LA23 is an initiative spearheaded by the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry (LABI) to position Louisiana as a top-tier economic leader in the South by the year 2030.
The voice of Louisiana’s business owners large and small, LABI serves its broad membership by working towards the singular goal of fostering a climate for economic growth through consistently championing the principles of the free enterprise system.
LABI sets the standard for advocacy, providing policymakers with the information and perspective necessary to advance sound public policy that supports strong economic growth. LABI is proud to be Louisiana’s official state chapter for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.
Representing more than 2,000 Louisiana employers, we are the only association that represents businesses of all sizes from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. Together, we are creating a shared, collaborative vision for the future of free enterprise in Louisiana.
For nearly a year, LABI engaged business leaders, stakeholders, outside consultants and issue experts to help develop a roadmap for our state that works not only for Louisiana businesses, but for all Louisianans.
Our Goal
Focus on tangible steps to drive solutions
Develop a clear vision for a successful roadmap
Provide annual, real-time monitoring and data analysis to ensure we stay on the right path
Our Timeline
How We Gathered Data
Conducted regional meetings, surveys and polling to hear directly from businesses, industry leaders and local experts.
Consulted national experts for their perspective.
Utilized data and researched to identify best practices from other states.
Our Team
As the founder of Sequitur Consulting, Beverly Haydel has more than a decade of experience working in both the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Her expertise lies in project management, coalition building, stakeholder engagement, public outreach, issue advocacy, policy development and legislative strategy.
Ted is the Managing Partner of Economic Leadership LLC, a consultancy that has led the development of State Economic Development and Economic Competitiveness Strategies for the state chambers of commerce in Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas and for both the state Chamber and the Department of Commerce in North Carolina.
Pat McFerron is the President of Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates and is nationally known for his polling and focus group work for corporations and political campaigns. He has been involved in many successful marketing efforts, ranging from those for start-up operations, to Fortune 500 companies and charitable organizations and grassroots lobbying efforts. A veteran focus group moderator, he has directed more than 1,000 specific research projects in 41 states.
Watershed was founded by former leaders of the Louisiana Department of Education, whose nearly decade-long tenure was defined by nationally recognized innovation in early childhood education, curriculum and preparation, college and career pathways, student assessment, and school accountability. Leveraging the team’s unique public sector experience, Watershed researches policies, systems, and initiatives around the world for potential scale and impact on America’s youth, families, and adults.
Founded in 2006, Advantous Consulting, LLC is a state and local tax consulting firm based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana working in multiple states across the U.S. They provide customizable end-to-end tax solutions ranging from turnkey compliance to high-level planning and advisory consulting. Their unmatched experience allows them to seamlessly combine the client’s specific project requirements with proven processes to produce a successful overall strategy to maximize opportunities.
