Will Thiele & Jared Eubanks
Professions:
Will is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Jared is a Financial Planning Manager
How long have you been a member of AcA?
3 years
Are you on the AcA Board and/or a Committee? If so, please expand. If not, would you like to be considered for a Board or Committee position?
Not yet, but hopefully one day! Will currently serves as the Treasurer of Festival International de Louisiane and Jared serves as the Treasurer of the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette.
What books are you reading?
Jared: I’m a big fantasy nerd and am about halfway through my re-read of the Wheel of Time Series.
What music are you listening to?
Jared: I have been enjoying Laura Jane Grace’s new album Adventure Club.
Will: I’ve been listening to Twenty One Pilots a lot recently.
Do you have a favorite pastime? If so, what is it?
We both love to play the card game Magic: The Gathering with our friends and host a weekly standing game night.
What trade do you believe everyone ought to learn?
Jared: I don’t know about a trade in particular but there is something so rewarding about doing something hands on. Recently I’ve taken back up bee keeping.
What’s the first concert you ever attended?
Will: My first concert was a Britney Spears. She performed Oops!… I Did It Again before it was even released publicly! Jared: My first concert, at least that was for me and not my parents, was Modest Mouse, a favorite to this day.
Have you lived outside of Acadiana? Where? What makes Acadiana a special place to live?
Jared: Will is from Ann Arbor, Michigan and I actually am from Lake Charles. I went to school in Arkansas, but afterwards moved to Lafayette. There is a special community here. It feels like a big little town. I had no interest in moving away, especially not to Baton Rouge where Will was living when we started dating.
Do you frequent any Downtown establishments? Which ones and what’s your go-to cocktail or lite bite?
Will: There are too many great options to name them all! I love a Hadacol Boogie from Hideaway on Lee, a Perillo Punch tiki drink from Spoonbill, or a Viceroy from Pamplona. Can’t forget about the famous Legend’s frozen margaritas.
What do you do in a nutshell?
We both work in finance/accounting and spend most of our days in front of an Excel spreadsheet. Most people may find that boring but we both enjoy it.
Why did you join AcA, and do you recall your first experience with AcA?
We joined because we saw pictures of the Insiders’ Salon events and wanted to join in on the fun! We’ve tie-dyed bags, stamped designs onto bandanas, painted clay magnets, and so much more. There’s no better feeling than making memories and experiencing new things with friends.
What has been your favorite performance or event hosted by AcA?
We loved attending the 24 Hour Citizen Project Main Event. The event is such an uplifting, positive, hopeful experience. Getting to cheer on people who love Lafayette and are pouring their heart and soul into projects to better our city is a truly moving experience. Shoutout to our friends Ashley Hutchins and Grace Farnell with “Reel Connections” for getting their project funded this year!
What’s your favorite part of being a member of AcA?
It may sound cheesy, but getting to support the arts is very important to us. The arts enrich our lives, they challenge us to think, learn, and question the status quo. Don’t take them for granted, especially in Lafayette which is a cultural hotspot with so much to offer!
