Meet the training department
Randy Tyrone
Merritt Parsons
Merritt Parsons
How long have you been with Louisiana Cat?
I have been with Louisiana Cat for 18 years
What are your job roles?
I am a CDI with our training department. I perform training in class as well as in the field, with our customers and our sales department. I perform training on all the new features of the new machines that we offer to make our customers more profitable in moving their products and show the difference between Caterpillar and our competitors.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
In my position, I like that I can be the face of Louisiana Cat in front of our customers and get to tell them about all the things we can offer them to help keep their job on track. I love the days I get to do a heads-up demo, that is when you give me my best Cat machine and let whoever bring their best and bet me if you can. But anytime I can just talk about Louisiana Cat to any customer it’s a good day
Tell us a fun fact about you!
Believe it or not, I love coming to work. It’s just part of who I am, but away from work is family and church time. I even enjoy a little fishing and hunting to clear my head and recharge my battery.
Merritt Parsons
Merritt Parsons
Merritt Parsons
How long have you been with Louisiana Cat?
Just over 1 year (14 months)
What are your job roles?
I am the Director of Training & Development so I oversee training and workforce development initiatives for the whole company. This includes technical training as well as career development programs, soft skills training, and employee engagement efforts.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
I love that my job is to give people, regardless of their position, the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to feel fulfilled by their work. I really enjoy creating programs that help people grow and learn in their careers.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I am getting married in April, so I currently have a second full-time job as a wedding planner!
Allie LeBlanc
Merritt Parsons
Allie LeBlanc
How long have you been with Louisiana Cat?
I have been with Louisiana Cat for a little over 2 years!
What are your job roles?
As the Workforce Development Specialist I facilitate and coordinate New Hire Orientation, the SkillUp26 Program, and various professional development courses. I also assist in the creation of career paths and individual learning plans, developing and maintaining company training requirements, as well as employee engagement activities. I am also the admin of multiple Learning Management Systems.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
The best part of my job is the people that I get to deal with on a daily basis.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
Starbucks takes probably 75% of my salary.
Eric Dupuis
Lucas Vincent
Allie LeBlanc
How long have you been with Louisiana Cat?
I have been with Louisiana Cat since 1991. I started in 1988 here in Morgan City with Holt Company of Louisiana and stayed on when it was sold to Louisiana Cat.
What are your job roles?
My job role is Marine Technical Training Instructor.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
I enjoy getting to meet people from around the world.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I like raising fish in my aquariums, over 30 fish and counting. I think it’s an addiction.
Lucas Vincent
Lucas Vincent
Lucas Vincent
How long have you been with Louisiana Cat?
I started at Louisiana CAT at 19 years old in April 2006 and work out of the Broussard location in the engine division until May 2013 (7 years, 2 months). I left the company and went to work for Exterran Corp. from May 2013 through Aug 2014 (1 year, 4 months). Then I returned to Louisiana Cat in August 2014, so I have been back at Louisiana CAT for 9 years. I have worked a total of 16 years with Louisiana CAT and have almost 18 years in the Oil & Gas/ Marine Industry.
What are your job roles?
Technical Training Supervisor/Engine and Electrical Instructor.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Meeting New People in the Industry.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
As a kid, I always wanted to travel and through the company and vacations, I have been able to see a bunch of places.
I have been able to see a bunch of States, Countries, and have been to every Continent but two, Africa and Antarctica.
Hopefully, I can knock those two off the bucket list!
Ross Meche
Lucas Vincent
Lucas Vincent
How long have you been with Louisiana Cat?
I have been with Louisiana Cat for 22 years.
What are your job roles?
My job role includes:
Training Instructor, Fuel Systems, Powertrain, Diagnostics. CDO- Operator Training, Deliveries, & Walk–Abounds. Aerial lift & Scissor lift training. New Hire machine safety orientation & Forklift Certification.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
I enjoy seeing the Techs months after they attended a course, telling me they applied knowledge from class in a real-world situation, that helped fix a customer’s problem, that was not in the books.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
Never imagined becoming an instructor..lol…!
Julius Persons
Julius Persons
Julius Persons
How long have you been with Louisiana Cat?
I have been with Louisiana Cat for 9 years.
What are your job roles?
