Leading Ladies in Business

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up 47% of the workforce and own about 10 million businesses in the United States, so it’s safe to say that females are vital to the economic health of the country. In the following pages Thrive features seven inspirational local female business owners who are running successful companies while continually innovating and pushing the boundaries of what is possible for businesswomen.

Here are Thrive’s 2024 Leading Ladies.

Laurie Baynard

Owner and Chiropractor, women & children’s chiropractic and L Bridal Couture

Dr. Laurie Baynard graduated from McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and human performance with a minor in chemistry. While in college, she was a personal trainer. She continued her education at Texas Chiropractic College and received her Doctor of Chiropractic and a Bachelor of Science degree in human biology.

After graduating chiropractic school, Baynard moved back to Lake Charles and opened her own practice, Lake Charles Pregnancy Chiropractic, in 2012. Once in practice, she saw the glaring hole in women’s healthcare and fell in love with pregnancy and pediatrics. In 2018, she opened L Bridal Couture, an upscale bridal salon. Earlier this year, Baynard added an additional chiropractor to her practice and changed the business name to Women & Children’s Chiropractic.

What do you find rewarding about your profession?
I get to be a part of major milestones in women’s lives, from Miss to Mrs. and motherhood. They are beautiful times to celebrate in a woman’s life and I’m so grateful to witness them. Getting to take care of their children is the best. I have a lot of brides who become patients and patients who become brides.

What are the challenges?
Running two small businesses is challenging. You have to decide where to spend your time. I’m not just sitting at my desk taking meetings and planning growth. I’m seeing patients and juggling the business side of things after hours. There were many years of working six to seven days a week.

Who inspires you?
When I first started practicing, there weren’t really any mentors for a female chiropractor. I certainly didn’t have the resources coming out of school. As I’ve continued my practice, I have found some incredible female chiropractors around the country who I learn from and lean into for guidance. I’ve also hired coaches and mentors for the bridal shop. Service industry versus retail…you wouldn’t think there would be much overlap but there are so many commonalities. I know any investment I make in one business will show up in the other as well.

On Work-Life Balance:
There are seasons in business and not every season is going to have balance. I embrace the slower times in business and utilize that time to lay the infrastructure for growth or team training. I time block my schedule and have certain times to focus on home and work.

What advice do you have for other women who strive to succeed in their professions? What’s the best advice you’ve received?
As a business owner, embrace the ebbs and flows of business. The best advice I’ve received is that you’re not always going to have balance. There will be times you need to work harder and times you can take a step back because you did work hard. My husband and I travel a lot and it helps ground our marriage and keep us connected. Taking time to care for yourself is imperative for business.

Recognitions and community service:
• Thriving 30-Something, Thrive Magazine 2018
• The Knot Best of Weddings for L Bridal Couture
• Involved with Trinity Baptist Church
• Donor to local sports teams and charities in the area.

If you weren’t in your current line of work, what would you be doing instead?
I’ve always really loved the marketing aspect of my businesses, so maybe that, or in a perfect world, a travel blogger!

Chelsea Brennan

Owner and interior designer, Brennan Interiors

Chelsea Brennan began decorating for her family and friends at a young age and discovered a passion for teaching through Sunday School. She pursued a career in early childhood education due to the lack of a local interior design program.

Brennan graduated from McNeese State University with a bachelor’s in early childhood education and taught for five years while decorating on the side. During holidays and summer breaks she would travel to Houston to help with her mother’s home staging company.

As her career advanced, Brennan took on larger projects. One summer she got the opportunity to work alongside a licensed contractor and architect on the renovation of a church. She decided that if they accepted her design quote, she would take the leap into interior design and invest her all into her business. Her quote was accepted, and Brennan Interiors has been in business for eight years.

What do you find rewarding about your profession?
Knowing I put together a space that reflects my client is rewarding. I have a chance to give Lake Charles a local design result they can be proud of. I like to challenge my clients to be bold and invest into the aesthetic of their space.

