Alumni Spotlight

How do you get from Thibodaux toWarner Bros. Worldwide Television?Through the Department of Mass Communication!Read what our alumni have accomplished.

“While at Nicholls, I was able to get hands-on experience in all of the Mass Communication specialties, which definitely allowed me to choose my career direction after graduation. Having such a well-rounded education gives Nicholls MACO graduates a significant advantage, equipping them with the tools and confidence they’ll need to move forward in their field.“

Jill Allemand (1994)

Jill Allemand, a native of Terrebonne Parish and Houma, La., is executive director of Promotions and Integrations for Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing. Jill, a former Ms. Nicholls and the Outstanding Mass Communication graduate of 1994, oversees the promotions, integrations and partnerships for the following showsdomestically and internationally: The Class, Close to Home, The Closer, Cold Case, ER, Gilmore Girls, Men in Trees, Nip/Tuck, The OC, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Two and a Half Men, Veronica Mars, The War at Home, and Without a Trace. Domestically she works with all of thenetworks to create innovative and effective promotional partnerships forthese shows. Internationally, she works with field offices in each territory, overseeing the promotions for their shows that they put together with their local broadcasters and advertisers.

“Nicholls educates in a community atmosphere that nurtures and builds self-esteem, but also turns out competitive, action-oriented graduates. In my experience, Nicholls was the bridge between small-town life and many worldwide opportunities that await any graduate.“

Tresha Mabile (1989)

Tresha Mabile, native of Assumption Parish’s tiny town of Pierre Part, as a senior producer at Towers Production in Chicago wrote and produced documentaries for the History Channel, A & E, Discovery Times and CNN. Her two-hour documentary, Blind Man’s Bluff for the History Channel, which explored American and Russian submarine espionage during the Cold War, was filmed on location in Moscow and St. Petersburg. For the last few years, Mabile was in and out of Iraq, filming The Case Against Saddam. She has produced four documentaries on Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years.

“I’m firmly convinced that, were it not for Nicholls, I would never have been able to afford to attend college and thus, ultimately, wouldn’t have been able to secure the college credentials that allowed me to move ahead in my career.“

Ken Wells (1971)

Almost 2 million Americans start the day by turning to The Wall Street Journal. For over 20 years, Ken Wells was a significant part of that venerable institution. He started in the newspaper business locally, working his way through Nicholls as a reporter for the Houma Daily Courier. His next post was at the Miami Herald, where his series on Florida’s mismanagement of its water resources received runner-up Pulitzer Prize recognition in 1982. Immediately after this, The Wall Street Journal hired him first to its San Francisco bureau and later to London. He is past editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal Books Division. A recipient of a Distinguished Writing Award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Wells is also author of the lively and irreverent Travels with Barley: A Journey through Beer Culture in America in addition to the novels Meely LaBauve, Junior’s Leg, Logan’s Storm and Crawfish Mountain. As a senior editor at Condé Nast Portfolio, he helped to launch the slick monthly magazine.

“Having a Nicholls degree has helped me to get a solid foot in the door. The university has produced a number of success stories in broadcasting, and its reputation makes quite an impression with employers. My professors were well prepared for their task of guiding me and arming me with the skills to meet future challenges.”

Glenn T. Boyd (1984)

Local viewers are fully familiar with Glynn T. Boyd, Boutte native, an award-winning senior reporter, talk show host and substitute news anchor for WGNO Television in New Orleans. Boyd won an Emmy for spot news for his coverage at ABC-26 of the discovery of a child snatched from her mother. Other big stories that Boyd has covered include the racketeering trial of former governor Edwin Edwards, the gubernatorial race between Edwards and David Duke and Hurricanes Georges, Juan, Elena, Frederick, Katrina and Rita.

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Please send us updated information about your progress personally and professionally and we’ll share it on this Alumni news page.Alumni can send updated info on where they are and what they are doing to:Nicholls State UniversityDepartment of Mass CommunicationP.O. Box 2031Thibodaux. LA 70310or email Dr. Rick Duet at rick.duet@nicholls.edu

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Kristen Turnage (’07)

kristenturnage@yahoo.comKristen is employed at 50 Caliber Studio’s ad agency in Lafayette, Louisiana as a graphic designer, working in the creative production areas of print, photo, the web.Kristen has this to say about life after graduation, “I love life after graduating. All I have to say is that if people think your (Dr. Duet’s) presentations are pressure…a career in advertising is not for them. Thank you for everything through the years, it was definitely worth every painstaking moment.”

