Louisiana Association of Business and Industry names new president and CEO

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) has named Will Green as LABI president and CEO after a nationwide search.

Since 2016, Green has served as the president and CEO of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association. According to a news release, it is the full-service trade association for the roughly 350 new motor vehicle car and heavy truck dealers in Louisiana.

The search came after former president and CEO Stephen Waguespack resigned from the position to run for governor.

“(Green) represents the best of a new generation of leadership at a time when their involvement has never been more essential,” Jude Melville, LABI board chair and CEO of b1BANK, said in a news release. “As our state’s primary advocate for the uplifting power of free enterprise, LABI has been a decades-long force for good—this choice ensures we can continue to positively impact the lives of Louisianans for years to come.”

“I’m honored by the confidence LABI’s officers have in my ability to lead this organization,” Green said in a news release. “LABI is a powerful voice for the Louisiana business community, and I am committed to honoring its past while focusing on its future. Our state is at a pivotal point in its history, and LABI is ready to advance the positive policies Louisiana desperately needs. I’m ready to get to work.”

LABI dubs itself as the voice for Louisiana’s business owners, large and small. The organization serves its broad membership by “working toward the singular goal of fostering a climate for economic growth through consistently championing the principles of the free enterprise system,” a news release reads.

“LABI sets the standard for advocacy, providing policymakers with the information and perspective necessary to advance sound public policy that supports strong economic growth. LABI is proud to be Louisiana’s official state chapter for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. Representing more than 2,000 Louisiana employers, it is the only association that represents businesses of all sizes from a statewide, multi-industry perspective.”