Randy Hopper
Profession: Retired, formerly worked in the oil field
How long have you been a member of AcA? About 8 years
Are you on the AcA Board and/or a Committee? Board Member Emeritus, 50th Anniversary Committee, Louisiana Music Museum Committee
What books are you reading? I just finished The Moscow Rules (a Cold War spy non-fiction). Currently, I’m reading Spy, about how David Hanssen betrayed America.
What music are you listening to? I enjoy almost all music, but blues and rock and roll are my favorites. I listen to just about everything except new jazz, most new country, and opera—those just don’t excite me.
What’s the first concert you ever attended? Either Emerson, Lake & Palmer or The Moody Blues
What has been your favorite vacation or place that you’ve traveled to? Why? San Francisco. It was an easy, laid-back vacation with minimal plans but we seized each day that we were there.
Have you lived outside of Acadiana? I was born in Tennessee and lived in six states by the time I was seven. I ended up in Metairie until 1993, when my job relocated me to Lafayette. Acadiana is unique in so many ways—it’s an incredibly giving community.
What do you do in a nutshell? Before retiring, I was middle management in an oilfield service company.
What are your favorite aspects of your job and company? I had many opportunities throughout my career, but one of the most significant was developing a Real-Time Operations Center for the Gulf of Mexico (and beyond). This center supported field engineers working on drilling rigs. One major event uncovered by the center involved a rig anticipating an issue that would exceed the capability of one of our sensors. Because we recognized it in time, the sensor was recalibrated before any downtime occurred. The company estimated this saved them at least one million dollars.
If you could mentor someone who is just starting out in your field, what advice would you give them? The oilfield service industry is tough, but incredibly rewarding. Like any job—or even a passion—if you put in the time, effort, and commitment, you can be extremely successful.
Why did you join AcA, and do you recall your first experience with AcA? We saw Los Lobos in 2014 and fell in love with the venue. After attending several other performances, I asked how to volunteer. I was referred to the website, and the rest is history.
What has been your favorite performance or event hosted by AcA? There have been so many, it’s hard to pick just one—but George Winston stands out.
If someone were considering volunteering with AcA, what would you tell them? It’s an amazing way to meet so many great people. I’ve made a lot of acquaintances and friends through volunteering
How do you see AcA’s impact on the local arts community? AcA offers so many programs that support and introduce all forms of art to students in the Acadiana area. These programs help inspire their ideas, aspirations, and hopes of success.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering? Including the things already mentioned, getting to see the performances that I volunteer for. This has introduced me to so many amazing artists that I probably would not have purchased tickets for.
