Discover Lafayette

By: Jan Swift
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  • Summary

  • The Gateway to South Louisiana
    Discover Lafayette©
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Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
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Episodes
  • Jude David – Stately Doors & Windows

    Jude David – Stately Doors & Windows
    Feb 21 2025
    In this episode of Discover Lafayette, we welcome Jude David, Executive Chairman of Stately Doors & Windows, to discuss the company’s role in delivering ultra-luxury doors and windows for high-end residential and commercial projects. His company does approximately $100 million dollars in sales each year to homes built for business owners, celebrities, and others who can afford to build no matter what the market experiences. Clients have included Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfeld, Alec Baldwin, Tony Romo, Diddy, and Calvin Klein. A Leader in Bespoke Doors and Windows With nine locations across the U.S., Stately Doors & Windows has established itself as a premier provider of custom, high-quality designs using exotic hardwoods, Swiss steel, and state-of-the-art glass. The company collaborates with top-tier designers and architects, offering one-of-a-kind solutions tailored to their clients’ visionary needs. Stately Doors & Windows is headquartered at 315 S. College Drive in Lafayette, less than a mile from Jude David's home. Pushing the Boundaries of Design and Automation Stately specializes in cutting-edge bespoke innovations, including: Disappearing doors and windows that retract seamlessly into the floor or basement, allowing for uninterrupted indoor-outdoor living. Fully automated doors and windows, eliminating the need for manual operation. Custom shapes and sizes, ensuring that no design challenge is too complex, even offering bespoke door options for the owners' pets. Long-Term Planning and Project Management Jude highlights how Stately works with architects years in advance, often three to four years before construction begins. Unlike many competitors that simply sell products, Stately provides comprehensive project management, from design conception to on-site installation, ensuring a seamless experience. Expanding into Commercial Luxury Spaces Although bespoke doors and windows are rare in commercial projects, Stately has found a niche in high-end hotels, including: La Fonda Resort in New Mexico L’Auberge Bishops Lodge Resort For the people able to pay for these high-end resort prices, it is worth every penny. Very few lodging options offer the luxurious spaces designed by Stately Door & Windows. Additionally, the company operates a high-velocity door manufacturing facility in Las Vegas, producing 2,200 doors per week, and a millwork shop in West Monroe, specializing in moldings, corbels, and luxury finishes for hotel lobbies and upscale spaces. Resilience in Market Fluctuations Despite high interest rates, Stately continues to thrive. Their affluent clientele remain committed to their projects regardless of economic conditions, making their business model highly resilient in both up and down markets. The Artisans Behind the Craft Stately Doors & Windows is built upon skilled artisans who treat their work as an art form rather than just a manufacturing process. Jude acknowledges the difficulty in finding such talent and emphasizes the importance of growing artisans from a young age. The company actively recruits from high schools and trade shows, offering apprenticeship opportunities that lead to lifelong careers in millwork and craftsmanship. Alternative Career Paths and Workforce Development Jude believes that success is not limited to a college degree. He encourages individuals to focus on creating value for their employers, stating that career growth and financial success come from hard work and innovation rather than just formal education. Entrepreneurial Spirit and Leadership Jude shares his entrepreneurial journey, reflecting on his natural inclination toward leadership and growth. He thrives on taking calculated risks, expanding the business through strategic acquisitions, and constantly seeking new challenges. While he acknowledges the importance of teamwork, he admits to being most effective when in charge,
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    43 mins
  • Billi Lacombe – Executive Director of Faith House

