On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the Leadership Livingston Class of 2025 was announced. The class was presented to over 240 attendees at the Annual State of Livingston Parish Address. Prior to the luncheon event, the class was introduced to each other through a meet and greet type event and program orientation. “We are thrilled to start the 13th cohort of the Leadership Livingston Program. As with every class, we are excited to see the achievements of this group and the positive influence they will
Leadership Livingston Graduates Class of 2024The Leadership Livingston Class of 2024 graduated on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Leadership Livingston, a program of the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce, has been in place since 2012 and the class of 2024 is the twelfth year of graduates. This latest graduating class, with 24 graduates, brings the total graduates to 286. The graduation event was held at Suma Hall Community Center. Class participants, sponsors, project supporters, Leadership alumni,
Leadership Group Completes "Outdoor Oasis" Project at the Livingston Council on AgingFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Chamber Office Phone: 225-665-8155 Email: office@livingstonparishchamber.org Date: October 5, 2023Leadership Group Completes "Outdoor Oasis" Project at the Livingston Council on AgingDenham Springs, LA - On Thursday, October 5, 2023, the Chamber of Commerce community project, "Outdoor Oasis," was unveiled. This project was chosen by members of the Leadership Livingston Project Group after
Leadership Livingston Class of 2024 Announced On Wednesday, August 9, 2023, the Leadership Livingston Class of 2024 was announced. The class was presented to over 200 attendees at the Annual State of Livingston Parish Address. Prior to the luncheon event, the class was introduced to each other through a meet and greet type event and program orientation. “We are looking forward to this 12th cohort of the Leadership Livingston Program. It is always an exciting time as the new class begins with
Leadership Livingston Graduates Class of 2023 The Leadership Livingston Class of 2023 graduated on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Leadership Livingston, a program of the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce, has been in place since 2012 and the class of 2023 is the eleventh year of graduates. This latest graduating class, with 25 graduates, brings the total graduates to 262. The graduation event was held at Suma Hall Community Center. Class participants, sponsors, project supporters, Leadership
Improvements to Pupil Appraisal Center Revealed with Leadership LivingstonOn Wednesday, June 14, 2023 an official reveal of improvements to the LPPS Pupil Appraisal Center in Livingston was held. The event was organized by the Leadership Livingston Program in coordination with the Livingston Parish School System. The Pupil Appraisal Center (PAC) is charged with the duty of identifying children in Livingston Parish who may be in need of special education services. The PAC houses close to 70 staff, and
Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce Project Group “PAC CAN PLAY” breaks ground for Project at Pupil Appraisal Center in Livingston. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2023 Livingston, LA — The Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership LivingstonProject Group, PAC can Play, has broken ground on their community project at the Pupil Appraisal Center in Livingston, which is utilized to evaluate young children entering the public school system. PAC can Play recognized the need for a safe, comfortable,
Leadership Livingston Group “PAC CAN PLAY” Announces Project for Pupil Appraisal Center in Livingston. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2023 Livingston, LA — The Leadership Livingston Project Group, PAC can Play, announces their new community project at the Pupil Appraisal Center in Livingston. The center is utilized to evaluate young children entering the public school system. PAC can Play consists of a group of 8 local Leadership Livingston class members, who recognized the need for a safe,
First Responders Monument in Walker Revealed with Leadership Livingston On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, an official reveal of the First Responders Monument will be held. The event is being organized by the Leadership Livingston Program in coordination with the City of Walker through the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce. The First Responders Monument is a dedicated area for current and fallen first responders to be honored. It is one of the only projects of its kind in our area and is intended to
Leadership Livingston Collaboration with LPPS Revealed A collaboration between Livingston Parish Chamber, Leadership Livingston and Livingston Parish Public Schools was started back in 2020 and finally unveiled at a ceremony on November 3, 2022. An official ribbon cutting marked the opening of the Curbside Café, a food trailer that will be utilized by LPPS to expand Meal Education and Awareness for Livingston Students (M.E.A.L.S.) LPPS officials, project sponsors, Chamber members and Ambassadors, and
Leadership Livingston Class of 2023 Announced On Wednesday, August 10, 2022, the Leadership Livingston Class of 2023 was announced. “We are looking forward to this 11th cohort of the Leadership Livingston Program. It is always an exciting time as the new class begins with endless possibilities and promise", said April Wehrs Chamber President | CEO and program facilitator. "As with every class, we can't wait to see the accomplishments of this class and their impact to our communities as ambassadors
“Uncertainty” was the word that first echoed when Travis Tharp opened his address as class speaker for Leadership Livingston. In Tharp’s words, his group of fellow, local professionals who graduated in the 10th iteration of the program faced an array of “noise and uncertainty.” He detailed how the ambiguity of he and his classmates’ Leadership Livingston experience took shape as repercussions of the pandemic, Hurricane Ida, and recent economic stress. “A lot of change in a very short period of time,” he
