursula Quoyeser’s Experience Ursula has received significant support from Team Gleason. These resources have been life-changing, enabling her to maintain independence. Ursula reflects on how Team Gleason anticipates needs before they arise, ensuring that people living with ALS receive assistance promptly. One of the most important things that Team Gleason provides is pathways of communication to connect ALS families with each other so that resources that are no longer needed are generously shared. Many of you know Ursula as a superstar Volleyball coach! She is still a superstar and it is an honor to share her story so that the Team Gleason message may be distributed to a wide audience! Harriet Hoag’s Journey Harriet’s late husband, Monty, was diagnosed with ALS during the height of COVID-19, making the journey even more isolating. Doctors struggled to diagnose him, but Harriet’s own research led them to Baylor Hospital, where they received confirmation. She credits Team Gleason for providing invaluable resources such as a speech-generating device that allowed Monty to communicate with their granddaughter even in his final days. Dale Clark’s Commitment After being diagnosed with ALS, Dale was inspired to help others in the ALS community. Witnessing the challenges faced by fellow patients at his clinic in Houston, he saw the opportunity to make a difference. His dedication, alongside generous contributions from local companies like Badger Oil and Gas and Service Chevrolet, has helped F5 grow into a major fundraising success. For a more in-depth interview we did in 2024 with Dale and Ursula, listen here. Dale Clark says, "100% of the money goes to Team Gleason. In fact, we tell people to mail their check to Team Gleason so we don't have to handle any money. The Importance of Fundraising: Over the past three years,

Discover Lafayette is thrilled to welcome Kiki Frayard, founder of Kiki, a boutique store known for its exquisite selection of fine jewelry, fragrances, handbags, and other carefully curated items from designers across the world. While Kiki is known for offering unique designs, Kiki says, "Anybody can walk in to buy fun or lower price point jewelry at $75 to $250. We also offer jewelry up to $65,000." In addition to her successful retail business, Kiki recently ventured into children's literature with her book Lila Says No, cleverly illustrated by Aileen Bennett. Her passion for beauty and creativity extends beyond retail, as seen on her vibrant Instagram page, where she shares colorful and inspirational table settings for various events. Kiki, an Opelousas native, has strong ties to the Lafayette community. She is the sister of Marilyn Castle, retired 15th JDC judge, and Joan Dubuisson of Cox Business. She graduated from UL-Lafayette with degrees in Art History and English, initially intending to become an art teacher before discovering her passion for advertising and retail. Her career has been a fascinating journey, including stints as a nightclub singer in New Orleans, a radio advertising executive, and an ad agency owner. Working alongside advertising legend George Graham, Kiki honed her skills in creative writing and marketing, ultimately paving the way for her entrepreneurial success. Kiki opened her boutique in River Ranch after gaining invaluable retail experience from Molly Flanagan, owner of Molly’s. She and her daughter, Katie, built the business together, expanding to Baton Rouge and establishing Kiki as a premier shopping destination. A life-changing car accident in 2007 prompted Kiki to embrace retail fully, leaving advertising to focus on her boutique. She and Katie meticulously designed the store, ensuring an elevated shopping experience comparable to high-end retailers in New York and beyond. Kiki says, "We knew we wanted to do something nice. We didn't want it to be a hodgepodge of display cases and just thrown together. We really wanted it to be the nicest store in Lafayette. "We had a vision of doing jewelry with designers in mind so that every case was dedicated to a designer. The handbags were displayed one on a shelf to make it seem really special so that everything seemed a little elevated. That worked when people walked in the store. Also, with most merchandise, if you don't turn it, you got to put it on sale, you've got to get rid of it, you got to turn. But jewelry isn't like that. We could have an expensive piece of jewelry and it could be there for two years, and then someone comes in and and buys it. So you don't have to discount quite as much. The same thing with perfume." Beyond retail, Kiki has made a mark in the Lafayette community. She played a crucial role in the development of Lafayette's downtown playground, recognizing its value in revitalizing the area. Her passion for community enrichment continues to shape her contributions to the city’s cultural and economic landscape. Kiki’s love for creativity extends to her personal life, where she enjoys setting stunning tablescapes for family gatherings. Her collections of fine china and linens reflect her impeccable taste and appreciation for beauty. Her foray into children's literature has been met with great enthusiasm. Lila Says No is resonating with parents and educators, with notable endorsements from child psychologist Carolyn Helm. The book received a glowing review rom Kirkus as "quirky and entertaining, with a kid and parent-savvy message." Kiki’s deep admiration for children’s literature and her collection of over 500 books inspired her to finally write her own story, with more books potentially on the horizon. Though retired from store ownership, Kiki remains an integral part of Kiki, still attending market trips and influencing the store’s aesthetic.

