Louisiana Floodplain Management Association
   

           


 

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
2012 – 2013 LFMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 

§  Board of Directors
§  Regional Representatives
§
  LFMA Committees

CHAIRMAN

Darla Duet, CFM


Darla is a native of Lafourche Parish and has been employed by the Lafourche Parish Government since April 1983.  She was appointed Permit /CRS Coordinator in November 1997.  In July 2006 she became a Certified Floodplain Manager through ASFPM and is now the Floodplain Manager for Lafourche Parish, a position she has held since August 2007.

Since taking on the Permit Coordinator’s and currently the Floodplain Managers duties, she has worked with residents and local officials to identify, assess and communicate their vulnerabilities regarding flood hazards.  Once these hazards have been determined she has advised residents on how to build accordingly, with a focus of maintaining Lafourche Parish’s continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.  She has also taken on the duties of implementing the HMGP after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. 

In 2003 she was a member of the advisory committee for the “Louisiana Floodplain Management Desk Reference”, a useful tool with a vast amount of information to help local floodplain managers administer the permitting of structures in their communities. 

Darla has helped with Lafourche’s many updates to its Hazard Mitigation Plan and has recently been invited by GOHSEP to serve as a committee member on the Louisiana State Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee. 

Lafourche Parish is in the process of having designed and implementing its first ever Comprehensive Plan, with Darla being a member of its Steering Committee.  By being a part of this committee she hopes to help Lafourche Parish maintain its motto of “Feeding and Fueling America” through the foreseeable future.

Darla has served the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association as its Region 3 Representative and Workshop Coordinator.  In April of 2012 she was elected to be its Chairwoman.



E-mail Darla -
darlad@lafourchegov.org

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VICE-CHAIRMAN

Carl Kraemer, CFM

Carl has been the Director of Planning & Zoning for the City of Morgan City
since the beginning of 2006.  Prior to that appointment, he worked for the
Morgan City Fire Department (20 years), La State Fire Marshal (1 year), and as a construction inspector for a local architectural firm (15 years part time).  Through his past work experiences he was able to achieve many accreditations, including Nationally Certified Arson & Explosives Technician/Investigator, Certified Fire & Life Safety Inspector, Haz-Mat Technician, HUD HQS Inspector, Sections 8 & 504 Inspector, HUD Rehab Specialist.

He is now an ICC Certified Building Official (2008), and ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager (2010). 

His work duties include all Planning & Development of in Morgan City, all permitting for building and construction in the city, Plan Review and inspections of all construction projects in the city; Manages all Nuisance Abatement Operations; Floodplain Manager & CRS coordinator for the city and enforces all elevation and flood requirements; and Emergency Preparedness Manager for the city.  He is also the President of the Parish Drainage & Levee District in the City.

He has (3) children; a son and daughter in college and a daughter going to junior high.  He enjoys spending time with his children, playing golf, and fishing.

E-mail Carl - c.kraemer@cityofmc.com

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TREASURER

 Nancy Durham, CFM

Nancy Durham was a Planner for the City of Slidell for almost eight years and the Community Rating System Coordinator for three years. She helped Slidell go from a CRS Rating of an 8 to a 7. She became a Certified Floodplain Manager in 2009.

Nancy is a member of the American Planning Association, the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association, the Association of State Floodplain Managers, and FLOAT (Flood Loss Outreach Awareness and Taskforce). She was the Membership Chair for the New Orleans Section of the American Planning Association from 2007-2009 and the Treasurer from 2009-2011. She has successfully completed the EMI course – NFIP: Community Rating System and the Independent Study courses – Emergency Program Manager, An Orientation to the Position and A Citizen’s Guide to Disaster Assistance.

Nancy graduated from the University of New Orleans with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality, Management, and Tourism with a Minor in Management and an Emphasis in Meeting and Convention Management. She received her Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning with an Emphasis in Land Use Planning and a Certification in Historic Preservation.

 

E-mail Nancy - nancy.a.durham@gmail.com
 

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SECRETARY

 Kara Moree, CFM

Kara Knott Moree is from Lafayette Parish and was raised in the City of Carencro. She graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She immediately went to work in Baton Rouge for FEMA in the Environmental and Historic Preservation Department and became the Floodplain Management Lead. She obtained her status as a Certified Floodplain Manager in 2006 while working for FEMA. Ms. Moree then worked for 3 years as an Environmental Project Manager for Volkert, Inc., also in Baton Rouge, doing environmental permitting with federal and state agencies, as well as doing GIS and assisting with drainage studies. She is a Project Manger for the Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Group in Baton Rouge and has been a member of LFMA since 2008. Ms. Moree recently got married and resides in Prairieville, LA with her husband.


