Dear SCIA Members,

As I step into the role of Board President for the South Central Industrial Association, I want to begin by expressing sincere appreciation for the leaders who have shaped this organization into what it is today. To the past Presidents, dedicated Board members, and long-time contributors—thank you. Your service, vision, and steady hands have built the foundation that we all now stand upon.

In particular, I want to recognize JJ Buquet for his outstanding leadership over the past year. JJ brought passion, perspective, and just the right dose of levity to the role. His one-word theme of “Hope” from last year’s address still resonates with me, and it inspired me to continue that idea—a single word to reflect where I believe we are as a region, and where we’re heading.

That word is Momentum.

Maybe it’s the engineer in me, but momentum isn’t just a motivational phrase—it’s a real force. It’s the product of mass times velocity. And when I think about what SCIA represents, I see both.

We have mass: Over 200 member companies representing thousands of jobs across the Gulf South. These are industries that fuel our economy, develop our workforce, and drive innovation across Louisiana.

But mass alone doesn’t create momentum.

We also need velocity—shared direction, aligned energy, unified action. And that’s exactly where SCIA excels. This association has become a true hub for collaboration—connecting business leaders, educators, public officials, infrastructure partners, and workforce advocates. That’s velocity.

And when we combine those two—mass and velocity—we create something powerful.

As your incoming President, I don’t plan to reinvent what’s already working. My goal is to amplify it:

• Continue strengthening the collaboration between SCIA, our regional chambers, economic development organizations, ports, and like-minded associations.

• Deepen our partnerships with technical colleges and universities, helping shape a talent pipeline that can meet our region’s evolving needs.

• Sustain our collective advocacy around infrastructure, workforce development, coastal protection, and restoration.

• And most importantly, continue uniting industry voices across the Bayou Region—because when we speak together, we drive real results.

Many of us are competitors in the marketplace—but collaborators in mission. And no one company, parish, or individual leader can carry that mission alone. Thankfully, we don’t have to. We have each other. We have SCIA.

And when we move beyond asking, “How do I protect my piece?” to asking, “How do we grow the whole?”—that’s when momentum truly takes hold.

So, I’ll close with both a challenge and a promise.

The challenge: Keep pushing—not just for your company, but for our region. Reach beyond your typical circles. Join a new committee. Support a scholarship. Seek out shared wins.

The promise: I will do my best to serve SCIA with gratitude for our past, confidence in our current momentum, and an unshakable belief in the power of collaboration.

South Louisiana doesn’t wait for progress—we build it. We weather storms. We adapt. And now, we accelerate—together.

Thank you for this opportunity, and thank you for your trust.

Matthew Newchurch
SCIA President