LAKE CHARLES, La. (January 25, 2022)— James “JC” Cormier, representing the West Calcasieu Community Center Authority, and Nicole Moncrief, selected by the City of Lake Charles, were recently appointed to serve on the board of directors of Visit Lake Charles.
Cormier has been involved in many civic and community organizations over the years including participating on the Louisiana National Airshow Committee, Red Cross Board of Directors, Zoo Wish Board, Team CITGO Board, CITGO Employees Club Board and serving as the March of Dimes chairperson. A graduate of Westlake High School and student of McNeese State University, his professional life spanned working for the Lake Charles Police Department, CITGO Petroleum as well as an EMT for West Cal Ambulance Service.
He retired after 40 years of working at CITGO, and he presently serves as chairperson of the Westlake Planning/Zoning Board, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Appointee to the West Cal Hospital Finance Committee as well as on the West Calcasieu Parish Community Center Authority Board of Directors. Cormier is also a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff.
Moncrief is the Human Resources Manager for Sasol Chemicals America, and since 2010, she has held a wide range of positions including positive employee relations and collective bargaining management, diversity and inclusion initiatives, human resources competency development for leadership, and occupational health case management. In addition to serving as a volunteer for many local non-profit and community service agencies such as the Nellie Lutcher Cultural District Neighborhood Alliance and the Black Heritage Festival Gallery, Moncrief also serves as a board member for the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), Christian Baptist Church and the Louisiana Workforce Development Board (LWDA51).
She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in human resource management from Grambling State University. In 2018, Moncrief founded What Works, a 501(c)3 which specializes in offering unique life experiences for people of all ages. In her spare time, she facilitates career development and planning workshops throughout the state of Louisiana to help individuals visualize their potential.
“The Visit Lake Charles staff and board are eager to work with JC and Nicole as they share from their past experiences, civic engagement and passion to see the community thrive as we move forward as a destination. Their input will be invaluable as we collectively create the vision for future product development for tourism in the Lake Area,” said Kyle Edmiston, President/CEO of Visit Lake Charles.
The CVB is governed by an 11-member board of directors. Willie Mount, appointed by the Chamber Southwest, is the chair; Nick Zaver, representing the Southwest Louisiana Lodging Association (City of Sulphur), serves as the vice chair, and Kane Mitchell serving on behalf of the West Calcasieu Association of Commerce is the secretary/treasurer.
For more information on Visit Lake Charles, log onto www.visitlakecharles.org or call 337-436-9588.