What are the challenges?
Organization and communication are key in providing the client with a smooth and enjoyable interior design journey. Everything from the architectural phase to construction and the decor is carefully thought out and executed. I paint a picture through vision boards and face to face meetings. My goal is for there to be clear expectations.

Who inspires you?
My grandmother, Rosari Laughlin, has impeccable taste and a well-rounded palette. Her home is the essence of eccentric eclectic style and her collection of art and sculpture evokes emotion. My mother, Donna Dukes, is one of my biggest influences. She built her own strong female-owned business.  My father, Cloyd Laughlin, started his own business selling office products. His biggest attribute to his success was building relationships. My husband, Christopher Brennan, encourages me and cheers on my independence and passion for interiors. We feed off each other’s creativity and enthusiasm for our crafts.

On Work-Life Balance:
When I started my business, it was only me and my husband. I had ample time to make sure my business flourished. After having children, my boys have challenged me to be a better woman in business. What I thought would be a challenging life decision—to manage my time between work and my personal life—has been my greatest motivation and blessing.

What advice do you have for other women who strive to succeed in their professions? What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Give your best each day. Be present with your loved ones. Never stop learning and growing. There will always be unexpected, teachable moments. Embrace them. Each experience builds character and encourages growth.  There is nothing wrong with asking for guidance or help from someone who has a gift or strength other than your own. We only grow together.

Awards and achievements:
• Best Interior Design, Lagniappe Magazine, Best of SWLA, 2018-2023
• Best Interior Design, American Press Best of SWLA, 2023
• Featured in July/August issue of Louisiana Life

Community involvement:
• Donor to local fundraising charities.
• Member of Church of the King.
• Volunteer board member of The Pioneer Club.

If you weren’t in your current line of work, what would you be doing instead?
I would design and open a boutique hotel and restaurant for visitors and our local community to enjoy a staycation or unique dinner experience.

Ashley Rozas

owner, Lake Street Liquor

Ashley Rozas worked in the oil and gas industry for 10 years, traveling Louisiana and writing abstracts for attorneys. She’s also worked in property management.

Rozas currently owns and operates Lake Street Liquor and says her line of work chose her. Her friends, Shayne and Stephen Laughlin, purchased the store in 2016. She shopped there regularly, loved the staff, and enjoyed the Friday tastings. As the end of 2018 approached, Rozas was looking for a change. She sent Shayne a text that she would be updating her resume. Shayne replied that she needed a manager for Lake Street Liquor. It took the Laughlins months to convince Rozas to become manager, but Rozas finally gave in and fell in love with the business. It was a full circle moment as Rozas’ husband’s grandfather, Curry Rozas, was the original owner of Lake Street Liquor in the early 1960s.

In 2019, Rozas began managing the store. A year later, Hurricane Laura destroyed the building. During reconstruction in 2021, Rozas purchased the business. While the store had to be gutted, she used it as an opportunity to redesign the store and make it into more than your typical liquor store. One event she set up was Cool Kid Fridays, wine and liquor tastings, every Friday from 4-6 p.m.

What are the challenges?
Despite our struggling economy, alcohol is sold in most stores in Louisiana, so competition is everywhere. Networking and relationships are everything in this business and being involved in the community is very important. It’s easy to just grab your alcohol while you’re grocery shopping. We have to give people a reason to come out of their way to shop with us.

On Work-Life Balance:
Balance is one of the hardest things to do. I have two teenage sons, and they keep me on my toes. I wouldn’t exactly say I have it all figured out, but I push through and try my best.

What advice do you have for other women who strive to succeed in their professions? What’s the best advice you’ve received?
You simply can’t please everyone, and you can’t take everything personally. That’s really tough for me. I’m a people pleaser and customer service is my passion. This business is my baby and my livelihood. You will get beaten down if you allow the negativity to get to you. The advice that I would give would be don’t lose yourself. Take time for your own mental health and family. You will make mistakes along the way and that’s ok.