Becca Begnaud, actor, musician, creative, and traiteur joined Discover Lafayette alongside John Paul (JP) Summers, Abbeville-based director and cinematographer, to discuss their collaboration on the 2025 Doritos Crash Commercial, which ranked in the top 25 out of 2000 entries. Together, they share their stories of creativity, healing, and cultural preservation. It is a story about synchronicity in life, healing, and maintaining a sense of humor. Becca Begnaud has dedicated her life to preserving and practicing Cajun healing traditions. Growing up in Scott, LA, Becca had an idyllic life, close with her extended family. Her grandparents had a farm and every weekend, her family would go to the country, ride horses, and her grandma would cook dinner. “My house faced the side of the church and the back of the house faced the school. You could walk to the grocery store and post office, you could walk everywhere. When you talk about maintaining a culture, you have to look at what community historically looked like.” She grew up speaking English and French.   She learned the value of healing from her grandfather who was a traiteur.” “We didn’t even think of it as healing. Because if you had warts, or a headache or a sprained ankle, you went to see a particular traiteur. You could be rich, you could be poor, black, white or native. None of that mattered. If someone had given you the prayer, you did that.”' Becca Begnaud pictured with her grandfather, Maurice Pellessier. Picture from Facebook. Becca says, "Every culture has within it a community of people who do healing work. So when we got together here in Acadiana with the Native Americans and the African Americans, and then us, the French Europeans, this method of healing developed in our region. It is basically prayer." As a backdrop, Becca was diagnosed in 1989 with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. One of the nuns at the hospital, Sister Hilda Mallet, told her she should look into healing work. "I thought, are you serious? Well, my grandpa was a traiteur. Maybe I should look into this. I studied Rieki, healing work, awakenings, and something called Trauma First Aid. There are lots of methods of healing out there. I did hospice work for 30 years, and worked with Lourdes at Camp Bluebird, a camp for adults with cancer. I have the perspective of a person who was ill. I have the perspective of a person who worked with a medical team, all as a volunteer." Today, Becca continues her healing practice at her office at 600 St. Landry Street in Lafayette, Louisiana. Becca embraced her role as a healer, never doing it as a way to earn a living, just as a volunteer. "When you have a catastrophic illness, you don't have extra money to drop on treatments of any kind. You hope to pay the deductible of 20%. So, when I studied with nurses, we were talking about Source. If you are teaching in a professional educational setting, you can't talk about what you call God. There may be Jewish or Native American people, Christian or Hindu. So, we talked about Source. We were all saying the same thing but in a different way." After many synchronistic experiences, Becca had a professor at the university, Frans Amelinckx, give her the prayer of a traiteur, Mr. Nestor Guidry. It said, ""Je suis parent and je suis parenté, " which means we are related, we are related. You repeat it three times. And it is beautiful. Native Americans always speak of all our relations. We're all one. We are. So that was a light bulb moment for me." When asked if you had to believe for a traiteur's prayer to work, Becca said, "Traiteurs treat cows, pigs, horses and other animals that need healing. What does a cow or a pig know about beliefs or church? Then I thought if my grandfather could do this healing work, why not me?" A musician to this day, Becca came up in a family of drummers and she played the drums. "When you play rhythm and you don't really think, then who you are comes out.

