Troy Wayman knows there are challenges facing the Acadiana area, but he’s willing to take on those challenges.
After all, he’s faced challenges before.
Wayman, recently named CEO of One Acadiana, a business-led, privately-funded economic development organization serving a nine-parish area in South Louisiana, addressed business leaders from across Acadia Parish Thursday morning at the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Business Over Breakfast event at The Rice Palace.
“I did my research before I came here and I’m not going to sugar-coat it, there are challenges out there,” Wayman told the group. “But this is not the only region that has challenges and the challenges here are nothing that can’t be overcome.”
Prior to taking over the helm of One Acadiana, the former Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Wayman served as vice president of economic development for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, a 2,000-member organization and economic development group.
Under his leadership, the region experienced the creation of more than 8,000 jobs and nearly $3 million in capital investments.
“One thing I find we don’t do enough of here is pat ourselves on the back,” Wayman told the gathering.
He referred to the “Cajun culture” as one of a “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps attitude” that should be better promoted.
“You don’t brag about it enough and that’s probably just because you’re accustomed to it — ‘Well, it’s what we do.’ But we want to make sure our story gets told,” he said.
As for the immediate future, Wayman said he wants One Acadiana to “continue being a good partner with local chambers of commerce and economic development entities.
“We need to be out in the nine parishes we represent,” he continued. “I want local folks to look at our staff as extensions of their staffs. As a region, our voice is much more powerful.”
He said he has been getting a lot of positive feedback since assuming the CEO roll in mid-February. “And what hasn’t been positive has been constructive,” he added.
A wide variety of topics was touched upon during a question-and-answer period.
On education, Wayman was joined by Dr. Natalie Harder, chancellor at South Louisiana Community College, in extolling the benefits of having such an institution available.
“We need to change the dialogue,” Harder said. “Saying someone ‘is not college material’ makes it sound like they’re not intelligent. Everyone needs to go to college, it just depends on what college and for how long — maybe it’s just for six weeks, maybe two years.”
She went on to say that SLCC graduates many students who go on to be leaders in their fields without every attending a four-year institution.
On healthcare, Wayman said he was not surprised by Lafayette General Health’s recent announcement that it would pull out of University Health Care if funding from the state is cut.
Paul Molbert, vice president, network development and government relations for LGH, said the move by the hospital is necessary to protect the overall healthcare system.
Molbert said a delay in funding of just 60 days would result in a loss of $25 million to $30 million by the hospital, “and that’s a hit we can’t sustain.”
He added that 800 “warn notices” will go out to employees at the end of the month notifying them that they may be laid off by mid-year.
On change, Wayman addressed a concern voiced by Crowley’s Lee Lawrence, who said that many people fear economic development because they’re afraid of — or simply don’t want — change.
“A community is like a shark,” Wayman said. “If it’s not moving forward it’s going to die.” He said it is up to community leaders to educate the people on the benefits of economic development.
One Acadiana is the leading economic development organization for the nine parish Acadiana region located in south Louisiana. With more than 1,000 investors, members, and partners, One Acadiana serves as the voice of the regional business community.