A New Day for LMTA D. Chance McNeely, New Executive Director, Shares His Journey to LMTA By Chance McNeely
It is not every day that a 30-year-old takes the helm as the leader of a key statewide trade association, much less in an industry so important and so regulated as trucking. My path joined LMTA’s in an interesting way, and I appreciate this opportunity to tell you about it.
BACKGROUND I was raised in a rural part of Northwest Louisiana, DeSoto Parish, though virtually all my extended family has long resided in Rapides Parish. My parents relocated to DeSoto for work in the early 1980s where I grew up hunting and fishing. I’ve always been taught that only hard work will get a person somewhere in life. My parents, two high school graduates, exemplified this philosophy. They’ve always found a way to provide for their three children. It was their hard work and sacrifice that allowed me to move to Baton Rouge for college, and afterwards to Washington, D.C. and begin my career in public policy.
CAREER Two days after graduating from Louisiana State University with a degree in Agricultural Business, I boarded a plane to Washington, D.C. with no idea if or when I would ever return home. I had three bags and an address for my short-term housing arrangements. I would start an internship at the Republican
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National Committee the next day. I had never been to Washington and did not know a single person in the area. Many friends and family thought I was crazy, but I had faith that I would find my way. It was baptism by fire, but after only a few months of knocking on doors of congressional offices and learning how to network, I found my way. It was not easy but I learned that I was capable of so much more than I had ever imagined. My first full time job was at a national trade association as a recruitment specialist in the membership division. My goal, however, was to work in the U.S. Congress. Over the course of the four years I spent in Washington, I served as an advisor to two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Republicans Kay Granger of Fort Worth, TX and Blaine Luetkemeyer of central Missouri. Each of these Members blessed me with the opportunity to focus on transportation, agriculture, energy, and environmental issues. It was here that I developed my expertise before answering the unexpected call to move back to Louisiana and serve for Governor Jindal. Despite all that I had learned
about myself during the previous four years, it was my time working in state government that truly brought out my ability to produce and deliver. The dynamic in the previous administration was one where, as staff, you were allowed no maximum capacity. It was here that I served as the primary point of contact with several cabinet secretaries and sharpened my expertise in transportation, agriculture, energy, and environmental issues, before being appointed as an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) where I oversaw over half of the agency’s employees and budget. I served here until the administration ended, after which I was appointed by the new Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) secretary to serve as his advisor and, more specifically, his workhorse. I was happily thriving in this role until I heard the news that long-time LMTA Executive Director Cathy Gautreaux was leaving the association to serve as an appointee to President Trump. My initial thought was pride for Louisiana and happiness for Cathy, my second thought was what an unexpected and interesting opportunity it could be for me.