Awards and recognitions:
• Best Liquor/Wine Store, Best Of SWLA, Lagniappe Magazine, 2022-2023
• Best Liquor/Wine Store, Best of SWLA, American Press, 2022-2024
• Best Place to Buy Wine, Best of SWLA, Lagniappe Magazine, 2023
• SWLA’s Top 50 Locally Owned Businesses, Lagniappe Magazine, 2023-2024

If you weren’t in your current line of work, what would you be doing instead?
Serving others is truly my passion, so I would probably be in some type of position that involved helping others.

Melissa Raymond

Founder of Milestones Behavioral Services, Lake Charles

Lake Charles native Melissa Coco Raymond was born into a family of educators, which instilled in her a commitment to altruism and contributing to her community.

Initially drawn to sociology during her time at McNeese State University, she found her true calling once she was introduced to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which provided a professional field and practice to fulfill her desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

“I saw a flyer on a bulletin board looking for someone to work with a child who had autism,” she says. “I knew nothing about ABA, but I knew that I was passionate about working with autistic children. I applied and had my first job working in the field of ABA.” Raymond received her master’s degree in ABA from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and became a board-certified behavior analyst in 2009. In 2012, she founded Milestones Behavioral Services, serving as the clinical director since its opening. Raymond has created an organization that supports children diagnosed with developmental disorders through ABA services and family support delivered by highly trained providers.

What do you find rewarding about your profession?
The most rewarding thing is knowing the lifelong impact that our services have for our clients and their families.

What are the challenges?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was living through all the turmoil of 2020 and 2021. In Lake Charles, not only did we face the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic decline, but we also experienced multiple hurricanes, a freeze, flood, and tornadoes all in a short period. While this was a very challenging time, we persevered and came out even stronger.

Have you had a significant mentor during your career?
Janice Huber, the person who introduced me to the field of ABA, became a mentor for me. She taught me the basics, provided me with my initial training and supervision, and has continued to be a valuable colleague. Her experiences and skillset are so valuable, and I am grateful that she is still active in the field of ABA and that she continues serve as a mentor to me. I also work closely with Dr. Grant Gautreaux. He serves not only as a mentor in the field of ABA, but also as a mentor as a business owner.

On work-life balance:
Realizing the importance of being fully present for my family, I made the decision to scale our services by partnering with Touchstone ABA. This allowed me to access additional resources available to our behavior analysts and clients at Milestones. Partnering with like-minded experts also enhances the work-life balance for my family.

What advice do you have for other women who strive to succeed in their professions? What’s the best advice you’ve received?
There will be ups and downs throughout your journey. As long you move towards the goals and vision you have set, you are doing good! The best advice that I have received is to focus on your dreams, your vision and don’t let what others do sway you from accomplishing those goals.

Recognitions and community service:
• Class of 2020 Thrive Magazine’s 13 Thriving 30 Somethings.
• Advocate for legislation supporting consumer protection and access to autism services in Louisiana.
• Founder of “Autism Scholars,” a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase educational opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. They have awarded over $20,000 in scholarships in the SWLA communities, as well as hosted several free teacher workshops on ABA.
• Calcasieu Boat Club, board member, treasurer
• Autism Services/Direct Care, board member
• Louisiana Coalition for Access to Autism Services, board member
• Louisiana Behavior Analyst Association, member

If you weren’t in your current line of work, what would you be doing instead?
If I weren’t in the field of ABA, I would likely still be in a position where I could help children learn and grow.

Hannah Grogan

Owner and aesthetician, The Sculptry

Hannah Grogan, a Lake Charles native, earned her nursing degree at McNeese State University in 2000. With a decade of experience as a registered nurse, she graduated in 2012 with a family nurse practitioner degree and obtained board certification from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She worked in family practice for several years, realizing her passion for medical aesthetics.

