“Professional, for our purposes, is not a title. We define a professional as a business owner, plumber, carpenter, nurse, doctor; anyone who is dedicated to their chosen occupation and strives to be the very best possible.” This is the message that Wess Robinson, president of Iberia On Tap wants the public to know. Iberia On Tap is not a club based on exclusivity; rather it is an open-armed organization with the goal of progressing the the Greater Iberia area, a message not lost on the group of those gathered for the Iberia On Tap kickoff at A&E Gallery in New Iberia.

The organization gathers under the banner of “Here. Ready. Now.,”as a way to describe the mindset and vision its board shares. Made up of industry leaders and professionals from diverse areas all across the board (from Jewelry sales to Chamber of Commerce representation), the board of representatives is the embodiment of a slice of the demographic they would like to see involved in this “young professionals’” organization. But “we use the terms ‘young’  and ‘professionals’ loosely,” explained President Robison at the inaugural meeting. He explained that the goal is less about swapping business cards and more about swapping ideas. Ideas to further push the Greater Iberia parish into new and progressive directions. From a New Iberia version of the Lafayette staple, Downtown Alive, to movie nights in the park, Iberia On Tap is focused on not only commerce, but community with a strong belief that the two go hand in hand.

Education is also a concern on Iberia On Tap’s collective mind. Recognizing the need for continued professional education in the Iberia area, On Tap has committed itself to providing workshops and seminars to its members, already enlisting the services of Aileen Bennet, local motivational speaker and author, as well as Angie Hargett, CEO at Louisiana’s number one leadership consulting and training organization,Revolution Training Technologies.  

With a promising future and a strong community backing, Iberia On Tap aims to make a true difference in the Greater Iberia area. No matter what industry one might fall under, they aim to offer real value and fellowship within the community they call home.