Board Chair Spotlight
Clair Hebert Marceaux
What inspires you to be involved in your community of Southwest Louisiana?
My kids inspire me to be involved. I want to know that I have done my part to leave SWLA better than I found it for them.
Are there some mentors who have influenced you to be involved as a volunteer in your community and a board member for organizations important to you?
Yes, absolutely. Cherished mentors like David Conner and Marion "Butch" Fox taught me through their example how to serve with grace and purpose.
Jennifer Wallace, Ron Childress, and J.D. Allen gave me the encouragement and confidence that my voice mattered.
Tell us about your current and prior professional experience and how that contributes to your vision of what the Just Imagine SWLA 50 Year Resilience Plan can accomplish.
My current role as Community Affairs and Social Responsibility Manager for Bechtel allows me to follow my passion for service and connect causes that matter to people who care.
In previous roles such as director of the Cameron Parish Port, Harbor and Terminal District and senior grants planner for the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, I got to know firsthand the challenges that face our region in economic and community development.
I have gotten the chance to build high-impact projects like the Henning SEED Center and the Lakefront promenade, post-Hurricane Rita, so I know game-changing projects require planning, foresight, and the will to accomplish great things.
We are fortunate to highlight different components of the Just Imagine SWLA plan in each issue of Thrive magazine, and you wrote the story in August 2025 about the number one priority in the Just Imagine plan: Coastal Risk Reduction.
How does that topic shape the way you think about the Foundation’s role right now?
Without coastal flood risk reduction, we will continue to face similar challenges to development and community resiliency. The Foundation has a tremendous opportunity to educate our regional population and help them understand that coastal land loss, protection, and restoration are all of our issues, not only those who live on the immediate coast. We have a chance to help share the message that coastal resilience means regional resilience.
From L to R: Immediate Past Board Chair, Jim Rock, President & CEO, Sara Judson, Board Chair, Clair Hebert Marceaux.
What would you like to share with others about the value of having a Community Foundation in SWLA?
The Community Foundation is a thought leader and a convener. We are doers. Through partnership and collaboration, our role is to turn collective vision into lasting impact, ensuring Southwest Louisiana is stronger, more prepared, and better connected.
When we invest through the Community Foundation, we are not only supporting individual programs and projects but also building a more resilient region for generations to come. Becoming an annual member is a powerful way to be part of that work joining with others who are committed to shaping the future of our community.
Our Just Imagine plan helps bring that vision to life, advancing regional resilience one project at a time.
When you aren't working or serving your community, what else do you enjoy doing?
I most enjoy spending time with my family. We like to travel and spend time outdoors. I enjoy running, cooking, and gardening.