Grogan’s journey in the field of medical aesthetics is rooted in her love for Lake Charles, where she started her first medical spa in 2017. It quickly grew to be the largest med spa in the city. After a brief move to Dallas, Texas, she realized she missed the charm and community of her hometown. This longing brought her back to the Lake Area. From the best in injectables to state-of-the-art lasers and devices, Grogan’s vision for The Sculptry is to offer something bold, beautiful, and distinct.

Grogan is dedicated to staying informed about the latest advances in the field. Since 2015, she has traveled the country to attend conferences, symposiums, and advanced training sessions with world-renowned aesthetic providers. She understands the significance of anatomy and injection safety and recognizes each client’s unique needs and goals. The Sculptry represents the culmination of her business acumen, years of hands-on expertise, and educational achievements.

What do you find rewarding about your profession?
I’m living my dream. I help men and women exude confidence both externally and internally! It’s a privilege to sit and listen to someone’s needs, help them through any insecurities, and show them how beautiful they are. I am fortunate to have a strong team of professionals who care as much as I do about our patients and who share my commitment to excellence and delivering the best in aesthetic care.

On Work-Life Balance:
Owning your own small business is tough. Having a work-life balance is almost impossible, especially at the start-up stage. I am grateful for my husband and twin boys who have never faltered in their support of me whether it was serving food at our grand opening, cutting the grass, taking out the trash, or moving into the new clinic… It’s been a family affair as The Sculptry was born.

What advice do you have for other women who strive to succeed in their professions? What’s the best advice you’ve received?
In my younger years, I was told by teachers and people in authority that I asked too many questions and shouldn’t try so hard to always be the best. As I entered the world of medical aesthetics in 2017, I realized that these traits were my strength. A close friend who also serves as a life coach asked, “Hannah, why do you apologize for who you are?”
My advice to other women in business is: Search for and stay true to your core values because this is where you will find your passion and what you’re meant to do in life. Be your authentic self. Who you are will always carry you to great things.

Memberships and Networking:
• 10th year in the Junior League of Lake Charles
• Founding member of the Bucs Booster Club and former secretary of the board
• Member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners (LANP). Serves on the Communications Subcommittee for LANP Health Policy.
• Member of American Med Spa Association and American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery

Previously held positions:
• Secretary of the Board of Trustees for Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School
• Assistant facilitator for the Truth, Facts, and Lie program through the SWLA Youth Foundation

If you weren’t in your current line of work, what would you be doing instead?
I’ve always loved to educate, whether in the hospital orienting a new nurse or teaching students what medical aesthetics is. If I wasn’t a nurse practitioner injector who owned a med spa, I would be a college nursing program professor.

Melinda Cocker

owner, Not Just Christmas

Melinda Coker’s first notable job was when she was a tween. Her family lived in Germany and her father was in the military. Her dad would pay her to shine his army boots. They were the black boots that you had to “spit” shine. She did so well that her father’s fellow soldiers hired her to shine their boots, too.

After high school graduation, Coker moved to Lake Charles and worked at Casa Mañana, where she met her husband. She began attending McNeese State University in 2008 after her third child was born. Coker graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s in general studies with a concentration in behavior science.
In 2011, Coker and her husband purchased Mary Ann’s Café in downtown Lake Charles. They ran the restaurant until 2014.

Coker then became a substitute teacher for CPSB and began flipping houses. During her last year at Sam Houston High School, she became a full-time special education paraprofessional.

All along, it was Coker’s dream to open a holiday store and in 2021 she decided to give it a go. She received a call from her realtor while she was standing in The Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. that she had secured the building in which her business would begin after previously being outbid. Not Just Christmas opened in May 2022.

What do you find rewarding about your profession?
One of the best things about owning my store is the friendships you make with repeat customers. I love to talk to them about their families and the things going on in their lives. My goal is to put a smile on somebody’s face. I tell everybody that when you’re having a bad day, come soak up all the joyfulness that is within Not Just Christmas.

