Celebrating 20 Years of Thrive Magazine

For the past 20 years, Thrive has been able to thrive thanks to the support of our readers, advertisers, production team and those people willing to let us tell their stories. 

Like most local businesses, we started very small – just 12 pages – and have grown significantly since those early days, both in size and quality. We truly love putting this magazine together every month. For us, it’s a way to support our community by sharing news and stories reflective of the positive and resilient place we all call home. 

We ask you to indulge our nostalgia in this special anniversary section, as we look back through the years and reflect on how far we’ve come. 

Thank you to everyone who has helped us reach this milestone!

                                               ~ the publishers

From Humble Beginnings

Thrive Magazine Celebrates 20 Years of Service to the Community

by Angie K. Dilmore

It’s impossible to consider the origins of Thrive magazine without starting with its parent company, Healthy Image Marketing. In 2002, after working together in the marketing department at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for several years, and then moving on to other healthcare marketing jobs, 

Kristy Como Armand and Christine Fisher decided to follow a dream and start their own marking company . . . with one client. They worked from their homes, and with their established reputations in healthcare circles, the business took off quickly. One year into their venture, to expand optics for their clients, and to tell the stories they wanted to share, the ladies conceptualized a new publication and named it Thrive – a Magazine for Better Living.

In Thrive’s inaugural year, 16,000 copies were printed quarterly on tabloid-sized newsprint at Southwest Daily News in Sulphur and inserted into the Sunday papers. Another 5,000 were earmarked for distribution sites like doctors’ offices, post offices, and area businesses. Kristy and Christine did it all in those days – from writing and editing to picking up the issues and delivering them to racks. 2004 saw the publication increase to bi-monthly, and in 2006, Thrive became a monthly publication.

Given their background and early clientele of primarily healthcare providers, the magazine naturally gravitated to health-related topics. In fact, many readers thought of it as a health magazine – a challenge these entrepreneurs strived to overcome. “When we first opened the agency, healthcare businesses were easy to bring on board, and even today, while we love the challenge of new opportunities; healthcare is our comfort zone,” Kristy says. 

But this daring duo had a bigger vision in mind. They imagined a lifestyle magazine that encompassed every aspect of a person’s life, including financial health, mental health, relationships, fashion, human interest and more; and they wanted the magazine to appeal to everyone, not only their agency clients “We wanted people to live all-around healthier, more balanced lives,” says Christine. “Thrive had to be informational, educational, interesting, not merely advertorial. It wasn’t a Healthy Image publication; it was and continues to be a community publication.” 

From those humble beginnings, Kristy and Christine moved operations to an office on 4th Avenue in 2004. They slowly began bringing more people into the mix. For the first four years, Thrive’s covers were sourced from a local design company where Barbara VanGossen worked. By designing the logo and the covers, she was involved with Thrive from the beginning. Barbara was recruited by Healthy Image as a full partner and creative director in 2007. “When I began designing the whole issue, it was exciting,” she says. “As we brought Thrive in-house and had full control of the look, it became much more engaging and creative. I loved seeing it come out every month.”

In 2007, Danielle Granger Nava joined the team as Thrive’s first full-time sales representative. “She had a tough job,” says Christine. “We were still finding our place in the market and she spent a lot of time explaining what Thrive was. She did an incredible job of growing Thrive to where it needed to be.” 

Katie Stevenson, Thrive’s business manager and the glue that holds it all together, was hired in 2006 as the office assistant/bookkeeper for both Healthy Image and Thrive, while studying mass communications at McNeese. She transitioned to office “runner” and completed her internship with Healthy Image. She recalls picking up the issues at Southwest Daily News each month. “They came bound and got ink all over the place. I can still remember the smell of newsprint in my car.” After graduating in 2010, she worked full-time for Thrive as a sales representative and in 2011 began her role as manager.

An exciting new era began around 2007 when the team created Thrive TV. For two years, they filmed quarterly segments based on stories from the magazine and aired them on KPLC and Suddenlink. “It was so much fun and a great experience, but we learned we didn’t have the staff capacity to sustain production,” Christine says. “The amount of work was overwhelming for our small team.” It was also around this time Thrive enhanced their online presence with social media and a website. And in 2008, they moved into new office space on University Drive. 

