Stephen Waguespack chaired the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry for ten years but is now the youngest Republican running for governor. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) announced an interim president and CEO on Wednesday.
Jim Patterson, LABI’s Vice President of Government Relations, has been named interim President and CEO of LABI. Patterson has served the organization for more than 30 years and currently oversees the day-to-day activities of the lobbying team.
“No one is better suited to fill this role than Jim Patterson,” said CEO Jude Melville. Patterson says he is honored by the confidence that LABI leaders have shown in his ability to serve the community. Patterson also chairs the tax boards and finance, labor relations, and trade, transportation and tourism.
Stephen Waguespack is running for governor and resigning from LABI
According to Patterson, Louisiana is at a turning point in history, and LABI stands ready to drive positive policies that Louisiana badly needs.
One Acadiana hosted a discussion with the group in Lafayette Thursday to share their views on business policy ahead of the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature and thoughts on how the Louisiana business community can get involved in the 2023 election season.
Marie Centanni, Founder of Centanni Communications, Beverly Haydel, Founder of Sequitur Consulting, and Andree Miller, Director of LABI’s Political Action Committees, moderated the discussion.
The discussion touched on current issues, how the 2023 election season could affect these things and how citizens can make a difference. LA23: A Road Map to Louisiana’s Future is a project to improve the success rate of Louisiana’s business and economic development.
In 2022, according to discussion, Louisiana was among the top ten states with emigration. Nearly 50% of people say they are leaving because they are looking for a new job or to change companies. On average, population growth is expected to decrease by -6.3% from 2021 to 2031.
The story goes on
Other concerns raised in regional sessions included the severely low supply of education and talent, a lack of incentives for economic development, the complexity of the tax system, and security and resilience from crime, healthcare and insurance.
According to a 2022 Pew Research Center poll, 71% of US adults see strengthening the economy as their top policy priority.
Miller said in proposing the LA23 project she hoped it would be viewed as a broader plan that the next group of election officials will adopt.
The nationwide search for a permanent LABI President and CEO will begin in the next few weeks.
This article originally appeared in the Lafayette Daily Advertiser: The LABI named Jim Patterson as interim president and CEO on Wednesday
Source