SECOND QUARTER 2022

Living in the Gulf South we all are aware of the dangers that surround a Hurricane. As we prepare for the possibility of a hurricane making landfall within our trading area; we wanted to cover a few areas ahead of time in an attempt to prevent a lot of confusion which will more than likely take place if a hurricane approaches.   Please assess your current IT supplies and open a ticket if you require any additional hardware for hurricane preparedness.  

If a decision is made to secure and close your branch you should:  

• Make sure any cellular devices and laptops are fully charged. (Don’t forget to grab your power cables)  
• Make certain all electrical items, including computers, monitors, power cords and strips are off the floor and on top the desk.  
• After powering down individual computers and monitors, cover them with garbage bags or plastic; in the event we have any roof leaks.  
• We recommend taking home your laptop if you have one.  Do not turn on any equipment until the storm has passed and power is stabilized. 

Submitted by Kolby LeBlanc, New Iberia Service Manager

On June 23rd, the service team in New Iberia successfully test ran the first 3600 series engine in the new Dyno Facility. This milestone represents the hard work of our Technicians, Engineering Team, Technical Support Team, Fabrication and multiple vendors that all came together to accomplish our goal. Testing a G3606 has been a long journey but the communitive effort from everyone involved has paid off. We are all excited to move forward as we work to continuously improve our facility and procedures. The next milestone we are looking forward to will be to take delivery of an aircraft style tugger to better install and remove large engines from the test cell. The dyno remains busy as we celebrate the victory but we are all excited for what the future holds for both the New Iberia Service Department and our Dyno Facility. 

Pictured above left to right: Jess Broussard, Technician; Sean Dunn, Parts and Service Sales Representative; Phillip Hooper, Technician; and Robert Theriot, Technician. 

Louisiana Cat is always looking for good people, and you can help! The Employee Referral Program (ERP) is used to provide an incentive to employees who refer talented employees to the Company. The ERP will grant an eligible employee $2,500 and 2 Paid Time Off (PTO) days for the referral of a quality 

Service Technician.

Eligibility and Exclusions:

• Paid Time Off (PTO) days are 8 regular-time hours.
• All full-time employees of Louisiana Cat are eligible to participate in the ERP with the exception of service supervisors and HR personnel.
• The referred employee must be hired in as a Service Technician.
• Former employees, temporary employees and temporary employees who convert to full-time employees are ineligible to be considered as referred applicants.
• The new hire must indicate on their application the name of the employee who referred them.
• The PTO days will be granted and referral bonus paid on the first paycheck following the completion of the referred employee's 6 month anniversary. 
• HR is the administrator of the ERP and has sole authority to cancel, modify and interpret the program.

If  you know someone who is interested in a Service Technician position, 

please contact Devin Branch at 985-536-0411.

Submitted by Mike Messa, Technical Communicator

The Reserve Service Department recently completed a D8T Rebuild for Associated Terminals. Associated utilizes this machine for shore side cargo handling at Mosaic Fertilizer plant. They decided to rebuild this machine to help increase the longevity of their fleet of D8Ts. With the rebuild option, over new purchase it allowed us to set the machine up with a custom corrosive prevention package which include fully customized paint, wash down system, electrical protection, and hydraulic protection. 

Welcome to all of our new employees who have joined Louisiana Cat in the months of April, May and June!