Remarkably in those early years, while a separate business, Thrive was almost totally put together by Healthy Image. They had a few sales reps, and in time they hired a delivery person. But the writing, editing, design, and layout was nearly all done by Kristy, Christine, Barbara, and their other designers and writers. While they enjoyed their “hobby” magazine, they were all stretched rather thin. Kristy remembers those times as “chaotic.” “Looking back, it’s hard to believe we were able to accomplish what we did with the resources we had. It was hard but also very rewarding.”

Erin Kelly joined the Healthy Image staff in 2007. Part of her role was associate editor of Thrive, which somewhat eased the burden on the Healthy Image partners. In 2012, she became a Thrive employee and took on the role of managing editor. Under her leadership, Thrive added freelance writers to the team.

Shonda Manuel, now a Healthy Image partner, was hired by the company in 2010. This ushered in an added layer of creativity. Her commitment to Thrive’s annual “Thirteen Thriving 30-Somethings” feature is legendary.

I joined Thrive’s team in 2015 as a freelance writer. Erin resigned in 2016, and I assumed the role of editor. Katie and I worked relentlessly to ensure each issue was interesting and relevant. Over time, we added human interest features such as “Leading Ladies in Business”, “Education Superheroes”, and “Good Samaritans”. In 2017, we all moved to Healthy Image’s current location on Ihles Road in Lake Charles. During this time, Thrive got their first dedicated graphic designer, Mandy Gilmore, who had been designing for Thrive on the Healthy Image side for years. Sarah Bercier served as designer from 2019-2023 and the current designer is Bethany Parker.

During those early years in the “Thrive Hive” as our office was called, the three of us collaborated together for layout week each month. Our routine changed abruptly in 2020, first with the onset of COVID-19. We quickly learned how to work together remotely. That August, Hurricane Laura dealt our community another blow. Those were challenging months. And as businesses struggled to recover, Thrive pressed on. In all my years as editor, I’m most proud that, despite the many challenges of 2020-2021, we never missed a single issue. It was our way of supporting our readers, our clients, our community. I stepped down as editor in 2023 and the editorship is now in the capable hands of Taylor Trahan Henry.

The ladies at Healthy Image hope to continue publishing Thrive magazine for many years to come. Kristy admits, there were times when they considered not continuing. After all, while Thrive is now self-sufficient, it is their successful marketing business that pays the salaries and keeps the lights on – and keeps them very busy.  “But we really love this magazine, and Thrive gives us the opportunity to do good things in our community,” Kristy says. “You hear a lot about print media going away, but all the research we’ve done indicates that niche publications with timely, uplifting stories like Thrive fill a need. Feedback from our readers confirms that is true.” 

“People really do want positive information and want to live a balanced life,” adds Christine. “And if you hold onto your vision, you get there.”

Thrive By the Numbers

• 12 pages in first issue, 2003
• 80,000 readers per month
• Quarterly for One Year
• 60+ awards for writing and design
• 156 30-Somethings
• 13 cities: Distribution across SWLA & SETX
• 121 First Persons
• 214 issues published so far!
• Bi-monthly for 2 years
• 562 racks

Behind the Idea of ‘First Person’

Thrive casts a broad net, sharing current news and views to make life better, easier and more engaging. One of the highlighted features in each issue is “First Person”, where we shine the spotlight on an individual who is doing just that. 

It gives us the opportunity to have in-depth conversations with visionaries; some are representing Southwest Louisiana on a larger stage and others are a big deal right here at home.  

We’ve had the honor of being “at the table” with leaders, sports figures, musicians, celebrities and volunteers – all of whom are making things happen in their circle of influence.  

As you read each interview, we hope you feel as though you are at the table with us, learning how these individuals see life and navigate through; how they’ve overcome challenges, dealt with disappointments, and embraced their opportunities to affect a higher goal; and come away from each story with a greater appreciation for their path and perspective. 

It Takes a Thriving Team

You don’t make it 20 years in any business without a strong team working behind the scenes. In addition to the owner/partners, Thrive’s growth and success is the result of the hard work and talent of many contributing writers, designers, sales representatives and other support staff.  We are grateful to them all for the role they played in getting us to this milestone. We were able to ask some of them to share their thoughts about their experience with Thrive.