Ashley Millet (’06)

ashley@susta.orgAshley is the Marketing Assistant for the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) which is a non-profit agricultural export trade development association comprised of the Departments of Agriculture of the 15 southern states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1973, SUSTA’s programs and services have assisted exporters of high-value food and agricultural products.

Leigh Ann Ritchie (’06)

lritchie@ochsner.orgLeigh Ann is a Marketing Coordinator in the Marketing Department for Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans.

Candice Denoux (’05)

cdenoux@htv10.tvCandice is currently working at HTV in Houma as a Reporter/Photographer/Producer for Newstalk 10.

Rachelle Hitt Bilbo (’05)

rachelle-hitt@lpso.netEmployed part-time in the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office doing graphic design, layout, and video production. Rachelle and her husband have their own media business that produces commercials, radio spots and print ads.

Ellen LeBouef (’05)

Married to Robbie Ponson of Dulac.

Jason Chapman (’04)

Employed at the Department of Corrections headquarters in Baton Rouge. He is a Human Resource Analyst 1.

Becky Redmond (’04)

bredmond@wlf.louisiana.govEmployed doing design and layout for Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries in Baton Rouge as a Publications Officer 1. Becky also helps with editing and layout of the Louisiana Conservationist magazine.

Jeremy M. Perque (’03)

JMPerque@aol.comEmployed by McMakin Financial, a subsidiary of Sanders, Morris, Harris Group (SMHG) in Houston, TX. Jeremy is studying to become a financial planner and Registered Investment Advisor specializing in Retirement, Estate and Employee Benefit Planning. Jeremy resides in Baton Rouge, LA.

Ashley Snyder (’03)

Received an M.A. degree in May 2005 from the University of New Orleans. She is video editor and graphic designer at FOCUS Worldwide Television Network in Metarie.

Rachel Bollinger Carothers (’02)

Completed law school at Loyola University in 2005 and is currently practicing with Woody Falgoust in Thibodaux.

Lacey Callahan Fangue (’02)

Account Coordinator with ACS Multimedia Advertising in Franklin, TN.

Alissa Ayo-Gonzales (’02)

Alissa is starting-up a greeting card business (Christmas cards, birth announcements, birthday invites, etc.) and has a son, Luke (4) and a daughter Claudia (2).

Deanna Duet Lafont (’02)

Was graduated by the University of Central Arkansas at Conway in December 2005, with a M.S. degree in community and economic development.

Eric J. Naquin (’02)

A senior logistics analyst, for Northrup Grumman Ship Systems in Avondale. He and his wife, the former Sadie Chiasson, have a son, Owen.

Wil Touchet (’02)

wpaul54@yahoo.comWorking at the Insurance Brokerage firm of InsLogic. Represents many carriers to provide coverage for Ford employees and customers. Applying to the graduate program at the University of Tennessee.

Larke Bilello (’01)

larkey80@msn.com.Larke is Communications Coordinator for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)in Baton Rouge. She is designing and presenting PowerPoint presentation’s in schools throughout the U.S. and will represent MADD at the National Youth Assembly in Atlanta.

Jason Gaudet (’01)

goday79@charter.net National Casino Marketing Coordinator for Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans, LA. Jason deals primarily with junkets. He organizes groups who fly in from all over the country for special promotions or getaways. Jason is also in charge of Harrah’s Marketing Intranet.

Traci Donnellan Howerton (’01)

tdhowerton@bellsouth.net Traci is the Public Relations Director for Hess Marketing in New Orleans. She graduated with a master’s degree in History from the University of New Orleans in May 2007. Traci is married to Christian Howerton.

Toby Hubbell (’01)

Account executive with Deltacom telecommunications in Savannah, GA.

Simone Theriot Maloz (’01)

simone.theriot@nicholls.eduExecutive Director of Restore or Retreat located on the Nicholls State University Campus.

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Paul Adams (’00)

paul@npauladams.comMarketing Coordinator of Classical WRR 101.1FM. WRR is the second oldest radio stationin the country and since 1921 has seen 2 world wars, a visit from the king (at least of Rock’n'Roll) and where John Peel of the BBC’s legendary Peel Sessions got his radio start (his first beat was broadcasting on location as Pres. Kennedy was visiting Dallas… what a start!)

