St. Mary chamber to host banquet

The St. Mary Chamber of Commerce will host its 12th annual installation of officers and awards banquet Jan. 19.

The event, titled “Mardi Gras on the Bayou,” will be held at the Pavilion inside Cypress Bayou Casino in Charenton.

“We’re expecting at least 650 participants, hopefully, more, once we finalize our guest speaker for the evening,” chamber president Donna Meyer said. “We will have a business social from 6 p.m., with the program beginning promptly at 7 p.m.”

Karl Young, outgoing 2011 board chairman, is slated to hand over the gavel to incoming chairman Jeremy Callias.

Returning board members are Rose Arceneaux, former chamber chair; Scott Berry, Omega Waste Services; Frank Fink, St. Mary Parish Director of Economic Development; Bob Lewis, Capt. Bob’s Shipyard Services; Kahry Gaylord, Columbian Chemicals; and Raymond Teddie Wade II, Omega Waste and Berry Brothers.

Incoming board members include James Butch Frazier, Teche Regional Medical Center; Jessie Breaux, St. Mary Sugar Co-op; Robert Sampey II, Cameron Ironworks; and Ryan Baudry of Franklin.

Butch Felterman will be named the Citizen of the Year; Dugas Oil the Business of the Year; and Chez Hope the Non-Profit of the Year. Dr. Gary Wiltz, of Teche Action Clinic, is slated to receive the Virginia Tyler Guillote Service Award.

Also that night, Carrie Stansbury, director of the Cajun Coast, St. Mary Parish Tourist Commission, will present the annual hospitality award.

“I’m going to keep my winner a secret a little longer,” Stansbury said, “I will say that the purpose of this award is to recognize someone from the front lines of the hospitality industry within our parish because, frankly, these are the people visitors meet first while vacationing our enjoying South Louisiana.

“We try to pick someone who has given outstanding service all year long,” she said.

Tickets and sponsorships to the event are available. Call Meyer at (985) 384-3830, or (337) 828-5608 for more information.