Born out of economic uncertainty during the 2008 financial crisis, the Business Network of Ascension has grown into one of the parish’s most connected and influential business organizations, built on a simple premise: help each other grow.
Randy Crawford, owner of Crawford Photography, co-founded the group as an informal referral network to support local companies struggling through the downturn.
“We all kind of got together and said, ‘What can we do to help each other?'” Crawford says. “It was born out of just legitimately wanting to help each other and help our businesses grow.”
Nearly two decades later, that grassroots effort has evolved into a structured organization with dozens of members who function, as Crawford describes it, as a “sales team” for one another — connecting clients, sharing leads and holding each other to professional standards across Ascension Parish.
A relationship-driven model
At its core, the network operates as a referral-based organization, with an emphasis on trust and accountability. Membership is selective: prospective members go through a vetting process that includes interviews, peer feedback and a final vote by existing members.
The standard, Crawford says, is straightforward. “If you would not refer this person to your best client, they’re not a good fit for us.”
That approach has helped the organization build a reputation as a reliable network spanning industries — from contractors and financial professionals to marketing specialists and small business owners.
Members meet weekly, typically on Thursdays, for structured sessions that blend networking with professional development. Meetings include educational presentations, business updates and formal tracking of referrals generated within the group. Among its members:
Strengthening the local economy
The group also positions itself as a contributor to Ascension Parish’s broader economic development, with a mission centered on connecting professionals, building partnerships and, as Crawford puts it, strengthening the parish’s economy “while upholding the highest standards of business ethics.”
That mission has translated into close collaboration with the Ascension Chamber of Commerce and regular engagement with public officials. The network has hosted elected leaders and policymakers — including the parish president and statewide officials — to give members visibility into economic trends and development activity. As Ascension Parish continues to see industrial expansion and population growth, Crawford says the network is focused on positioning its members to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
