People in Business for July 5, 2009

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Jul 5, 2009

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Melissa Vidos has been named manager of Wright and Percy Insurance’s select unit, which handles property and casualty insurance for small commercial accounts. Vidos, who was previously a unit supervisor, will be responsible for its management and growth while overseeing account managers and building client relationships.  

Ochsner Health System has promoted three directors in the North Shore region. Nicole Gonzales has been promoted to assistant vice president responsible for the Covington and Hammond markets. Melissa Lorio has been promoted to assistant vice president responsible for the Outpatient Surgery Center, the surgical specialty clinics and nursing in the Covington area. Debbie Williams has been promoted to assistant vice president responsible for the Slidell and Abita Springs markets, in addition to the North Shore’s Women’s Services and Cancer Services.  

Jason Jobes, of St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales, has been appointed to the 2009 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The award is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. The board is composed of about 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations and government. Jobes will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the award.  

Patrick Morris has joined the Big Buddy Program as the new director of teen programs. Morris has nine years experience working with youth and 10 years of corporate experience, including two years with AT&T. He spent three years as a teacher at Desire Street Academy in Baton Rouge. 

Baton Rouge General has named two directors. Corey Doughty has been named director of contracts and risk management for Baton Rouge General, First Care Physicians and General Health System. Doughty was formerly the legal/safety/human resources manager for gas and supply and was an associate attorney for Stockwell, Sievert, Viccellio, Clements, and Shaddock, LLP. Kendall “Ken” Miller has been named director of internal audit and compliance officer for Baton Rouge General and General Health System. Most recently, Miller served as director of internal audit for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi. Miller will serve as the organization’s privacy officer responsible for administering the compliance program and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act programs and policies. He will also manage the internal audit function.  

George Popov has joined Morgan Keegan as a financial adviser and vice president in the firm’s Baton Rouge branch. Prior to joining Morgan Keegan, Popov was a vice president with Smith Barney in Lake Charles. 

Stan Heine, president of Louisiana Electric Co. in Baton Rouge, has been selected as the chairman of the Southern States Apprenticeship Labor/Management Council.  The council recognizes the promotion and the value of apprenticeship in the construction industry.

Deadline for People in Business is 5 p.m. Monday. Items can be mailed or delivered to the Advocate business editor, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, La. 70810; faxed to (225) 388-0371; or e-mailed to blamb@theadvocate.com. Promotions and hirings must be supervisory positions and information must include the person's most recent position or job. No sales positions or awards accepted. E-mail photo attachments should be JPG. minimum 300K; 170 dpi; and size 3 by 5.