Chairman Final Remarks - Todd Caruso - 2024
CHAIRMAN FINAL REMARKS - Todd Caruso - 2024 Chair
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Todd Caruso opened his final meeting as chamber board chair. Here is the final:
"I will be brief in my outgoing comments, but there are couple of messages I’d like to convey - - the first of which is gratitude
- I’m grateful to have had the honor of serving as your board chair. As you know, this was my second time around with the first being impacted by the pandemic in 2020. So, I was privileged to be able to serve again this past year, and I want to make sure you know that I’m thankful for that.
- I’m also grateful for our tireless and hard-working Chamber staff - - you would think we had a team of 10 or more, but it’s April and Christine doing all of that heavy lifting. So, thank you again.
- I’m also grateful to have such talented and driven leaders working on our board and committees - - each of you are the reason our Chamber is able to positively impact not only local businesses, but our entire community.
So when I am asked about the importance of being active in the Chamber, or what value it brings to me, I think the answer lies in a simple response: why are you here??
Many of you have probably heard me reference what my kids call one of my “Dad-isms” - - yeah, as soon as you think they aren’t listening to any of your words of wisdom, they give you a book called “Todd-isms”.
But this is simple and often stated: Do the right thing, at the right time, and for the right reasons. Simple words to live by- - so let’s look at each, starting with the last-
You are all here for the right reasons - - to grow your business, network, build relationships, and advocate, all while improving our overall business community. While we all want individual success in our businesses, the right “reason” for active participation in our Chamber on a committee level is the overall good of Livingston Parish. So, when we go back to ‘doing the right thing at the right time,’ I strongly urge that the right time is now.
And when reflecting on whether we are doing the right thing, just take a look at all of what April mentioned earlier, from programming and events, to community involvement, to education initiatives, I am convinced that answer is a resounding yes!
There is still much work to be done. Many of our businesses are continuing to feel the impact of the ongoing moratorium. We know that efforts are underway for parish-wide zoning, but the resulting uncertainty makes it very difficult for businesses to succeed.
While we may not have solved those or other challenges, I assure you, work is being done collaboratively with our parish, partnerships with other associations and business leaders. This is how your Chamber works - - business leaders coming together to advocate and work for what is best for our Parish.
That work and those efforts by us all are best demonstrated by one of John Maxwell’s gems at last month’s Live to Lead - - [How many of you attended our showing of Live to Lead? - - If you don’t, I highly recommend it next time.]
But, at this year’s showing, Maxwell said “success requires intentionality, consistency and personal growth.”
So, to achieve success, both individually and as a collective group, we must be intentional, consistently work towards our goals and continually develop personally and collectively, rather than passively waiting for results to happen.
So, I leave you with that quote again and I pledge to continue to pursue success for our Chamber with intentionality, consistency and personal growth. I challenge each of you to do the same!
Thank you for allowing me to have the privilege of chairing the great Board."
Following up with these words, Todd then named Angela Alessi as the recipient of the Chairman's Award for 2024. This award is given to a person at the discretion of the board chair. Todd then passed the gavel to 2025 board chair, Deric Murphy.