KRISTY COMO ARMAND – Partner and Editor
Thrive is truly a labor of love. That’s how it started and it’s what continues to guide us today. We wanted to share good news about our community; stories that matter and information to help people live healthier, happier lives. The journey has been filled with twists and turns, challenges, setbacks, accomplishments and proud moments. A big part of our success has been the team members who’ve worked side-by-side with us, as well as the support of readers and advertisers. We are grateful to them and to everyone who has allowed us to tell their stories. It’s a privilege we never take for granted.  It’s incredible to look back at where we started – on newsprint, just 12 black-and-white pages – and realize how far we’ve come. It doesn’t feel like it’s been two decades because time really does fly when you’re having fun.
On a personal note, thanks to Thrive, my 3rd grade self, who wrote a paragraph about wanting to be a reporter, sort of achieved her goal. I’ll also never forget running into my 9th grade English teacher, Mrs. Mullin, when leaving restaurant a few years after we started Thrive. When I walked to her car, she showed me a box with a stack of Thrive issues in it. She was so proud that I was still writing and said she looked forward to every issue, picked them up, and shared them proudly with her friends.  

CHRISTINE FISHER – Partner and Editor
Thrive began because we wanted to share positive, encouraging content with our community. It was one way we could “Be the change we wish to see in the world.” It took some time to ramp up to having it look the way we envisioned it, but once it did, it was so exciting!
It took time for people to “get it.”  I’ll always remember hearing our first salesperson, Danielle, on the phone, having to spell the name because people weren’t familiar with it.  “T-H-R-I-V-E. No, not Drive, Thrive.”
The early days were filled with writing content, getting delivery racks in local businesses and restaurants, and picking up the freshly printed newsprint copies and loading them in the car for delivery. There was a lot of hustle – literally – to get Thrive out in the community, and it’s been worth all of it to see it become part of the fiber of SWLA.
It’s an honor to be able to recognize people, businesses and organizations who are doing so much good in our area; to share helpful ideas and to be part of something positive. 

BARBARA INGALLS VANGOSSEN – Partner and Creative Director
I was lucky enough to design the very first Thrive cover, and designed them until we were able to bring it all in-house when I began designing the magazine as a whole. I loved it! Print is my very favorite form of graphic design, so it was a natural fit for me. When I became a partner in Thrive and Healthy Image, it was a challenge handling the layout every month along with agency work, but we made it happen, and we were always so very proud to see it in actual print on delivery day! When we transitioned from newsprint to the beautiful bright white paper it is printed on today, it was so exciting. And don’t get me started on the day we had it printed with an actual spine! That. Was. Big time! Eventually, our agency workload made it necessary to hand the layout over to extra designers; it was really hard for me to let go. But it continued to “thrive” and still is today.
Putting this anniverary section together has been very nastalgic. But, what I keep coming around to is the talent that is, and has been, involved in the production of this monthly magazine. From sales to management, to the amazing writing and detailed editing, to the creative layout and stunning photography, it’s been an amazing journey.  I have people tell me all the time how much they enjoy the publication. That lets me know we are doing something right.  

KATIE MCDANIEL STEVENSON – Business Manager
That noise? Champagne corks popping as we celebrate Thrive’s 20th anniversary! I am proud to have had the honor of working for Thrive for over 15 years now, and I’m just as passionate about it today as when I first started! I have had many roles throughout the years including writing, delivering and sales, before becoming the business manager. As you can imagine, putting together a magazine is an intricate puzzle, and I’m only a small piece of it. I would like to thank the Thrive team, including my fabulous bosses, our contributors, and all our advertisers for always elevating the publication with their creativity and generosity. Lastly, and most importantly, thank you to our readers, who have been with us for the past 20 years. You are an important part of our Thrive family. I hope you enjoy reliving the past 20 years with us, and I look forward to seeing what the next 20 years brings us! 

