Business Honors for LSU vet professor, Louisiana CPAs

Dr. Shafiqul Chowdhury, a professor of veterinary medicine at LSU, was one of five people honored with the 2024 Bayh-Dole Coalition American Inventor Award for developing a groundbreaking vaccine.

Chowdhury is featured in the Bayh-Dole Coalition’s new 2024 “Faces of American Innovation” report. He developed a new viral vector vaccine to combat bovine respiratory disease — a leading cause of death among young cattle, with an enormous economic impact on the beef and dairy industries. 

Chowdhury has partnered with a South Dakota-based company, RTI, to test and commercialize the vaccine.

—

The Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants recently presented its annual service awards.

Candace “Candy” Wright, a partner in EisnerAmper’s Audit & Assurance Services Group in Baton Rouge, was presented with the Special Recognition Award for her exceptional, selfless service. Wright has nearly 40 years of experience as a CPA.

John Theriot, managing partner of Malcolm M. Dienes in Metairie, earned the Distinguished Public Service Award, which the LCPA’s highest honor for public service leadership, impact, involvement and innovation. Theriot has held advisory roles with several schools, including Archbishop Rummel High School, Archbishop Chapelle High School, Mount Carmel Academy and St. Michael Special School.

Robert “Bobby” Barousse, chief financial officer for Elmer Candy Corp. in Covington, won the Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award.

Dennis James, director of James Lambert Riggs and Associates in Hammond, was honored with the Life Member Award. James has served as a trusted financial adviser for multiple government agencies in Tangipahoa Parish.

Lou Le Guyader, an associate professor in the Department of Accounting and Finance at Southeastern Louisiana University, received the Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award.

—

Professor Index was named as the winner of Nexus Louisiana’s recent PitchBR competition.

The Professor Index was founded by Nash Mahmoud, an associate professor in the LSU computer science and engineering division. It provides a user-friendly platform for students to evaluate their professors and overall academic experience.

Other participants in the pitch competition were BeautyFindr, an app launched by AnnaBeth Guillory that helps connect clients with hairdressers, beauticians, aestheticians and other beauty professionals and Blue Tree, a business started by Rodney Shepherd that aims to boost economic activity within college campuses, by connecting business owners with people seeking specific products and services.