A Letter from the Board Chairman

Thank you for your confidence in me to lead our Jefferson Chamber as the 2018 Chairman. I am excited to face the challenges and advancements the year ahead will bring.

First and foremost, happy birthday to the Chamber! 2018 marks 21 years of being the voice of Jefferson Parish businesses and advocating for public policy that supports a strong community. We celebrate this anniversary by acknowledging our past accomplishments and looking forward to what the future holds for our business community.

A key focus for us in the new year is to renew our accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce. We’ve held our 4-star accreditation since 2013, and it recognizes our contributions to effect positive change in the community. It lets those whom we engage with know that we value excellence and are serious about strengthening the local economy and making a difference in the quality of life of parish residents.

Our other key initiatives for the coming year surround the new airport terminal, the redevelopment of Avondale, and working closely with state and parish administrators on legislation supporting economic expansion. We will continue our engagement in business development programs, workforce development and healthcare improvement.

The Chamber brings great value to Jefferson Parish through the strong leadership of our Board, through the work of our committees on initiatives and advocacy efforts, and through the support of our Chamber members, who look to us to champion growth.

I encourage you to renew your commitment to the Jefferson Chamber and tell your peers about the benefits of membership. Our high investor program has been hugely successful in the enhanced exposure and recognition it offers. But remember, at any membership level, we work for you to:

• Be your voice in lobbying for changes in laws that affect your business

• Develop or find networking events and seminars that benefit your business

• Provide valuable tools and information on improving business sales and operations

• We will achieve the goals we set for 2018 through our continued and new leadership and through the commitment of our membership base.

Best wishes to you and yours for a prosperous new year,

Nick Karl