To our valued stakeholders:
For nearly three decades, the Jefferson Chamber’s mission remains unchanged: to improve the business climate and quality of life in Jefferson Parish and the region. We strive for excellence, and in 2023 were re-accredited as a Five – Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce, placing us in the top 2% of chambers in the United States. Additionally, the Jefferson Chamber was honored as the state’s leading chamber of commerce for 2023 in the large chamber category by the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know how your investments and contributions have promoted successful initiatives in our community throughout the past year.
Advocating on a local, state, and federal level to endorse and support pro-business policies and legislation continues to be our first priority. In 2023, we made great strides toward improving the business climate in Jefferson Parish through an increased advocacy presence at all levels of government. This included a hospitality suite at Washington Mardi Gras, which provides unparalleled access to Louisiana’s elected officials, regular visits to the State Capitol during the legislative session with weekly updates to our membership, and a successful election year for the Jefferson Chamber PAC. While our state continues to endure an insurance crisis, we worked to educate our members and advocate for initiatives which would help to improve the availability and affordability of private insurance in a competitive market. We fought tirelessly to educate the community and communicate our support of Jefferson Parish Schools’ Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan which is currently being implemented with immense success and savings to the district. We were also an active participant on Louisiana’s Early Childhood Care and Education Commission to create a vision and framework for the future of early childhood care and education in Louisiana. The Jefferson Chamber continues to lead the Industrial Alliance Task Force which opposes additional industrial zoning regulations proposed by Jefferson Parish and would be crippling to our economy, particularly on the West Bank. Please consider joining a committee and attending one of our governmental site visits to ensure our voices are heard at all levels of government!Â
Education and professional development remain a high priority to ensure that our workforce is equipped to supply ever-demanding job growth. Our Education and Workforce Development Committee strengthened its ties with all levels of education and industry through collaborative partnerships and informative meetings and tours. We expanded our Young Professionals Committee and provided invaluable opportunities for professional development. Leadership Jefferson, a nine-month program designed to develop business and community leaders with the capacity to improve the quality of life in our region, graduated its 21st class in 2023, and we continue to make significant improvements to the program. In collaboration with JEDCO, our Prosper Jefferson seminar series offers an environment for professionals to grow together, focusing on topics such as public speaking, leadership, and company culture.
Connecting people ensures growth in businesses, and no organization does that better than the Jefferson Chamber! With nearly 1000 members, 2023 was our strongest year of membership to date. Monthly networking events such as our Business and Breakfasts and Business Card Exchanges provide an accessible way to increase your business network. Several of our signature events boasted record-breaking attendance, including Annual Meeting, Legislative Breakfast, Crawfish Boil and State of Jefferson. We look forward to seeing you at these events in 2024!
As President and Chairman of the Jefferson Chamber, respectively, we could not be prouder of the work of the Chamber’s small staff and our dedicated volunteers. We have hosted over 80 events in the past year, including educational seminars, networking events, advocacy trips, and more. Our members voluntarily participate on six different committees, as well as the Jefferson Chamber PAC and Foundation, for the betterment of our organization.
Thank you for your continued support of the Jefferson Chamber and your investment in our award-winning Chamber to make our mission of Improving Business – Improving Lives possible.
We look forward to our continued partnership with our investors and the community in 2024!
With Our Sincerest Gratitude,
Ruth W. Lawson
President, Jefferson Chamber
Ryan Rodrigue
2024 Chair, Jefferson Chamber
