Meet Our Leadership

Jerry Greig

Jerry Greig is an accomplished business executive with substantial experience in energy, healthcare, technology, strategy, process improvement and operations. He joined the Acadian Companies Board of Directors in 2018 and currently serves as Chairman of the Governance Committee.

He retired as the chief information officer of Fugro Chance Inc., a member of the Netherlands-based Fugro NV group of companies.

Since 2013, Jerry has also served on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) Board of Directors and serves on the philanthropic BCBSLA Foundation, whose mission is to promote the wellness and wellbeing of Louisianians by supporting health- or education-related causes.

Jerry is a Board Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

David Kelly

David Kelly joined the board of directors in 2019 following his retirement from Acadian. He served 25 years as Acadian’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. He oversaw all of the company’s accounting, budgeting, financial and income tax reporting processes. He currently serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee.

David served for many years as a member of the board of trustees of The Employee Ownership Foundation and also is a former chair of the National ESOP Association. He is a CPA and earned a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.B.A. from Louisiana State University.

Fred Mills

Chairman

Fred Mills was appointed to the Acadian Companies Board of Directors in 2006 and was the second person to serve as an outside member of the board.

In January of 2011, Fred was elected to the Louisiana State Senate. As a state senator, his duties include Chairman of Health and Welfare Committee, Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Local and Municipal Committee and Judicial C Committee. His former governmental experience is varied and includes his election in 2007 to represent Louisiana’s District 46 as state representative, and was on the Governor’s Health Care Reform Panel.

Fred is also a licensed pharmacist, owner of a successful pharmacy, member of the board of directors of St. Martin Hospital in Breaux Bridge, and president and CEO of Farmers-Merchants Bank.

John Rester

John Rester was appointed to the Acadian Companies Board of Directors in January 2010 and currently serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee.

With over 30 years of experience in the ambulance industry as president and CEO of Mobile Medic and AMR, John was responsible for operations, mergers and acquisitions. John is currently the managing partner for a real estate and investment management firm.

Richard Zuschlag

March 28, 1948 – June 5, 2024

Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Richard Emery Zuschlag, along with Richard Sturlese and Roland Dugas, founded Acadian on September 1, 1971.

He initially served as Secretary-Treasurer and was later named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, a post he held until his death on June 5, 2024.

Our friend, mentor, and leader Richard fought the hard fight that so many with cancer and its complications have endured. While we mourn our extraordinary loss, we are comforted in knowing that he is no longer suffering. He is now in the loving arms of his Lord, in whom he had unwavering faith.

Richard was a much loved and admired agent of change, not only in the state of Louisiana but across the nation. The lives he affected through his vision, generosity, inspiration, and leadership are countless. Whether a friend, employee, peer or patient, all of our lives were changed due to his undeniable determination to make a difference. 

His legacy endures through his beautiful family, and in every life saved, every patient helped, and in every battle he waged to ensure that all people had access to high-quality medical care. He never backed down when fighting for the things he loved most: his family, his employees, and the communities he served.

His legacy also lives on in the company he tirelessly worked 53 years to grow and nurture.  Acadian Companies is not just a successful organization but also serves as an example of how servant leadership, high integrity and unwavering determination create success, not for one, but for all. 

We will forever be changed, forever be grateful, and forever be better because of who Richard was and the lessons and legacy he has left us. He treated everyone with respect and was constantly striving to bring people together for the greater good. It is up to all of us to honor this legacy by living and leading by his example and his faith. Because of Richard, Acadian is stronger than ever, and in his honor, we will carry on his life’s work.