Profile
Tiger Nation
Houston Astros Co-Owner Credits Success to Life Lessons
By Ann Marie Marmande
As a young boy growing up in New Orleans, John Havens (1978 BACH SCI) cheered for the Saints and the Houston Astros and frequently asked – more like begged – his father to take the family on road trips to Astros games. Today, as the Astros co-owner, president of Seismic Exchange (SEI), owner of Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, and a LSU supporter and community activist, Havens credits much of his success to the values and ethics his parents instilled in him. PC and Dee Havens moved to Houma, La., from Mississippi in the late1940s when PC heard that seismic jobs were available, and he started SEI in 1975. Today the company has the largest 2-D seismic database in the country and one of the largest 3-D seismic U.S. onshore databases. SEI has more than 300 employees, with locations in Houston, New Orleans, Dallas, Corpus Christi, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Denver. Among the most important lessons Havens learned from his father are to treat all people – regardless of their position – the way he would like to be treated, to keep his word, and to do the right thing all the time so he never has to look back. Havens says that his mother is very driven and has the “eye of the tiger.” When she put her mind to achieving something, she worked relentlessly to accomplish it. These lessons were the foundation of Havens’ Terri and John Havens future success. One of Havens’ memorable LSU experiences was attending the six-week Geology Field Camp outside of Colorado Springs, Colo. Membership in Kappa Sigma was also a defining experience, one Havens says led him to mature as he became an active member and balanced high expectations and the trust of his fraternity brothers, especially through his role as rush chairman. The Havens family has many LSU connections. Older sister Debbie (1973 BACH EDUC, 1975 MAST EDUC) taught tennis at LSU for several years. Cathy (1981 BACH MCOM), his younger sister, introduced Havens to her little sister in Tri Delta, Terri Authement (1982 BACH MCOM), now John’s wife, The couple and their three children, Prentiss, Davis, and Mallette, lived in New Orleans before moving to Houston following Hurricane Katrina. Through the Young Presidents’ Organization and Cal-a-Vie, John met and soon became good friends with Jim and Franci Crane. In 2011, Jim Crane became the lead investor in the purchase of the Astros and invited Havens to participate. The deal was finalized in November 2011, and Havens, as the second largest investor in the Astros, is now the team’s vice-chairman. To LSU students with big dreams, Havens says, “No matter where you come from or however humble your beginnings, if you hang around good people and lead your life in the right direction, good things can and will happen. The real secrets to success are hard work, becoming immersed in your field, and being the best you can be.” That leaves us with just one question for John: When will the Astros change its spelling to Astreauxs? Ann Marie Marmande is senior director of development for the College of Science.
76 LSU Alumni Magazine | Spring 2012