A Message from Outgoing Chairperson, Mark Boyance

"This year was not the year that any of us expected. Sometimes methodology changed but the intention of what I wanted to accomplish as the 67th volunteer chairman of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce did not. I came into the office believing that the strength of Iberia Parish is found in its diversity and during my term I wanted to see that strength recognized. In 2020, we launched a new micro business membership campaign.  Through the year, forty-five businesses joined the chamber, the majority of them minority-owned microbusinesses, bringing to the chamber discussion new voices for enriched dialogue and fuller recognition of the power of small business. The chamber vetted a tremendous influx of material and provided a wealth of information to business members and the community, during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting business resiliency and providing direction to resources. That effort has continued through the year and will continue in 2021. With a twist of perception, instead of bringing the world to New Iberia for the World Championship Gumbo CookOff which is hosted by the chamber, a virtual event and a video of past participants were created, enabling the chamber to continue to promote the World Championship Gumbo CookOff as well as other positive attributes of Iberia Parish to the world, keeping engagement high for the return of the gumbo event in 2021. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to serve the chamber community and Iberia Parish in this most unusual year. For 2021 I turn the chamber’s chairmanship over to Wendell Verret, Executive Director of Twin Parish Port. Wendell is experienced with creating resiliency within organizations and is an excellent choice for what comes next for the chamber and business community. I look forward to continuing my service on the board, strengthening the work that I began this year and supporting what is to come. "