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LAPLACE — Buddy Boe announced Thursday that he will resign from his position as executive director of Louisiana’s River Parishes Tourist Commission on June 17, 2021.

A transition period is set to begin on March 18, 2021.

A River Parishes Tourist Commission committee will choose and recommend a set of candidates to fill the position following a nationwide search. Boe said the goal is to have the new person on the board by the March 18 RPTC meeting. From March 18 to June 17, Boe will prepare the individual to take over as the new executive director.

“Since this isn’t an abrupt resignation or termination, we can do a very appropriate transition period to make sure there is a smooth process to bring on the next person,” Boe said.

As he leaves RPTC, Boe doesn’t have concrete career plans in mind. Having been in the public eye from the time he was a teenager, Boe wants to take some time to focus on his personal life. He intends to remain actively involved with his family’s restaurant, Buddy B’s, in Garyville.

Boe’s history with the RPTC began in 2008 when he attended the commission’s meetings as the public information officer for St. John the Baptist Parish. He worked with the former executive director and chairman to bring RPTC into the St. John Community Center and build a relationship with the film industry.

Boe continued to work with the Commission throughout the years as he served as a St. John Parish Councilman and, later, the senior advisor to Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.

“…now we must begin the process of transitioning this organization towards the next style of leadership needed to build upon the foundational projects and initiatives we have worked on as a region, as an industry,” Boe said.

In the email sent to stakeholders Thursday, Boe reflected on the progress the River Parishes Tourist Commission has made during his three years as executive director.

Boe said RPTC has opened arms to partners previously left out to expand the narrative of River Parishes history and culture.

According to Boe, the expansion solidified the Commission’s identity in the region and led to a brand change from “New Orleans Plantation Country” to “Louisiana’s River Parishes” in 2020.

“During the pandemic, our organization retooled our entire operations to present a destination, whose history is centuries deep, virtually. In the middle of unrest throughout America, we finally called ourselves by our name, Louisiana’s River Parishes,” Boe said.

“As 2020 came to a close, we launched the Andouille Trail, 1811 Slave Revolt Trail, New Orleans Swamp Country, New Orleans Plantation Country, Bonfire Country, an art trail kicked off with ‘Saint’ the alligator bonfire, the Headwaters Project, the River Rhythms concert series, held our second Summit and third Taste of Tourism, and new partners stand with us, ready to host. We are changed, we are different; but, our region along the river rose again and is ready to welcome neighbors from down the street and travelers from across the globe.”

Boe said the lessons learned, history more deeply understood and friendships gained during his time with RPTC will always be part of his story.