『Discover Lafayette』のカバーアート

Discover Lafayette

Discover Lafayette

著者： Jan Swift
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2026年5月12日まで。4か月目以降は月額1,500円で自動更新します。

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 The Gateway to South LouisianaDiscover Lafayette© 旅行記・解説 社会科学
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  • Destin Ortego – Executive Director of the Opportunity Machine

    Destin Ortego – Executive Director of the Opportunity Machine
    2026/04/10
    Destin Ortego, Executive Director of the Opportunity Machine, known as the “OM,” joined Discover Lafayette to discuss the OM’s role as a driving force behind Lafayette’s growing tech and startup ecosystem. This special edition of Discover Lafayette was recorded at LFT Fiber’s Powered by Connectivity Summit hosted at Vermilionville on March 19, 2026. Set against the theme of “Growth Powered by Fiber—Where Technology Meets Community,” Destin offers a candid and insightful look into how connectivity, relationships, and resilience are shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Acadiana. From the outset, Destin emphasizes that success isn’t about launching a business, it’s about sustaining the business. Endurance, not just an idea, defines success. Destin has been with the Opportunity Machine since 2013, guiding its evolution into a focused hub for high-growth, tech-enabled startups. Founded in 2010, OM is a nonprofit accelerator based in downtown Lafayette that provides mentorship, programming, and access to investors and business leaders. Today, it supports approximately 50 startup teams “in the tech space or doing very heavy Research and Development ranging from early idea stage to growth.” Destin Ortego outside of the Opportunity Machine at 314 Jefferson St. in Downtown Lafayette. Photo by Brad Kemp of the Acadiana Advocate. A key distinction Destin draws is between traditional small businesses and scalable, tech-driven startups. “Startups don’t necessarily need the exact same resources, their funding pathways are different, their strategies to launch and scale are different.” By narrowing its focus, OM has made it easier for entrepreneurs to understand when to engage with it, and just as importantly, when to connect with other organizations like LEDA, SBDC, or One Acadiana that can provide more appropriate assistance. That spirit of collaboration defines the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Destin’s approach to mentorship is both practical and empathetic. Rather than dismissing ideas outright, he helps founders test them in the real world. “It’s not my job to tell people their baby’s ugly; it’s my job to help them figure that out for themselves.” Entrepreneurs are encouraged to validate their concepts early by talking to potential customers before investing significant time or money. This disciplined approach helps prevent the all-too-common scenario of founders exhausting their resources on products no one wants or needs. The Opportunity Machine meets entrepreneurs where they are, even if that’s just an idea “on a napkin.” From there, OM helps founders de-risk their journey by setting milestones and validating assumptions before scaling. Many participants are balancing startups with full-time jobs and family responsibilities, making this structured support essential. Located at 314 Jefferson Street in downtown Lafayette, OM’s three-story space reflects the entrepreneurial journey itself: early-stage founders on the first floor, growing teams on the second, and revenue-generating companies on the third. Membership is intentionally accessible, starting at $100 per month, with additional resources available as companies grow. The Opportunity Machine’s downstairs space, photo by Brad Kemp of the Acadiana Advocate. Beyond physical space, OM’s real value lies in connection. As Destin explains, “The health of any startup ecosystem is connectivity—how well entrepreneurs know each other, how well they know investors, how plugged in they are to talent.” In an era where remote work is increasingly common, OM provides a place where those vital in-person relationships can form and flourish. The conversation highlights several success stories that underscore Lafayette’s emergence as a tech hub. Such an example is FlyGuys, now a national drone services provider, which has roots in the OM ecosystem with several of its team members having been affiliated with Waitr in its early growth stage. (Waitr was a restaurant food delivery system started by Chris Meaux and whose growth was helped by the assistance of the OM and its resources.) Destin shared, “Even though Waitr may not be around anymore, its overall impact on the entire community was over $1 billion.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEixV3f1pME Destin also shares “homecoming” stories of startups like Mallard Bay (an online platform that connects people who want outdoor adventures, like hunting or fishing, with trusted guides and outfitters) and Keepers (a locally founded startup that automates the entire housekeeping process for short-term rental property hosts and managers), which returned to Louisiana after stints in larger markets like Houston and Austin. Their reason? The strength and responsiveness of Acadiana’s support network. As one founder told him, “If I wait three or four weeks for help, I’ll be dead by then.” This speaks to a broader shift: Lafayette is no longer ...
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    38 分
  • Team Gleason – 5th Annual Fin Feather Fur Food Festival Fundraiser for People Living with ALS- April 30, 2026

