2011 business profile

business / industryProfile 2011

CelebratingOur Community

a special section of The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 10, 2011

inside

DiversificationCameron Process Systems hasconsolidated two operationsinto an unused building in NewIberia, where 60workers provideservicing andsupplies forthe oil andgas industry.

page 7

a look at some of the work that goes on in the teche area

Pleasing blendKim’s Food Store offersmore than soft drinks,groceries, snacks andmore, such asVietnamese-styledishes and Cajuntreats such asboudin balls andchicken wings.

page 4

Service callsWhen he isn’tcutting meat,his mainoccupation,a localentrepreneurtakes carwashing andcar detailing toyou.

Family business turnscucumbers to pickles

ST.MARTINVILLE — If you’ve everspread relish on your Fourth of Julyhot dog or sampled a hamburgerfrom a nearby drive-through fast

food restaurant, there is a good chance youhave tasted a pickled product of the Bulliardbrothers, owners of Cajun Chef Products.

The company evolved from theirgrandfather Edmond Bulliard’s origi-nal processing company Evangelinebuilt in St. Martinville the early 1900s.

Cajun Chef was started in 1960 bytheir father Danny Bulliard and nowemploys 120 staffers, producing anddistributing products ranging fromhot sauce to pickled okra throughoutthe Southeast. The pickles alone,Jimmy Bulliard, the company’s presi-dent and general manager said,come in around 30 different types offlavors, cuts and consistencies.

Cajun Chef distributes its pickles tomajor fast food chains, which the com-pany would not name specifically, to10 states and other surroundingregions. That creates a big demand forpickles’ main ingredient, cucumbers.

Cucumber harvesting season runsfrom May to July, he said, and onsome days the St. Martinville compa-ny will take in nearly three quartersof a million pounds of fresh cucum-bers. The majority of cucumber cropsCajun Chef uses come from southernAlabama, he said.

The cucumbers are graded and thenput into curing vats or cisterns asthey marinate in brine, vinegar and“spices” for a minimum of eight

weeks, Bulliard said.The massive white cisterns, 500 in

total, lay in rows begin the productionplant and can hold up to 500,000pounds of cucumbers.

“Once they are cured they comeinto the plant to be processed,” hesaid. “Then they can be processedinto dill, sweet or sour.”

Bulliard said sliced hamburgerpickles are the most popular productin the pickle category, which are alsobought in bulk from area schools toserve in cafeteria lunches.

Danny Bulliard, the company’s pro-duction manager, said May throughOctober are the company’s busiestmonths for processing.

As cucumber season slows down“peppers and okra take up the slackin between,” he said.

Jimmy Bulliard said the St.Martinville company has workedhard through the decades to makeitself into a household name that canstand up against other well-knownstore brands that distribute similarproducts.

“Its not something that happened justbecause we opened the door,” he said.“We established a very quality prod-uct and the label has been accepted.”

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANJimmy Bulliard, CajunChef Products presidentand general manager,holds a jar of his compa-ny’s pickle relish. TheBulliard family hasowned the businesssince 1960, whenit was openedby his father,Danny Bull-iard.

PPiicckkllee pprroodduuccttssPPiicckkllee pprroodduuccttsswwiitthh aa ttoouucchh wwiitthh aa ttoouucchh ooffooff CCaajjuunn CChheeffCCaajjuunn CChheeff

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANPickles by the dozens roll along a conveyor belt recently at Cajun Chef Products, wherehot sauce and pickled okra also are made at the plant in St. Martinville.

business / industryProfile 2011 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 2 / Thursday, February 10, 2011 / The Daily Iberian

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Cajun Chef ProductsPickle products go out to fastfood chains throughout the regionfrom this area plant. . . . . .page 1

Judice Building SuppliesLoreauville residents have grownto count on getting hardwareand machinery supplies from thislocal company. . . . . . . . . .page 2

Swiftships ShipbuildingIraq Navy patrol boats are beingbuilt along the Bayou Teche by alocal company. . . . . . . . . .page 3

Kim’s Food StoreVietnamese and Cajun cookingare featured at a conveniencestore on Trotter Street in NewIberia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 4

