NATCHEZ — Jim Laurent has 14-and-a-half years of experience managing refuges, and his next endeavor will be at St. Catherine Creek, where he was recently named the new projects coordinator.

“I’m excited to be here,” Laurent said. “We, my wife and two kids, are looking forward to the opportunity. This is a great place to raise a family and is a place respected by the local community. I just ask folks to be a little patient and let me get used to the position. But come out and see us. Let us know what we can do to help and improve.”

Laurent is making the long haul to Natchez from Anahuac, Texas, a small town 30 miles east of Houston and 30 miles west of Beaumont.

But not too long ago, that area was a huge project for Laurent.

“It was right where Hurricane Ike hit the gulf,” Laurent said. “At my old position, we had to rebuild that refuge from scratch. It was completely wiped out and we started back from ground zero. The experience I have now with contractors, building, the newest technology like being efficient with solar vehicles, I definitely want to take that into this position.”

Unfortunately for Laurent, his anxiousness to begin was halted as he came down with an illness and was forced to delay his start date at St. Catherine Creek.

“I’ve only been here a few days because I got really sick when I was moving from Texas,” he said.

Laurent, who is originally from Lacombe, La, said the biggest motivation for him in taking the new job was to get back closer to home.

Although he is still trying to get his feet underneath him at the new location, Laurent said he has already noticed some transitions that he is going to have to get used to managing the new property.

“It is three separate refuges in three different locations,” he said. “And all three have very different concerns. There is a big public emphasis on hunting, and making sure we stay within regulations and are able to give the public a fair hunt.”

St. Catherine Creek is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.