Sarah Louise Wood Ham Wood Resources, LLC
At 16, Sarah Louise Wood Ham mopped fuel docks for her family’s marine business, and it has never occurred to her to work anywhere else. Also, she has never been fazed by being a woman leader in a male-dominated industry. “What, I’m a girl? I forget that when it comes to business!” Ham laughs. “Honestly, I just go for it without thinking of it as an advantage or a disadvantage.” Sarah Louise is the president of Wood Towing Company, a subset of marine company Wood Resources, LLC, founded by her grandfather in 1958. She and her brothers represent the company’s third generation. They attribute their success to being “motivated by our family’s values of honesty, communication, respect and harmony.” Sarah Louise admits that the marine industry has an affinity for “good old boy” networking activities like hunting or fishing retreats. So she makes client entertaining a family affair and plans couples’ activities with customers’ wives. “It’s better for a million reasons. The wives appreciate it, it’s unique and it’s just more fun getting to know the families!” Today, with her three children becoming more independent, Sarah Louise says she works harder than ever as she shifts to a greater focus on work and the growth of her company. “In the past five years, our fleet has tripled and our aggregate product line has quadrupled,” she says, crediting the success to her team of 100 employees. “I love the entrepreneurial aspect, but I also love the people. I know we would be nowhere without our dedicated, loyal team.”
Wood Resources, LLC, is located at 5821 River Road in Avondale, La. 436-1234. woodresources.com.
Nina Friend Friend & Company
Nina Friend has a passion for entertaining and the wellappointed home—and she is pleased to see that her passions are shared by the next generation of Southern hostesses. “I grew up in a home where we entertained, and my mother set a beautiful table,” says Nina, who oversees the Bridal Registry and Gift Department at Friend & Company. “I want to make sure this appreciation for tradition is passed on to today’s young brides.” For more than 20 years, Nina has worked with her husband, Ken, and her mother-in-law, Pat Friend, at the family’s jewelry business. As demand grew for a bridal registry, she launched the full tabletop and gift collection in 2003. In a boutique setting on the second floor of the shop, it includes William Yeoward, Herend, Haviland, Waterford, Anna Weatherley, Bernardaud and Baccarat. Nina loves to educate young women about the brands and their histories as she guides them in their selections. “I try to offer the same expertise they would get if they were with Ken buying a diamond.” Nina feels blessed to continue her family’s legacy of service and quality in New Orleans, where entertaining is “such an important part of our cultures and homes. Our beautiful traditional dining rooms make brides want fine china. I think it’s unique to the South, and I’m so passionate about this tradition I’d like to see it continue in other markets.”
Friend & Company is located at 7713 Maple St., 866-5433. friendandcompany.com. Women IN Business 27