CABL offers congratulations to Governor-elect Jeff Landry and wishes him all the best as he begins to build a new leadership team for Louisiana. As we have said throughout the campaign, Louisiana is at a crossroads and our new governor and Legislature will have much to do as we embark on the next chapter of positioning our state for a more prosperous future.
The challenges we face are well known. We are losing population. More people are moving out than moving in. We trail in many rankings of overall well-being, and we have not enjoyed the same growth in prosperity that other states in the southeast are seeing.
As governmental institutions at the national level find themselves mired in political distractions, the path forward for Louisiana is clear. We must focus on the real-world issues that impact our state and its people: increasing education attainment, strengthening our workforce, growing the incomes of our citizens, diversifying our economy, and creating more of the jobs of the future.
Our RESET Louisiana initiative, in partnership with the Public Affairs Research Council and the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, offers a road map for addressing many of the issues that have held us back. We look forward to working with Governor Landry and the Legislature to tackle these challenges and create the better Louisiana that the citizens of our state deserve.
Harold Suire: 1950-2023
CABL is mourning the loss of Harold Suire, who served as President & CEO of CABL from the late 1980s to 2001. Funeral services were held this week in Baton Rouge. A native of Kaplan, Harold began his career as an educator before moving into the business world and later a position as Vice President of Education and Leadership Development at the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce.
While there he founded the chamber’s Leadership Baton Rouge program before coming to CABL to start Leadership Louisiana in 1989. Over the years, Leadership Louisiana grew to become a signature initiative of CABL’s. Now in its 35th year it boasts an alumni base of more than 1,400 state and community leaders from every corner of Louisiana.
Harold also initiated CABL’s early focus on education issues. In 1995, CABL expanded its work in public policy at the state level through an election issues initiative that was unique in Louisiana at that time. That effort yielded significant reforms including the development of the state’s school accountability system, creation of the state’s first comprehensive early childhood education program, expanded school choice opportunities, and creation of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.
Harold was a “people” person in every respect and was known for his exuberant personality which he shared with many friends and more than a decade of Leadership Louisiana classes. We offer our sincere condolences to his family. He will be greatly missed.