E-mail Kara - kara.moree@shawgrp.com
 

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Executive Director

Ted DeBaene, CFM

Ted is Vice President of Owen and White, Inc., Consulting Engineers. He has been specializing in
Floodplain Management and Hydrologic Analysis for 35 years. He is experienced in Flood Insurance Studies, No Adverse Impact Analyses, Stream Improvement, Basin Models, Conveyance Analysis, Enhanced Zone A BFE, Determinations, and Expert Witness Services.

Ted received a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, MBA in Quantitative Analysis from Wayne State University and has taken Advanced Hydrological Training Courses at the USACE Hydraulic Engineering Center.

His professional affiliations are Professional Engineer, Certified Floodplain Manager, Tau Beta Pi, Louisiana Floodplain Management Association - Former Vice-Chair and Chair and Association of State Floodplain Managers - Former Chair of Stormwater Management Committee.

E-mail Ted – ted@owenandwhite.com

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LFMA REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES                  2012-2013
REGION 1 (St. Tammany, Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson)

Michael Hunnicutt, CFM, ASLA, APA,

 

Michael Hunnicutt graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Landscape
Architecture, College of Design, and from the University of New Orleans with a Master’s Degre
e in Planning, College of Urban and Public Affairs. He is a registered and licensed Landscape Architect and Contractor in the State of Louisiana. He is a certified inspector with the International Building Code and a Certified Floodplain Manager with the Association of State Floodplain Managers.

After working for two prominent Architectural, Engineering and Planning firms in the City of New Orleans, he started his public service career working in the Department of Community Development for St. Bernard Parish Government, LA, in 1990. He was appointed to the director’s position in 1996. As director for the Department of Community Development, he was in charge of the Offices of Planning and Zoning, Safety and Permits, Coastal Zone Management, Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness and Animal Control. Following Hurricane Katrina, Michael was appointed as the Deputy Section Chief for Hazard Mitigation at the Louisiana Recovery Office working for the U. S. Department of Homeland Security under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). His duties with Hazard Mitigation included oversight of the NFIP, compliance of local communities with FEMA floodplain management regulations, map modernization projects and community education and outreach. He has been a guest instructor for FEMA at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). Michael is currently working back with St. Bernard Parish Government as their Hazard Mitigation Technical Advisor.

Michael has represented and has been involved with several regional and state organizations such as the Planning Directors Council of Louisiana, the Southeast Hurricane Task Force, the 911 Communications District, the Louisiana Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Emergency Planning Council, the Louisiana Mapping Project and the Building Officials Association of Louisiana. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Floodplain Managers Association. He is very involved in his local community serving on the Board of Directors for several non-profit and civic organizations.

He has lived in St. Bernard Parish all of his life, is both a victim and survivor of Hurricanes Betsy and Katrina, and still currently resides in St. Bernard Parish, LA.
 

E-mail Mike mandjhunnicutt@yahoo.com


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REGION 2
West Feliciana, East Feliciana, St. Helena, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Point, Coupee, Iberville, Ascension, Livingston, Tangipahoa

Jim Ferguson, PE, CFM


Jim is a nine year veteran with the City of Baton Rouge Department of Public Works. He is the current Chief Engineer for the DPW Engineering Division and responsibilities include sewage, streets, drainage, and bridges. He has specialized in Drainage and Floodplain Administration since 2003 and is a Certified Floodplain Manager. During the past nine years with DPW, Jim has worked closely with the State, NRCS, FEMA and the Corps of Engineers.

Jim received a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Mississippi and holds an MBA from Louisiana State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Louisiana and Mississippi. Organizational affiliations include Louisiana Engineering Society (current State Director), American Society of Civil Engineers, Louisiana Floodplain Management Association, American Public Works Association (Baton Rouge Chapter Board Director) and VIPS (Volunteer in Public Schools).

Jim resides in West Feliciana Parish with his wife and two sons.

E-mail Jim - jFerguson@brgov.com

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REGION 3
Assumption, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, Lafourche, Terrebonne

Lisa Ledet, CFM

Lisa was born and raised on the bayous of Terrebonne Parish. A dedicated mother of two grown boys, she began her career with the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government in November 1997. She quickly rose through the ranks, starting as a dispatcher, to her current position of Permits Specialist and Floodplain Administrator.  She achieved Certified Floodplain Manager status in July 2006 and has made it her goal to assist and protect her fellow residents.