    Billi Lacombe – Executive Director of Faith House
    Feb 15 2025
    Billi Lacombe, Executive Director of Faith House since 2002, joins Discover Lafayette to talk about her life mission to help survivors of domestic violence become safe. Leaving an abusive situation is never easy due to various barriers such as financial insecurity, lack of support systems, fear of losing children, and concerns over personal safety. Faith House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Lafayette, serving seven parishes in Acadiana, which provides free services to women and children who need help in getting out of a domestic violence situation. Its main source of funding (75%) is through federal grants ( Office on Violence Against Women, the Department of Health and HUD), .and the organization relies upon volunteer services to keep its mission going. Faith House's mission is to provide safety, shelter, empowerment and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence. It offers confidential and safe resources to those most in need. As a young women, Billi studied to be a paralegal and was contacted in 1998 by a former classmate who asked her to work at Faith House. She had always had an interest in women's rights after seeing women in her life experiencing extreme hardships and the opportunity seemed appropriate for her. Billi went to work at Faith House as a legal advocate helping survivors, getting protective orders for them, and she says, “That was it for me. I saw nothing else that I would want to do with my life other than continue to help survivors of domestic violence become safe. That became my life's mission.” And for the record, during our interview, we saw the calming energy Billi brings to the table that is a gift from God. Faith House addresses the challenges women face wherever they are, taking care of their family and trying to earn a livable income for themselves and their family. Many people don't see the barriers that still exist for women. Billi says, "It is about justice for me. I just want to see justice, equality, and equity happening more for women so that they can exist in this world. Not having to stay with an abusive partner and to be able to live and support your children. You should not have to be abused just to be able to pay your bills. I mean that that's what these survivors are facing." Many domestic violence victims and their families need emergency shelter. Faith House offers a safe refuge for those in the highest levels of danger who have experienced severe cases of domestic violence with a high potential for lethality. Billi says, "It is very typical for a family to walk in, a mom with a couple of kids, with absolutely nothing. Sometimes they don't have shoes on their feet, they're in their nightclothes and haven't eaten for 2 or 3 days, and are starving when they walk in the door. The shelter offers anything you could imagine that you would need if you left your home with nothing. Toothpaste. Shampoo. A sandwich, some water. Clothing. Everything that you could imagine." Glenn Armentor has been generous in supporting Faith House through underwriting television ads which highlight Faith House and its mission to help domestic violence victims. Since this advertising campaign started six years ago, Faith House has had thousands of people call their hotline and say they heard the commercial and reached out for help. They would not have otherwise known there was a place to go for assistance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdgKE3-D6dU Many survivors worry about their children when considering leaving. Losing custody due to financial instability is a significant concern. Abusers often use threats of taking children as a means of control. The fear of homelessness and the inability to provide a stable environment keeps many in dangerous situations. Faith House offers emergency shelter to those in the highest danger levels, providing a safe space where families can focus on rebuilding their lives. Physical safety is another major issue.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Ryan Pécot – Adopted Dog Brewing

    Ryan Pécot – Adopted Dog Brewing
    Feb 8 2025
    Ryan Pécot, proprietor of Adopted Dog Brewing, is a successful commercial realtor with Sterling Properties as well as a force in changing the food and entertainment landscape in Lafayette. Adopted Dog Brewing offers a family friendly place to bring your kids and your dogs. Located at 329 Dulles Drive, it celebrated its second anniversary on February 1, 2025. A public celebration will be held on February 22 , 2025, where The Good Dudes will be playing. "They're at the brew house right now brewing a beer with my brew master called the Good Brew 2, a Mexican cerveza with lime that we will release on our birthday party weekend," Ryan says. Ironically, Ryan didn't drink beer much in his college days. And he recounted that when he and his younger brother would travel to sporting events, his brother would always sample local craft beers, while Ryan would choose generic alcoholic beverages. "Ultimately I got jealous of him. And being jealous of your younger brother is not that cool. I realized he was getting more out of our trips than I was because he was getting a local flair whereas I was just getting the regular thing. I made a New Year's resolution to learn how to drink beer. And on January 1st, I drank a beer and it was awful. And I drank another one. I couldn't figure it out. I just didn't like it. And then I got to a spot where I did. On one of those trips, I said if I ever learn how to drink beer and if I ever open a brewery, this is some of the things I'd like to do. Our flagship beer, which is aptly named 337, is a Blueberry Blonde inspired by a place called Boston BeerWorks across from Fenway Park. We walked in there and saw a bunch of ladies drinking beer, which was not normal. They all had blueberries in their beer. How are all these chicks drinking beer? Like, what is going on? And then I realized, that if I ever open a brewery, I'm going to offer a blueberry lager, because clearly this works." A few years back, Ryan wasn't planning to open a brewery, but was inspired to open Adopted Dog by synchronistic events. One day, he and a friend were driving around the industrial area near Dulles Drive looking for a site to store their UL tailgating trailer and assorted gear, while waiting to have a B. F. Goodrich tire changed on Ryan's truck. They happened to pass by 329 Dulles, the site of the former Cafe 329 which was owned and developed by Peter Martin. "We went through that cul de sac by SLCC. I didn't even know that road existed. We came across the real estate, and I asked my buddy James to pull in, and I peered through the windows and I'm like, it's awesome. I'm opening a brewery. James said 'What?' I said I'm opening a brewery here. I'm telling you, as a real estate guy, when you see it, you know it. If I was going to open a brewery in Lafayette, this is the physical spot. You're five minutes to everything, but you're kind of in a donut hole of nothing else offering all that land. You sit there and you feel like you're not in Lafayette for an hour." "I look for the little things. As soon as I saw the building, I realized that the patio on the back deck faced the southeast. That means you're going to get shaded the quickest in our hot, long summers. If we were going to ever eventually build a deck and a stage that would be positioned correctly, the wind cut through the way the heat felt. The building with the high ceilings has pros and cons, but generally, it worked and checked all the boxes." The site is also located in mid-city Lafayette, which was important to Ryan in his quest to develop establishments in the heart of our city, just as he has enjoyed when traveling across the country and getting to know the heart of local communities. While the land and building were perfect, opening a brewing company in Lafayette was a challenge. Ryan says, "Without my background as a commercial broker, I'm not sure I would have been successful in opening Adopted Dog Brewing.
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    52 mins

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