Erin Bigner has spent nearly two decades building something in St. Bernard Parish: first a business and now a platform.
Before stepping into her role as executive director of the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce this spring, Bigner spent almost two decades running Personalized Bayou, a custom design business she founded and operated largely on her own, serving fairs, festivals and organizations across Louisiana.
“My proudest accomplishment is operating a successful one-woman business in St. Bernard Parish for nearly 19 years,” she said, “where I managed every aspect from client relationships to production and growth, while building a trusted reputation across the region.”
That hands-on, community-rooted approach carried over into her volunteer work, where Bigner became a fixture in St. Bernard’s civic life. As the pageant director and founder of the LCF Ball for the Louisiana Crawfish Festival (which has earned multiple statewide honors), she developed a knack for connecting people and advancing large-scale events.
Now she’s channeling all of it into leading the chamber’s 300-plus member organization.
“I enjoy connecting people, supporting local businesses and being part of something bigger than myself, something that strengthens St. Bernard. This role allows me to do that every day.”
She’s clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. Member engagement, she said, is the real work. Growing the rolls is important, but she’s focused on making sure existing members actually use what they’re paying for.
“I’ve found that once [members] join, they’re not always sure what comes next,” she said. “So, the challenge isn’t just recruitment; it’s engagement, retention, and making sure every member sees a return on their investment.”
To that end, she’s building programming like Chamber 101, expanding networking and professional development opportunities, and developing a membership directory to raise visibility for local businesses across the parish and region.
The bigger picture, she said, is collaboration. She wants to align the chamber with parish government, tourism and economic development partners to present a unified front for St. Bernard’s business community.
“I’m working to fully learn and maximize the tools and systems we have in place,” she said, “so we can operate as efficiently and effectively as possible moving forward.”
COMPANY
St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce
TITLE
Executive Director
Assumed New Position
March 2026