Lafayette City Marshal Reggie Thomas joined Discover Lafayette to discuss his mission to protect the citizens of Lafayette and to become the best marshal's office nationally. A 30-year veteran of the Lafayette City Police Department who worked his way up the ranks, as a detective and eventually serving as deputy and interim chief of police, Marshal Reggie was elected Lafayette City Marshal in December 2020. On January 8th, 2025, he celebrated his fourth anniversary in office. Of note, Marshal Reggie was the first African American to be elected citywide in the history of Lafayette. The Marshal's office is chiefly responsible for keeping the city court safe and secure, serving subpoenas to people called to court, and executing arrest warrants for people who have not complied with the law or court order. In the City of Lafayette, there are two city court judges, Judge Douglas J. Saloom and interim Judge Vanessa Harris, who was called to served upon the untimely death of Judge Jules Edwards. Salary and benefits for the marshal's office staff are paid for by the City of Lafayette. Everything else is funded by a percentage of criminal and civil fines and fees paid for citations and tickets. The employees are at-will employees. "We have 32 sworn officers, as well as ten reserve officers. We have another 30 to 35 clerks that work in the building, handling the court, the tickets, the civil part,the criminal part, and the supervisors. We might have 400 people come through the door on any given day, and each person has to be searched to make sure everyone is safe." The City Court territorial jurisdiction extends over all territory in the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette, plus the Third and Tenth Wards of Lafayette Parish. The court handles claims for personal injury, general damages, contract, open account, and commercial paper where the amount of the claim doesn't exceed $35,000, and small claims suits that do not exceed $5,000. It also handles landlord-tenant matters (Evictions) and violations of state misdemeanor criminal laws and/or Lafayette Consolidated Government City Ordinance violations that occur within the City of Lafayette. First time domestic violence cases also go through City Court. Marshal Reggie mentioned the important work of the late Judge Jules Edwards, who endeavored to assist first time offenders, to keep them from getting in deeper trouble and ending up in Angola. When Marshal Reggie was elected, they started the "Renewal Program", where participants learn to manage anger, control their behavior, and become better citizens. Upon completing the program, their efforts are recognized, and they have the opportunity to move forward with a clean slate by having their offense expunged from their record. "The renewal program was something that I started when I first took office, along with Judge Edwards. When a first time offender gets sentenced by the judge, normally they have to do community service. With this program, they attend eight weeks of classes and we have people that have made major mistakes come in and talk to them. Maybe a guy that did 25 years in jail or was on drugs, stuff like that. So we show them things that, hey, this is where you don't want to be at, but this is what you can accomplish if you're doing the right thing." Seventy juveniles have participated so far with great success. "Most schools have zero tolerance. Now, if you get in a fight at school, you go to jail. Some of us older people remember when we were in school, you would have to go sit in a corner after a fight, but you didn't go to jail. So now, you are arrested, you have to come to court and pay fines. I started seeing where the parents weren't able to pay the fines, and the kids would wind up in juvenile detention. So the Renewal Program gives a second chance and the charge won't remain on their permanent record. The kids have to be serious about the program, can't miss any days,

Ari Dolegowski, a BioPerformance Therapist who offers transformative massage sessions with a tailored approach rooted in Physical Therapy and Eastern medicine, joins Discover Lafayette to share his philosophy on living a well-rounded and healthy life. He studied both Eastern and Western modalities of therapy in Thailand, Costa Rica, and New York City, to form an integrative approach to treatment and to better understand human nature. Ari played pro soccer in Chile, Tel Aviv and the U. S. and maintains a consistently active lifestyle, biking whenever he can in lieu of starting up a car. He also maintains a Tai Chi practice which ensures full body power and optimal alignment. Tai Chi is a moving meditation in the form of a series of gentle exercises that create harmony between the mind and body. The ultimate purpose is to cultivate our inner life energy (qi) to flow smoothly and powerfully through the body, a spiritual experience as much as a physical one. Ari will be offering classes in Tai Chi this year. Ari's work focuses on optimizing the body's natural abilities, through physical therapy and massage treatments to encourage clients to achieve peak physical and mental states. One thing many of us fail to do is stretch enough and he offers "Stretched Out," a modality of massage with a lineage of Thai Massage, TaiChi, Yoga Therapy, and Western joint mobilization. "Imagine having a stretch, a trigger point release, and increased blood flow all at one time," Ari says. His practice also includes cranio-sacral massage, a gentle yet effective way to ease tension and promote relaxation, and can help relieve headaches, reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Local athletes call on Ari for deep tissue massage sessions to treat musculoskeletal issues such as sprains and sports injuries; this form of massage helps break up scar tissue that forms following an injury and reduces tension in muscle and tissue. Ari offers consistent messaging on lifestyle, health, and wellness. "It all starts with us, our choices, our movement, and our intention to live a good life. Bio means life and performance considers honest personal health choices that can revolutionize your own path to developing awareness of the body and in the mind in order to lead an overall healthier and happier lifestyle." Ari's background working for an Eastern-Western physical therapy clinic gave him a way to look at the body in different ways than the Western lifestyle. "Environmental issues, not just lead in the water but anything outside that we bring in on ourselves, whether it's family or the news or politics, is a culmination of everything that we do. Then one thing can trigger pain, whether it is an unfortunate bike accident, being yelled at, a TV show that upsets you or the news....all of a sudden you have sharp pain in your neck and you don't know why. People look for one thing to blame, and just want to fix it. Is it acupuncture? Meditation? A cortisone shot or a chiropractor? It might need to be all, depending on how tightly wound up you are or your physical and emotional pain." At times, Ari works with people who may have unrealistic goals who have pushed themselves too far and incur an injury, taking on physical exercise that their body is not ready for. "The body just says 'whoa.' You know, if you're just looking to be healthy, maybe you need to go out and walk really fast a few times a week, rather than taking on running when you have never exercised. Because that's really hard on the body." "You should be able to do your job and then offset it with what you do when you're not working. If you sit all day, you should be in good enough shape that you can sit, stand, maybe go for a walk, do a quick stretch and not worry about that too much. 'Am I sitting ergonomically? Is my desk high enough?' I think it's what you do outside of your job or your career that helps with that. Perhaps you just have a simple 20 minute a day or every ...

