Benefits of Alliance Membership

CHAMBER SWLA

Economic Development Alliance THE BENEFITS OF WORKING TOGETHER

by Amanda White

Running a business means being informed and active in its every aspect. Each business must have a working knowledge of taxes, the legalities related to its purpose, and HR regulations and payroll – even if you are a one-person business. It’s a lot.

This is the main reason that Chambers of Commerce started to pop up all over the world. Pioneered in France in 1599, Chambers represented the common interests of their members. Today, the means and methods have changed, but not the needs met and overall purpose of a Chamber. One business owner cannot stop in the middle of their day to meet with people interested in starting a business in their town. They cannot mentor upcoming entrepreneurs, and they don’t have time to meet with local, state and federal legislators to advocate for pro-business legislation. It requires a collective effort.

The Chamber SWLA and its umbrella organization – the

Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, serve the business community of our five-parish region and the area’s main economic development and business promotion organizations.

ADVOCACY

As the “Voice for Business” in the region, The Chamber SWLA is one of largest advocates for Southwest Louisiana in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. The Picard Group has served as our public policy experts and consultants over the past years under the guidance of their Senior Director of State Affairs, Mike Michot. He is no stranger to the leaders of Southwest Louisiana. Michot served as State Senator and Representative over his 16-year legislative career and continues to easily navigate the corridors of the State Capitol championing Southwest Louisiana interests.

Our legislative agenda is laid out prior to each year’s session and shared with all legislators. How votes went during the session is showcased at the Chamber’s Annual LegisGator Luncheon where an overview of the highs and lows of the session is given, U.S. and State legislators provide updates, and honors are awarded to politicians whose actions and voting records best helped Southwest Louisiana that year. Our upcoming LegisGator Luncheon will be held at L’Auberge Casino Resort on August 20, 2021. It is sold out at this time.

Gathering information from many different resources as well as in-house sources, the Alliance curates Southwest Louisiana business news and distributes it bi-weekly (Tuesday and Friday) to our members and other regional leaders. (You can sign up for the newsletter via our website at www.allianceswla.org.) A combination of information from governmental agencies and breaking business news and announcements, the e-newsletter does its best to provide up-to-date information and encourages members to share their insights, milestones, and events with fellow members. Our business community is stronger together and benefits when local businesses support each other.

The e-newsletter also informs members about Alliance events and programs. Currently, the Alliance is hosting a series of nationally recognized 21st Century Business Forums (brought to the region through the support of B1 Bank and Suddenlink Business). The Alliance also offers programs like entrepreneurial training and Peer to Peer Roundtables for business owners through our regional business incubator.

BUSINESS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Like the aforementioned 21st Century Business Forum, recent Google-led programs and webinars hosted by the Alliance provide the business community the continuing education it needs to stay current on policy changes and business trends. In 2022, the Chamber and Alliance are putting together an impressive list of educational opportunities along with programs hosted by partner entities like McNeese State University’s Small Business Development Center and the Imperial Calcasieu Society for Human Resource Management. After a year of workshops and seminars being caught in limbo or moving online, the Alliance will be back in full-force, live and in-person as soon as it is safe to do so.

NEED MORE INCENTIVE?

Your level of involvement in the Chamber and the Alliance is a personal and individual decision. Investment in the Chamber SWLA can be as basic as having information sent directly to your in-box and its legislative efforts for the business community on your behalf. Simply having the Chamber SWLA sticker in your front window increases your favorability and creditability rating among your clients by up to 44%, according to a research study by The Schapiro Group for Market Street.

The lagniappe of membership comes from attending events and meeting new people. Networking may seem old school, but it still works; especially here in the South. Many members have forged business deals, met future clients, and nabbed that next great employee at a Chamber SWLA event. Options for networking are available for all types from the regular Business After Events (starting again in September), committees like Environmental Affairs, Technology and Small Business, and events like our Annual Golf Tournament (October 29 at Gray Plantation).

What can Chamber SWLA/Economic Development Alliance do for you? THE POWER IS YOURS

BEAUREGARD ELECTRIC CO-OP HAS 43,000 LOCAL OWNERS

As an electric cooperative, Beauregard Electric serves some 43,000 member-owners. As one of our region’s oldest homegrown businesses, BECi has been powering Southwest Louisiana homes and businesses for more than 80 years.

