https://lapl.com/events Lafayette Association of Professional Landmen upcoming events Lafayette Association of Professional Landmen Wild Apricot - membership management software and more en Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:51:15 GMT Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:51:15 GMT Thu, 29 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT <p><img src="https://lapl.com/resources/Pictures/Oct%20flyer%202026.png" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> https://lapl.com/event-6828824 https://lapl.com/event-6828824 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT <p><img src="https://lapl.com/resources/Pictures/LAPL%20board%20meetings%20logo.png" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> https://lapl.com/event-6837925 https://lapl.com/event-6837925 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT <p><img src="https://lapl.com/resources/Veterans%20Luncheon%20Flyer-10.15.png" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> <p align="center" style="line-height: 17px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong><span><font style="font-size: 19px;" face="Times New Roman, serif">Andrew Ward</font></span></strong></font></p> <p align="center" style="line-height: 17px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong><span><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Times New Roman, serif">Founder | The Boot</font></span></strong></font></p> <p align="center" style="line-height: 17px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong><span><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Times New Roman, serif">Founder &amp; CEO | Acadiana Veteran Alliance (AVA)</font></span></strong></font></p> <p align="center" style="line-height: 17px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong><span><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Times New Roman, serif">Chairman | Lafayette Veterans Affairs Commission</font></span></strong></font></p> <p align="center" style="line-height: 17px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong><span><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Times New Roman, serif">Member | Louisiana Governor Transition Team (Military Affairs)</font></span></strong></font></p> <p align="center" style="line-height: 17px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong><span><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Times New Roman, serif">Scholar | George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program</font></span></strong></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman, serif">Andrew Ward is a combat veteran and former infantryman with the Louisiana Army National Guard who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and 2005.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman, serif">He is the Founder and CEO of Acadiana Veteran Alliance (AVA), a non-profit improving outcomes for veterans and their families through its WORK, HEAL, and GIVE programs. AVA connects veterans to career opportunities, addresses combat related PTSD through innovative behavioral health partnerships, builds stronger veteran communities, and advocates for policies that make Louisiana a better place for veterans to live and thrive. In 2026, Andrew also created Mission: Launch, an entrepreneurship program designed to help veterans launch and grow businesses.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman, serif">In 2021, Andrew was selected as a Scholar in the George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. In 2024, the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs named him the state’s Veteran of the Year in recognition of AVA’s HEAL Program and its work addressing PTSD and veteran suicide.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman, serif">Andrew also founded The Boot in 2024 in collaboration with the Louisiana Governor’s Office and Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. The statewide nonprofit focuses on economic development by recruiting and retaining transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses in Louisiana. In less than three years, The Boot has helped place nearly 400 service members into Louisiana careers, generating more than $30 million in economic impact for the state.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman, serif">Andrew is also a cofounder of PathRecon, a technology platform designed to connect transitioning service members and veterans with education, training, and career pathways while helping states and employers build stronger military talent pipelines.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman, serif">Andrew currently serves as Chairman of the Lafayette Veterans Affairs Commission, where he helps guide local veteran initiatives and works with government and community leaders to expand opportunities for veterans and their families.</font></p> <p><br></p> https://lapl.com/event-6844471 https://lapl.com/event-6844471 Tue, 15 Dec 2026 17:30:00 GMT <p><img src="https://lapl.com/resources/Pictures/LAPL%20board%20meetings%20logo.png" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> https://lapl.com/event-6828781 https://lapl.com/event-6828781 Fri, 18 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT <p><img src="https://lapl.com/resources/Pictures/Christmas%20party%20logo.png" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> https://lapl.com/event-6837930 https://lapl.com/event-6837930