April Bourgeois Rome(’00)

tigervoodoo@charter.netWorks for the Daily Comet and the Courier as a copy editor.

Adria Pierce Butcher (’00)

adriapb11@yahoo.comWorking for AMS Production Company, doing broadcast, PR and makeup. Adria is married to Eric Butcher (’98).

Jonathan Carothers (’00)

jcarothers@gidoc.md Currently the practice administrator at Digestive Health Center in Thibodaux. Previously, Jonathan spent five years as marketing director for Cardiovascular Institute of the South.

Jonathan is married to Rachel Bollinger (MACO 2002).

Deborah Cox (’00)

Is writing movie/TV scripts in Hollywood and married to a physician.

Lori Crochet Doré (’00)

Lori@kitheatre.comLori is director of operations at Virginia’s KI Theatre in northern Virginia where local performers present new works.

Kelly L. Kramer (’00)

kelly@houmatourism.comDirector of Marketing for the Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Melanie Melancon (’00)

melanie@houmatourism.comDirector of Communications for the Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Melanie is in charge of public and media relations, including working with movie production companies.

Kristy Rouse Monier (’00)

kmonier@danos.comPublication Coordinator at Danos & Curole Marine Contractors. Kristy is in charge of all internal and external publications. She is returning to school to work on a Master’s in organizational communications.

Katie Seal Aucoin (’00)

katie.aucoin@la.govGraphic designer for the La. Department of Education.

Maria Valderama Garbi (’00)

carolina@mdohispano.com Maria is working as a Communications Director for a Hispanic newspaper called Mundo Hispano. She is planning to return to school to pursue a master’s degree in film production. Maria is married to Marco A. Gargi.

Trish Brunet Baudoin (’99)

Trish and her husband Dominic became parents to there first child, Madeline Jan, September 15, 2005.

Beau Brooks (’99)

Graduate in May 2004 from the Southern University Law Center, clerked for a year for Lafourche District Judge Bruce Simpson, and in August 2005 opened his own law office in Thibodaux.

Nicole Trapani Duplessis (’99)

office@partnerswine.comNicole is working for a small wine importing company called Partners Wine Marketing Group, where she handles the day to day office stuff and designs point of sale material for smaller imports. Nicole also takes care of the office work for a local non profit organization and has been doing some freelance photography and design work. Nicole is married to Gary Duplessis, Jr.

Korry Melton (’99)

korry@ksmadvertising.comKorry Melton started KSM Advertising, L.L.C. in June of 2004. KSM Advertising is a full service advertising agency that offers Television and Radio Production, Design, Media Placement, Marketing and Public Relations. The company is based out of New Orleans. Korry can be reached at 866-929-1662 or through www.ksmadvertising.com

Lori Toups Domingue (’99)

loops@msn.comNews anchor at HTV in Houma.

Lydia Szanyi Boudreaux (’98)

Eric Butcher (’98)

Eric is teaching at John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas. Eric will be coaching varsity football (Offensive Coordinator), and teaching two sections of Journalism I, a section of Yearbook and a Freshman English.Eric is married to Adria Pierce (’00).

Lesli F. Fumar (’98)

leslifumar@gmail.comNorthshore Bureau Coordinator for WWL-TV. A.B.D. for a doctorate in Business Administration through the Grenoble Graduate School of Technology and Management in Grenoble, France.Two girls, Madison (8) and Olivia (5).

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Kahlil Turner (’98)

kahlil_turner@yahoo.comSurplus lines insurance broker, selling commercial property and casualty insurance to independent LA & MS agents. Married to another Nicholls graduate, Leonore Rebstock Turner.

Susan Elstner (Nini) (’97)

susan@houma.comExecutive Editor of HOUMA.COM. Former Marketing Coordinator for the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

Trudy Hebert (’97)

thebert@lumcon.eduIs working at Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium LUMCON in Cocodrie, LA, which serves as a facility for all Louisiana schools with interests in marine research and education. Trudy’s job is Public Information Specialist and Science Writer for the Center.Her duties include creating, designing and publishing an Annual Report; a quarterly newsletter and a monthly calendar as well as keeping up to date information on a Website. Trudy’s work sometimes involves traveling to document the activities in photography and by writing articles for internal and external news. She works with IT Specialists, Scientists and Professors working with cutting edge technology in the field of marine biology, for the protection of our natural resources.