What are the challenges?
Retail is a guessing game. Did I pick out the right merchandise? Are people going to like this? Should I get more of this item? I’m not sure if there are any good answers to how retail works, but I’m still learning and trying to figure it out every day.

Who inspires you?
I’ve had some amazing women in my life who have supported me, cheered me on, pushed me, and encouraged me. Sophia Rasile, my realtor, has been a big part of my life since my husband and I purchased our first home. She has helped us buy our homes and the homes or buildings that we have either flipped or bought for the store.

On Work-Life Balance:
Working outside the house and being a small business owner was harder when my kids were younger. It was difficult missing events in their lives. It was the major reason why my husband and I sold our first business. Now that my children are older, I take time away. I go on a road trip in the summertime and make sure to see my mom in North Carolina a few times a year.

What advice do you have for other women who strive to succeed in their professions? What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Don’t give up. It’s okay to start over but don’t give up. Some of the most successful people have failed and started over multiple times. I remind myself of this every day.

Awards/recognitions:
• Best Gift Shop, Best of SWLA, American Press, 2024
• Best Home Décor, Best Of SWLA, American Press, 2024

Community involvement:
• Decorator for the City of Lake Charles Christmas lunch
• Volunteer for various Christmas projects

If weren’t in your current line of work, what would you be doing instead?
I have so many loves and things I like to do, but if I did anything else it would be in the world of real estate.

Tina Higgins

owner, Cruise Planners

Tina Higgins was born and raised in Lake Charles, graduating from McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a concentration in computer science. Her first jobs, post-college, reflected her passion for math, computer technology, and industrial engineering. For thirty years, she shuttled back and forth between Houston and Lake Charles before making a life-changing decision…owning her own company.

Having no prior experience as a business owner, she opted for the support provided by a franchise. In her research, she discovered Cruise Planners, the nation’s largest home-based franchise host travel agency. She liked its business model and strong focus on empowering entrepreneurs.

Recognized by Franchise Business Review (FBR) as both a Top Franchise for Women and a Top Low-Cost Franchise for the past six years, Higgins says this is because they offer the best-in-industry technology, comprehensive training, and ongoing support to help franchisees thrive in the rapidly evolving travel market.

What do you find rewarding about your profession?
I believe it’s the opportunity to use my computer skills, in both research and design, helping clients put together the best possible trip for them. With a cell phone and a laptop, I can work from anywhere, never tied to a desk. I’ve booked trips and handled issues from Mexico, Europe, and the Caribbean, even on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean!

What are the challenges?
Getting people to understand the real value in using a travel advisor. Most people feel that booking through a travel advisor will be more expensive than doing it themselves. Not only does it not cost you more; we actually save you money and time. I always say, “The internet is for looking, a travel agent is for booking.”

Have you had a significant mentor during your career?
Not really. My previous career was in such a male-dominated industry, I was usually the only female in my department. At the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, we expanded the IT Department, hiring an all-female staff. Radical among the appeals courts! The other four appellate courts, as well as the Supreme Court, had mostly males in their IT departments. Girl Power!

On Work-Life Balance:
Since I never married or had children, this has not been an issue. Perhaps I chose career over personal/family life. In my early career I was so focused on being taken seriously as a woman in a male-dominated industry that I didn’t prioritize my personal life. This is one of my biggest regrets.
I found a wonderful man in my early 40’s who had four children. Now, there are eight grandchildren. I also have nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. They provide the balance that I didn’t have when I was younger.

Best advice for other women striving to succeed in their professions? 
Try to have it all, in moderation!

Recognitions and community service:
• Chamber Southwest Louisiana member since 2016. Served as Chair of the Chamber Small Business Committee.
• St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church member, serving on the Finance Council since 2002.

If you weren’t in your current line of work, what would you be doing instead?
Being a travel advisor! It is still the perfect job because it combines a passion for exploration with the opportunity to help others create unforgettable experiences. I love the flexibility, the chance to build valuable relationships, and the satisfaction of turning travel dreams into reality while staying updated on global destinations and trends.