Jeanerette Electric Co.Jeanerette’s “shopping center”happens to be a store that wasfounded in 1924 by Camille Kernand Winnie Escagne. . . . .page 5

Arc of IberiaAn agency that started with 18developmentally disabled clientshas mushroomed into a businesswith 300 workers here. . . .page 6

Cameron ProcessCameron Process Systems con-solidated operations into onebuilding and branched outbeyond just the oilfield. . . .page 7

Travel washJustin Franklin will travel almostanywhere to keep motto ofkeeping cars clean. . . . . . .page 8

Third generationCasey Sorrel is carrying on afamily tradition after taking overthe company his grandfatherstared in 1944. . . . . . . . .page 10

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . .Will Chapman

Managing Editor . . . . . . . .Jeff Zeringue

Advertising Manager . . . . . . .Alan Rini

Production Manager . . . .Jerry Sexton

Business Manager . . . .Amanda Seneca

Circulation Manager . . . . .“J.P.” Poirier

Profile 2011: Celebrating Our Community

is a supplemental publication of

, P.O. Box 9290,

New Iberia, LA 70562.

Judice offers hometown hardwareBY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

LOREAUVILLE — Judice BuildingSupplies provides residents ofLoreauville and surrounding areas

with a wide range of hardware andmachinery supplies and has been doing sowith hometown pride for 16 years.

The company is the only hardware storewithin Loreauville’s village limits and hasexpanded from general hardware suppliessuch as electrical appliances, paint andlumber to utility tractors and machineryimplements.

Perry Judice and his wife, Bridget, whoare both Loreauville natives, manage thecompany, which got its start as a differenttype of business, he said.

“At first were going to build movablehomes and some of the contractors askedif we could put lumber in stock on thehome site so they could buy locally,” hesaid. “And then from there it just went tobuying a building a opening up a hard-ware and lumber store.”

In 2006 the store began selling utilitytrailers and adding tractor implementssuch as box blades and grass cutting

blades to its inventory, Judice said.“That’s done well for us,” he said.Bridget Judice said the store, which is

located on 700 N. Main St. has not sufferedfrom the opening of larger corporate hard-ware and supply stores in surroundingareas and has a steady flow of local regu-lars.

That why the Judices’ chose Loreauvilleto open shop. They even have includedtheir children and other family membersin the operation, she said.

“We are both from here, went to schoolhere, graduated here and just wanted toservice the people we are familiar with,”she said.

Perry Judice said some of the business’biggest customers are shipyard companiesin the area.

When asked why he chose keep the busi-ness in Loreauville he echoed his wife’ssentiment about having a connection tohome.

“We like our hometown, I’ve been hereall my life. This is just where we are at,” hesaid.

“We felt there was a need for it in thisarea and evidently there was because we’vebeen successful so far.”

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANP.J. Judice, 24, works inside the Judice Buil-ding Supplies store in Loreauville.

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANMary Judice takes a call behind the counter of Judice Building Supplies in Loreauville, which has been in business 16 years.

BY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

An Iraqi Navy patrolboat is docked inthe Bayou Teche.

The vessel is one ofeight 35-meter, or 115-footlong, patrol boats recentlyconstructed at theSwiftships Shipbuildingfacility in New Iberia aspart of a co-venturelaunched with the U.S.Navy to help replenish theIraqi Naval fleet, whichwas decimated followingthe first Persian Gulf Warin the 1990s.

Jimmy Owens, yardmanager for the compa-ny’s New Iberia facility,said a third of the vesselsare being constructed inNew Iberia, with the othertwo-thirds being built inMorgan City.

“We have one in thewater right now, and aninth vessel in the build-ing being built,” Owenssaid. “We should be start-ing another contract foran additional six boatssoon. It’s in the works nowand we should have confir-mation by the end of themonth.”

Swiftships PresidentCalvin Leleux, who isbased at the company’sheadquarters in MorganCity, said the company iscurrently working outanother contract for anadditional 250 vessels forthe project.

As a result, he said anew facility will soon bebuilt at the Port of WestSt. Mary, with construc-

tion set tostart inabout 90days.