Paul Hilliard, President of Badger Oil Corporation, has led a wonderful life of generosity and love of community that provides a humbling lesson in being a good steward of God’s resources. At 99 years of age, he is sharp and insightful, a true testament to his wisdom and vitality. Paul was 17 when he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps during his Senior year in high school in February 1943, quitting school when he received permission from his mother to join the war effort. He trained to be a gunner, handling machine guns in the back of Douglas SBD Dauntless (Scout Bomber by Douglas Aircraft) planes in air missions conducted in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. SBD was jokingly referred to as “Slow But Deadly.” He flew 45 combat missions and was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in addition to receiving the Air Medal with six bronze stars.  Following his service, Hilliard earned his law degree from the University of Texas before beginning a career in the oil and gas industry. He credits the GI Bill for the opportunities it afforded him and so many other servicemen who would not have otherwise been able to obtain an education. Hilliard exemplifies the selfless spirit and pride of our WWII generation of heroes, as well as the successful ingenuity of a veteran oil and gas entrepreneur.  Known for his self-effacing wit and ability to achieve in spite of a hardscrabble upbringing in Wisconsin, Hilliard has been a successful independent operator and owner of Badger Oil Corporation since 1955 and has seen fit to use his success in business to help others in need. Awarded the Civic Cup in 2003 and the esteemed national Horatio Alger Award in 2009, Paul has also been active in statewide associations working to improve the oil and gas industry, business, and civic endeavors. Paul has also been active in statewide associations working to improve the oil and gas industry, business, and civic endeavors.  In 2015, he received the Circle of Honor Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. UL Press released Dauntless: Paul Hilliard in WWII and a Transformed America in 2023. Written by Rob Citino with Ken Stickney and Lori Ochsner, the book documents some of the most fascinating decades in American history: the impact of World War II, the importance of post-war social and economic changes, and the development of the oil industry from the 1950s to today. “Dauntless is a compelling narrative tracing Paul Hilliard’s life experiences during the Great Depression, from farm life in Wisconsin’s Dust Bowl to his distinguished service as a Marine in World War II, his education through law school, and a long and successful business in the oil fields. Paul’s lifelong philanthropy and his passion for education and the lessons of WWII make him an inspiration. His life is the Horatio Alger story. He is, and always be, one of my heroes.”—Boysie Bollinger Paul has been a generous benefactor in causes to help at-risk children learn to read so that they can overcome poverty as he did.  He and his late wife, Lulu, provided $5 million dollars in seed money to start the Paul and Lulu Hilliard Art Museum at UL – Lafayette. Paul has served as a National WWII Museum trustee, and he and his wife, Madlyn, have been two of the Museum’s most active advocates and supporters. They have provided transformative support for several Museum initiatives, including acquisition and restoration of artifacts, collection of oral histories, and education programs. In September 2018, Hilliard accepted the position of Board Chair of the museum, focusing on the completion of the its $400 million campus expansion. For more information, visit https://www.nationalww2museum.org, a treasure trove of thousands of oral histories and hundreds of thousands of photos depicting the WWII experience. Paul ended the interview by sharing his gratitude for being born in the United States of America.  He spoke of a favorite quote by Cicero: “Gratitude...