SHONDA MANUEL – Photographer and Graphic Designer
I’ve done my fair share of laying out feature sections of Thrive, most notably, The Thriving 30-Somethings. My main gig has been, and on occasion still is, being the photographer. I’ve had some pretty amazing adventures out and about Southwest Louisiana. Being the photographer gets you into some pretty cool events like the Josh Ledet American Idol frenzy or scenic airboat tours at sunrise in Cameron Parish. I’ve met inspiring politicians, professionals, people and even pups. Not many can say they have been to Eddie Mormon’s house and walked out with several signed prints, but I can. I’ve fought back tears listening to a mother talk about their struggles raising a special needs child. After an extreme asthma attack on an assignment to Heckhaven wildlife Rehabilition Center, I retired from shooting any more animal-centered features. The one assignment that continues to escape me is riding shotgun at the Chennault Airshow. It seems every time I am scheduled to fly, the weather is bad. I am so honored to be a part of the Thrive legacy and know the photos I contributed will be there years from now for my kids to look back and say, “My mom almost died taking that picture.” HAHA 

ERIN KELLY, Award Winning Author  –  Former Editor
I can’t remember a single morning at Thrive when I didn’t want to go to work. I’m proud to have been part of the team for so many years. Of the hundreds of people I interviewed at Thrive, a single person stands out the most: Taylor Oliver. Taylor was born with neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer, and was given only two years to live. When I interviewed her in 2011, she was 11 and she’d just been named the State Champion for the Children’s Miracle Network. At the time, she was cancer free and had big plans to become a chef and open her own restaurant. I’ll never forget her joy, enthusiasm, and humor. When I asked her what the hardest part of having cancer was, she said, “I don’t remember anything being hard.” Sadly, Taylor died just two years later. I consider it a gift that I met her.

ANGIE DILMORE – Former Editor
I served as Thrive’s editor for over six years, and I can honestly say the position was the most rewarding job I’ve ever experienced. Putting together an exciting issue brimming with relevant content each month never got old. I enjoyed working closely with Healthy Image Marketing and their team; Thrive’s business manager, Katie Stevenson; the designers; and the many dedicated freelance writers. My favorite part of my role as editor and primary writer was having the opportunity to meet hundreds of fascinating people over the years and sharing their stories with Thrive readers. I consider it all an honor and a privilege. 

TAYLOR TRAHAN HENRY – Editor
Getting to be a part of Thrive is a privilege and an opportunity to showcase the best that Southwest Louisiana has to offer. Working with talented contributors, amazing advertisers, and a top-notch team each month is a dream for someone who loves the art of writing as much as I do. Simply put, it takes many moving parts to produce this publication monthly and, because of Thrive’s excellent leadership over the past two decades, it is a well-oiled machine. I am so thankful to be a part of a team that takes such pride in their work. Seeing the magazine on tables all over or seeing an article shared on social media never gets old!  

DANIEL GRANGER NAVA, Financial Advisor  – First Sales Representative
I cherish my time spent at Thrive magazine. For over four years, I got to work with some amazing women who I still have relationships with today. Even then, I knew it was a special opportunity, though it was only my second job as an adult. I remember when we moved to the University Drive office in 2008, it was as if all of us – the people, the building, the magazine, went from black and white to full color! We had so many laughs and exciting times there.  

KATIE HARRINGTON, Public Information Officer, City of Lake Charles  –  Former Associate Editor
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have many opportunities that have really shaped me. My time spent at Thrive is definitely a highlight. A storyteller at heart, I always relished the opportunity to share the stories of the faces and places that make our area so unique. Whether it was telling the tale of the life and work of a local artisan, or sharing the details of an experience only gained via a boat ride through the marsh, my time at Thrive was rich with memorable experiences. These stories remain my favorite reads in the magazine to date, and, to top it off, what an unexpected honor it was to find myself featured as a First Person and on the cover of the February issue earlier this year!   

BRITNEY GLASER FELDER  –  Former Sales Representative
I credit Thrive magazine with bringing me back home to Southwest Louisiana when I needed a break from the TV industry. I was already a fan of the publication and how it highlighted the best of the best in our area – but what made the most lasting impression on me was watching its creators model what it looks like to pursue your unique passions. Kristy, Christine, and Barbara are incredibly gifted and working for them was a highlight in my career. They are fabulous leaders, visionaries, moms, and friends. Thrive is celebrating this milestone because the people behind each issue thrive in all that they do. 

Top 5 30-Something Memories

by Shonda Manual, photographer and graphic designer

For the past 13 years, our annual Thriving 30-Somethings feature has put a spotlight on outstanding individuals who have blazed paths to success, igniting a spark of inspiration along the way as they not only find time for their careers, but also dive head first into community service, volunteerism, and difference making. This partnership with Fusion Five has honored 169 show-stopping young professionals since its inception!  