In addi-tion tobuildingpatrol boats,Leleux saidthe compa-ny, in coop-eration withthe U.S.Navy, is inthe processof trainingfive classesof Iraqisailors toman theships upontheir com-pletion.

“We havethe thirdclass of 47 trainees in herenow,” Leleux said. “Andthe last of the five classeswill finish up at the end ofthe year.”

Chris Meyers, one of theclass instructors from theU.S. Naval Education andTraining SecurityAssistance Field Activitydivision, said the programsimulates the ins and outsof operating the patrolboats.

“The Iraqi sailorsreceive the same type oftraining that a U.S. Navysailor would receive,including the nuts andbolts of how to maintainand operate a 35-meterboat,” Meyers said.

“When they arrived,they had never seen orbeen on the boat. By thetime they leave, the aim is

for them to go back toIraq, take over the boatand go into full opera-tions.”

Another instructor inthe program, Capt. Ed“Junior” Turner, said thetraining is tied into the

U.S. transition of militarypower over to the Iraqimilitary, and that thepatrol boats are designedspecifically for patrollingIraqi waterways, with a

focus on certain securityaspects such as securingoil platforms.

“It’s the ideal size to sup-

port the river security andbig enough to go out andprovide protection fortheir oil platforms and ter-minals in the PersianGulf,” Turner said.

“Our partnership withthe Iraqi Navy is critical.The desired effect of thetraining is to support thebuilding of Iraq’s mar-itime capability, its capac-ity as a U.S. partner tohelp support theMaritime Strategy and tofoster partnerships andrelationships well intothe 21st century. They area vital part of theirnational security. We’retraining them to protecttheir economy, which isdependent on their water-ways.”

business / industry Profile 2011 / Celebrating Our Community The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 10, 2011 / page 3

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Local builders’ ships going to IraqNavy patrolboats beingcrafted bySwiftships

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANYard manager Jimmy Owens stands across the water from a Navy patrol boat being built on the Bayou Teche by Swiftships Shipbuilding.

‘It’s the ideal size to support the riversecurity and big enough to go out and

provide protection for their oil platforms and terminals

in the Persian Gulf.’

Capt. Ed ‘Junior’ Turner

U.S. Naval Education and Training Security Assistance instructor

■

‘We should bestarting anothercontract for anadditional sixboats soon.’

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yard manager

■


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JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANMai Nguyen works the counter of Kim’s Food Store on TrotterStreet, a convenience store that also sells fresh-cooked food. Sheand her husband, Thinh, left Vietnam after the civil war endedthere almost four decades ago.

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANSnacks, soft drinks and other grocery items fill the shelves at Kim’s Food Store.

Kim’s offers blendof Vietnamese,Cajun dishes

Convenience store has more than snacks, soft drinksBY JUSTIN HALL

THE DAILY IBERIAN

When one firstwalks into theKim’s Food

Store on Trotter Street,they are overwhelmed bythe unique smells blend-ing from traditionalVietnamese and Cajundishes. What makes thisexperience unique is thatthey come from a conven-ience store.

Located at the corner of

Trotter and Victorystreets north of theBayou Teche, Kim’s FoodStore is owned by MaiNguyen and her hus-band, Thinh, and hasbeen in existence forthree years.

The Nguyens live inAbbeville and previouslyoperated a store onHopkins Street in NewIberia before moving tothe northern part of thecity to enjoy a differentatmosphere, they said.

Like many conven-ience stores, Kim’s FoodStore offers light snackfoods, soft drinks andgroceries.

However, it is the hotfood that sets Kim’s FoodStore apart.

“We wanted to be ableto sell hot food andseafood here,” MaiNguyen said.

That food consists ofVietnamese-style dishessuch as egg rolls andshrimp fried rice, along

with Cajun treats likeboudin balls, pork chopsand chicken wings.

The Vietnamese foodcomes from the Nguyen’sVietnamese cultural her-itage.

The couple immigratedto the United States in1976 from Vung Tau, acity located along thecoast in then-SouthVietnam.

Mai Nguyen said thatshe left her homelandfollowing the end of the

Vietnam War, in whichthe South Vietnam gov-ernment fell to theNorth.

