The longtime director of the Cajundome has announced his plans to retire effective October 31, marking the end of the Cajundome’s current 2018 fiscal year.
Greg Davis submitted his plan for retirement in a letter to the Cajundome Commission today.
Here is a copy of the letter Davis presented at the July Cajundome Commission Meeting.
Dear Commissioners:
In August of 1985, I was given an opportunity to work for the CAJUNDOME as its Business Director. Eight years later, I
was promoted to Director. My total tenure has been thirty-three years with twenty-five of those years as Director. What an
opportunity this has been, to have the privilege to manage Lafayette’s marquee facility. I am very thankful to the CAJUNDOME
Commissioners for their support over these years. Running a governmental entity like a business can be tricky. You made it
possible. You supported management and staff in their efforts to enhance the entertainment quality of life in the greater Lafayette area
while creating economic impacts and while minimizing subsidies from the City of Lafayette and Lafayette Consolidated
Government. Without your support this would not have been possible.We have always recognized the vision of our University to make this valuable asset more than an athletic facility. It has
served a greater civic purpose and it provided for so many live entertainment events, local events and conventions. I worked for Dr.
Authement for twenty-three years. So many critical decisions were necessary over this period of time. In every instance Dr.
Authement not only considered the interest of the University but he was equally concerned about the community of Lafayette. It
cannot be overstated the impact of the CAJUNDOME because our University was willing to embrace a vision that was about the wellbeing
of the greater Lafayette area. Dr. Savoie has continued in this tradition. His leadership on the Commission has been
tremendous.
The CAJUNDOME has been fortunate to have a team of management and staff who are mostly from the greater Lafayette
area. They have been dedicated to this facility, always working very hard to strive for excellence. We have six divisions, Sales &
Marketing, Facility Services, Operations, Food Services, Human Resource and Finance. Each and every person, throughout the chain
of command, has approached each and every work day with an enthusiasm to perform their job to greatest of their ability. What more
could you ask for. I have been fortunate to have such a staff. I have had an exceptionally gifted and talented management team. They
have dedicated themselves to this facility, our University and to greater Lafayette. I thank them for their service.This letter of retirement comes at turbulent times. The CAJUNDOME is facing its greatest financial challenge in my thirtythree
year tenure. The economy of Lafayette is having a most serious impact on our ability to maximize live entertainment
business. As a result, our deficit for FY 2018 will exceed the operating subsidy. This is a first. I am presenting a solution for your
consideration that will involve the downsizing of our staff. This downsizing will include my departure along with several other
positions. Tough times require tough decisions.Thank you for the privilege to serve as Director of one of America’s greatest public assembly facilities. My retirement will
be effective October 31, 2018.Respectfully, Greg Davis, Director
Going forward the Cajundome Commission has decided to place current Assistant Director Pam DeVille in the Director’s position to replace Davis as per his recommendation. DeVille began her career with the Cajundome in 1986 as the Assistant Marketing Director and two years later was promoted to Marketing Director. In 1998, Greg promoted DeVille to her current position as Assistant Director where she will remain until October 31. DeVille will begin her time in the Executive Director position effective November 1, 2018.
In a press release sent to media outlets, the Cajundome Commission and the Cajundome staff thanked Davis for his many years of service, dedication and leadership.