Mylo Percle (’97)

mylo@story-ville.comMylo is the Online and Visual Effects Editor at Storyville Post in New Orleans, serving such clients as the New Orleans Saints, Zatarain’s, Red Lobster, Louisiana Office of Tourism, HBO, and many other regional and national clients. Visit http://www.story-ville.com to view samples of his work.Mylo is married to Angelle Adams (’96) and is the proud father of Anna, 18 months.

Sara Marcotte Price (’97)

Sarah is married to Dale Price.

Nathan Stack (’97)

Working as a copy editor at the News & Record in Greensboro, N.C.

Angelle Adams Percle (’96)

Angelle is currently working from home as the Director of Marketing for SWeeDee, Solid Waste Disposal Inc., handling the company’s advertising campaigns, website, and special event planning .Angelle is married to Mylo Percle (’97) and is the proud stay-at-home mother of Anna, 18 months.

Natalie Babin (’96)

natalie@lomcsa.comNatalie is now Executive Director for Louisiana Oil Marketers and Convenience Store Association in Baton Rouge, LA.

Matt Gresham (’96)

Public information officer for the Port of New Orleans.

Richelle Hickman (’96)

Richelle is a copy editor for the Louisville Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky.

Michael Long (’96)

Michael is a senior producer with the promotions department of Fox 59 WXIN and WTTV of Tribune Television Indiana in Indianapolis.

Kelly Lynn Lusco (’96)

Kelly joined the staff of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on July 26 as assistant director of student media. Her mailing address is 175 Cone University Center, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC.

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William R. “Bill” Wells (’96)

Director of recruitment for ITT Technical Institute in Geismar, La.

Ronnie P. Dugas (’95)

ronnieandregina@yahoo.comRonnie is currently employed as a Motor Vehicle Compliance Analyst 4 for the OMV Mobile Customer Service Center.

Suzanne Dubis Bier (’95)

Angela (Angie) Pitre Simmons (’95)

angela.simmons@nicholls.eduAngie is currently Disability Services Director and S.E.A.L.S Coordinator at Nicholls State University.

Jill Allemand (’94)

allejay@gmail.comJill is Promotions and Integrations, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing. Jill oversees the promotions, integrations and partnerships for these shows domestically and internationally. Domestically she works with all of the networks to create innovative and effective promotional partnerships for these shows. Internationally, she works with the field offices in each territory, overseeing the promotions for the shows that they put together with their local broadcasters and advertisers.

Charlie Cavell (’94)

ccavell@wkhs.comCharlie is the public relations manager for Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport. WK is Louisiana’s largest not-for-profit health system with three hospitals in Shreveport and one in Bossier City.He still continues to do quite a bit of sports broadcasting having called everything from football to volleyball for numerous college and pro teams and has been the play-by-play announcer for C.E. Byrd High School football for nearly 10 years.I’m married to Jennifer LeBlanc, who attended Nicholls, and we have two beautiful children, Katelyn (7), and Jacob (3).

Connie Sirois (’94)

connie.sirois@nicholls.eduConnie is an Instructor in the Department of Languages and Literature and Director of the Writing Across the Curriculum Center at Nicholls State University. She earned a masters degree from University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Chantal “Tel” Francois Bailliet (’93)

tel@tulane.eduTel is Director of Student Media and Publications at Tulane University. She is currently working on a master’s degree at Loyola University in mass communication research with an emphasis on first amendment and censorship issues.Tel is married to Ian Whittle and they have a son Aidan born in November 2000.

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Tanya Charpentier Bolton (’92)

tanya.bolton@us.armyTanya is currently Marketing and Advertising Coordinator for the Army Community Service Center in Schweinfurt, Germany where her husband, Mark Bolton, is stationed as an officer in the U. S. Army. Almost 7 years as the Assistant Director of the Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Stephanie Stroud Naylor (’92)

sstroud@timespicayune.comStephanie is news editor in the Business and Features sections at The Times-Picayune and copy editor for the paper’s weekly edition of InsideOut. She wrote a feature story about a Katrina evacuee whom she interviewed in a Nicholls shelter. Thus, she contributed to the coverage which won the newspaper one of its two 2006 Pulitzer Prizes.