Transitioning to theUnited States was hard,Mai Nguyen said, but ithas been made easier bythe great people living onTrotter Street.

“It is friendlier uphere,” Nguyen said. “Weget customers in herepretty regularly.”

Mai and Tranh Nguyenare joined at the store by

their children, Stacy andTruong, who help operatethe business with theirparents.

With a lot of people laid off because of theeconomy, Mai Nguyensaid that there have not been as many cus-tomers as in the past,but she hopes it will pick up in the nearfuture.

“Right now its veryslow,” Mai Nguyenlamented.

BY JUSTIN HALL

THE DAILY IBERIAN

JEANERETTE — Inan age of increasedcompetition and the

emergence of large elec-tronics superstores, theJeanerette Electric Co.has maintained its sta-tus as a bedrock of thecommunity, providingstability even in tougheconomic times.

“I know almost every-body in town and I’msure everyone knowsme,” owner KennethKern said. “This isJeanerette’s shoppingcenter.”

Kenneth Kern, a mem-ber of the Jeaneretteboard of aldermen, isthe third-generationowner of the store thatwas founded by hisgrandfather, CamilleKern, and his businesspartner Winnie Escagne,in 1924.

The two men were orig-inally in business to man-ufacture automotive bat-teries for the TecheTransfer Co., a bus linethat ran from NewOrleans to Lake Charles.

As electricity becamemore widespread acrossthe Teche Area, the busi-ness transitioned intoelectrical services, pro-viding not only thewiring for homes but alsothe appliances to be usedwith them.

Over the years, thecompany got passeddown from KennethKern’s grandfather tofather to finally himselfin 1977, when he pur-

chased the controllinginterest from the Escagnefamily following WinnieEscagne’s death.

The company laterbecame a Radio Shackdealer to bring more cus-tomers into the store

with a national affilia-tion, Kenneth Kern said.

“I am an only child andmy father was an only

child too,” Kenneth Kernsaid with a laugh.

Today, Kern not onlymanages the JeaneretteElectric Co. but also theKern’s Furniture Co,which he founded nextdoor to his father’s storein 1962.

The two storefronts aremerged, allowing cus-tomers to travel betweensofas, couches and kitchentables on one side and tele-visions, computer equip-ment and telephones onthe other.

Kenneth Kern saidthat even the ongoingdownturn in the econo-my, he hasn’t seen adecrease in the loyaltyof the customers fromJeanerette.

“There is a lot of loyal-ty definitely,” KennethKern said. “I see morepeople here on city busi-

ness as well because I amin the center of town.”

Though the companyhas survived for 86 yearsin his family’s name,Kenneth Kern said that heis unsure of his sons areinterested in taking it overfrom him upon his pass-ing.

Kenneth Kern and hiswife, Betty, have fourgrown children, Kent,Kirk, Kevin and Keith.The elder Kern said noneof them is currentlyinvolved in running thestore.

“I would like to see it goon, but I am not sure,”Kenneth Kern said.


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JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANKenneth Kern and his wife, Betty, own the electrical store in Jeanerette, one that has been in the family 86 years.

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANRows and rows of electrical and tools can be seen at the Jeanerette Electric Co.

Kern familyowns shopin Jeanerette

Kenneth Kern isthe

third-generationowner of the storethat was foundedby his grandfather,Camille Kern, anda partner WinnieEscagne in 1924.

■

‘I see more peoplehere on city

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Jeanerette Electric Co.

owner

■


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THE DAILY IBERIAN FILESThe Arc of Iberia’s clients, two who are shown, above, number more than 300 in New Iberia. The nonprofit business started with 18 clients in 1975.

Arc of Iberia keeps growingBY HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON

THE DAILY IBERIAN

The Arc of Iberia not onlyhas worked to providemeaningful employment

opportunities for the clients itserves, topping 300 in New Iberiaalone, but it also has become asuccessful business plan benefit-ing a nonprofit plagued by statebudget cuts year after year.

Executive Director KennyPatton said it all started in 1975when the agency had 18 clients.