Andrew Turner, Parts Counter Sales – Alexandria

Nick Sonnier, Technician – Alexandria

Donald Davidson – Baton Rouge Rents

Nick Bergeron – Bossier City

Roshado Smith, Technician – Bossier City Rents

Randy Nemeth, Technician – Force Power Systems

Masson Jenkins, Technician – Hammond

Thomas Nash, Parts Warehouse  – Harvey

Hanse Parker, Electric Power Salesman  – Harvey

Ben Guy, Rental Branch Manager – Harvey Rents

Christian Pina, General Utility – Harvey Rents

John Singleton, Parts Warehouse – Lafayette

Ken Teekell, Parts Warehouse – Lafayette

Tricia Chaisson, Rental Coordinator  – Lake Charles Rents

Josh Tillman, Technician – Monroe

Chase Hunt, Parts Counter Sales – Morgan City

Andrew Thibodaux, Technician – Morgan City

Todd Tabor, Parts Manager – Morgan City

Shantel Grow, Parts Warehouse – Morgan City

Lee Bollinger, Marine Parts and Service Sales Representative – Morgan City

Dwayne Gautreaux, Technician – Morgan City

John Landry Jr, Engine Technical Service Rep – New Iberia

Luke West, Intern – New Iberia

Cory Dufrene, Technician – Prairieville

Lauryn Caston, Service Sales Coordinator – Prairieville

David Houston, Rental Sales Manager – Reserve

Elise Hemstad, Product Health Coordinator – Reserve

Rob Dicharry, Parts Expeditor – Reserve

Merritt Parsons, Director of Training & Development – Reserve

Lara Leone, Human Resources Manager –  Reserve

Robbie White, ISR Manager – Reserve

Kim Calcagno, Parts Counter Receptionist – Reserve

Hailey Sellers, Inventory Control Clerk – Reserve

Qilla Sims, Admin Assistant HR – Reserve

Alyssa Thibodeaux, Marketing Coordinator – Reserve

Aidan Abbey, Technician – Reserve

Quintin Brown, Technician – Reserve

Steven Hartley, Technician – Reserve

Patrick Hendry, Technician – Reserve

Wade Wilson, Machinist – Resource Energy Equipment

Jody Stevens, Parts Counter Sales – Resource Energy Equipment

Ronald Leger, Parts Warehouse – Resource Energy Equipment

Heather Feldtman, Shipping/Receiving – Resource Energy Equipment

Joshua Bruce, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Stephen Robledo, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Jackson Cuttie, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Chris Ward, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Joe Odom, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Jason Miller, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Brandon Wallace, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Brent Dunfey, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Shane Babin, Technician – Resource Energy Equipment

Trenton Maxey, Technician Shop – Resource Energy Equipment

Justin Garner, Technician Shop – Resource Energy Equipment

Ray Farley IV, Technician Shop – Resource Energy Equipment

Lance Machado, Technician – Resource Power Group Harvey

Logan Ogg, Technician – Resource Power Group Harvey

Juan Galindo, Technician – Resource Power Group Texas

Erlens Nicolas, General Utility – St. Rose Rents

Kurtis Garner, Delivery Driver – Winnfield

 Congratulations to the following employees on their new positions!

Eric Patureau has accepted the position of General Service Manager for our Engine Division. Eric will have full responsibility for our Engine Service Departments. Eric has had several positions within Product Support over the years concentrated in service with stops in Morgan City and New Iberia. His experience with Product Support and service operations will be an essential part of taking these departments to the highest level. Eric’s current role of Marine Sales Manager will bring a unique perspective to this role ensuring sales and service are working in tandem to deliver a valued product to our customers. Eric will office in New Iberia reporting to the General Product Support Manager, Trey Hebert.  

Jason Clack has accepted the position to General Service Manager for our Machine Division. He will have full responsibility of our Machine Service Departments in this role. Jason began his career with Louisiana Cat in 2006 and has spent most of his career in the Parts Department ranging from Service Expeditor to Parts Manager. Jason brings with him a wealth of knowledge in regards to the operational piece of Product Support. His success as our Product Support Operations Manager over the past two and half years will allow him to bring innovative ideas to our Service Department. Given Jason’s years of experience in the Parts Department will assist in bringing better cohesion to Product Support, resulting in a better Customer Service Experience. Jason will continue to office in Reserve and report to the General Product Manager, Trey Hebert.   

AJ Massey has accepted to take on a new role in the company and become the Technical Services and Product Support Excellence Manager. AJ started his career with Louisiana Cat 10 years ago as a Service Sales Coordinator and with his well versed background as General Service Manager, PSSM, and other key roles within our organization he will have an immediate impact and help lead us down the path of success. His experience and leadership will help elevate us to next level in our Excellence scores.       

Thomas Dedwith has accepted the position of Product Support Sales Manager for our Machine Division. Tom brings 10+ years of Caterpillar experience into his new role. His recent role as our Product Support Excellence Manager has given him better insight into our dealership’s operation, which has better equipped him to lead our Product Support Sales team. Tom will have all machine PSSR’s reporting to him in his new role along with our Undercarriage Specialist and Hydraulic Inspectors. He will continue to office in Reserve and report to the General Product Support Manager, Trey Hebert.        

