Tourism director appointed
LAFAYETTE — City-Parish Director of Community Development Ben Berthelot is shifting to head of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission.
The LCVC board voted unanimously Friday to select Berthelot as the new executive director for the area’s tourism agency.
“I’m sad to leave behind my position (in community development), but this is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up: The opportunity to sell Lafayette every day,” Berthelot said.
Berthelot will replace LCVC Director Gerald Breaux, who is retiring after 30 years in the position.
The LCVC board met for most of Friday to review two finalists out of more than 20 people who applied for the job.
The other finalist was Renée Areng, executive vice president of sales and marketing with the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
She had also worked for 12 years as convention marketing manager for the LCVC.
Berthelot has led the Community Development Department since February 2010.
He had worked for six years before that as an assistant to City-Parish President Joey Durel.
“I’m honored by the confidence the board has placed in me,” Berthelot said.
Breaux said earlier this week he plans to say on until June to ease the transition for the new director.
“I think they’ve done a great job, and we just need to keep that going,” Berthelot said of the tourism agency under Breaux.
Berthelot said no specifics have been worked out as to when he will start the new job or when his current one will be filled.