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary issue, we are excited to take a nostalgic journey back through time to honor the incredible young professionals who have graced our pages.  

These Thriving 30-Somethings have shown us that age knows no bounds when it comes to making a difference. Whether it’s their accomplishments in the professional world or their unwavering dedication to uplifting our local communities through service and leadership, these 30-somethings are a testament to the limitless potential within each of us. 

1. 2017 The One Where They Go Camping

This is my favorite one because it was the first time ever that I was able to take the group photo with everyone present at one time. We shot everything on location at Camp Edgewood and we all really bonded that day. I can easily say I am still great friends with many of the people from this shoot.

2. The One Where They Celebrate 10 Years

I knew this one would make it into my top five years before we even shot the issue. I worked at L’Auberge Casino Resort for several years in marketing and knew the property inside and out. One of the projects we did was a Ladies of L’Auberge Calendar. I always wanted to go back and use the gorgeous private suites and other locations on the property as the backdrop for this black-tie-only shoot. It did not disappoint. The day the issues came out, everyone went on lockdown and didn’t even see it. So, it’s the only issue we have ever re-released. 

3. The One Where They Went to the Movies

Cinema is a huge part of my life and I love hearing what movies have impacted other people. The 30-Somethings this year knocked it out of the park by bringing their favorite movies to life. They made my job so simple. I showed up and they were in full character. One of the best parts of the 30-Something process is collaborating with the recipients. 

4. The One Where They Went Home

This was the issue that truly touched my heart. They were the 30-Somethings that followed COVID and the hurricanes. Every year, people are nominated because of their success in the business world and also community. This time, so many stories of humanity and perseverance came from this issue. If I was able to fight off tears from talking in person with the 30-Somethings, I definitely went back to my car and cried a bit. 

5. The One Where They Solved a Mystery

The couch. It all started with a photo of a couch and a very eager-to-impress new employee at Thrive. It was my first 30 Something issue to do on my own. It took me weeks to complete the cover.
I photoshopped every single person into the photo and I had to preplan every pose. Cutting people out in Photoshop has become exponentially easier in the last 10 years. I cite this issue as one of my favorites because that’s when the themes began. I’m glad it worked out because they must have thought I was the slowest designer ever.

Honorable Mention: 2019 Black and White One

I love simple black and white photography. My favorite thing about this shoot was getting to know the 30-Somethings. We had tons of chairs and I tried to pair the chair with the right personality. Well, when you’re sitting on a chair, you can’t help but just sit and talk. And that’s what we did. It was so comfortable. I also loved it because it was the first time I didn’t have to leave the studio!

What Was Happening in 2003?

We know that Thrive was getting started in 2003, but what else was going on? It’s always fun to look back on those little trivia pieces that remind us of days gone by! Here’s a few hot topics you may remember from 20 years ago.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger Becomes Governor: In a high-profile recall election, actor and former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as the Governor of California in October 2003.
• Hey Ya! by Outkast was the top song of the year
• Gas was $1.91/Gallon and milk was $2.76/Gallon
• In Louisiana’s gubernatorial election held in 2003, Kathleen Blanco was elected as the state’s first female governor.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII
• Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo grossed over $340 million at the box office.
• Yahoo!, AOL, and MSN were the top three most popular websites.
• Apple launched iTunes and sold one million songs during the first week.

Notes from Our Readers and Advertisers

Senator Jeremy Stine
Congratulations on reaching your 20th anniversary, Thrive magazine! Thrive has been a beacon of positivity and community connection in our region, consistently highlighting the inspiring stories and good deeds of our community members. It has been a source of inspiration and a reminder that even in challenging times, there is much to celebrate and be grateful for. Thrive’s unwavering commitment to showcasing the best in our region has made it an invaluable asset for fostering a sense of unity and pride among us all. Here’s to two decades of spreading optimism and shining a spotlight on the remarkable people and initiatives that make our community thrive! 