Lonnie Latiolais will become the Marine Sales Manager with responsibility for Product Support and Prime Sales. Lonnie’s 31 successful years at Louisiana Cat has molded him into a well-rounded asset for our company. Lonnie has held positions in many fields such as Corporate Safety Manager, Product Support Sales Manager (Oil & Gas), Product Support Sales Manager with statewide responsibility, and numerous other roles within Product Support. Lonnie is also well respected by Caterpillar and his peers and will play a vital role in our efforts to double services within the marine market. He will office in New Iberia and report to Troy Matherne, Vice President of Power Systems.    

Robbie White has joined the Louisiana Cat team as our ISR Manager for machine sales and rentals.  In this role, Robbie will be responsible for leading the ISR team and supporting the overall growth strategy for rental and machine sales. He will have full responsibility of the ISR Team. Robbie comes to Louisiana Cat from Clean Harbors where he was the district sales manager over most of the gulf coast.  He also had extensive time with United Rentals and Neff Rentals servicing commercial and industrial customers. Robbie attended LSUE where he played baseball but graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University. In his spare time Robbie enjoys golf, Atlanta Braves baseball and anything LSU.  Robbie’s exceptional past experience’s set us up for great success in growing our rental business, building strong sales and leading our ISR team. Robbie will office in Reserve and report to Achille Fairchild, General Sales Manager. 

Lara Leone has joined the HR Department as HR Manager. Her primary HR responsibilities will be Recruiting and Employee Relations within all LMC locations.  The Employment Coordinators will report directly to her.  Lara’s last role was with Oschner where she served as  Sr. Talent Management Consultant.  Prior to that, she served as HR Director for multi-location companies such as JMH Companies and Dickie Brennan and Company.  She has earned an Associate’s Degree from Delgado and Bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Loyola University of New Orleans. Lara will office in Reserve and report to Devin Branch, HR Director. 

Merritt Parsons has joined Louisiana Cat in the new role of Director of Training and Development.  Merritt will be responsible for developing, improving, and providing soft-skills and vocational training and employee career development programs for all LMC employees.  Merritt’s primary focus will be on areas of training and those employees not already served by the Technician Career Development Programs and the Technical Training provided by the Training Centers in Morgan City and New Iberia.  Merritt earned a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership Development from LSU and a Master’s degree in Human Capital Development from the University of Southern Mississippi.  Merritt comes to Louisiana Cat after 7 years with Associated Terminals with her last role being Director of Human Capital Development.  Her office will be in Reserve and Allie Riggs, Training and Development Coordinator will report to her.

Matt Moses has joined Louisiana Cat as our Regional Sales Manager for Lake Charles, Alexandria, and Lafayette branches. He will be based out of Lafayette and will report directly to Achille Fairchild.  In this role, Matt will have full responsibility of Sales in this territory. Matt comes to Louisiana Cat from Johnson Supply where he was the Territory Sales Manager of Louisiana. Over the last two years he has increased sales revenue by 32%, achieved 119% of quota, and has maintained new customer growth by 18% year over year. Matt graduated from LSU in 2005, and currently resides in Lafayette with his family. 

Check out photos from Prairieville, Hammond, Alexandria and Lake Charles' Family Days! 

Make sure to click "+ Show More" to view the full gallery of photos!

And, SAVE THE DATE for the Company Wide Family Fun Day to be held Saturday, October 15th at 

St. Julien Park in Broussard. More details to follow soon! If you are interested in being on the Family Fun Day committee, please reach out to Megan Lerch, Megan.Lerch@LouisianaCat.com. 

April Service Anniversaries:

Brett Parker...............10 years

Sean Dunn...............10 years

Heidi Bourgeois...............20 years

Lonnie Blanchard...............20 years

May Service Anniversaries:

Shannon Fee...............5 years

Yensy Gonzalez...............5 years

Chantel Cook...............20 years

Kyle Davis...............20 years

Darrick Neale...............25 years

June Service Anniversaries: 

Brandon Nowlin...............5 years 

Vince Meadows...............10 years

Troy Brinson...............15 years

Marcus Landry...............15 years