Matt Oldenburg, Director of Zoosiana, is our guest today. The zoo has been a family passion for years, as it was originally purchased by Matt's father, George Oldenburg, in 2002, after a successful banking career. George transitioned into zoo ownership to pursue his love for animals. Over the years, Matt took on a leadership role, managing the zoo's operations and its expansive collection of over 1,000 animals spanning 150 species.​ Never dreaming he would run the zoo, Matt majored in wildlife biology, as well as marketing and management. While his schooling came in handy, running a zoo is a field of study that you learn on the job. Matt Oldenburg at Zoosiana. Zoosiana, one of the few privately owned and accredited zoos in the U.S., is known for its education and memory-making opportunities, community engagement, and family-friendly attractions. It features animal shows, a petting zoo, a Louisiana swamp exhibit, and unique animals like golden-striped Bengal tigers, giraffes, exotic birds, and much, much more. Incredibly, the zoo welcmes over 150,000 visitors annually.​ Zoosiana is open 9 to 5 daily, seven days a week, weather permitting, except for major holidays and hurricanes. The zoo will be 33 years old in 2025, and getting to that stage where it can become a legacy for our local families and visitors alike. Matt says, "The children who have visited Zoosiana through the years bring their own children and maybe their grandchildren, and make lasting memories. Perhaps taking a family photo by the same live oak tree that they took a photo in front of 20 or 30 years earlier. I think that's a very special attribute. It adds to our efforts to connect the community with the zoo. Ownership has never been front of mind for us. We believe that we are the stewards of the zoo and of the animals on behalf of Acadiana's children. Everything we do there is for the children, to be an education-based program and make an opportunity to create a lifelong memory of connecting you with an animal on some level." Zoosiana is located at 5601 Hwy 90 E Broussard, LA 70518, on a 45-acre piece of property in Broussard at the corner of Ambassador Caffery and Highway 90. It is privately owned and self-sustaining and with no outside funding coming into the zoo.  "There was no life plan to land at the zoo. We never had unusual pets growing up, just a dog and a cat. But, I was excited about the zoo from day one with dad. Not every day has been fun or easy. But I think very quickly I realized that if I could pick one thing in life, I would probably pick what I am doing at the zoo." The zoo is busiest in the springtime and in the comfortable October season. "With a thousand animals to care for each day, no two days are alike," says Matt. "We go through quite a bit of food and, and we order our produce, fruits and veggies from the same vendors that restaurants and cafeterias here in Lafayette order from. Its not second choice. So it's fresh produce and fresh vegetables of of a quality that you would be happy to have on your own dinner plate." Matt further stated, "We've got an animal care team who do a phenomenal job of providing the daily care and maintenance, which include feeding, cleaning, health checks, and monitoring. Enrichment is a very big part of what we do. We want to make sure our animals have a stimulating environment that they're able to utilize and practice their natural behaviors. It could be leaping from one perch to the next or figuring out a puzzle feeder of some kind. We do enrichment with smells, olfactory sound, and visual." Zoosiana has particular meal plans for their various animals, and a recipe book for the different meals that lists everything that the animals can have and cannot have. With so many different omnivores, herbivores, and carnivores, you can imagine the varying diets from species to species. Matt says, "It's thousands of pounds of food a week. We've got dry grain.