“We started with day programsand a little bit of shelter assemblywork,” Patton said.

“Over the years we started get-ting heavily involved with sup-ported employment for ourclients.”

Many of Arc’s developmentallydisabled clients can be foundworking hard throughout thecommunity, at area restaurants,cleaning the city’s parks andstaffing the agency’s resale cloth-

ing stores andgift shop.

The agency’sbread and butteris its resaleeffort, Pattonsaid, whichstarted in the1990s with onestore in NewIberia andwhich nowboasts 12 storeswith a 13th storeopening inEunice in 60 days.

“The stores bring in revenueand are a way for our clients toearn money,” Patton said. “Butmost importantly, it increasescommunity awareness of what weare. There really is a need for thistype of service in the communi-ties where we are.”

Diversification is integral toArc’s operations, Patton said.

The agency also has establisheda small business selling rags to

oilfield compa-nies and 18-wheelers full ofclothes over-seas whichPatton said hasbecome “prettybig time.”

Also in thelate 1990s ArcDirector ofOperationsCindy Leleuxthought a giftshop could be a

hit in New Iberia. The agencyopened Gift Sensations on LewisStreet, which is still doing well,she said.

“I think a lot of people that goto that store also really like visit-ing with the clients,” Patton said.

Another job some Arc clientsparticipate in is recycling sortingwhich happens at the agency’sEmployment Services headquar-ters on Walton Street in NewIberia.

In the 1990s, Patton said, theagency’s clients manned the cityof New Iberia’s recycling dropoff location before officialsmoved toward curb-side recy-cling.

“We met a lot of people doingthat,” Patton said. “The city wentcurbside but they still drop offrecycling to us. We sort, bale andresell it at Walton Street. It’s a bigmoney maker for us.”

In the past few years, the agencyhas become involved in recyclingMardi Gras beads as well, whichincludes sorting and “bunching”donated beads for sale at a dis-count in its stores.

The agency has been in theMardi Gras bead business for fouryears and it is really starting tocatch on, Patton said.

“We’re always looking at ways ofreinvesting in the community,”Patton said.

“Any money we make after wepay clients goes right back into thecommunities we serve.”

‘We’re always looking at ways of reinvesting in

the community.’

Kenny Patton

Arc of Iberia executive director

■


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BY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

As much of the oil and gas indus-try reels from the drilling shut-down in the Gulf of Mexico, the

arrival of Cameron Process Systems inNew Iberia in September is proof thatthere is more to the business than justdrilling.

“It’s not always about just drilling,”said David Bonin, a New Iberia nativewho serves as the company’s area man-ager for the Gulf Coast and Trinidadmarkets.

Bonin, who now works out of thecompany’s headquarters in Houston,said the government’s issuance ofnew regulations and guidelines fordeep and shallow water drilling fol-lowing the BP oil spill on April 20have not necessarily killed the compa-ny’s business.

“We offer reinspection services alongthe existing and new guidelines,” Boninsaid.

“We also service the gas storage busi-ness in salt domes around the GulfCoast, and we service the plug andabandonment and reclamation of wellsfor hurricanes.”

Recently, the company consolidatedtwo of its operations in SouthLouisiana — in Patterson andBroussard — into one facility in NewIberia, said Kristian Magar, a districtmanager for the company.

Magar said in September the compa-ny acquired the seven-acre, 40,000-square foot building that was once theold Southern Steele facility on WestAdmiral Doyle Drive.

Currently, Magar said the New Iberiafacility employs 60 workers, focuses onproviding servicing and supplying newequipment and aftermarket services tothe onshore and offshore oil and gasindustry.

“There’s a lot of positives for the com-pany to move to this location,” Magarsaid. “Whenever you bring two opera-tions together it takes a little time tocreate synergy, but we have everythinghere that we need.”

Describing the new location as “fit-

for-purpose,” Bonin said it allows thatparticular division of the international-ly-based company to focus on its onemarket — the Gulf Coast — and theservices it provides to that market.

Bonin said the new location providesa more central location for theCameron’s operations in SouthLouisiana, as well as more access to astable, skilled labor force, which headded, offers the company more growthpotential in the future.