 

E-mail Lisa - lisaledet@tpcg.org   

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REGION 4
Evangeline, St. Landry, Acadia, Lafayette, Vermillion, Iberia, St. Martin, St. Mary

Bonnie Anderson, CFM

Bonnie Anderson has been employed with the City of Carencro since January 2003 as their
Floodplain Manager and Planning Department Head. Bonnie was previously employed with St. Mary Parish Government from May 1993 until January 2003 as the Senior Clerk for the Public Works and Planning Departments. Bonnie became a Certified Floodplain Manager in July of 2007. In October of 2002 she was certified as a Administrative Assistant and in October 2008 was certified as a Municipal Assistant.

Bonnie duties include all Floodplain information, building codes, subdivision reviews, and drainage analysis to name a few. Also, Bonnie administers the City’s health and dental insurance plans to all City employees and provides assistance to the utility collection department. For a brief time, Bonnie was also the Assistant City Clerk and was in charge of all agenda items, minutes, publication, etc.

Bonnie is married to David Anderson and has one son and daughter (Brett and Lyndi) and two step-daughter’s (Courtney and McKenzie). Bonnie truly loves her job and enjoys working with the public.

E-mail Bonnie – planning@carencro.org

 

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REGION 5
Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jeff Davis

Sandra Turley, CMC

Sandra has served the citizens of the Town of Iowa for thirteen years as their
Certified Municipal Clerk and is a Board Member of the LAMP. As Clerk, she wears
multiple hats, one of which is Floodplain Manager. It was Calcasieu LFMA members who introduced her to this wonderful group. Though her main duties are assistant to the Mayor and serving the Town Council Members, LFMA has made wearing the Floodplain Mgr. hat more enjoyable. Sandra says, “ you will not find a more enjoyable group of people. Though new to this position as Region 5 Rep, I thank everyone for your trust in me to handle this job, but I can’t do it alone and look forward to your assistance along the way.”

Sandra is the wife of Robert M. Turley [LSU AgCtr. County Agent], Mother of Michael Turley and has just become a Grams to Bryan Michael Turley. She and her husband currently reside in Iowa, LA. Her hobbies are reading and watching her husband grow things.

E-mail Sandra – Sandra@iowala.org

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REGION 6
Winn, Grant, Rapides, LaSalle, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia

Melissa Becker, CFM

Melissa Becker is a native of Louisiana and has been employed with the Rapides Area Planning Commission for 18 years. She is the Assistant Director and serves as the Building Official and Floodplain Manager for Rapides Parish. She is responsible for code compliance, development & building permits, zoning, floodplain management and subdivision development. She has written several HMGP grant applications and is the Project Manager for several projects; the CTP program to update the parish’s floodplain maps, levee certification and HMGP grants. She has been instrumental in the development of the Kisatchie-Delta Regional Code Compliance Office and the Regional permitting software. She has served on the Rapides Area Planning Commission’s STAR Committee and Board.

Since becoming involved with the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association, Melissa has completed the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) course in Emmitsburg, MD and the National Flood Insurance Program course in Baton Rouge and International Code Council Residential Inspection Institute 2009 IRC for Building, Mechanical, Plumbing & Electrical Inspections in Myrtle Beach, SC. She achieved her certification as a Certified Floodplain Manager through ASFPM in 2003 and serves on LFMA’s Board of Directors as Region 6 Representative and Editor of the “Floodwatch” newsletter.  She was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation with regard to NFIP from LaDOTD at the 2008 LFMA Conference in Lake Charles. She also serves as a Notary in Rapides Parish and is a member of the Louisiana Notary Association and Building Officials Association of Louisiana (BOAL).

 

E-mail Melissa: mbecker@rapc.info

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REGION 7
Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, Bienville, Desoto, Red River, Natchitoches, Sabine

Juanita Fowler, CFM

Juanita Fowler heads the Department of Planning & Zoning for the City of Natchitoches. She has
represented the City & Parish in Floodplain Management and the Planning profession for 16 years. Juanita coordinates long-range planning initiatives, oversees zoning and land use development, permits, code enforcement and floodplain management procedures. Juanita serves as the liaison for the Planning Commission and the Historic District Commission which regulates development in the District, one of only two nationally recognized Landmark Districts in the State. She currently serves as a Regional Representative on the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association Board.

Juanita received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

E-mail Juanita: jfowler@ci.natchitoches.la.us

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 REGION 8
 Union, Morehouse, West Carroll, East Carroll, Ouachita, Richland, Madison, Jackson, Franklin, Tensas

Lisa Richardson, CFM

I am a Building Permit Officer for the Quachita Parish Police Jury. I have been employed as a permit officer for almost 13 years. My main duties with the Quachita Parish Police Jury include issuing building permits, driveway permits, and floodplain management. I am also the CRS Coordinator for Quachita Parish and have been a CFM for going on 7 years. I am an ICC certified residential building and electrical inspector and working on becoming a certified building official. I have been a member of LFMA for 12 years and am currently the Region 8 Representative.