Adam Daigle, Business Editor of the Acadiana Advocate, discusses the biggest business news of 2024 in this episode of Discover Lafayette. We want to thank the Advocate for highlighting our latest podcast each week in their online Business Section. You can subscribe online at theadvocate.com/newsletters to keep up with our community’s latest business headlines. The # 1 story in 2024, without a doubt, is the announcement that Buc'ees will be opening at the northeast corner of Louisiana Avenue and Interstate 10. Rumored for years, this will be a major draw for motorists traveling along I-10, and most of the sales taxes paid will be collected from out-of-towners. When people travel, Buc-ees is a destination as well as a place to fill up the tank. The new site is projected to be a 74,000-square-foot building, complete with gas pumps and nearly 700 parking spaces, and the store is estimated to be a 13-month build, opening during the 2025 holiday season. The closest Buc-ees to Lafayette is either Alabama or Baytown, TX, so Lafayette can anticipate a heavily-trafficked spot for people looking for that golden Buc-ees' experience. I talked to a convenience store analyst, and he said, "Buc'ees takes everything you hate about traveling, removes it, and replaces it with what you love about traveling. You want to stop there because you'll never wait in line for a gas pump. You want to go there because you know the bathroom is clean. You want to go there because they've got unique snacks and not Cheetos that every other place has. You get a brisket sandwich or a hot dog with the gas station. They've just flipped the whole concept on its head." There's a Tax-Increment Financing ("TIF") district already in place that dates back to when Stirling Properties originally built the Target Shopping Center across I-10 from where Buc-ees will be located. At the time, there was no water or sewer lines and the project was only feasible with this type of government assistance to cover the massive infrastructure needs. The TIF was paid off quicker than anticipated and is still in play today. To accommodate the Buc-ee's deal, a subdistrict was created, which will tax 2% of all sales, including gasoline purchases. While some question the need for TIF districts, this is a trend that has been taking place all across the U. S., and it is a negotiating tool that jurisdictions utilize to attract big business such as Buc-ees, Bass Pro, and other large retailers. As Adam says, "That is what you do to land the big boys. You got to pay for it." The # 2 story is the passing of Richard Zuschlag, Chairman and CEO of Acadian Companies. When he started his business in the early 70s with Roland Dugas and Richard Sturlese, funeral homes were dispatched to pick up people who were ill, and they were transported in a hearse. This was the era prior to ambulances and the trio identified a huge gap in the healthcare market. Zuschlag was the driving force in the company's growth, and he was also literally a driver of an ambulance in the early days. He attended all of the police jury and city council meetings to meet with people and get agreements signed. Acadian Ambulance would hold membership drives that ran on television, where people paid a fee to ensure that an ambulance would pick them up. Over the years, Zuschlag became the principal behind Acadian and the company experience extraordinary growth, opening up it National EMS Academy, Acadian Total Security, Air Med, Safety Management Systems, Executive Aircraft Charter Service, and Acadian Health (home healthcare services.) The late Richard Zuschlag, who founded Acadian Ambulance and served as Chairman and CEO of Acadian Companies. Today, Acadian Companies is an employee-owned company with 5200 employees in four states. Zuschlag's memory lives on through his family, and his son, Blaise, serves as Executive V. P. and Chief Administrative Officer.

In this episode of Discover Lafayette, we feature Mel Haynes, owner and proprietor of Sweet Envie, a delightful bakery and deli located at 4302 Moss Street in North Lafayette. Mel brings a beautiful sense of joy and humor into our world and shares her inspirational story of becoming a successful business owner who follows her instincts. Since opening in 2021, Sweet Envie has become beloved for its heavenly pastries, confections, and a menu that caters to both sweet and savory cravings. Mel’s journey is one of passion, resilience, and community, as she found and followed her calling after a career in corporate management. A graduate of the Accelerate Northside Program, Mel transitioned from her management role at Acadian Companies to entrepreneurship, fulfilling a dream that began as a conversation with her late husband as to what her future would hold. Inspired by her mother’s talent for baking and informed by her mom's recipes, Mel honed her craft, from decorating wedding cakes to mastering the art of petit fours. "Eventually I want to get to the point where I'm not working in my business as much. If my seven year old Samuel has an event at school. I don't have to ask anybody if I can go. I don't have to say, mother, may I? I'm going. so that's freedom. That feels so good that I can just say, you know what? The kids have something going on. I'm one of those moms that’s involved. If the teacher calls me, I'll be there in a second. I'm going to make sure that it's wonderful. Whatever I need to do for my kids. They are my first priority because if it weren't for them, I don't know where I'd be. I'd probably still be working another job, but being able to wake up and go to work and show my daughter, my 12 year old daughter. You know what? If you decide one day you want to run your business, you can run your own business." Today, Sweet Envie offers not only baked goods but also a retail baking supply store and catering services, bringing smiles to clients throughout Acadiana. Sweet Envie won accolades in 2024 for Gold Best Deli, Bronze Best Bakery, and Silver Best Dessert in the Acadiana Advocate's Acadiana's Choice Awards. Highlights from the Conversation: The Spark: Mel shares how her passion for baking was ignited while creating her "huge castle" wedding cake with her mother and later through baking for coworkers. Leap of Faith: Following the loss of her husband and with a newborn on the way, Mel took a chance on herself, joining the Accelerator Northside program to gain the tools needed to launch Sweet Envie. Challenges & Joys of Entrepreneurship: Mel discusses the highs and lows of running a business—from the freedom to attend her children’s events to the challenges of wearing all hats, including maintenance and accounting. Community Impact: Sweet Envie provides a welcoming space where families and children can explore their own creativity. Whether decorating cakes or learning how to fry beignets, Mel inspires future generations. Catering Services: Sweet Envie offers both savory and sweet catering options for groups ranging from 5 to 300 people, with onsite food truck services provided by Mel’s fiancé, "Big Nick." Sweet Envie Favorites: Signature cinnamon rolls Chicken salad Petit fours Fried-to-order beignets Mel credits her faith, compassion, and authenticity as the foundation of her success. She encourages listeners to embrace their dreams and let go of imposter syndrome, reminding us all that we are capable of achieving greatness. As Mel says, "You have to get out of your own way. That is a big thing that a lot of people suffer from. That imposter syndrome where you don't think that you're good enough to run your own business. You know, I saw X, Y, and Z do it. How can I do it? I'm not half as good, half as smart, half as talented. When in fact, you are just as good, just as smart, just as talented.