Leadership Livingston Graduates Class of 2022The Leadership Livingston Class of 2022 graduated on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Leadership Livingston, a program of the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce, has been in place since 2012 and the class of 2022 is the tenth year of graduates. This latest graduating class, with 21 graduates, brings the total graduates to 237. The graduation event was held at Serenity Events Center in Watson. Class participant sponsors, project supporters, Leadership alumni,
January 9, 2022 Press release: For immediate release Contact: April Wehrs, 225-665-8155 | april@livingstonparishchamber.org Blanket Drive collects over 1000 blankets for Livingston Parish Agencies With the final numbers in for 2021, the Blanket Drive has collected over 1000 blankets. The source of the donations varied with several local businesses, government entities and community organizations joining the drive. Individuals also participated and contributed over $2500 in donations which
Leadership Livingston selected its 10th class since inception of the program. The class notified of their selection and held their first meet up in August. Regular class sessions began in September. “The class of 2022 has had the opportunity to get together and is enthusiastic about the coming year. We all know if we wait for the perfect to get moving, in today’s world, we may be waiting a long time. Never has leadership development been more important than now. We heard from graduates following the
BATON ROUGE, LA, August 9, 2021 – Forte and Tablada announced that Brad Holleman has acquired ownership interest in the firm. Holleman, a senior vice president over the company’s Survey and Advanced Measurements division, is a lifelong resident of Livingston Parish as well as a graduate of Denham Springs High School and the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. "Brad is an outstanding young leader within our organization and represents the highest degree of professionalism in the
The Leadership Livingston Class of 2021 graduated on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Leadership Livingston, a program of the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce, has been in place since 2012 and the class of 2021 is the ninth year of graduates. This latest graduating class, with 18 graduates, brings the total graduates to 216. The graduation event was held at the Suma Center, at the Satsuma Exit, with the hospitality of Celebration Church, which currently leases and hold services at the location. Class
Albany Park To Get Facility UpgradeEFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELYApril 19, 2021 Albany Park to Get Facility Upgrade Albany, LA — Plans to upgrade Albany Community Park are moving forward. The facility is scheduled to receive improved access, parking and ADA compliant pathways as part of a community project. The project will focus on creating full and equitable access to the park for individuals with physical disabilities. Upgrades will include a series of wide concrete walkways and several paved parking
Leadership Livingston Project Group takes on Livingston Parish First Responders Monument Each year, participants in the Leadership Livingston Program are tasked with identifying a community need or project that makes Livingston Parish better. One of the two groups for the Class of 2021 has chosen, written a proposal on how they will complete and fund the project, and has been approved by the Chamber to move forward with making this project a reality.
Leadership Livingston Class of 2021 Selected Leadership Livingston’s newest class kicked things off on Thursday with an orientation of the program presented by April Wehrs, Livingston Parish Chamber President/CEO and class facilitator. “We’ve been monitoring the possibility of having a class, and the interest in light of the phases and restrictions of COVID. We offered the opportunity for the class and had positive response. We intentionally kept the class smaller to adjust to today’s standards. The
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: April Wehrs | april@livingstonparishchamber.org | (225) 665-8155Leadership Livingston Graduates 23 on June 30th On June 30, 2020, 23 graduates were added to the list of Leadership Livingston Alumni. Typically, the ceremony would include a room packed with classmates, alumni, sponsors, peers and graduate’s family. This year accommodation of guests was limited due to the governor’s announcement that our state would be staying in Phase 2. “We felt it was important to move
French Settlement Playground Breaks Ground On Sunday, March 8, 2020, the proposed French Settlement was revealed. The playground includes various play devices that are specifically suited for children ages 2 to 12. The playground will be professionally installed and will contain the latest options for children in that age group. Business leaders, community stakeholders and public officials attended the reveal and
French Settlement, LA – The Leadership Livingston Program, facilitated by the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce, is a community leadership program, much like others throughout the country, designed to provide a working knowledge of all aspects of a successful community. The program takes accepted applicants through a series of class sessions and topics that shows the interdependence between government, business, culture, healthcare, social concerns, education, criminal justice and recreation. A
The 26 graduates of Leadership Livingston 2019 gathered with friends, program sponsors and Leadership Livingston Alumni on Tuesday evening to celebrate their completion of the 10-month program and present their community service projects. Three project groups dedicated a combined 545 hours of volunteer work and raised or donated $13,000 to complete three community service projects that will impact over 270,000 residents and visitors to Livingston Parish. The project group LP Signs has been working to
