Business leaders were recognized at this year’s 121st Annual Banquet of the Chamber SWLA and attendees were given insight into the future of Southern economic development from speaker 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 evening 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 and for going above and beyond his role on the Board by attending many Chamber SWLA events like our ribbon cuttings and Kirk has been the Board Treasurer for three years.
The 2024 Civic Service Award was presented to 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 SW Board. I’m proud to present this year’s Civic Service Award to Ronnie Petree, The Bank.
The presenting sponsor of the Banquet is CITGO and the title sponsor was The 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 Lyondell Bassell.
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