CADE — Two businesses were given awards and a village’s mayor was commemorated posthumously Thursday night by New Iberia’s leaders at the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

The annual banquet was a veritable who’s who of Iberia Parish, with a variety of business and government leaders attending the event held at the Cade Community Center.

Caterers included several local restaurants, including KK’s Cafe and Bakery, Victor’s Cafe, Little River Inn, Bon Creole, Antlers, Le Triomphe, Sante Fe Cattle Company, Iberia Medical Center, Rip Van Winkle Gardens and Bon Temps Grill.

Chamber President and CEO Janet Faulk-Gonzales said the Chamber Board likes to honor both a small business and a big business every year to “highlight the diversity” of the area. 

This year, the Chamber’s Business Impact Awards went to The Gym of New Iberia and Dynamic Industries.

“The Gym is almost like a miniature Iberia Parish with all the things going on,” The Gym co-owner Jarrett Landry said. “If you go to The Gym, you’ll see the progress we’re making, and joining Leadership Iberia really opens your eyes to things going on in the parish.”

The Gym has been in operation under the new ownership for more than a year.

“We’re concerned about the census in Iberia Parish and keeping young families here is important to growing the community,” Faulk-Gonzales said. “The Gym of Iberia is a business that also has that goal. It’s a mutual goal.”

Dynamic Industries also was awarded a medal during the event. A short video before their award was presented showed the success and importance of the fabrication company in Iberia Parish.

“We’re at the Port of Iberia, and we’re staying at the Port of Iberia,” Human Resources Manager Axel Vasquez told the crowd in receiving the Business Impact Award.

The guest speaker of the evening was Hall of Fame Gold Medalist and author Mike Schlappi, who gave a 45-minute talk on his own life story and the power of a positive attitude.

“For years we’ve asked political figures to speak, but this year we wanted someone more motivational, and he has an amazing story,” Faulk-Gonzales said.

Live and silent auctions were held before the last item for the night, the awarding of the Civic Service Award to the late Loreauville Mayor Al Broussard.

A video composed by the chamber depicted friends and family of Broussard describing the mayor who died on Good Friday last year when a heavy duty pickup truck collided with his vehicle on Loreauville Road. Among other things, Broussard was remembered for his involvement with the New Acadia Project, coastal conservation and general kindness.

The Knights of Columbus was the group that nominated Broussard. KC spokesman Joe Judice took to the podium to present the award to Broussard’s sister, Harriet Boudreaux. Judice said he was the one who invited Broussard to the Knights of Columbus years ago, and called it an honor to present the award.

“He truly personified the second of God’s greatest commandments: Love thy neighbor,” Judice said.