Houma-Terrebonne CEO Nicol Blanchard (from left) stands with Terrebonne’s Young Acheivers Brett Means, Katy Bourg Ledet and Kandace Mauldin, Business First Bank Vice President Ruble Pitre and chamber board Chairman Jason Bergeron. [Julia Arenstam/Staff — houmatoday/dailycomet]
Houma-Terrebonne Chamber honors Young Achievers
By Julia Arenstam Staff Writer (Houma Today)
The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce honored the 2018 Terrebonne’s Young Achievers during a luncheon Tuesday.
“The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce is pleased to introduce to you three shining stars of Terrebonne Parish,” chamber board Chairman Jason Bergeron said. “We’re grateful to have their commitment to this community.”
This year’s winners are Katy Ledet, an English teacher at South Terrebonne High School; Brett Means, vice president of Synergy Bank; and Kandace Mauldin, chief financial officer for the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government.
Young Achievers Awards are given to local professionals under 40 for their career achievements, community impact and vision for Terrebonne Parish.
The awards are sponsored annually by Business First Bank.
All of this year’s recipients have ties to Nicholls State University, earning one or more of their degrees at the local university.
Ledet is known for her service to the education community, earning more than $20,000 in grant’s for her classroom and school.
“She fights to keep local youth educated and on top of their game,” Bergeron said. “Her determination changes the lives of other every day.”
Among her list of community service projects, Ledet is the co-founder of the Terrebonne Safe Schools Coalition and has volunteered with the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence.
“We are very lucky to be in a parish that does respect their teachers and does value education. To be representative of that is something I’m very proud of,” Ledet said.
Since joining the banking industry, Means has climbed the ranks at Synergy Bank to become the vice president and commercial lender.
“He embraced the opportunity to learn the business without exhibiting any sense of entitlement,” Bergeron said.
Means is involved in several industry organizations, including the Loan Administration Board, the Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee and the Chabert Foundation.
As a young leader in Terrebonne Parish, Means said the community must continue to make strides in the education system, diversity in industry and coastal restoration.
As CFO for the Terrebonne government, Mauldin manages a $217 million annual budget, earning statewide recognition for her work.
Under her leadership, the department has received Distinguished Budget Presentation awards, Bergeron said.
Mauldin is also an adjunct professor at Nicholls where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees.
“Thank you so much. It’s a great honor to be recognized from a parish that I both love and adore and am so proud to be a part of,” Mauldin said. “I look forward to us making it a better place in the future.”
Staff Writer Julia Arenstam can be reached at 448-7636 or[email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliaArenstam.