Don’t Fall for these Financial Tricks
October 2021
Reimagined Dragon Boat Race for 2021
October 2021
Shayne Laughlin
Shayne Laughlin grew up in Lake Arthur behind her parents’ gas station/convenience store. She always knew she’d own her own business one day, but as a young person, she wasn’t sure what type of business. “I’m a salesman at heart and I’ve sold everything – clothing, knives, music, plumbing, industrial transportation – but I never envisioned myself selling insurance.”
Because she loved science, Shayne majored in biology at McNeese State University. She left college 21 credit hours from a degree to marry and start a family. “Not having that degree has forced me to work harder than everyone else to prove myself, and that has made me who I am today. My husband, Stephen, has worked for State Farm for 24 years and he pushed me in the insurance direction. I initially pushed back because I didn’t think I had an interest in insurance and I believed it would be ‘the most boring job on earth’ . . . boy was I wrong.”
Shaye loves her work because it can save people from potential bankruptcy situations, and she particularly enjoys the life insurance aspect. “It’s bittersweet when I have to pay a death claim. But in the darkest times of people’s lives, I’m able to provide some relief.”
“The biggest challenge is helping people understand and pay attention to their policies. We attempt to get people in to do reviews, but they often don’t take the time. Insurance can be confusing, and many people don’t want to deal with it, but after these hurricanes, I’m hoping that changes,” Shayne adds.
Shayne has five children, ages 13-22, and has found that she’s a better mom because she works outside the home. “It’s about quality time for me, not quantity. I cherish the time we spend together. The truth is, you always wonder if what you are doing as a mom/wife is enough. I hug and kiss my family daily, and no one ever leaves the house without shouting ‘I love you,’ so I guess we’ve done something right.”
Groups and Community Service:
President of the Board of Directors, St Nicholas Center for Children
Past President and member of BNI Elite networking group
Member of Krewe du Sauvage
Member of Chamber of SWLA
Member of St. Martin de Porres Catholic church
Aide relief for SELA
Awards and Recognitions:
2021 People’s Choice award for Best Insurance Agent in SWLA and Best Commercial Insurance Agent from the American Press
Best Advice: Go for it! Don’t be afraid to take a risk or even to fail, because our failures teach us the best lessons.
Woman Who Most Inspires You: My mom passed away at age 38 when I was only 15 years old. Though she didn’t have a high school education, she was a savvy, fearless businesswoman. I aspire to mirror her, but I look for inspiration from within. Everyone is so different. We view the world and process information differently. We have different beliefs. So, I’ve never felt I needed to be like anyone else.
Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Philosophy in 1988. She earned her Juris Doctor from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1991. Her first role as a lawyer was as Assistant District Attorney in Calcasieu Parish with DA Rick Bryant. In 1999, she became the Chief Felony Officer in the Allen Parish DA’s office. “I was the first African American attorney and the second female attorney hired in that office. While there, I tried all sorts of cases including homicides and drug related cases. One case garnered national attention and was featured on the A&E program, Parole Board.”
In 2002, Wilson returned to the Calcasieu Parish DA’s office and served as a Specialty Prosecutor, where she handled sex crimes and homicides. “Altogether, I spent a total of 17 years as a prosecutor.” In 2009, she opened her private practice, Sharon Darville Wilson, A Professional Law Corporation, focusing on criminal defense. 2013 found her campaigning for a seat on the bench. In 2014, she was sworn in as the first African American female to be elected judge in Calcasieu Parish. “I served as District Court Judge for seven years before being elected to the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal in the Fall of 2020. I’m one of four women currently serving on the Court of Appeal. While I have enjoyed every job that I’ve had, serving as judge has by far been the best part of my career.”
Wilson says the judicial branch of government is designed to solve problems and bring closure and validation in a fair and equitable fashion. “I find being able to participate in that process most rewarding.” The challenge, she adds, lies in the pursuit of truth. “That’s the goal, but that’s also the struggle – making sure we’re doing everything in our power to find the truth and get it right.” Wilson’s current term ends on Dec. 31, 2030.
What gets her through and helps her find balance? “Prayer! My Christian faith is extremely important to me.” Wilson and her husband raised five children. “Honestly, it was extremely difficult. My husband and I were both working, but we made it work through teamwork.”
Groups and Community Service:
Mount Calvary Baptist Church, member
Zeta Psi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, member
National Association of University Women, local chapter member
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc
Awards and Recognitions: I’ve received numerous awards and I’m grateful for each one, but one that means a lot to me is the Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission Civilian Patriots of the Year award Judge Richie and I received in 2019. He and I started a Veterans Court, pulling them out of the adversarial criminal justice system and placing them into the therapeutic court, enabling us to acknowledge veterans’ service and meet their needs in a different way.
Best Advice: Take time for yourself. People who are driven don’t always self-nurture. I wish I’d known how important that was when I was younger.
Woman Who Most Inspires You: I admire women who leave this world a better place than they found it. I named my daughter after Dr. Maya Angelou. She speaks to little girls who look like me and struggle like I did to find their place in the world. I admire women of the Supreme Court – Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Sonja Sotomayor. And Retired Chief Justice Johnson, the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court and a great friend and mentor.
Anne Doss
Anne Doss is one of two women on the CITGO nine-person Senior Management Team. She’s a transplant to Southwest Louisiana and says she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I thought I would only be in Lake Charles for three years. Now 16 years later, SWLA is our home!”
Anne graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1985 with a Bachelor’s in Communicative Disorders (Speech Pathology and Audiology). After graduation, she worked at a Hearing Aid Clinic, a recruiter for a Temporary employment service, followed by a customer service representative at a pharmaceutical wholesaler. Later, she worked for a contractor company that placed her at the UNOVEN (now CITGO) Lemont Refinery (Illinois) in 1991 as an admin. “I realized that although these jobs were all very different, they all had one thing in common – working with people. My passion was rooted in helping people and making a difference in their lives. Within months, I hired on permanently with UNOVEN (now CITGO) as a Human Resources admin, and I never left! CITGO afforded me the opportunity to go back to school and earn my Master’s degree in Human Resources in 1995.
Over the years, I was provided advancement opportunities that often came with location changes. Although moving my family was hard, meeting new people and appreciating different cultures outweighed the fear of the unknown. I’m forever grateful for these experiences.”
Anne’s people skills and problem-solving abilities serve her well in her current role. “I find it so rewarding to lead an exceptional HR Team who works with employees and helps them grow and develop their skills while advancing their careers. Treating everyone fairly is key. It feels impossible at times to make everyone happy, however that is our goal. We might not always meet it, and sometimes that’s the cost of being consistent.”
In a career like hers, Anne says having mentors along the way is a great asset. “I was fortunate to have several great mentors. A plant manager and VP of HR were both encouraging over the years. They pushed me to pursue an advanced degree and to learn all that I could about the refining process. The more I knew about that, the better I’d be able to perform my HR duties. Without these mentors, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to continue to grow and develop through my career.”
Anne says finding a balance between home life and a career is a challenge. “You need to find other resources and ask for help when you need it. I’ve been blessed with great support from my family.”
Groups and Community Service:
Team CITGO volunteer activities
United Way of SWLA donations
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Labor Relations/Human Resources Committee member
Industrial Resources Group
Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
SWLA Leadership Class alumni through Chamber Southwest
Lake Charles Yacht Club member
Best Advice: Stay organized, communicate and make all your time count.
Woman Who Most Inspires You:
I had an HR Manager, Paula, who I really looked up to early in my career. She gave wonderful guidance and encouraged me to take classes to show I’m willing to go the extra mile in my career. This helped build on my other education and positioned me to become a leader within my organization.
Dr. Shuming “Sherry” Bai
Dr. Shuming “Sherry” Bai received her bachelor’s degree in English Languages and Literature in 1983 from Zhengzhou University in her homeland of China. She came to the United States in 1993 and became a U.S. citizen. By 2008, she had earned an MA, MBA, and PhD in Business Administration all from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. From 2008-2019, Dr. Bai advanced through academic ranks, holding several roles in the College of Business at the University of Texas (UT) Permian Basin, including Chair of Graduate Business Studies.
Dr. Bai came to McNeese State University this summer as Dean and Tenured Professor of Finance at the College of Business. Prior to coming to Lake Charles, she served as Associate Dean/Prof. of Finance at Eastern Washington Univ. in Spokane. Dr. Bai has been published in numerous financial publications and has developed several college-level finance and energy-related courses and programs.
Dr. Bai says her role in higher level education gives her opportunities to create change and make a positive impact in people’s lives. “My goal is to create a culture that engages everyone, embraces processes, and helps to build the future together. She credits a dean at a known HBCU for mentoring her, providing advice and guidance to help her creatively solve problems following “right processes” instead of saying “we have always done it this way.”
As a recent transplant to Southwest Louisiana, Dr. Bai says her current challenge is adapting to her new environment. “Coming here is a calling and a passion. The food here is fabulous. People are nice. Lake Charles and Prien Lake are so beautiful. I jog at Prien Lake Park each week. It’s a luxury enjoying the beautiful sunset and lake while jogging.”
On balance, Dr. Bai says, “I don’t think there is a good balance. It’s a matter of priority at different stages in life. You need a network of support and understanding at each stage.”
Groups and Community Service:
Chamber Education and Workforce Development Committee
Southwestern Finance Associate Board of Directors
Awards and Recognitions:
Financial Education Research Grant. $125,000. AccessLex Institute, 2021-2023
Endowed Jack Ladd Fellow in Business. University of Texas Permian Basin, 2016-2019
Outstanding Research Award, College of Business, UT Permian Basin, 2017-18, 2011, 2010.
Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Business, UT Permian Basin, 2015-16
La Mancha Society Golden Windmill Award. in recognition of excellence in research, UT Permian Basin, 2011
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. National Academic Affairs, State of Texas Edition, 2006
Best Advice: Be bold and courageous, pursue your dreams, and find good mentor(s). Remember the “5Cs” – Be confident, courageous, consistent, communicate well, and hold tight to your compass.
Woman Who Most Inspires You: Former Pepsi Co CEO Indra Nooyi, for her upbringing, character, confidence, courage, leadership style, caring, team-building, inspiration, and ability to
dream big.
Shively Verrette,
Shively Verrette, a country girl at heart, is most comfortable in boots and blue jeans, but she spends her workdays in the world of finance as the Chief Financial Officer for Lakeside Bank.
Born and raised in Lake Charles, Shively’s banking career began as a part-time teller while she attended McNeese State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. After she graduated, she was hired as an operation manager trainee and then transferred to the accounting department. “My career path took a few detours into non-banking positions, but I always found my way back to banking,” says Shively. She has been with Lakeside Bank since 2011.
Shively finds it very rewarding to work with numbers. “Businesses have different products, services and acronyms, but accounting is accounting wherever you are. It’s really just a big puzzle, and when done right, all the pieces fall into place.” She says she also enjoys working with people and helping them develop their skills in the financial field.
“Increased regulatory pressures are a community bank’s biggest challenge,” says Shively. “Community banks are the backbone of the banking system and the burden of regulation falls disproportionately on local banks. It’s something we deal with every day.”
Shively has been fortunate have a career mentor since her first job. “Roy Raftery has been my most significant mentor. He saw potential in me and hired me right out of college, then again at Cameron State Bank. I now have the privilege of working with Roy for the third time at Lakeside, and just as in the past, he has so much to teach everyone about banking and life – I only need to be open to learning.”
According to Shively, remembering the values of faith and family is most important to finding a work/life balance, “but there is absolutely nothing wrong with working hard to get what you want. That’s the example I’ve always tried to set for my two daughters, who have families and successful careers of their own now. My husband Donald and I have been married for 38 years and he is my biggest supporter; by my side every step of the way.”
Awards and Recognitions:
Finance Council Chair, St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church
Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Profit & Loss Association of SWLA, Board member
Family & Youth Performance Advisory Council, member
Best Advice: Your attitude will dictate your altitude. Pick your battles and don’t take yourself too seriously.
Woman Who Most Inspires You: Nikki Haley. She is a strong, independent well-spoken woman. I like that she is smart, fair, and very direct. She has a positive reputation in her leadership roles.
Tonya Richard,
Tonya Richard, a Lake Charles native, always had an interest in healthcare, but she didn’t think it was the career path for her because of her fear of needles. Yet, fate found a way. After she attended McNeese State University and worked in the accounting and mortgage lending department of a local bank, she received a job offer in the accounting department of The Clinic (now Imperial Health). “This was an opportunity to work in health care on the administrative side in support of the clinical team – a perfect fit for me. I’ve been with Imperial Health for over 21 years now and have never looked back.”
Since she first joined the group, Tonya has held several management positions with Imperial Health and was named Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2020. “As COO, I’m able to work with all of our departments and service lines, as well as a variety of clinical and non-clinical positions, giving me the opportunity to learn and grow daily,” she explains. “I’m often approached by people in our community who tell me how well Imperial Health physicians and staff take care of their healthcare needs. Knowing that I’m a part of the health and wellness of our community is very rewarding.”
The challenges of providing health care in the 21st century are well-documented, and over the past 18 months, COVID-19, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, Winter Storm Uri and a 1,000-year flood event brought a new level of challenge and uncertainty to Southwest Louisiana. “Having to adapt to reduced or partial closure of services due to COVID-19, shortage of staff and the physical devastation from the hurricanes has been a real test, but I do believe these sort of challenges reinforce the strength of our community and our determination to recover our livelihoods. As the COO of a healthcare group, it was important for me to lead the recovery of our services as quickly as possible to meet the needs of our community.”
Tonya says she is very fortunate to have a caring and understanding husband who fully supports her career. “We have one son who is now in graduate school, however during his early school years my husband and I agreed I would handle homework and he would handle everything else in our household. I did not miss out on many family events, but on the occasion I did, our son was always understanding as well, because his dad led by example. The mutual support and respect allowed me to have a healthy work life balance and grow to where I am today in my career. I’m very grateful to both my husband and son.”
Groups and Community Service:
MGMA member
Chamber SWLA Board member
St. Louis Catholic High School Rebuilding Project Committee
MGMA Community Connect + Volunteer Calcasieu Community Clinic, volunteer
Awards and Recognitions:
Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE), designation awarded by the American College of Medical Practice Executives, the certification entity of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
Best Advice: Don’t give up! Find a healthy support system, don’t be too hard on yourself and keep moving forward.
Woman Who Most Inspires You: My mother had a full-time career for over 37 years, and I learned from her the value of working hard in order to be strong and independent. Her example contributed to my drive and desire to have a successful career.
Nicole Rodriguez
Nicole Rodriguez says her career is “accidental fate” in many ways. When she was younger, she never envisioned herself in the military. “I fancied myself too free-spirited to conform to anything,” she says. Nicole earned a BA in Anthropology/Archaeology from James Madison University. But upon graduation, she couldn’t find a job. “I couldn’t even get a low-level job cataloguing bones for the Smithsonian, so I went into defense contracting just to have a job. While working as a defense contractor I realized everyone above me had military experience, so visiting the recruiter seemed like the next logical step in advancing my career.”
Nicole joined the Coast Guard because her father had served in that military branch. She thought she’d do one tour and get out. But a year later, 9/11 happened. “That day changed so much about us as a country. It was then I realized how much I loved my job in the Coast Guard. My work was rewarding, and I felt I was making a difference. I found purpose in what I was doing – a challenging job that played upon my strengths. Through my 21 years in the Coast Guard, I’ve done things I never thought possible. If I had gotten that Smithsonian job out of college, who knows where I would be? Call it an accident or fate, but somehow the stars aligned for me to find my calling.”
Nicole says the best part of her job are her coworkers. “Every place I’ve been stationed I have worked with amazing, smart, and dedicated people. The Coast Guard feels like family, and the connections I’ve made will last a lifetime.”
Nicole’s greatest influencer has been her father. “Dad is my hardest critic and biggest advocate, and the first person I call when I don’t know what to do. He listens and works through problems with me. He doesn’t judge me or tell me what to do, but instead serves as a steadying voice for me to work through issues and problem solve. I know he’s proud of me and my accomplishments.”
