LOGA Industry Report - Winter 2009 - (Page 38) 2009 Annual Meeting On March 26-28, the LOGA Annual Meeting returns to Point Clear, Alabama, and the Grand Hotel. After an incredible 2008 meeting in Baton Rouge, LOGA is headed back to the coast to everyone’s favorite location. We have already begun to line up speakers, and with all of the changes taking place in the world, there will be plenty to talk about. The LOGA Annual Meeting would not be complete without a prize-packed golf tournament, which will be held on the grounds of The Grand Hotel at the recently renovated championship golf courses where golfers can experience a world-class stay and supreme golf experience. Sponsorships for meetings, events and the golf tournament are available. For more information, please call the LOGA office at 800-443-1433. Registration for the event is now available online at www.LOGA.la. You can easily register for the event online or download a registration form and submit it to LOGA via email, fax or mail. We have a limited number of rooms reserved at a discounted rate at The Grand and we always sell out our room block, so make your hotel reservation early. Please call 251-928-9201 to reserve your room and make sure you let them know you are with LOGA in order to receive the discounted rate. We look forward to seeing you there. ● DNR Secretary Appoints Top Two Secretaries Lori LeBlanc was appointed deputy secretary of the Department of Natural Resources by Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle. As deputy secretary, LeBlanc is executive manager of the department and serves as the departmental liaison with the state legislature and other state agencies. In appointing LeBlanc, Angelle noted that her background in coastal and energy matters makes her particularly professionally suited for her role with the department, and the energy and enthusiasm she brings makes her ideally suited to help drive a department always seeking ways to improve efficiency and responsiveness. LeBlanc has recently worked as an independent consultant assisting government and nonprofit entities with coastal restoration, hurricane protection and infrastructure projects. Since 2001, LeBlanc was actively involved with Restore or Retreat, Inc., a non profit coastal restoration advocacy organization representing the Barataria and Terrebonne basin region. She served as the executive director from 2001 to 2004 and then served on their executive committee from 2004 to 2008. She most recently served as their 2007 president. In addition, LeBlanc was appointed by Governor Foster and served four years on the Governor’s Coastal Advisory Commission. Early in her career LeBlanc was an environmental consultant for Baton Rougebased Walsh Environmental, Inc., now called Encos, Inc., as a project manager and as the corporate administrator. LeBlanc is originally from New Jersey; however, in 1987 her father was transferred with Exxon to Baton Rouge. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Auburn University in 1991 and her master’s degree from LSU in 1999. Lou Buatt has been appointed assistant secretary of the Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Coastal Restoration and Management. Buatt has more than 14 years of state service, most recently serving as assistant secretary of the Office of Environmental Assessment with the Department of Environmental Quality. In addition to his position as assistant secretary, Buatt has also been general counsel for DEQ, an attorney for the Office of Environmental Assessment and, prior to his state service, he was in private practice in Lake Charles and in Houston. Buatt has a Bachelor of Science in geology from Louisiana State University, a Juris Doctorate from Southern University and an LL. M., advanced law degree, in Energy and Environmental Law from the University of Houston. In appointing Buatt, Angelle said he will be a leader in coastal management for the state, saying that Buatt is perfectly suited, with his years of environmental experience, to play a major role as a member of the state’s overall coastal team. ● 38 | LOGA INDUSTRY REPORT | WINTER 2009 http://www.LOGA.la http://www.LOGA.la
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.