I am a Machine Instructor.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
The thing that I enjoy most about my position is my students.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I enjoy having water gun and Nerf gun fights with my children and Grand Children!
Camille Nereaux
Julius Persons
Julius Persons
How long have you been with Louisiana Cat?
I have been with Louisiana Cat for 6 years.
What are your job roles?
I am the Service Training Coordinator
What do you enjoy most about your position?
I enjoy the variety of my daily tasks and working with customers and technicians on their training needs.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I enjoy spending time with my two grandkids (10 & 7), swimming, ball games, and crafts!
MSEP - MOST IMPROVED
At a recent District Marketing Meeting, Mike Cain, Director of Business Development, accepted the award for Most Improved MSEP. The Marketing and Sales Excellence Program (MSEP,) is one of five Dealer Operational Excellence Programs. MSEP aims to improve our dealership’s marketing and sales operations by fostering integration that drives performance and recognizing commitment to excellence. The program is based on many attributes and metrics that will ultimately enable our dealership to become more efficient and effective. Kudos to the Marketing and Sales teams for making strides in this excellence program.
Mike is pictured with Houston District MSOR, Kayla Shanklin
and Houston District Manager, Young Liu.
Marketing teams throughout the Houston District gathered together in Waller, Texas to collaborate on Caterpillar initiatives and best practice shares.
LSU star, Dylan Crews, unknowingly impacted a family
Robbie White's daughter, Aubrey, has formed an unbreakable bond with LSU Player, Dylan Crews.
Aubrey White was 7 years old and born with non-verbal autism. Her parents, Crystal and Robbie, had consulted with many experts who could offer no assurances that they would ever hear her sweet voice.
So imagine their shock when, one day in 2021, Aubrey looked at a player on the TV screen during a Louisiana State baseball broadcast and opened her mouth.
“Dylan Crews!” Aubrey said. “Dylan Crews!”
As LSU alums living in the Baton Rouge, La., area, Robbie, who pitched for LSU Eunice, and Crystal had a vested interest in what looked to be a loaded LSU baseball team. But they had no idea that a highly touted freshman outfielder named Dylan Crews would suddenly unlock something inside their daughter.
SAVE THE DATE FOR FAMILY DAY 2023
Saturday, September 23rd, at the Youngsville Sports Complex in Youngsville, La.
We are looking forward to hosting a fun-filled event for you and your families! Come out and enjoy a good time with all Louisiana Machinery Employees. All Louisiana Cat employees and employees of affiliated companies: NAPA, RPG, FPS, REE, ERS, and CCS, are invited to participate!
Click here to view the softball rules and regulations.
Click here to view the roster form.
*Rosters are due by August 23rd.*
The 2023 host hotel will be Homewood Suites, 201 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette, La 70508. You are responsible for booking your own room. Each employee will receive one complimentary night’s stay. You will have to hold the room with your credit card, but you will not be charged as long as you check in at the hotel. If you choose to stay two nights, you will be responsible for the second night’s payment. You will be responsible for any cancellation, or “no-show” fees.
- Click here to book your room.
- Book by phone: at 337-264-6044 and reference La Cat Family Day.
- Book before Friday, August 25th to receive the group rate. Reservations made after this date will be subject to prevailing rates and availability.
- Amenities include a complimentary hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, a fitness room, a basketball court, and a pool. Each room includes a kitchen, microwave, and refrigerator.
- We have reserved a mutual gathering space in the meeting rooms near the lobby. We’ll utilize this space to gather Friday night and Saturday night. More details to come soon, but will include grilling and fun games like trivia night!
*Please book your room under your name (the employee.)
**Lafayette and New Iberia employees are not eligible for hotel stays. However, you will be invited to any night event hosted at the hotel.
By popular demand, we are now offering commemorative t-shirts for purchase! The t-shirts can be purchased online at this link: https://monsterinktees.com/product/adult-lacat-short-sleeve-t-shirt/.
Both youth and adult sizes are available. The shirt is Gildan brand, 50/50 Driblend.
At checkout: Make sure to click the box “Local Pickup”. The shirts will be delivered via branch mail no later than September 12th. In the company name field, please put your branch name.
Deadline to order shirts is August 17th.