The Acadiana Center for the Arts' Sam Oliver, Executive director, and Taylor Davis, Board President, join Discover Lafayette to discuss the AcA's 50th anniversary approaching, the superb programming they offer our community, and discuss upcoming events. The Acadiana Arts Council, the organization that later evolved into the Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA), was established in 1975. It began as a regional arts organization focused on promoting and supporting the arts throughout Acadiana. Over the years, the Council expanded its vision and programming, eventually leading to the creation of the AcA as its permanent home on November 1, 2010. The AcA, at its core, is the Arts Council for the region, that offers Lafayette and the Acadiana region something you would expect in a larger metropolitan area: incredible performances from all over the world, high production quality shows, and the promotion of local and regional artists. It is a space for visual arts, performing arts, music, dance, and theatre. It is also a gathering place for social events, debates and forums for political occasions, and civic presentations that benefit the entire community. Sam has served as Executive Director for six years. You can hear our original interview with Sam here where we discussed his educational background and what led him to serve the AcA. Taylor has served on the board the past ten years and was first exposed to the AcA at its first show ever which brought Lyle Lovett to Lafayette. Taylor says his service is "a labor of love," and he and his wife, Yvette regularly go out to see and enjoy live music. The James Devin Moncus Theater offers a superb sound system that was upgraded this year, with a seating capacity of 304 seats, "and there is really not a bad seat in the house!"  It's a great time to join or renew your AcA membership as you receive early bird access to tickets for 2025's in-demand performances before they open for sale to the general public. Yearly memberships begin at $35 a year with higher levels for those who want to support the organization at a higher level. The AcA’s 2025's Louisiana Crossroads series will showcase performers such as Steve Khan, Louis Michot, and C.J. Chenier celebrating the 100th birthday of Clifton Chenier. Scott Mulvahill, a Nashville based singer, songwriter and bass player, will be leading a full album length playthrough of Paul Simon's Graceland album, which featured Acadiana artists with Zydeco and accordion music. George Porter Jr. will round out the year. January 2025 will be kicked off with a two-night concert “The Roots of Fire Live,” bringing local Cajun and Creole together live on stage to perform, Other big name acts will include Lucinda Williams, Andrew Duhon, Ruthie Foster, and Kat Higgins, Several perks are being offered to enhance your AcA experience. Parking is always a challenge downtown, so the AcA is introducing free parking with a ticket at the parking lot across from Chase Tower on Jefferson Street. If you're planning dinner and drinks after a show, the AcA has partnered with downtown restaurants such as Vestal and Pop’s Poboys who are doing pre-show discounts on meals. The Aca has also partnered with restaurants such as Pamplona and Ton’s Downtown who will stay open later on show nights to offer post-show cocktails, In order to ensure a lineup of performances which pleases its patrons, the AcA put out a survey asking for the types of acts desired by the community.  Putting together a 50th anniversary season “had to be not just good, but something that our audience and our supporters really resonate with. We actually put out a survey where we said to members of ACA, tell us what you want to see”, Sam Oliver said. In honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of AcA, on December 7, 2024, the Pelican Ball will honor five people who have made an impact over the course of its existence. One of the founders of the Acadiana Center for the Arts,