Lafayette, LA, Oct. 21, 2021 – After 12 years of dedicated service from Chuck Billeaud, Billeaud Companies has a new chairman of the board. Billeaud’s board of directors is proud to announce the election of Paul Eason.
The Billeaud Companies board of directors and stockholders also wish to thank and recognize Chuck Billeaud for his selfless service to the company, his many achievements and tireless representation of the company in the community. During his time as chairman, Billeaud chaired the Centennial Celebration of the Company and the committee responsible for the search and hiring of a new CEO in 2014; oversaw the creation of a new Code of Ethics for board members and staff; improved communication with a fall conference call; and increased the profile of the company in the community through philanthropy.
“Chuck’s service to the company and the community has been remarkable, and we owe him a great debt of gratitude,” says Steven P. Hebert, president and CEO of Billeaud Companies.
“Our company looks to continue gains made and anticipates the leadership of Paul Eason, a knowledgeable and veteran member of the board, corporate officer and an active, well-known member of the community.”
A Lafayette native, Paul Eason is a graduate of Cathedral-Carmel High School and has a degree in General Business from USL (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette). He is a former broadcasting executive in sales and sales management in radio and television for over 23 years, including an extensive career with KATC TV-3. He also was contracted with Warner Brothers for the opening of the CW stations in Lafayette and Lake Charles.
In 1999, he opened his own advertising/public relations firm Eason Advertising LLC, representing dozens of clients. He has served on the Billeaud Companies board of directors since 2013 and held the office of treasurer for the last three years. In addition, Eason has been a member of the Martial F. Billeaud Sr. Foundation Board since 1988, serving as its chairman for the last nine years. He presently serves on the Lafayette General Ochsner membership board and is active in many civic and charitable events. He is a past director for Lafayette Crime Stoppers, the Presidents Club for the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, a speaker for Career Tech in Acadiana schools and UL Lafayette radio and television courses.
An avid outdoorsman, he is a member of CCA and Ducks Unlimited. Eason has been married to the former Suzanne LeLeux for 38 years, and they have one son Ross Eason, DPT and daughter-in-law Morgan Eason, PAC. Eason is an active parishioner of The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Other corporate officers elected include Patrick Kennedy, vice chairman; Colette Billeaud Smith, treasurer; and Robert “Popie” Billeaud, secretary.