INTERNATIONAL TRADE & DEVELOPMENT
Dave Domingue, Director of International Trade & Development

Dave Domingue was born in Lafayette into a family with a history of civic engagement and a fierce pride of Lafayette and its people. Raised among speakers of French and English, from an early age he had the opportunity to represent Lafayette and its merits on family and performing trips abroad, most notably in France and Canada.

Years later, in 1990, Dave was called into service as an unofficial translator and logistics coordinator for a local folklore performing group, during a month-long tour of France. This led, on his return, to his being asked to join the staff of the Lafayette International Center, which had helped organize the tour. He has been a member of the staff since that time, for over thirty years, after working in management in the private sector for thirteen years.

In March 2021, Dave was appointed as Director of the International Center, the division of Lafayette Consolidated Government charged with expanding the local economy by encouraging export sales and inbound international tourism. The International Center works toward that end in concert with other local, state and national organizations, and was honored in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Commerce with the President’s “E” Award for excellence in export assistance and promotion. Dave was later instrumental in securing the President’s “E-Star” Award for continued outstanding performance-one of only five organizations in the nation to receive the 2017 award, one of only two to receive it for export service, the only municipal honoree, and the only Louisiana honoree.

Since it began operating in 1990, the International Center can claim an impact of over $205 million of fresh capital coming into the Lafayette economy through exports and tourism. This represents a return on investment of over $22 for every dollar of funding received.

Dave graduated with honors from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL), followed by graduate studies at Loyola University. Outside of work, Dave stays active in a number of civic and church organizations, is a well-respected musician, and currently serves on the boards of La Fondation Louisiane, 232-HELP and the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association.