Kathy Benoit: Chamber president shapes organization

Kathy Benoit began working with the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce during March 1998. During the previous 32 years, the organization had been housed in various rental properties. The new Chamber president knew that in order to be a viable presence in the community it needed to operate from a location that stood as an example of proactive stability.

“My assistant and I sat down one day and drew this office on a legal pad,” Benoit said. With the idea in mind, the two-person staff began making partnerships with existing members and South Central Louisiana Technical College to construct and open a permanent, free standing home.

“Students [at SCLTC] built this office on campus and when it was finished we had it moved to this site [at 318 E. Bayou] in 2003,” the Chamber president said.

“We saved a great deal of money by having our own building,” Benoit added. “By establishing partnerships, grant writing and fund raising, when we moved into this building we were totally debt free. We were able to put the expenses of rent and higher utilities back into the community rather than into facilities.”

Benoit explained that while some chambers of commerce turn their attention toward committee meetings that become little more than exclusive clubs, and others become nothing more than distribution centers for tourist brochures, a successful chamber must be actively involved and visible among the general population.

“It is important to be active, involved and build business relationships to help make a viable community,” Benoit said.

Arriving at the office at 7 a.m., Benoit personally works to get the administrative tasks of the day complete so she is available to respond to any call that might come on any given day.

“Once we release the telephones and open the door we never know what the day is going to turn into,” the Chamber president said. “We have people coming in to start a business and want to know about the licensing and permitting processes. We have people who walk in that are relocating and want to know where to get water and electricity connected, and other people walk in to find out where to eat and where to stay during Mardi Gras.”

From being a business service organization to offering public information and training high school students about the world of business, the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce president said that her office’s purpose is to connect with people and make the possibilities reality.

NAME: Kathy Benoit

TITLE: President

COMPANY: Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce

ESTABLISHED: 1966

ADDRESS: 318 E. Bayou, Thibodaux

TELEPHONE: (985) 446-1187

WEBSITE: www.thibodauxchamber.com

AGE: 54

EDUCATION: U.S. Chamber Management Institute, Community Development Institute at the University of Arkansas

FAMILY: Married, six children

FIRST JOB: KTIV Radio

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Leading in the construction of a permanent Chamber of Commerce office building

ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE SELF: Determined

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Create trusting and lasting relationships

WOMAN IN BUSINESS YOU ADMIRE: Rita Dickie of the Lorio Foundation for her banking skills and leadership in a non-profit organization.