The Northeast La. Economic Alliance President/CEO, Tana Trichel, will speak at the Visitor Center at 2 p.m. April 30, as the second in a series of guest speakers for the Bastrop/Morehouse Chamber of Commerece. The meeting is free and open to the public. Trichell will speak about the business advantages of the renewal community zone and also about any updates on state business incentives for the area.
Trichell has presided over Northeast Louisiana Economic Alliance since 2002. The organization has grown in scope and accomplishments under her leadership and the direction of its Board of Directors. She works closely with Louisiana Economic Development, federal, state and local governing bodies, and economic development agencies coordinating the region. Trichell, along with the Board of Directors and their leadership are the driving force of the organization.
On May 18, Robert Barham will be the guest speaker at a noon luncheon. The cost of a ticket is $10 and may be purchased at the Chamber office.
Barham, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, will speak on the state of Louisiana’s wildlife and fisheries department and the impact it has on Morehouse Parish.
Barham served as a State Senator for Louisiana’s 33rd District, representing Morehouse, Union, East Carroll, West Carroll and parts of Claiborne and Ouachita Parishes, from 1994 to the end of this year, 2007. In the Senate, he served as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and was a member of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development Committee, the Senate Natural Resources Committee, the Senate Retirement Committee and he served as a member of the Legislative Rural Task Force. Barham also previously served as chairman of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee for eight years.
Barham served as a councilman for the Town of Oak Ridge from 1989 to 1994, and before that he served as mayor of the town from 1982 to 1988. He also formerly served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972.
In 1999, Barham received the Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and the National Award for Conservation of Natural Resources from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Barham was awarded the Outstanding Individual in Agriculture Award from the Louisiana Ag Council in 2000 and the Legislator of the Year Award from the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce in 2002. Barham has also been honored with the John D. Newsom Award for Wildlife Stewardship and the LSU Extension Service Award for Outstanding Leadership.
Barham is a member of the LSU Ag Center Advisory Committee for Northeast Louisiana and is a past chairman of the LSU College of Agriculture Development Committee.