The Arts Council of Livingston Parish’s long-awaited mural, spanning 70 feet of the exterior wall, is complete. The Council, Leadership Livingston Class of 2019 and the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce celebrated the piece with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday evening. The Leadership Livingston class of 2019 took on the mural as one of their capstone community service projects. The team raised $3,000 in corporate sponsorships to cover most of the $4,000 project. The Arts Council covered the
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arts Council Mural Dedication Ceremony Tomorrow On Thursday, June 13, the new mural on the Arts Council of Livingston Parish building will be unveiled and dedicated at 133 N. Hummell St in Denham Springs. The Livingston Parish Chamber’s Leadership Livingston Class adopted the mural as their community service project to help raise awareness about the programs of the Arts Council and support art in Livingston Parish. There will be refreshments and a chance to mingle at the
The Livingston Parish Arts Council Building is getting a makeover after the Leadership Livingston class of 2019 adopted the long-awaited mural as their community service project. The class secured $3,000 in corporate sponsorships to cover most of the $4,000 project. The Arts Council will cover the remaining amount for the 70 foot by 9 foot image that will wrap around the Arts Council exterior walls. Mary Felder, past president of the Arts Council, said that this project is something that the board has
(Denham Springs, LA) – After learning about the needs of the elderly to stay warm at a Chamber of Commerce meeting, employees at Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union went into action. They donated $1,000 to the Livingston Council on Aging to assist local seniors as temperatures dropped into the 30s and 40s this week in Livingston Parish. “Elderly people are calling daily in need of heaters and heating blankets in order to get through this winter season,” notes LCOA’s Executive Director, Kay Granger.
Livingston Parish has consistently had one of the highest numbers of children in foster care in the state and there has been a chronic shortage of families and resources to care for them all. Many must be removed from the parish to available families in surrounding areas, further disrupting their lives. Awareness of the needs and organizations involved in the foster care system is necessary to tackle the issues. A group of Leadership Livingston students decided that would be the focus of their community
The newest Leadership Livingston class got together at the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce office to meet one another and an introduction to the course that they will participate in over the next nine months. The 28 students will kick off the program at an overnight retreat on August 19th and 20th where they will simulate a society and learn about the struggles of each class of society and what it takes for a community to thrive. Once a month starting in September the class will take a field trip
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Leadership Livingston brings Dave Ramsey Personal Finance Course to Livingston Parish High Schools Students in Livingston Parish High Schools have access to Foundations in Finance personal finance course because of Livingston Leadership group Common Cents for Students. The group of six Leadership participants wrote grants to purchase the program and promoted the opportunity at Walker High School. Common Cents for Students members all agreed that personal finance know-how is
PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: April Wehrs, 225-665-8155 | april@livingstonparishchamber.org Livingston Leadership Challengers Field project is complete. Walker, LA (May 24, 2018) - After three years of hard work, planning and fundraising, the Challengers Ballfield opened on May 24 at Sidney Hutchinson Park. A crowd of players, their families and community leaders gathered to enjoy baseball on the new field. Mayor of Walker, Jimmy Watson, was inspired by how many people from different
Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce News ReleaseFor Immediate Release: July 19, 2017 22 Graduate from Leadership Livingston ProgramOn June 22, 2017, the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce hosted a graduation ceremony for the Leadership Livingston class of 2017. This class, nicknamed “The Flood Class”, marked the conclusion of the programs fifth year.Each year the class is divided into three groups tasked with completing community projects. This year’s community projects were “Supporting Our Seniors”,
September 23, 2016 A program created by the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce is helping to get Livingston Parish public school students back on their feet – literally – following the devastating flood of August 2016. Today, the Chamber’s Heart & Sole program received new tennis shoes and donations from the wives of Louisiana Wildlife Agents. These donations – from Leesville, Bunkie, Alexandria and Simmesport – totaling more than $1240.00 will be used to purchase new shoes for the more than
Leadership Livingston Class of 2017 was announced in July. The annual Meet & Greet for the class was planned for August 15, 2016 and the opening retreat for the class was planned for the following weekend. The weekend of August 13th brought more rain and flooded a large portion of Livingston Parish. Once the chamber stabilized operations, they were able to reach out to the class to gage their interest and ability to participate in the class. The overwhelming response was YES. Killian Chief of Police
On the evening of Tuesday, June 21, the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce hosted a graduation event in celebration of their Leadership Livingston class of 2016. This concludes the 4th successful year of the Leadership program. This year’s graduating class of 23 tackled a total of 4 community projects. Combined, these projects influenced multiple communities over the entire parish. Projects included lighting in Denham Springs Antique District, a community park in Town of Albany, a helipad in Killian,