1-800-367-0275 www.beci.org

Serving clients in more than 30 practice areas including:

• Banking & Finance • Commercial Litigation • Commercial Transactions • Construction Law • Employment Compliance & Litigation • Environmental/Toxic Tort -

Compliance & Litigation • Hospitality & Retail

Licensing and Compliance • Sports Law • Wills & Estates/

Successions

WWW.TAYLORPORTER.COM

BATON ROUGE

450 Laurel Street, Suite 800 Baton Rouge, La 70801 225.387.3221

LAKE CHARLES

145 East Street Lake Charles, La 70601 337.436.7787

Robert W. Barton

Managing Partner Taylor Porter

Top 50 Practice in the U.S.Top 50 Practice in the U.S.

Home Grown in Lake Charles Home Grown in Lake Charles

Local Nurse Practitioner Hannah Grogan, top Local Nurse Practitioner Hannah Grogan, top injector at Renaitre: A Williamson Cosmetic injector at Renaitre: A Williamson Cosmetic Center, is celebrating her success after opening Center, is celebrating her success after opening in 2017. Since joining Williamson Cosmetic in 2017. Since joining Williamson Cosmetic Center in 2020, they have been named one of Center in 2020, they have been named one of the Top 50 accounts in the country by Allergan, the Top 50 accounts in the country by Allergan, the maker of Botox, Juvederm, and Coolsculptthe maker of Botox, Juvederm, and Coolsculpt ing. Her mission has always been to empower ing. Her mission has always been to empower women and support the local community, and women and support the local community, and believes Renaitre’s success stems from her believes Renaitre’s success stems from her strong “homegrown” team of providers that strong “homegrown” team of providers that share this vision and deliver a unique type of share this vision and deliver a unique type of aesthetics care to their clients. “ We’re commitaesthetics care to their clients. “ We’re commit ted to providing the best possible outcomes and ted to providing the best possible outcomes and being your life-long partner for beauty and aesbeing your life-long partner for beauty and aes thetic care. Your results are our reputation.”thetic care. Your results are our reputation.”

Botox • Filler • Chemical Peels • Coolsculpting • Scelerotherapy • Facials • Skin Care • Lasers Botox • Filler • Chemical Peels • Coolsculpting • Scelerotherapy • Facials • Skin Care • Lasers

REAL ESTATE

is a Flavin Family Tradition

At Flavin, we are all about family. And that is exactly how we started. What began as a small family business in 1976 has grown into one of the most trusted and successful real estate firms in Louisiana. A longstanding Louisiana tradition rooted in family and client satisfaction, Flavin Realty is firmly committed to professional service and deep industry expertise, a commitment demonstrated in the selection of our associates. But our team did not start out as large as it is today. It began with Bill Flavin and Ed Blankenship – two friends who saw an opportunity to utilize their talents in sales and construction to benefit those in the Lake Charles area.

THE EARLY DAYS

Bill Flavin, a dual Irish and American citizen, moved to Lake Charles in 1972 with his wife, Marilyn, and their eight children. A Midwest native, Bill found his way to Southwest Louisiana because of his job with a chemical company. A few years later, the company wanted to transfer him again, this time to Buffalo, New York. But by then, Lake Charles was home. In 1976, Bill left his job with the chemical company and, in partnership with friend and homebuilder Ed Blankenship, launched what was then known as Blankenship Realty.

THE FLAVIN FAMILY TRADITION

Initially, Ed and Bill decided to use the Blankenship name because it was more well-known. But they always planned for Bill to take over. Two years in, he bought the company, and Flavin Realty was born.

In 1980, Flavin Realty welcomed its second generation when Bill’s son, Dan Flavin, joined the business. In 1990, Dan took his turn in ownership and purchased the company from his father. In 1995, his brother Tim, who had successfully worked in construction, joined in a leadership role. Together, the brothers expanded Flavin Realty until it was the No. 1 brokerage in Southwest Louisiana.

In 2018, Flavin entered its third generation of family ownership. Before joining Flavin Realty, Dan’s son Beau was an insurance agent who also invested in real estate. With his success in the market, Beau’s family recognized him as an experienced, upcoming leader for the Flavin company. And the timing was serendipitous. Dan and Tim were ready to step back, and although many national franchises expressed interest in Flavin, they reached out to Beau. He purchased the company in 2018 with the mission of growth and diversifying the company’s business lines to better offer clients a comprehensive list of home services.

NEW SERVICES AND GROWING THE FAMILY

After adding property management and landscape services, Flavin began eyeing a geographic expansion. In 2020, they expanded the business’ reach to Baton Rouge. By the end of the first year, Flavin had a dozen agents working in the capital city.

Each generation of the Flavin family has brought its own depth of knowledge and expertise to the business that ultimately made Flavin Realty what it is today. With family at the forefront of everything they do, the team ensures that each client feels as if they are a part of the Flavin family and is satisfied with their real estate services. And that, along with their extensive knowledge in the industry, is what has made Flavin Realty one of the top real estate companies in the state of Louisiana.