E-mail Lisa –
lrichardson@oppj.org

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LFMA COMMITTEES
MEMBERSHIP/CAP

James Demouchet, CFM

James was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and grew up in the small town of Welsh. He graduated
from Welsh High School in 1972 and enlisted in the United States Air Force on August 1, 1972.

He successful completed an Air Force career of twenty-four (24) years in the administrative and personnel career field. His time in the Air Force took him to such places as Arizona, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Mississippi, Turkey, and Bossier City, Louisiana to name only a few. He has been assigned to the Caddo Parish, Public Works Department as the Public Works Floodplain Administrator and Property Standards Specialist for the past twelve (12) years. He is responsible for floodplain management within Caddo Parish.

James has earned Associate Degrees from Louisiana Tech University (Associate of General Studies) and the Community College of the Air Force (Associate in Applied Science, Information Management). He has successfully completed the EMI course – NFIP: Community Rating System; DOTD – Community Permit Official Training Program; and FEMA Elevation Certificate – Training Course.

He is a former Chairman of LFMA and has held other positions such as Membership Coordinator, Regional Rep and Secretary. He is married to the former Ruby J. Carter of Marshall, Texas and they have been married for 32 years. They have one daughter Shemika R. Demouchet Berry, and is a Grandfather (Pawpaw) of three.

E-mail James – jdemouchet@caddo.org

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Continuing Education

David Brauner, CEM & CFM

Dave is a Louisiana native and lives in Covington, LA with his wife Anne. Dave joined CDM Smith as the firms Emergency Services Global Practice Leader. He served the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Untied States Department of Homeland Security. Dave's expertise is centered in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and he was a principal architect of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan and the National Response Framework.  Dave is a graduate of the Louisiana State University, Paul M. Herbert Schoolof Law and earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Laws. Dave is a former Administrative Law Judge, a Certified Floodplain Manager and a Certified Emergency Manager.

Dave is an avid student of any topic related to emergency management and has a strong passion
for leading workshops on various related topics.

E-mail David -  braunerd@cdmsmith.com

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Workshop Coordinator

Pam Mattingly, CFM


Pam graduated from Mcneese State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She has 30 years experience in the field of Planning. Pam started her career with Calcasieu parish Police Jury in 1982 as Departmental Secretary and her current position with them is Assistant Director of Planning.

Some of her professional achievements include Certified Floodplain Manager, achieved Community Rating System for Calcasieu Parish, received and implemented various state
and federal grants, instrumental in facilitating FEMA Flood Map Revisions, instrumental in Hurricanes Rita and Ike recovery programs, coordinated the annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program and past Chairman of LFMA. Pam currently serves on the LFMA Board of Directors as Workshop Coordinator.

E-mail Pam -  pmattingly@cppj.net

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Newsletter Editor

Melissa Becker, CFM

Melissa Becker is a native of Louisiana and has been employed with the Rapides Area Planning Commission for 18 years. She is the Assistant Director and serves as the Building Official and Floodplain Manager for Rapides Parish. She is responsible for code compliance, development & building permits, zoning, floodplain management and subdivision development. She has written several HMGP grant applications and is the Project Manager for several projects; the CTP program to update the parish’s floodplain maps, levee certification and HMGP grants. She has been instrumental in the development of the Kisatchie-Delta Regional Code Compliance Office and the Regional permitting software. She has served on the Rapides Area Planning Commission’s STAR Committee and Board.

Since becoming involved with the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association, Melissa has completed the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) course in Emmitsburg, MD and the National Flood Insurance Program course in Baton Rouge and International Code Council Residential Inspection Institute 2009 IRC for Building, Mechanical, Plumbing & Electrical Inspections in Myrtle Beach, SC. She achieved her certification as a Certified Floodplain Manager through ASFPM in 2003 and serves on LFMA’s Board of Directors as Region 6 Representative and Editor of the “Floodwatch” newsletter.  She was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation with regard to NFIP from LaDOTD at the 2008 LFMA Conference in Lake Charles. She also serves as a Notary in Rapides Parish and is a member of the Louisiana Notary Association and Building Officials Association of Louisiana (BOAL).

E-mail Melissa: mbecker@rapc.info

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NFIP Coordinator

Cindy O'Neal, CFM

 

 

 

E-mail Cindy: Cindy.ONeal@la.gov

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