George Swift, President/CEO , The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
It’s hard to believe that Thrive magazine is turning 20. Thrive has grown from a few black and white pages to a high quality, full color publication that is an important showcase for so many aspects of Southwest Louisiana. Features about our region’s businesses, culture and community leaders are among the anticipated articles. Having a quality publication also adds to our quality of life, which is important in helping residents take pride in our region and in attracting newcomers to our area.  The Chamber SWLA/Alliance also partners with Thrive to tell of our accomplishments and the importance of a strong chamber and economic development organization. Congratulations to Thrive and wishes for many more successful years ahead.   

Dr. Daryl Burckel, President McNeese State University
Never are we more proud of our graduates than when we see and benefit from the impact they’re making right here in our community. For two decades, Thrive magazine has been an invaluable resource for McNeese — helping us tell our stories, strengthen our community ties, and grow our brand. The team at Thrive has always been ready and eager to brainstorm creative solutions that help us reach goals and solve problems. Congratulations on 20 amazing years!

Jim Rock, Executive Director of Lake Area Industry Alliance
One of the key functions of Lake Area Industry Alliance is to communicate with the public and elected officials of the benefits industry brings to our community.  Messages about the taxes paid by industry, the generous donations and tremendous volunteerism of industry employees are important for our stakeholders.  For many years, Thrive magazine has been a key component for LAIA getting the message of the beneficial relationship with the community out to their readers.  We value our relationship with Thrive and look forward to continuing having a cooperative connection with all forms of media, and especially Thrive, for years to come. 

John Noble Jr., MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Center for Orthopaedics; Founder, Noble Development
Congratulations to the Thrive team on 20 years of excellence. It’s hard to believe we’ve had the opportunity to enjoy Thrive for two decades – and counting. In this age of declining print media, Thrive continues to be the area’s Gold Standard. The articles are always interesting, timely, and relevant, showcasing the positive stories that matter in our community. Southwest Louisiana is fortunate to have this publication and I hope it continues to Thrive!

Patricia rudhomme, Executive Director of Development, CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA Foundation
Congratulations to Thrive on this 20th anniversary! Our SWLA community has been enriched as a result. Thrive has been a forum for our community to have access to learn about new businesses and community leaders, read about technology breakthroughs, keep updated on local events and always find something new with each issue. The team at Thrive has been a steady resource and support when I have needed to educate and promote in SWLA. Here is to continuing to walk by the stand and pick up the latest issue for another 20 years. 

Keri Forbess-McCorquodale, MS, CEAP, LPC-S, LMFT, President, Solutions Counseling and EAP, Former Thrive Columnist
It has been such an honor to be associated with Thrive from its inception. Whether being quoted in their various mental health articles, or contributing a monthly article for many years, I have always felt pride to be connected to such a quality publication.  I have been approached countless times over the years about articles I have participated in, so I know Thrive works! 

Sterling Neblett, Vice President and General Manager, CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex
We are so appreciative of Thrive magazine for their positive voice within our community. There are so many great things we are doing as an industry, and they do a wonderful job at helping us tell our story. Congratulations on 20 years!

Kyle Edmiston, President/CEO Visit Lake Charles
Visit Lake Charles is so thankful that 20 years ago, Thrive was started! It has been an essential part of our communications strategy to inform locals about upcoming events and tell stories about our outstanding citizens. We appreciate your professionalism and your journalistic approach to all of our requests. Thank you for all that you do for our community. Cheers to another 20 years!!

Nic Hunter, Mayor of Lake Charles
Thrive has been a stellar partner for the City of Lake Charles. In this current age, having a local periodical that focuses on local matters is an absolute treasure and necessity. Time and time again, Thrive has been there to help inform and educate all of us about what is occurring in our own backyards here in Lake Charles. Their coverage has helped the City connect so many people with exciting, quality of life programming. Congratulations and thank you to the Thrive team for 20 years, and my only request is that you keep doing what you’re doing!

Erin Davidson., CEO of Big Brother Big Sisters of SWLA
Thrive magazine has been such huge part of my reading list for the past 20 years, sharing everything from post-Hurricane recovery, back-to-school tidbits, fashion, mental health awareness, summer fun activities, and everything in between. I am most thankful for Thrive’s partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana and how the magazine has helped highlight our vision, mission, successes, and needs our youth have. I can’t imagine a newsstand without my monthly connection to SWLA that Thrive magazine provides.

