Letter From The President, September 2nd
Hello, Amazing and Awesome Chamber Friends,
It is a beautiful day in Monroe, Louisiana, the Quadraplex, and all across Northeast Louisiana. God is smiling big on us! You often hear me quote Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Our community and region have become that bright, shining light—beaming across our great land and lighting up the world with growth and opportunity.
Almost five years ago, I was blessed to be hired as your Chamber President. The opportunity to move home, work alongside both old and new friends, be near my family, and help in the transformation happening here has been the greatest professional opportunity of my life. I stand in awe of the passion, love, and collaboration I witness every day from all of you.
It is with a grateful and humble heart that I announce my retirement at the end of this year. Your Chamber is strong. Our team is the best—Terri, Daphne, Mike, Ashley, and Sierrah are passionate warriors for you and for our area. We all share an unapologetic love for our members, our Chamber, and our community.
I’ve had the privilege of working with amazing Chairs and equally amazing boards. Thank you, John Landry, Tania Hilburn, Jay Mulhern, Jeremy Harrell, Aimee Kane, and soon-to-be Chair Matt Dickerson, for your unwavering support and leadership.
My friends at Kinetix—Liz, Sawyer, Carmin, and the rest of the K-Krewe—have been deeply embedded in the work of this Chamber and have been part of the wonderful things happening here. They’ve also become very close and valued friends.
On Easter morning 2021, while interviewing for this role, I watched Mayor Ellis’s first State of the City video. I didn’t know him then, but I knew something special was happening. The following week, I was practically begging the search committee to hire me. Since then, Mayor Ellis and I have become very close, and I try daily to match his love, passion, and energy for our area. I am honored by his friendship, and we are all blessed by his leadership. He affectionately calls us “Shake & Bake.”
Your Chamber is strong. Membership stands at 1,120 and growing. Our events are unmatched. Our affinity groups are expanding. Our Leaders of Change are aggressive in telling our amazing story—both here at home and across the state. We’ve grown into Sterlington and Richwood, and thanks to Terri, five stores now carry our “Monroe Merch,” celebrating this great place we call home. And here’s the best part—we’re just getting started.
I believe two things:
1. People who don’t live here wake up every morning, look in the mirror, and say, “I wish I lived in Northeast Louisiana.”
2. Thirty years from now, people will be asking all of you what it was like to be part of the Northeast Louisiana renaissance.
I could talk forever about you and this amazing community. I have a friend who says he wants to be “retired, not required,” and that sums up my life right now. I’m not fading away—I’ll still be here, cheering you on and helping wherever I’m needed. I am excited about our amazing future, and I am looking forward to being part of that future.
One of the best gifts in my life was moving back home to Monroe. I do love this community, and I thank GOD every day for this gift. I have a beautiful family, 3 beautiful children, a great daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and I also have six wonderful grandchildren, that I’ll be able to see more often. The greatest blessing in my life is my wife, Beth. She has been my biggest supporter, my best friend, and my greatest cheerleader. There are no words to thank her enough, and on January 1, I look forward to spending more time with her and with Rocky.
There are also no words that can fully express my deep appreciation for each and every one of you. To borrow a line from Lou Gehrig: “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
God bless you all. And remember—this is not goodbye, but see you soon.
I love you all, Roy
