Leadership

Colby Arceneaux first attended the University of Mississippi, where was a multi-sport athlete, and later transferred to Northwestern State University where he finished his athletic career and completed his Bachelor of Science degree double majoring in Accounting and Business Administration all in a three-year period. After completing his undergraduate degree, Mr. Arceneaux attended graduate school at Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business where he obtained both a Master of Accounting degree and an Energy Specialist Certificate. Mr. Arceneaux then started his career at Tank Specialties, a middle market energy service company, where he initially focused his efforts on accounting and finance. He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2011, where he helped increase the business valuation from $15 to $100 million over his tenure. Mr. Arceneaux started preparing for a transition into the life insurance industry in February of 2016, when he partnered with Derek Hebert, and fully transitioned later with the creation of Upstream Holdings, a company formed to acquire Financial Assurance Life Insurance Company. He also attended the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business where he completed a Mergers and Acquisitions Certificate in July of 2016, in preparation for a transaction in the insurance industry. Mr. Arceneaux has additionally continued studies at Loyola University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Law, where he studied contract law and organizational structure.

Derek Hebert is a licensed producer in the insurance industry and is trained by some of the world’s largest insurance companies in business estate planning, succession planning and retirement planning. He is dedicated to helping his clients across the United States with a broad range of strategies and services designed to both maximize their wealth potential and preserve their wealth accumulation. Derek began his collegiate athletic career in baseball at El Camino College in California, where he earned an associate’s degree. He continued his studies towards a bachelor’s degree and his collegiate athletic career in baseball at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge. He excelled as a scholar in the classroom and an athlete on the baseball field earning numerous athletic awards and playing at the College Baseball World Series.

After college, Derek became a licensed producer in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. In 2012, he was awarded and recognized as a featured author at FoxBusiness.com. Since then, Hebert has been an active member in Aviva’s President’s Club and has been a nationally recognized agent achieving numerous honors and awards through his hard work and dedication to his clients. In 2016, Hebert partnered with Colby Arceneaux to start a life insurance company and fully transitioned later with the creation of Upstream Holdings, a company formed to acquire Financial Assurance Life Insurance Company. Derek has been an active member of the Boys and Girls Club and the Cortland Fund for Children. Derek, along with his loving wife Rachel, are devoted parents to their two daughters, Madicyn and Marielle, and two sons, Maris Cortland and Mathis.

Kevin Hebert is the founder of Hebert Advisory Group. He began his career in the retirement planning business in 1980, shortly after marrying his wife, Tina. In 1982, Kevin became an associate of Northwestern Mutual Life, where for 14 years was a leader among his peers in product knowledge and production. His intense study and experience in business estate and personal retirement planning, as well as training, led to his decision to expand his career. In 1996, Kevin became an independent consultant, which helped him provide more services to his clients. His commitment to providing the best possible services to his clients has earned him the respect of being considered one of the nation’s top producers in the financial and insurance industry. Kevin was raised in a large family of 13 siblings and takes pride in the relationships he has established in his community. He understands the importance of assisting families in planning and providing for their loved ones. Kevin has been an honorable member of the Aviva President’s Club since 1997. He is a former board member of the Boys and Girls Club of New Iberia. With his wife, Kevin has established the Cortland Fund for Children in memory of their son, Cortland. This organization helps disadvantaged children heal and thrive. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys sports and fitness, spending time with his growing family and traveling. He and Tina have been married for 37 years and have raised four children: Derek, Christina, Cortland and Colby. They also have seven beautiful grandchildren.

Dr. Michael S. Blue is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  He attended Meharry Medical College School of Medicine and earned his Doctorate of Medicine with Honors in 2006. He completed his residency in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in 2010.  During his academic tenure at Harvard Medical School he was selected Administrative Chief Resident of the Harvard Medical School Psychiatry Residency Training Program (2009-2010). He also received a number of academic awards during his residency training, such as the Harvard Medical School Psychiatry Residency Training Program 360° Professionalism Award (2008-2009), and the Harvard Medical School Psychiatry Residency Training Program Best Research Paper Award (2006-2007).  After successfully graduating from his Psychiatry Residency Dr. Blue completed a Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at Tulane University School of Medicine in 2011. He is also the former Associate Training Director of the Tulane University School of Medicine Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship, and the former Clinical Director of the Secure Forensic Facility at the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System Forensic Division Hospital. He is currently the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Visions for Better Health, LLC as well as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Tulane University School of Medicine.  

Tom Weyer was with with Global Atlantic Financial Group for over 13 years, most recently as VP of Field Training and Development. In this role, he helped develop and implement training for sales professionals. This occurs both in the Home Office and in the field. In addition to this capacity, he has served AVIVA as a Sales Vice President.  In the past Mr. Weyer has been a Regional Vice-President for National Life Group and AEGON/Transamerica. Prior to joining AVIVA/Amerus, most of his career had been spent at MONY were he was an MDRT producer, agency head and National Director of the company’s training program. Mr. Weyer has a BBA in Finance from Notre Dame and remains active in alumni affairs as Class President. He is also past president of his local Life Underwriters Association.  He is an active and humorous public speaker both in and out of the industry. He enjoys spending time with spouse Mary, a college professor, their 3 kids and 3 grandchildren. Mr. Weyer enjoys boating, a bit of skiing and an occasional ‘Old Boys” rugby match.

Taylor Barras is currently serving as Assessor-elect of Iberia Parish in the state of Louisiana.  He will be officially sworn in as Tax Assessor in January 2021.  He is a native of New Iberia, Louisiana where he and his family currently reside.  

Prior to his election as Assessor, he served as Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2016-2020.  He served as a State Representative from 2008 until the end of his term as Speaker in 2020, as a result of term limits. 

In his professional life, Taylor served as the Market President of Louisiana based IBERIABANK for 20 years and worked as a commercial banker for the preceding 20 years.  He completed his 40-year banking career to accept his current position as Assessor.  

During his time in the Louisiana Legislature, he was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and authored several key pieces of legislation directed at fiscal reform and improved tax policy.  He was active in a number of legislative initiatives for business and industry. 

Additionally, he served on a number of statewide and local organizations including the Council for a Better Louisiana and Leadership Louisiana.  In addition to several local and state civic service commendations, his Louisiana legislative colleagues recognized him in 2017 as the “Gentleman of the Louisiana House” for his extraordinary work and leadership in the House of Representatives.