“Of course we’re always dependenton what the market does, but we’realways looking to bring on talent,”Bonin said.

“We’ve experienced our part of thedownturn, but I’d say our business hasleveled out and is looking to increase aswe go forward this year. We’re looking atsigns of permitting picking up, especial-ly for new drills.”

Cameron facility up, running hereNew Iberia operation employs 60 workers

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANCameron employee Mike Francis works inside the old Southern Steele building in New Iberia.

‘We offer reinspection services along the existing

and new guidelines.’

David Bonin

Cameron Process Systems

area manager for Gulf Coast, Trinidad markets

■

‘There’s a lot of positives forthe company to move to

this location.’

Kristian Magar

Cameron Process Systems

district manager

■

BY HEATHER MILLER

THE DAILY IBERIAN

For those who would prefer totend to their garden or catchup on television instead of

sitting at a car wash, the businessof on-site, or mobile car detailinghas increased its presence overthe past few years and has reachedthe Teche Area.

In between his full-time gig as ameat-cutter in New Iberia, JustinFranklin is in the part-time busi-ness of bringing a car wash to thehome, workplace or preferredlocale of the customer.

His on-site mobile detailingbusiness, Superior Wash andMobile Car Detailing, takes thecleaning chemicals and materialsto the home, business or otherspot and, according to Franklin,

offers a more personalized andeasier way to go from dirty toclean.

He said he got into the businessby working part time with anothermobile detailer and realized thepotential to cultivate his own cus-tomers. Although his business isrelatively new and still growing,

he said he has heard more andmore about the on-site washingbusiness for the past three or fouryears.

“I’m a meat-cutter, but I’m moreof a people person,” Franklinsaid. “It’s more personal when youwash someone’s car at theirhouse.”

Franklin said he is willing to travel all across Acadiana,which includes taking his cleaning materials to offshorecompanies to wash their muddyfleet of trucks. He has even gone as far as Opelousas, he said, to follow through with hiscompany motto: We make dirtycars clean.

He brings his own water supply,he said, and “does everything byhand.”

“Judging from the calls I’ve beengetting, it’s going to turn into afull-time job pretty soon,” he saidwith a smile.

Triple J Auto Detailing of NewIberia also is listed as a mobiledetailing business, but calls madeto the listed number found on anInternet search engine were notreturned.


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HEATHER MILLER / THE DAILY IBERIANJustin Franklin washes a car recently. Franklin takes cleaning material with him on the road to wash vehicles or details their interior.

Have hose, will travel to wash‘I’m a meat-cutter, but I’m more of a people person. It’s more personal when you wash

someone’s car at their house.’

Justin Franklin

Superior Wash and Mobile Car Detailing owner

■


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BY HEATHER MILLER

THE DAILY IBERIAN

W hen it comes to thework involved withprivate investigators,

one Acadiana PI says comparingit to police work is like compar-ing “apples to oranges.”

John Abdella of Lafayette,who has been activelyinvolved in investigating thebeating death of New Iberiabusinesswoman CarrieBilleaud, began working as aprivate investigator more than40 years ago.

From checking out the validi-ty of personal injury claims toclosing unsolved robberies andrapes, Abdella learned quickly

that being a PI requires “quickdecisions and being fast on yourfeet.”

“A private investigator has tomake decisions on his own,”Abdella said. “You can’t call forbackup on your radio if youhave a situation.”

Abdella was planning onattending law school decadesago, but then married and start-ed having children. Privateinvestigation work was some-thing he learned about from hisattorney friends, he said, andhas pretty much been at it eversince.

Crime victims often hire pri-vate investigators because theybelieve law enforcement may betoo overloaded with work to

focus on one case, Abdella said.“It’s not that they think

they’re not competent. (Lawenforcement) is highly compe-tent. They just have a lot ontheir plate,” Abdella said.

“A private investigator is hiredto focus on a particular case. Inmy opinion, you have to besmart, strong, curious — andlucky.”

Abdella has handled roughly adozen homicide cases since hebegan working as a PI, he said,all of which have been solvedexcept for the case of CarrieBilleaud.