Kayla Rigney, Executive Director, Calcasieu Community Clinic
Thrive is a wonderful place to advertise. The magazine is an upscale, glossy publication covering topics which are relevant and entertaining. It has the right mix of general information and local interest. It is an excellent investment of the Calcasieu Community Clinic’s advertising budget!

Scot Tyler, Phillips 66 Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex General Manager
Thrive’s holistic storytelling approach is purpose driven and adds value to their readers. The editors have consistently helped Phillips 66 communicate social impact stories and the pride our employees have for their hometown. Congratulations on Thrive’s 20th anniversary!

Mitchell Woods, President, Fusion 5
Fusion Five is very thankful for the strategic partnership we have had with Thrive over the past several years. Supporting the Thriving 30-Somethings feature is a highlight for us each year! Working with Thrive to identify and reward the young professionals in our area makes a lasting impact on our community.

Torie Craven, Photographer
Congratulations on 20 years in business! All of the dedication and hard work you have put in has made Thrive a top notch magazine. I love that you focus on local information and businesses in our community. The quality of you magazine is great. Keep up the amazing work!

Katherine Stewart, PT, DPT, Owner, Thrive Physical Therapy
Thrive has given our small business a far-reaching, community-enhancing platform to deliver our company’s message. Thrive’s monthly issues tether our clinic to the community. They have been an invaluable partner over our 11 years in business. Their success and longevity is no surprise with a name like “Thrive!” Congratulations on 20 years!

Tina Higgins, CATA, CATP, CCC, Luxury Travel Specialist
I love, love, love Thrive magazine. Before I was a small business owner, I loved reading it to find out what was going on and who’s who in the Lake Area. Since I started my business, Thrive has been instrumental in getting my business recognized. Thank you Thrive, and Happy 20th Anniversary!

Janie Frugé, CEO of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital
As a community-based hospital,  West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital values partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Over the last 20 years, Thrive has grown into a trusted and valued publication in our community, one which our organization has relied on to share tips about health and wellness, highlight our incredible medical staff and promote our healthcare services. WCCH is happy to celebrate this special anniversary with them, and we wish them many more years of thriving success.

Linley Richert, Owner/Marketing Director, The Pediatric Center of Southwest Louisiana
Congratulations to Thrive on 20 years of serving SWLA! I am so happy for you and grateful for all of the hard work you do.  It is so nice to have such a wonderful resource for families and children in our area, and in such a beautiful magazine format.  We all need a little help sometimes raising our children by getting good advice and knowing what’s going on in our area.  My favorite issue is the Summer Fun guide!  I would always grab it right when it comes out and see what my kids might want to do in the summer.  Of course I would have to keep it handy so I could refer back to what activities they actually wanted to sign up for because we couldn’t do everything.  I do enjoy the articles as well and having that current information is always helpful.
Congratulations and best wishes for continued success!

Lisa Guerrero, System Director of Marketing, Lake Charles Memorial Health System
We consider Thrive magazine a consistent and reliable avenue to educate readers and share the availability of healthcare services and providers within our area. We value its far-reach and ease of accessibility to every member of our community… and their staff is exceptional to work with!

Louise McDaniel, Reader
I love the diversity of the articles in Thrive and the local highlights. Over the years, it has given me lots of “food for thought.” In our busy lives, it’s nice to take a break and read through the pages that offer readers reminders on everything from important health topics to political views to lifestyle ideas to use. Thrive truly has something to benefit everyone! 

Roy Raftery Jr., President/CEO, Lakeside Bank
We are thankful for our partnership with Thrive magazine since Lakeside Bank first opened. We have found that advertising in Thrive is one of our best sources of advertisements. Congratulations on your 20th anniversary of the magazine and we hope you have many more.

Jessica Hart, Director of Development, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School
Immaculate Conception Cathedral School has partnered with Thrive magazine for many years. When it comes to advertising our school, there is no one else we’d rather choose. Composed of customer-oriented, highly skilled professionals, Thrive cares about strengthening this great Southwest Louisiana community by helping local businesses, like ICCS, to achieve their advertising goals. Congratulations on your 20th anniversary! We pray for your continued success for many years to come.

Michelle Corcoran, DDS, Owner/Dentist Peppermint Sage
Fun fact: Thrive was the first and only magazine I advertised in when I returned home to Lake Charles to start practicing as a young dentist over 13 years ago.