On work, family, and finding a balance, Nicole says, “When you ‘lean-in’ someplace, you ‘lean-out’ someplace else in your life. I have the most amazing, supportive husband and children, but I know they wish I could spend more time with them. ‘Mom guilt’ is real. I often over-extend myself to be all things to everyone in my life, leaving nothing for myself (I’m working on that!). The biggest challenge is needing to move every few years. Before my husband and I had kids, we enjoyed the adventure of a new place. We still love exploring and experiencing newplaces, but as our children have grown older and more established with friends, school, andactivities, moving has become more difficult.”
Groups and Community Service:
Member Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association
Member Women in Maritime Operations
Awards and Recognitions:
Three-time recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal
Designated Marine Safety professional
Certified Maritime Port Executive
Member International Association of Maritime and Port Executives
Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a focus in emergency management from The George Washington University
Best Advice: Never sell yourself short and never turn down an opportunity.
Establish a support network and push aside that little inner voice that fills you with self doubt and take the plunge,
even if it’s scary.
Woman Who Most Inspires You:
I greatly admire Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The 50s and 60s were a tipping point for women’s equality issues in the workforce, and she pioneered the way.
Sarita Scheufens
Sarita Scheufens grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, baby sitting, mowing grass, raking yards, and working retail during the summers through high school, knowing that finances would be limited by the time she started college. She attended McNeese State University, majoring in psychology and working in banking while holding down other odd jobs.
“My talents lined up well with banking early in my career. It allowed me to serve others in a professional capacity and shaped me as a leader. Working for national firms throughout my time in banking demanded constant growth and required reinventing myself to keep aligned with the ever-changing definition of successful performance – learn, grow, and stay positive were the names of the game.”
She adds that there is no better career than one that uses the gifts God has given you. “Serving and growing others is mine. As the CEO of the Safety Council of SWLA, I focus on the growth of our employees – as we grow together so will the efforts we put forth within our organization.”
When it comes to challenges, Sarita says there are too many to count and most are self-induced. “My biggest challenge is the voice inside my head. Outside of that, I embrace challenge as a growth opportunity. My mantra is, ‘If you are not uncomfortable, you are not growing.’”
Sarita says her real education in business began as a receptionist and errand girl for a determined and successful interior decorator, her mother, who owned Bruney’s Interiors.
“I was 12, and she appreciated the cheap labor. As a young widow, she raised five strong-minded children to be their best selves and ‘I can’t’ was banned from our vocabulary. She is my hero not for what she has accomplished for herself, but the endless giving she has put forth for others. When people compare us to one another, I tell them, ‘I am the apple, she is the tree.’”
For Sarita, balance comes through the strong women she surrounds herself with. “My sisterhood-tribe accepts me as I am, loves me through challenges, gives great advice – even if it’s hard to hear. We don’t make excuses, but we don’t beat ourselves up over failure. Work life balance comes through a support system that may be found outside of work or home.”
Groups and Community Service:
Ellevate Louisiana – Sustaining Member
Workforce Development Board – Chair
Chamber ALLIANCE – Workforce Development Committee
ABC Pelican – Multiple Committees
Lake Area Industry Alliance – Health and Safety Committee
Association of Reciprocal Safety Councils – Chair/Audit Committee
American Association of Safety Councils
St. Judes Children’s Hospital
Executive Leadership in Banking graduate
Louisiana Banking Association – Commercial Lending graduate
Chamber Leadership Program – alumni
Best Advice: You know those coworkers and supervisors who want you to look less than so they can feel better about themselves? I’ve had a few! Here’s the secret to overcoming . . . become successful despite their efforts to bring you down. No words need to be spoken; success speaks for itself. And stand up for yourself – you are your own best advocate.
Woman Who Most Inspires You: Harriet Tubman accomplished great things with so few resources. She traveled through the woods for days, led groups of scared, hungry people to safety and a new life. Her bravery shined in the face of adversity. She didn’t allow her position in life; her education or how others defined her, to prevent her from doing great things. She just did it! What an amazing way to create a legacy, for herself and those she led to freedom.”