    Team Gleason – 5th Annual Fin Feather Fur Food Festival Fundraiser for People Living with ALS- April 30, 2026
    2026/04/03
    Today on Discover Lafayette, we welcome Dale Clark, Ursula Quoyeser, and Kelly Viator to talk about the upcoming fifth annual Fin Feather Fur Food Festival, known as F5, benefiting Team Gleason Foundation. The event will be held April 30, 2026, at Blackham Coliseum, and if you’ve ever attended, you already know it’s one of those rare gatherings where incredible food, community spirit, and a powerful mission all come together. This conversation brings us to the heart of why F5 matters, and why this cause continues to resonate so deeply across Acadiana. Team Gleason is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason following his ALS diagnosis in 2011. Known for his iconic blocked punt in the Superdome that symbolized hope for a recovering New Orleans, Gleason has carried that same spirit into his life’s work. His message, “No White Flags,” has become a rallying cry for those facing ALS. Today, Team Gleason is recognized as one of the largest nonprofit providers of equipment and technology to the ALS community. Their mission is focused on helping individuals not just survive, but truly live, through access to communication devices, mobility equipment, care services, and even “adventures” that allow families to create lasting memories together. In the past two years alone, requests for care services, equipment, technology, and experiences have increased by 70%, reflecting both the growing need and the trust families place in this organization. As Kelly Viator of the Team Gleason Founation explains, their work begins with listening: “visit persons in their homes, to understand the environment that they’re living in and what technology would best suit them and at what time.” https://youtu.be/ID6gZ85BEeE?si=TuyJG7igU2CupkHp That level of care extends beyond equipment. It includes advocacy, helping families navigate systems that are often confusing and overwhelming, and creating connection through support networks. Kelly shared that their local virtual gatherings offer a space where “sometimes we cry, but mostly we laugh,” a reminder that even in the face of ALS, community remains essential. For Ursula Quoyeser, that community has made a profound difference. She describes how her symptoms began subtly during COVID, with what she thought was a minor issue. “I started getting dropfoot, and little things just kept happening.” After a long wait to see specialists and ultimately receiving her diagnosis, her mobility declined to the point where she now relies on a wheelchair and adaptive equipment. Through Team Gleason, Ursula continues to receive critical support, including a specially equipped van that came at exactly the right moment. “I was pulling into the driveway of the dealership to buy a van when I got the call.” That kind of intervention restores independence. As Ursula shares, “I can still go places and do things.” Ursula Quoyeser, known to many as Coach Q, attended Lafayette High and played volleyball and softball at USL, now known as UL of Lafayette. She was the first female athlete inducted into the UL Lafayette Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. Dale Clark’s journey with ALS led him to channel that same spirit of resilience into action. Diagnosed in October 2020, Dale very quickly began asking what he could do to make a difference. Over breakfast with friends right after his diagnosis, the idea for F5 was born. “They said, what can we do for ALS? Then we saw an article by Team Gleason and I said, we need to talk to them.” From that moment, the Fin Feather Fur Food Festival took shape, rooted in Louisiana culture and driven by purpose. Teams compete by cooking fish, wild game, or fowl; “You either cook a fish, an animal or a feather. Or perhaps a dessert!” Dale Clark, pictured far left, with his buddies from the Florence Club at the 1st annual F5 on April 28, 2022. What started as a grassroots effort has grown into a signature Acadiana event. F5 now draws roughly 1,500 attendees each year and has raised more than $750,000 over the past four years. This year’s goal is clear: reach $1 million total raised in its five years of existence. It takes a village to make that happen. Dale is quick to credit the cook teams and volunteers who fuel the event’s success: “I can’t thank the cook teams enough because without the cook teams, we don’t have an event.” And for those attending, the experience is unforgettable with unlimited food tastings, drinks, live energy, silent auctions, and a packed room filled with purpose. But what stays with you isn’t just the food. Ursula says her favorite part is seeing all the people. “Friends and family show up in big groups.”And Dale shares what matters most to him: “Meeting all the people with ALS, and their spouse coming up and giving me a hug. I really appreciate that.” Those moments are what this event is really about. Because at the end of the day, Team...
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    1分未満
  • Whitney Savoie – FlyGuys’ Chief Marketing Officer