But the investigation remainsactive, he said, and he will con-tinue working on the case untilit is resolved.

Abdella said Iberia Parish res-idents are more fortunate thanthey realize, as the PI hasworked with 30-40 law enforce-ment agencies in the state

throughout his career.“The Iberia Parish Sheriff ’s

Office has been outstanding,” hesaid. “The administration youhave is aggressive and very con-scientious.”

It’s often hard, he said, to seethe heartache involved withfamilies trying to find missingpersons, but gratifying to seeother cases like uniting peoplewho have been adopted withtheir natural parents.

Another private investigatorfrom New Iberia, who asked notto be identified because of thenature of his work in such asmall city, said he has coveredevery type of PI work imagina-ble in his decades of investigat-ing, right now focusing on off-shore injuries.

“It’s hard work, a lot of work,”he said. “You get to see successstories, but it’s a full-around job.It’s not easy.”

Private investigators active locallyRegional PI has been involvedin probe of Billeaud murder


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BY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Sorrel Electric, a com-pany now in its 67thyear, has been passed

down now for three gener-ations, and is under theleadership of CaseySorrel, the founder’sgrandson.

A New Iberia native,Sorrel, 30, said his grand-father, Solange EdwardSorrel, started the elec-tric company in 1944, onethat has establisheditself in not only theTeche Area but alsothroughout Louisiana asa company known forgood service.

Now, Sorrel said thecompany’s expertise iswide-ranging and isfocused on serving theelectric needs of industri-al, commercial and newconstruction jobs whilealso doing maintenancework.

Although the April 20oil spill resulted in aslight slowdown, Sorrelsaid the company’s futureremains positive.

“Everything kind ofslowed down after thespill,” he said.

“We do a lot of new con-struction and oilfieldwork, so they haven’t beenbuilding as much. Butthings have started to pickup lately. We’ve picked upsome new customers andwe’re expecting to havesome new projects startingup soon.”

Sorrel said he startedworking for the companyat age 15. Since 2007, hehas been the owner of thecompany, which was pre-viously owned by hisfather, William Sorrel,and before that, hisgrandfather.

Recently, Sorrel said herelocated the company toBroussard, but added,New Iberia is where hisand the company’s rootsare established, which issomething he said willnever change.

Sorrel’s father, WilliamSorrel, 58, said he taughthis son everything heknew about the familybusiness, namely electri-cal work.

“I feel good about it,” hesaid about his son takingover the business. “I pret-ty much taught himeverything he knows. ButI’m done with it. Now I doa little hunting and fish-ing and watch a little TV.”

Like his son, WilliamSorrel also took over thefamily business from hisfather after SolangeSorrel died in 1991 at theage of 76.

“I worked for the busi-ness since 15, and maybeearlier than that,” theelder Sorrel said.

“I learned all I know onthe job when my oldest

brother David was work-ing there. He had been anelectrician in the Navyand when I started work-ing he’d just tell me whatto do and that’s where Ilearned it from.”

Although William Sorrelis retired, his wife, LucySorrel, still works for thecompany, and helpsanswer phones and otheroffice work, while alsomaintaining the compa-ny’s family-orientation.

Looking ahead, WilliamSorrel said he holds on tothe possibility that thecompany will changehands again in the dis-tant future, like it didbetween his father andhimself, and eventuallyfrom him to his son.

“Casey’s supposed tohave a child in May,” hesaid. “It’s going to be alittle girl, but ya neverknow. He may havemore kids too, and mayhave a son, and boop,keep it going.”

Sorrels build electricfirm into La. powerCompany in its 67th year of operation

‘We’ve picked upsome new

customers andwe’re expecting tohave some newprojects starting

up soon.’

Casey Sorrel

Electric company founder’s

grandson and owner

■

‘I pretty muchtaught him everything heknows. But I’mdone with it. Now Ido a little huntingand fishing andwatch a little TV.’

William Sorrel

Electric company founder’s son

and previous owner

■

New Iberia native and resident CaseySorrel, owner of Sorrel Electrical

Specialties, bought the business from hisfather four years ago.

JEFF ZERINGUE / THE DAILY IBERIAN

2011 business profile

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