Leithead receives Humanitarian Award
Dr. James A. Leithead Jr., received the Humanitarian Service Award during the 145th House of Delegates of the Louisiana Dental Association on April 11.
The LDA Humanitarian Award recognizes dentists who have distinguished themselves through outstanding dental service activities in the USA or abroad. Leithead has been a dedicated tripartite member of the LDA, the American Dental Association and the Southwest Louisiana Dental Association for 48 years. He is a lifetime member of the American Association of Orthodontists.
He obtained his dental degree from the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in 1978 and was awarded his Certificate of Orthodontics from the postgraduate residency program at the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry. In 1980, he began practicing orthodontics as a full-time solo practitioner. He practiced for 37 years and then continued on a part-time basis from 2018 until he retired on Oct. 24, 2025. Through additional case presentations and oral/written examinations, he was able to obtain his Board Certification in Orthodontics in 1990.
Leithead’s impressive history of community service involves volunteer work as well as participation in church and school activities. He was a member of the New Orleans Craniofacial Anomalies/Cleft Palate Team for 37 years, providing donated orthodontics services to patients in the Lake Charles area. He provided orthodontic treatment to local children for 32 years through the Donated Dental Services Program and donated orthodontic treatment to residents of Boys Village in Calcasieu Parish. He helped organize the initial Calcasieu Parish Dental Health Fair and continued to be an active participant for many years.
Leithead also donated dental hygiene supplies on a regular basis to the Calcasieu Parish Women’s Shelter. He participated in the Donated Orthodontic Services Program, established by the American Association of Orthodontists in 2009, to provide care to children of low-income families, until his retirement. For his work in the community, he received the Gold Medal Award from the Calcasieu Parish Office of Community Services in 1993.
Outside of his community, he was a participant in several dental mission trips to Potrerillos, Honduras, from 2018 to 2023. These mission trips provided critical dental treatment to residents and neighboring communities, who have little to no access to dental care.
Surgeon joins Ochsner staff
As part of its continued investment in specialty care access for the Lake Charles community, Ochsner Health has added Justin Rudd, MD, a board-certified general and trauma surgeon, to its Lake Charles staff.
Rudd treats patients at Christus Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital using the latest technology in minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery to improve patient outcomes. He is highly experienced in gallbladder and appendix removal, as well as surgical removal of the colon. He is accepting new patients.
A native of Moss Bluff, Rudd earned a medical degree from LSU Health Shreveport, where he also completed his internship and residency. In recent years, he has served in several leadership positions at Christus Ochsner St. Patrick, including chairman of the surgery department and chief of the surgery section.
Rudd is certified through the American College of Surgeons.
Guillotte named executive VP
LAFAYETTE— First National Bank of Louisiana is pleased to announce the addition of Grant Guillotte as executive vice president and chief banking officer. Guillotte brings more than two decades of banking experience to FNB Louisiana and a record of solid leadership, relationship management and operational excellence.
Most recently, he served as Southwest Louisiana Regional President for Hancock Whitney, where he led a large, diverse team supporting all banking segments.
Prior to that, Guillotte held multiple leadership roles at Capital One, including Market President and Relationship Manager for the Acadiana and Lake Charles markets. During his tenure, he led middle market banking teams, managed key client relationships and played an active role in regional marketing and community engagement. He began his banking career as a credit analyst, completing formal credit training through Hibernia Bank.
Guillotte earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in finance from Louisiana State University. He also completed the Management Development Program in High-Performance Leadership at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
A native of Franklin, Guillotte has been actively involved in community organizations throughout his career. He serves on the Advisory Council and as Finance Chair for St. Pius X Elementary and holds leadership roles with the Community Foundation of Acadiana. He previously served as Board Chair for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana and the Southwest Louisiana Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Marcantel promoted
JD Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Tyler Marcantel to assistant vice president, office manager.
Marcantel, office Manager of the Sale Road Branch, oversees daily branch operations and serves as a consumer lender in the Lake Charles region. Since joining JD Bank in 2020, Marcantel has demonstrated strong leadership and a commitment to customer service. A native of Kinder, he holds an Associate of Science in Business Administration and Management from Sowela and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from LSU-A. He is also a graduate of the Louisiana Banker’s Association Leadership School.
Caldwell named Emerging Star
Visit Lake Charles Sports Events and Marketing Manager Aubrey Caldwell has been recognized as a 2026 eTourism Emerging Tourism Star, a prestigious national honor awarded to innovative professionals shaping the future of travel and tourism.
Caldwell leads sports-focused marketing efforts for Visit Lake Charles and the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority, developing content, managing social media and executing campaigns that elevate Southwest Louisiana as a premier destination for sporting events. She also oversees the coordination and servicing of large-scale events across the region, working closely with partners to deliver seamless experiences for athletes, organizers and visitors.
Her recognition follows a recent promotion to sports events and marketing manager, reflecting her continued impact on the organization’s sports tourism strategy and regional visibility.
