Two Teche Area residents have been chosen to serve on the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry board of directors.

J. Si Brown, co-owner of Bruce Foods Corp. in New Iberia, and Claire Simon, of Morton Salt Co. Weeks Plant in New Iberia, will serve three-year terms on the board.

Brown said he served four terms previously, took a hiatus, and is returning to serve on the board again.

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“Business affects everyone in our community and state as it provides job opportunities and creates prosperity and income for all of our citizens,” Brown said. “Next to religion and family, business is one of the most important things and it is very beneficial for the business leaders in our community to volunteer their time to provide direction and good business practice.”

Brown said he is happy to return to the board and is proud to contribute his time and service.

A native of New Iberia, Brown also serves on the board of the Pennigton Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, the Chairman Advisory Council for the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the Board of Louisiana Ports and Waterways. He also is the chairman of the Board of Advisory for the John Folse Culinary Institute and is a vice president of Boy Scouts of America Evangeline Area Boy Scout Council.

Simon is the South Region Controller for Morton Salt Co. and an Erath native and resident. She served seven years on the LABI board and said she feels privileged to begin another term.

“I feel LABI is important to businesses because it takes positions on issues important to the community,” she said.

Simon has also served on the state Education Council and the Taxation Council and is actively involved in many community events.

Brown and Simon began their three-year term at the 34rd annual membership meeting Thursday in Baton Rouge.

The association, founded in 1975, “is an association of 3,500 member companies, representing approximately 6,600 businesses with 50 or fewer employees sharing a common goal, to bring strategic focus to business issues before legislative, judicial and regulatory bodies of the state.”