Chamber Chair Candy Forbes Recaps 2019

It has been my honor to serve as board chair of the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce for 2019.  As an independent small business owner, I know first-hand the challenges of running of a business and going it alone.  The importance of the chamber and the ways it gives individual business owners a place to collaborate, convene and learn from each other is key for me. 
 
Building a local network that is inclusive and brings together business, government and community issues for collective solutions is part of the daily work here.  It’s impressive to see the amount of people, record numbers in 2019, who are engaged in chamber programming, committees and events. 
 
This past year, I also witnessed the way our chamber office operations handles such diverse programming.  There is a lot going on at any time, and they keep it all on track.  There is much more to it than many realize, and I am grateful for the dedication to our business community.
 
With 2019 being the election year that it was, our goal was to bring quality candidate programming that gave voters an opportunity to hear from candidates in a forum setting.  The forums were professional, fair and in line with our delivery plan.  We have become a valuable resource in this area that is a necessary addition to an informed voter base.
 
We also significantly increased our presence at parish council and school board meetings. 
Other highlights for the year include finalizing the chamber’s foundation application and engaging record numbers of volunteers in the chamber. 
 
My view is that in years to come you will continue to see the chamber’s ongoing transformation as an influential organization that is essential to the successes of our parish and its communities.  I am humbled to have been your board chair, and I am looking forward to being involved in future successes.  
 
Sincerely,
 
Candy Forbes
Chamber Board Chair 2019
President | Denham Springs Housing