West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce

09/03/2026

Meet Stuart Gilly, moderator of our upcoming AI for Business: Panel Insights on Tools, Safety & Getting Started

Stuart is an entrepreneur and business leader who has built and exited multiple companies, including a multi-million-dollar construction business and a technology company. Today, he works alongside entrepreneurs and business leaders through Trility Partners and Vistage Worldwide.

With experience across business, technology, and leadership, Stuart brings a practical perspective to a conversation that a lot of business owners are trying to navigate right now: what does AI actually mean for your business?

On September 16, Stuart will lead a panel discussion with professionals across marketing, technology, business operations, and other industries to talk about practical uses for AI, responsible adoption, and where businesses can begin.

https://www.wbrchamber.org/event-detail/QjU_4GSvqzlvWJZdL%7CnTfA2/ai-for-business-panel-insights-on-tools-safety-getting-started?fbclid=IwY2xjawUGdvxwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWM3TmpxdGo3emxXZVBYNmRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe4Ch5iLRPc0vTQ9YboztVV2mtyxCpSWmdSMibCIQz97GHHRwC2RtynnsyF-M_aem_ICJGlgee5z0FlJe4WcoFfA

📅 Wednesday, September 16
📍 Addis Community Center
⏰ Doors open at 11:30 AM | Luncheon begins at 12 PM

08/31/2026

We’re seriously bringing some AMAZING perspectives to the table for our upcoming AI for Business Luncheon! 🙌

On Wednesday, September 16, local business leaders and professionals will join us for an open conversation about AI, how it’s already changing the way we work, and how businesses can actually begin using it safely and effectively.

And we’re excited to have Stuart Gilly moderating the conversation. Stuart brings a perspective that goes far beyond just talking about technology. With decades of experience, he truly understands business, the people behind it, and what it actually takes to grow and adapt.

Joining the conversation, we’ll also hear from local professionals including:

• Chelsey Blankenship, Marketing Consultant
• Jordan Basham, Influencer & Social Media Marketing
• Gina Martiny, Software & Responsible Agentic Developer/Engineer
• Gabriel Murillo, AI Specialist
• and more perspectives from the business community

Whether you’ve been using AI every day, you’re curious about how it could help your business, or you’re still trying to figure out what exactly everyone is talking about... this conversation is for you.

🎟️ Tickets are available now -
https://www.wbrchamber.org/event-detail/QjU_4GSvqzlvWJZdL%7CnTfA2/ai-for-business-panel-insights-on-tools-safety-getting-started

Come hear the conversation, bring your questions, and leave with a few ideas you can actually put to use in your business!

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

The past two days were spent with fellow chamber directors for some valuable continuing education — diving into workforce development, economic development, advocacy, marketing, and more. It was a motivating couple of days, but the best part was the connections made.

Our mission: to be the voice of business while promoting growth, prosperity, and quality of life in West Baton Rouge Parish. We'd love to hear from you — our website is freshly updated with our latest events, contact info, and more. Wbrchamber.org

Kudos to the team at LACCE for putting on a meaningful and thoughtful conference. Your hard work doesn't go unnoticed, and your genuine passion for helping fellow chambers is inspiring. 👏

08/25/2026

SMILE! 😁 If you’ve been around the Westside for a while, there’s a good chance Berthelot Dental is already a familiar name.

Dr. Lee and Dr. Clare Berthelot have built Berthelot Dental into a family-focused practice serving patients of all ages, from routine cleanings and exams to restorative and cosmetic care. Both are LSU and LSU School of Dentistry graduates, and today they continue to serve families right here in our community.

As a West Baton Rouge Chamber member, Berthelot Dental is part of the network of local businesses that help keep our communities connected and growing. We love getting to highlight businesses like theirs that are not only locally rooted, but committed to taking care of the people they serve.

We’re proud to have Berthelot Dental as part of the Chamber and excited to celebrate the people behind the practice! And since we’re talking dentists... when was your last cleaning? 🪥🦷

08/21/2026

If you’ve never taken the ferry before or need a quick refresher, watch this!

🗳️POLL: Are you team bridge or team ferry?

What To Know:
- To ride a ferry headed westbound, the cost is $1 per car and 50 cents for pedestrians (people who walk onto the ferry). To ride a ferry headed eastbound, there is no charge.

- 35 car, 51 ft max length vehicle

- Primary Ferry operates:
• Mon-Fri: 4:30 am-7:45 pm
• Sat-Sun: 9:30 am-6:45 pm

-Additional Ferry:
• Mon-Fri: 5:15 am-9:00 am & 3:15 pm-7:00 pm.

- Visit the DOTD website daily for the most accurate status updates

08/20/2026

We’re excited to welcome Full Moon Market La to the West Baton Rouge Chamber! Full Moon Market is a local night market created to bring makers, small businesses, and the community together in one welcoming space, giving local vendors a place to showcase their work while creating a fun way for neighbors to shop, connect, and experience something new.

We’ll be celebrating their official ribbon cutting on Friday, August 28 at 6 PM at Saint James Park in Brusly, and we’d love to have the West BR community there to help us welcome them! Come celebrate this new addition to our local business community and meet some of the vendors who will be part of Full Moon Market 💙

08/18/2026

AI is already changing the way we do business...The question is: what should you actually be doing with it? 🤔 Join the West Baton Rouge Chamber on Wednesday, September 16 at the Addis Community Center for our next business luncheon, featuring a panel of experts from marketing, social media, technology, procurement, accounting, HR, and more.

You’ll hear REAL perspectives from people working with these tools in their own industries, including what’s actually useful, what to be careful with, and where business owners should start.💡 We HIGHLY encourage you to bring your questions! This panel is interactive and an great opportunity to get practical answers you can actually take back to your business.

🎟️ Purchase your tickets today and share this post with a business owner you know! https://www.wbrchamber.org/events/wbr-chamber-events

📧 Want to sponsor this event? Please reach out to Annie-Claire at [email protected] for next steps.

08/12/2026

One of the biggest shopping days on the West BR calendar is almost here! 🛍️ Westside Shopping Extravaganza started with a few small business owners coming together to support one another, and it has grown into a day our community looks forward to every year.

Our Executive Director Annie-Claire Bass joins two of the small business owners behind this year’s event to talk about what makes it so special, from shopping local to supporting scholarships for graduating seniors at Port Allen and Brusly High School.

Tickets are still available for this Sunday, August 16. Grab a friend and come support the small businesses that make our side of the river so special!

WBR Residents: What’s your favorite part of the Westside Shopping Extravaganza? 🎉

08/11/2026

There’s a reason this Addis staple has been around for more than 40 years 💙⬇️

Benoit's Country Meat Block has been serving up the kind of Cajun food that doesn’t need much of an introduction. Boudin, cracklins, tasso, stuffed pork chops, smoked meats, more than 13 kinds of sausage, and enough good stuff behind that counter to make a quick trip to Addis turn into dinner for the whole family!

But what makes us especially proud to spotlight Benoit’s as a West Baton Rouge Chamber member is everything that comes with being a longtime local business. They’ve grown with this community, served generations of families, and become one of those places that people don’t just know, they have a favorite order from.

Now let’s hear from you WBR: What’s your must-get at Benoit’s? And remember: “If it is not Benoit’s, then it is just a weenie.” 😉