Chris Bourque will begin his second consecutive year as chairman of the board of directors of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce when he is introduced during Monday night’s annual banquet.

The event, which will honor 16th Judicial District Attorney Phil Haney as the recipient of the 2006 Civic Service Award and feature U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal as the guest speaker, will be at the Cyr-Gates Community Center in New Iberia City Park. A cash bar will operate from 6 p.m. until the banquet begins at 7.

“We’re right at capacity as far as seating goes,” said Mary Ellen Wilke, president and CEO, about noon Friday. “We’ve been averaging between 380 and 420 for the past few years, and we’ve got about 500 now.”

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Wilke added that, in anticipation of the weather forecast for Monday night, the chamber has obtained tents which will be placed in the front of the community center.

“That way the driver can drop off his passengers, and they won’t get wet in case it’s raining,” she said.

Bourque, an employee at First National Bank of Jeanerette, will be joined this year by vice chairmen Benny Menard of Community First Bank, Ric Patout of Promotional Images Inc., Scarlet LeBlanc of deMahy Marketing and Jimmy Picard of Carbo Ceramics Inc. Mike Flash of Dixie Electric Inc. will continue in his roll as past chairman.

The various division chairs for the upcoming chamber year will be Janelle Rodrigue of New York Life Investments, Membership Development; Gerald Faulk of C&S Safety Equipment Inc., Legislative and Governmental Affairs; and William Kyle of Marine Consultants Inc., Infrastructure and Transportation.

Other board members include Bart Broussard of Coldwell Banker, Chad Courtois of Advantaged Assets, Terrel Dressel of Broussard, Poch/, Lewis and Breaux CPA, Monique Dumond of Iberia Comprehensive and Acadian Skin Care, Lori Percle of Castaing, Hussey and Lolan CPA, Rene Simon of Cypremort Planting Inc. and Ernest Freyou, a retired banker.

Joining the board of directors this year will be Alan Fabian of Dauterive Hospital, Jennifer Joseph of the Iberia Parish School Board, Angie Schaubert of McIlhenny Company, and Jeff Simon, a local lawyer. Leaving the board this year are Debbie Denais of Fire Boss of La. Inc., Suzanne Whitaker of the Iberia Parish School Board and Joey Zagar, who is retired.

Although Denais will be officially leaving the board, she will remain active to chair the annual Gumbo Cookoff, Natalie Broussard, administrative staff member, said.