Business leaders were recognized at this year’s 121st Annual Banquet of the Chamber SWLA on January 30 and attendees were given insight into the future of Southern economic development. The banquet set the stage for new Alliance leadership with the arrival of new President /CEO Scott Walker later this month.

Scott comes to us from the Lafayette, Indiana Chamber. Our keynote speaker was Gray Swoope, President/CEO of VisionFirst Advisors. Swoope served as Florida’s Secretary of Commerce and President of Enterprise Florida, where he led the state’s economic development efforts under Governor Rick Scott from 2011 to 2015. He previously served as Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority under Governor Haley Barbour, playing a key role in attracting major companies to Mississippi and driving the state’s economic recovery after Hurricane Katrina. 

The banquet also honored three business leaders who are making a difference in our community: 

The 3rd Thomas Clemons Business Development Inclusion Award was presented by Bubba Viator of The Boot to Stephen Everage of the Bristow Group for their participation and support of the Boot’s hiring event which helped transition service men and women into the workplace.

The 2024 Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Kirk Pellerin of Sabine State Bank for his dedication and service to the Alliance through his role as Board Treasurer for the past three years and for going above and beyond on the Board by attending many Chamber SWLA events like our grand openings and networking events.

The 2024 Civic Service Award was presented to longtime civic worker Ronnie Petree of The Bank. With over 40 years in the banking industry, he is passionate about his home town and this region. He has served on the Jennings American Legion Hospital Board, Jeff Davis Parish Library Board, Louisiana Commodity Credit Commission, the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority, the Jeff  Davis Parish Economic Development Commission and our own Chamber SWLA Board. Petree currently is Chair of The Chamber SWLA Public Policy and Infrastructure Committee.

The presenting sponsor of the Banquet was CITGO and the title sponsor was Golden Nugget Casino Resort. Other banquet sponsors include Scofield, Gerard, Pohorelsky, Gallaugher & Landry Law Firm, First Horizon Bank, SEMPRA Infrastructure, Lake Charles Memorial Health System, NextEra Energy Resources, Ad Source Outdoor Advertising, Navarre Automotive, Hunt, Guillot & Associates, SASOL, HUB International, and LyondellBasell. 

2024 Board Chair Janie Fruge, CEO of the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital will serve another year to insure a smooth transition in Alliance leadership. Others on the Executive Committee for 2025 are:

• Jason Guillory, MQB CPA’s, Immediate  Past Chair;
• Velika Hurst-Trahan, Blue Cross Blue Shield,Vice Chair Business Development and Inclusion;
• Matt Koch, CSE Federal Credit Union, Vice Chair Education and Workforce;
• Jill Galmarini, Community Foundation, Vice Chair Quality of Life;
• Matt Redd, Redd Properties, Vice Chair Growth and Development;
• Mark Peters, Westlake Corp, Vice Chair Industrial Development;
• Ronnie Petree, The Bank, Vice Chair Public Policy and Infrastructure;
• Kirk Pellerin, Sabine State Bank, Treasurer;
• Jay Caldwell, Stockwell Sievert, Legal Counsel;
• and Scott Walker, CEO.

2025 is poised to be a great year for the Alliance and Southwest Louisiana and the Alliance staff is eagerly looking forward to welcoming our new leader as we say farewell to our longtime President/CEO, George Swift. As President Ronald Reagan said “We weren’t just marking time. We made a difference.” Thank you, George for making a difference.