Chamber News: 2024 Board Installed, 2023 Annual Report, Membership Awards

2024 Board Installed, Chris Abadie Serves as Chairman

Chris Abadie

2024 Chairman

Chris Abadie accepting the gavel from outgoing Chairman David Landry.

During our Installation & Awards Luncheon, outgoing board members were thanked for their volunteer leadership and incoming 2024 board members and advisory board members were installed. Chris Abadie, senior advisor with Stirling, is our 2024 Chairman of the Board, succeeding David Landry, an equity partner with Carver Darden. Click here to read Abadie's Installation Speech. Click here to read Landry's speech as outgoing chairman.

Rounding out the members of the 2024 Board of Directors are:

• Kyle Beerbohm, Aubert Insurance Agency

• Rebecca Blossman-Ferran, Northshore Media Group

• Sam Caruso Jr., UNITS of Greater New Orleans

• Christina Chifici, LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors

• Barbara Doyle, Sophisticated Woman Magazine

• Joe Eagan, Grace Funeral Home and St. Lazarus of Bethany Memorial Garden

• Linda Larkin, Patriot Title

• Tanmay Mathur, Covington Behavioral Health

• Paysse McWilliams, Voelkel McWilliams Construction

• Victoria Langlinais Paz, Silver Slipper Casino Hotel

• Ric Poirier, Blue Williams

• Shane Purvis, Citizens National Bank

• Kelly Rabalais, St. Tammany Health System

• Mike Saucier, Gulf States Real Estate Services

• Vanessa Schneider, Blitch Knevel Architects

• Alan Thriffiley, Total Insurance Planning

• Cleveland Wester, Youth Service Bureau

Members of the 2024 Advisory Board are:

• Donna Bach, Pizza Platoon

• David Boudreaux, Hancock Whitney Bank

• Carrie Calvin, Bourgeois Bennett CPAs & Consultants

• Elizabeth Garland, Start Corporation

• Matt Guidry, St. Tammany Famer and NOLA.com

• Rory Hebbler, First Horizon

• Todd Hillberry, Hydro-Line Exterior Services, LLC

• Paul LeBlanc, Arbor Lending Group, LLC

• Kendra Maness, Slidell Magazine

• Chris Masingill, St. Tammany Corporation

• Alton McRee, American Bank

• Kim Melvin, Lakeview Hospital

• Joseph Montelepre, Heritage Bank of St. Tammany

• Louis Ochoa, The Sadie Jane

• Donna O’Daniels, Visit The Northshore

• Theresa Orgeron, JJL&W Insurance Consulting Firm

• Brooke Russell, AVALA

• Rachel Shields, Greater New Orleans, Inc.

Executive Committee Members are (seated l-r) Chris Landry, Lacey Osborne, Christina Chifici, David Landry (standing l-r) Paysse McWilliams, Alton McRee, Alan Thriffiley, Ric Poirer and Victoria Paz.

More Information on Award Recipients to Come in Next Week's Chamber News!

Membership award recipients are (l-r) Board Member of the Year Louis Ochoa with The Sadie Jane, Ambassador of the Year Elizabeth Garland with Start Corporation, Member of the Year Joel Treadwell with Joel Treadwell Fine Portraiture and Committee of the Year (Northshore Young Professionals) Co-Chairs Elizabeth Lee with St. Tammany Corporation and Matt Guidry with The St. Tammany Farmer/ NOLA.com.

Chamber's 2023 Annual Report

Our Chamber's accomplishments in 2023 are a result of the work done by our active, engaged members, committee volunteers and board of directors. We hope you feel pride and appreciation as you read our 2023 Annual Report.

Click here to view the report.

Issues Making News

Louisiana’s Latest Special Session

Louisiana lawmakers closed out the first special legislative session of newly inaugurated Gov. Jeff Landry’s term last Friday, giving final approval to a new congressional map and a plan to implement closed-party primaries for some political races. Click here to read what passed and what it means.

Special Class of Homeowners Could Get Property Tax Break

A new property tax break could become available to certain Louisiana homeowners this year, illustrating a trend of offering more and more relief to special classes of taxpayers but with little public understanding of how much money they are saving and how much is no longer available to deliver public services. Click here to read more.

New FEMA Rules Aim to Cut Red Tape After Natural Disasters

Anyone who has lived through a natural disaster and then applied to the federal government for assistance knows that it can be a lengthy, frustrating and bureaucratic process. New rules announced Friday by the federal agency in charge of emergency management aim to simplify and speed up the process.

Deanne Criswell, who heads the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the changes, going into effect in March, are designed to make it easier for disaster survivors to get help — a challenge for those often struggling to recover from the worst day of their lives.

Click here to learn more about the changes going into effect March 22.