Delton Perrodin (’89)

deltonp@charter.net After 22+ years of work in local media, Delton made the decision to give his home business a go, full-time - becoming a full-service eBay Trading Assistant and doing retail sales via the Web sites Amazon.com, half.com and his own http://www.dudestuff.com. You can get more details on Delton’s eBay work at http://www.louisianaauctions.com.

Wendy Waguespack Knight (’89)

wendy.knight@tenethealth.comWendy works for Tenet Healthcare where she is regional manager of contracting and network development for a 3-state area. She received her master’s degree from Tulane University in the health field. Wendy is married to Vinson Knight.

Tom Guarisco (’88)

tguarisco@gmail.com Tom is the editor of 225 magazine in Baton Rouge, a monthly news, culture and lifestyle publication he helped launch in 2005. It is the sister publication of Baton Rouge Business Report and DailyReport, a popular e-newsletter. Tom also oversees 225’s companion web site, 225batonrouge.com, and a weekly entertainment e-newsletter, 225Select.

He is married to the former Martha Stickle of Baton Rouge, and together they have two children: Parker Rose and Timothy Bennett. Tom’s also the proud father of a college-age daughter, Kathleen Renee’.

Frank Nezzio (’88)

FNezzio@glazers.comFrank is the Director of Training for Glazer’s of Louisiana. Glazer’s is a distributor and marketer of fine wines, spirits and malt beverages. In his role, Frank is responsible for the education and development of the Louisiana sales force.Frank resides in Thibodaux with his wife, Angie and their daughter Nicole.

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Stewart Brouillette (’86)

stewart.brouillette@us.army.milStewart is working at Fort Hood, TX as a training coordinator/govt liaison & courseware developer for Engineering Solutions and Products, Inc., a small defense contractor headquartered in New Jersey. His focus is tactical networks.

Laureen Tedesco (’86)

laureentedesco@hotmail.comLaureen joined East Carolina University as an assistant professor of English in August. She will be responsible for teaching and developing courses in children’s literature and for reviving a defunct children’s literature conference. Tedesco received a Ph.D. in English from Texas A & M University in August 1999.

Dr. Rebecca Tucker-Pennington (’86)

Rebecca has been awarded the professional designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive by CFRE International and has joined more than 4,400 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation. She is Nicholls assistant vice president for Institutional Advancement and director of development.

Tom Becnel (’84)

Feature writer and outdoors columnist for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.

David Bernard (’84)

Copy editor for the Daily Comet. Won first place for a single editorial in the Louisiana Press Association contest for newspapers having between 10,000 and 25,000 circulation. His editorial decried references to hurricane evacuees as “those people.”

Gena Vitale D’Agostino (’84)

Owns a restuarant with husband Marcello and has a daughter, Lidia, a freshman in education at Nicholls.

Marilyn “Lyn” LeBlanc-Judy (’84)

cafeevangeline@aol.comCommercial radio and television voice-over artist for Medina Communications in Denver, Colorado.

Tony Trowbridge (’84)

Copyeditor at the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, CO.

Rebecca Ward (’84)

rward@voanews.comAn international broadcaster for the Voice of America in Washington D.C.

Mark D. Plaisance (’83)

Plais77@aol.comMark, is the City Judge in Baker, Louisiana, and has been practicing law for more than 12 years. In his private practice he concentrates on legal research and legal writing, with an emphasis on appeals.While at Nicholls, Mark worked on the Nicholls Worth, for the Daily Comet and was a stringer for The Advocate.

Lisa Roach (’82)

l.roach@mindspring.comDeveloped her own company called Defining Image, which creates custom training programs, communication pieces, videotapes, writes training manuals, and produces commercials. They have won many national awards and worked for clients such as UPS, Home Depot, Orkin Pest Control, Ciba Vision, BellSouth, Sprint, MCI and Popeye’s Fried Chicken.

Gerald Toca, Jr. (’81)

Helped to start and helps to manage Natural Fiber Products of Metarie and Category 5 Hurricane Fence Co. of Hammond.

Loretta Larsen Topey (’81)

First non-lawyer and first woman in Louisiana to serve as executive director for the Louisiana Bar Association(LBA). Oversees the administrative planning and financial outlook of the LBA.

John Gravois (’80)

Assistant managing editor and government editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Lawrence Albarado, Jr. (’73)

Special projects editor for the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

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