Meet Our Team
Our team at Louisiana's Cajun Bayou works to position Lafourche Parish as a regional, national and international year-round travel destination. We love sharing our unapologetically Cajun destination with the world and creating memorable experiences that are personal and full of flavor!
We'd love to hear from you. Our team's information is below for your convenience.
For further information, give us a call at (985) 537-5800 or (877) 537-5800.
President & CEO
Cody A. Gray joined the Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism (LCBT) team in April 2020 as the Director of Sales and Marketing before being promoted in late 2020 to his current position as President & CEO. Cody is also very active in the state of Louisiana’s tourism industry, serving on the executive board as secretary for the Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and as a board member for the Louisiana Travel Association.
He received his TMP (Travel Marketing Professional) certification from the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College in 2018. With nearly ten years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, he served in various DMO roles at the Columbia County Tourist Development Council in Florida and then as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Tru by Hilton - Lake City Hotels, Inc. in Lake City, Florida
Cody was one of seven national recipients of the 2021 Emerging Tourism Star award from e-Tourism Summit and he received the 2022 Louey Award for Rising Star of the Year from the Louisiana Travel Association. Additionally, this year Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism was recognized as the Most Outstanding CVB/TC of the Year by the Louisiana Travel Association.
Outside of his various roles, Cody remains actively engaged in his local community on the bayou, where you can find him at local festivals and events, enjoying the outdoors, and of course trying out the authentic local cuisine.
Officer Manager/Administrative Assistant
Bree Plaisance, a lifelong resident of Lafourche Parish, joined the team in March of 2020 as the Office Manager and Administrative Assistant. She has spent more than 10 years managing offices and organizing finances for an array of businesses. Bree also started working in the hospitality industry at the young age of 12 bussing tables during summers. She brings this same hard work, dedication, and valuable hospitality experience to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. She is a graduate of Nicholls State University where she received her degrees in business and accounting.
Outside of her career, she is a mother of 2 sons, 2 step-daughters and 2 step-grandsons and another on the way. She has a passion for learning about people and their heritage and her favorite thing about living in Lafourche is exploring the history and enjoying the local festivals with her friends and family. In her spare time you can find Bree enjoying the natural beauty of the area at her family’s camp or out on their boat.
[email protected]
Sales & Marketing Manager
Ian Wallis joined the Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Tourism team in April of 2021 as the Sales & Marketing Manager. Ian is very passionate about the travel and tourism industry and is very thankful to have been able to take that love for the travel industry and turn it into a career. He attended Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, earning a BS in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management and later obtaining his Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality. He began his career in the hotel industry and then worked for two international tour companies, Collette Vacations and Friendly Planet Travel.
In his spare time, Ian enjoys baking delicious desserts, cheering on his favorite soccer team, Chelsea FC, and traveling the globe. He has visited over 25 countries so far and enjoys experiencing and learning about different cultures.
Travel Counselor
Brenda is a resident of Bayou Blue, in Lafourche Parish and has been a member of the team since January 2019. She received her first job when she was younger because of the fact that she spoke Cajun French and could communicate with customers. She retired from the medical field after 32 years as a certified medical coder and billing representative. She attended coding and insurance seminars through the years to further her education. The most important lesson she learned through the years is that you need teamwork and a positive attitude to succeed in everyday life.
She loves talking to visitors to not only share our history of Lafourche Parish, but to also listen and enjoy their stories. She loves being with people and sharing her Cajun stories of her past with family and friends. She has two daughters with two grandchildren. Her family is the joy of her life. She loves spending time with them.
Travel Counselor
John is a resident of Bayou Blue, in Lafourche Parish and has been a member of the team since June 2021. Previously he had worked throughout his life in the oilfield industry. Before retiring from this line of work, he held the position of Barge Administrator of a 300-man living quarter in the Bay of Campeche.
He enjoys telling stories of the local area and assisting visitors to find their own memories and ancestry. He has a strong work ethic and believes in the value of teamwork in order to complete projects. He believes in moving forward in life while also learning from the past. Of most importance, he reminds us to never forget to enjoy the journey of life.
John is a veteran of the USAF and with his spouse Myra, is the proud parent of 3 children and 7 grandchildren. His spare time is filled with family life, ancestry research, antiquing, crafting, fishing, and visiting the local areas of interest.