    Whitney Savoie – FlyGuys’ Chief Marketing Officer
    2026/03/26
    At the historic grounds of Vermilionville, beneath the oaks and along the bayou that so vividly reflect our region’s living history, this special episode of Discover Lafayette was recorded during the second annual LFT Fiber Powered by Connectivity Summit on March 19th, 2026. The summit’s theme, Growth Powered by Fiber, Where Technology Meets Community, comes to life in a conversation with Whitney Savoie, Chief Marketing Officer of FlyGuys, a Lafayette-based technology company operating at the intersection of innovation, safety, and cultural preservation. This LFT summit showcased local leaders and gathered their thoughts on the power of connectivity in shaping our community, businesses and the economy. Whitney brings more than 15 years of experience in marketing, brand development, and customer acquisition, much of it rooted in high-growth tech startups. Her journey includes early work with Waitr, where she says she was “in the first 1% of employees,” helping scale what was then a groundbreaking on-demand food delivery platform. Reflecting on those years traveling across the country launching markets, she shared a perspective that would later shape her appreciation for home: “What that taught me then, and I have an appreciation for now, is in every small to medium community that I went into, you couldn’t feel the culture like you can feel in Acadiana.” That deep connection to place is central to Whitney’s story. Raised along the bayous near Morgan City, she recalls a childhood that feels quintessentially South Louisiana. “In high school, my dad would take me crawfishing to make extra money, in the marsh in a pirogue lifting traps.” Today, as she reflects on culture through the lens of technology, she sees opportunity in preserving those moments. “I need to go back out with my dad and take pictures, even maybe put a drone up because I want to preserve that memory.” That idea, technology as a tool to preserve, not replace, human experience, runs throughout this conversation. FlyGuys itself is a powerful example of how innovation can serve real-world needs. Headquartered in downtown Lafayette and operating nationwide, the company provides drone-based data capture services across industries ranging from infrastructure and construction to agriculture. As Whitney explains, “FlyGuys is a reality data capture platform. We match data seekers with data providers.” Those providers include a network of approximately 20,000 FAA Part 107 certified drone pilots across the country. The concept is deceptively simple but highly impactful. When a company needs critical visual or analytical data, whether inspecting a cell tower, surveying farmland, or assessing storm damage, FlyGuys deploys a pilot to capture that data safely and efficiently. “Instead of having a human climb that cell tower, a drone can do it safer, faster, more efficiently.” The data is then processed and analyzed through FlyGuys’ platform, delivering actionable insights to clients. The applications are vast. In agriculture, drones can identify disease at the level of a single plant, reducing the need for widespread pesticide use. In infrastructure, they allow for safer inspections of bridges, roofs, and aging structures. In cultural settings like Vermilionville, FlyGuys has even created “digital twins,” highly detailed 3D models, using advanced ground scanning technology to document and preserve historic spaces. Underlying all of this is an immense reliance on connectivity. FlyGuys processes thousands of missions each month, each generating massive amounts of data. “One mission could produce 10,000 files,” Whitney explains. “We do about 8,000 missions a month.” The ability to upload, process, and analyze that data in real time depends entirely on robust, high-speed internet infrastructure, making events like the LFT Fiber Connectivity Summit especially relevant. But for Whitney, the conversation ultimately comes back to people. In one of the most memorable moments of the interview, she reflects on hosting FlyGuys team members from Colombia in Lafayette. A crawfish boil at Moncus Park turned into an impromptu cultural exchange, blending zydeco dancing with salsa. “It was like this beautiful marriage of both cultures coming together… It was the picture of what we’re trying to preserve.” That spirit, connection across cultures, generations, and technologies, is exactly what she hopes people take away from the summit. “My hope is that people really understand what the LFT fiber team is trying to do here. They’re trying to bring us together. It’s really not about the technology. It’s about the fact that we’re all connecting and human. The beauty of the whole conference to me is it’s that tech isn’t the hero, it’s the people that are the heroes and the things that we’re doing with the tech. In this age of technology, with AI, where there is some fear and trepidation, I believe that ...
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    27 分
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