I was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana and graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a B.S. in Finance. My career started with Wal-Mart after completing its management training program. I joined Gulf Winds in 2008 and served as a Customer Service Representative, Business Development, Customer Service Manager, and Senior Customer Service Manager prior to my current role as Director of Transportation. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the GWI family for 10 years now! I feel privileged to have witnessed the growth of GWI and our team over the years. As for my personal hobbies, I love to travel anywhere I can scuba dive and enjoy spending time with my husband and two Golden Retrievers.

How you got into this line of work?

My dad was introduced to Gulf Winds through his volunteer work on the Chamber of Commerce board. He felt strongly that Gulf Winds was not only a great company but one that was growing in an industry that was thriving. I interviewed and accepted a CSR position at our Barbours Cut facility and the rest is history!

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I would like to learn how to fluently write and speak a second language. I realize now that I should have paid more attention in my high school and college Spanish classes! Time to get the Rosetta Stone back out and get to learning.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

The people! I am blessed to be able to work with and lead such an amazing group of people. Solving problems as a team and coming up with solutions for our customers is what I love most. Life is ever-changing and the same holds true for us professionally. The company grows, and our roles change. Change is a good thing and it promotes growth. Our business is people as much as anything else and finding the right people is like matching the right shaped pegs into the appropriate holes. I think it is a common goal for our leadership to find the right fit for everyone! It is also gratifying to know that our company is so passionate about our people and has a bigger purpose with More Than the Move.

What was the first thing you bought with your own money?

I saved up money from tutoring and babysitting after school to purchase an old school TV that was literally the size of a dresser. It is crazy to think back as at that time, we did not know what a flat-screen TV was or that one day we would be able to hang a TV on the wall!

Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?

My parents have been the biggest influence in my life. They have always guided and supported me no matter what the circumstance was and taught me at a very young age that I have to work hard for what I want to accomplish in life. Life is not always going to be easy, fair, or work out the way you planned but you have to continue to push forward. Witnessing our neighbors, community, and city go through the recent flooding was a manifestation of this message. We were extremely lucky as the water stopped at our doorstep while flooding many of our friend’s homes. When the rains stopped our ordeal was over, but it continued for many. The debris is clearing, sheetrock and cabinets are being installed, and everyone is finding their way…That’s pushing forward and it is inspiring to witness.