The Central Chamber Report

Chamber Life Time Acheivement for 2015 – Louis DeJohn / Louis Mechanical

    On Wednesday, March 9, 2016 the Central Chamber held its 2015-16 Awards Luncheon. This year the Central Chamber awarded the “Chamber of the Year Award” and the “Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award.”
    This week we present the winner of the 2015 Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award – Louis DeJohn!
    We’ve all heard the phrase “We’ll keep your plumbing humming!” For more than 50 years Louis Mechanical has served this statement.  In 1980, current President, Louis DeJohn, took over the business that was founded by his parents in 1960. Louis Mechanical has grown to over 60 employees with annual revenues of over $7,000,000. This slow but steady approach to growth has helped them to maintain the principles of Honesty, Integrity, Dedication, and Attention to Detail!
    Louis’ true passion lies in civic contributions.  This all began in 1978, when he first started coaching youth football.  Since 1978 serving has become his priority.  Louis coached football and girls’ softball, and served on numerous boards including CAYL, Redemptorist Intra-parochial School Board, St. Alphonsus Building and Maintenance Committee, St. Alphonsus Parish Council, St. Joseph’s Academy Building Committee, Louisiana State Plumbing Board, East Baton Rouge Parish Plumbing Board, and Local 198 Board of Trustees.
    Louis’ proudest accomplishments in the serving arena lie in the two charitable campaigns he fostered and chaired.  In September 2001, the events of 9/11 deeply moved him to serve his fellow man.  Louis contacted competitors, plumbing suppliers, and technicians and asked them to join together and they formed “The Greater Baton Rouge Plumbing Industry’s United Disaster Relief Effort.”  Together they raised $81,000 for Governor Mike Foster’s “Bucks for Fire Trucks” Campaign.  Then again in August of 2005, as Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on our state, Louis felt a need to help, and with the backing of then Mayor Mac Watts, Cooking for Our Neighbors/Cooking in Central/Cooking for our Kids was born. To date, through the dedication of the people of Central, they have been able to raise over $2 million. Louis continues to serve as the President of Cooking in Central!
    Over the last several years Louis has been driven by his love for our “City of Central.”  On April 23, 2005, the City of Central was incorporated, and in June he was appointed by then Governor Kathleen Blanco to serve on the interim City Council.  On April 1, 2006, he was honored to be elected to our first City Council.  From July 11, 2005 through June 30, 2014, he served as your Councilman.
    Congratulations to the 2015 Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award winner Louis DeJohn of Louis Mechanical! 
Ron Erickson, President – Central Chamber of Commerce