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GARYVILLE — Teamwork was the theme of the River Region Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 banquet. The River Region has the greatest impact on feeding and fueling the world when the three parishes band together as a united front, according to the new executive leaders of St. John the Baptist, St. James and St. Charles parishes.
Aspen Murphy of Marathon Petroleum Company LP shared the same sentiment. As the 2020 Chairperson for the River Region Chamber of Commerce, Murphy is on a mission to grow, strengthen and unify local businesses by using a regional approach to networking. She will also promote access to opportunities that ensure growth and sustainability.
Murphy was born and raised in the River Parishes. She left Louisiana to attend Howard University in Washington D.C., going on to work for CNN and various other media outlets. She felt a calling to return home, and she is now working for Marathon’s flagship refinery in Garyville. When she isn’t working in community relations, she enjoys spending time with her two young children.
Murphy was excited to announce the Chamber’s plans for 2020.
“We will be unveiling for the first time in the River Region a women’s empowerment summit,” Murphy said. “It’s something that we don’t have here, but we certainly need. I’m passionate about filling the needs of the community, not only at the Chamber and my job at Marathon. I’m interested to know what you all are passionate about.”
She encouraged business owners in attendance to take full advantage of the Chamber’s resources by joining ambassador or workforce development committees. Murphy also recognized the graduates of Leadership River Region, a 10-month educational program that gives participants in-depth exposure to local healthcare, government/law enforcement, regionalism, education, parish perspectives and arts and culture.
Outgoing chairperson John Little said one of the big focuses of 2019 was recognizing ambassadors who did an outstanding job connecting businesses to Chamber resources.
“They are the face of the chamber, and they are now being recognized on a quarterly basis for their productivity,” Little said.
Ambassadors Dayna James, Robert Tamplain and Regina Vicknair received accolades in 2019.
New parish presidents Jaclyn Hotard (St. John the Baptist Parish), Pete Dufresne (St. James Parish) and Matt Jewell (St. Charles Parish) were the featured guest speakers for the 2020 annual banquet.
Hotard looks forward to working with neighboring parishes to move the River Region forward. She said the River Region Chamber of Commerce has been a crucial element to a thriving business climate.

“The Chamber fosters healthy business growth and advancement and identifies new leaders and voices in our community, while also advocating on behalf of the small businesses here,” Hotard said.
As parish president, Hotard plans to provide workshops, training, grant opportunities and other resources needed to open and maintain small businesses. She will work closely with new economic development director Stanley Bienemy and other local leaders.
“This will take teamwork, as Coach O said. We cannot work individually. We must work together,” Hotard said. “Regionalism is very important to me. As a small piece, we’re just that small. As a region, we’re bigger and better, and we stand out a little bit more.”
Dufresne said he will work with honesty and integrity to restore trust and faith in St. James Parish government. He is working with experienced financial advisor Felix Boughton, who has worked for many years with the St. John Parish School Board.
“Our community’s history and culture must be preserved as we grow. It is up to us to manage and direct that growth in a way that respects our unique past, preserves our main streets, and promotes economic development that benefits all members of our parish and the River Region,” Dufresne said.
Jewell said he will work to diversify St. Charles Parish’s economy and focus heavily on instituting new infrastructure to benefit the region.
“I know how important the River Region is not only to St. Charles Parish, but also to the state and to the world,” Jewell said. “When you look at the collective economic impact that St. Charles, St. James and St. John have, we feed the world and we fuel the world. We can only use that power when we work together.”
Board Members
Judge Jude G. Gravois swore in the following 2020 River Region Chamber of Commerce Board Members during the annual banquet:
Paul Aucoin – Attorney at Law, Buddy Boe – River Parishes Tourist Commission, Emile Broussard III – Shell Oil Products US, Eric Brown – Valero, Akeem Burl – Child Advocacy Services, Scott Burton – Vice Chair, Cox Media, Aaron Cancienne – Postlethwaite & Netterville, Rhonda Colar-Myles – Entergy, Kevin Hebert – St. Charles Printing, Libby Hotard –MPLX Mt. Airy Terminal, Diane Jackson – Secretary, The Slone Group, Dayna James – United Front Transportation Services, Katie Klibert – Reserve Telecommunications, Ileana Ledet – Advisory, GNO Inc., Paul Ledet – Advisory, Bayou Country Children’s Museum, John Little – Past Chairman, Truck Farm Tavern, Chassity McComack – Executive Director, River Region Chamber, Angela Matherne – Atmos Energy, Bub Millet – East Jefferson General Hospital, Michele Millet – Eagan Insurance Agency Inc., Aspen Murphy – 2020 Chairwoman, Marathon Petroleum Company LP, Rene Ockman – IMTT, Rusty Rebowe – Apache Industrial, Tricia Thompson – Denka Performance Elastomer, Gloria Trahan – Treasurer, First National Bank US, Wayne Vicknair – Advanced Marketing & Promotions, and Penny Shumaker – Advisory, River Parishes Community College Reserve Campus.