Places & Faces
It Runs in the Family by Brett Downer
Jerry Hollier
For Local Business, Success Started at Home Family gatherings at the Hollier home in Carlyss are lively affairs that embrace three generations. They could also constitute a quorum for a corporate meeting. Novus Auto Glass repairs and replaces automotive glass in Southwest Louisiana. The local “corporation” is the Hollier family -- the kind of local businesspeople who are as likely to chat with you about their kids as their product lines. The founder is Jerry Hollier, who’s as hardworking in business -- ranking in the top 10 nationally in Novus sales volume for each of the past 10 years -- as he is easygoing in conversation. His wife, Vera, radiates energy in both business and civic affairs. Their children -- three daughters -- all have business-related careers that reflect family ties. The Hollier family has worked together for nearly three decades. Over the years, life and work have often meant the same thing. “You know, it’s funny -- I measure the business by the age of our girls,” Vera said. “They were 3, 5 and 7 when we first opened.” That was 28 years ago. The Hollier daughters grew up in the business -- literally. “When we were first getting started, there wasn’t money for day care,” Jerry said. That put everyone under the same roof around the clock. “We were open six days a week, 12 hours a day,” Vera said. “So the girls took their naps in the business. And they had their play area in the back of the business. Sometimes, when they would get rowdy with each other” -- she 36 www.thriveswla.com
laughed out loud at the recollection -- “I’d have to tell my customer, ‘Um, excuse me juuuust a minute,’ and then go on back there and referee.” As the girls grew up, all three worked in the business. “And look at them now,” said Vera. Their firstborn, Jessica, is now the manager of their Sulphur main office. Middle daughter Leslie manages the Lake Charles location. Their youngest daughter, Jennifer, has a business-related career, too; she’s a personal banker for Chase Bank in DeQuincy. How does a family manage to spend every waking moment together in life and work? “You need to have a lot of patience,” said Vera. “You need to be able to get along for that many hours -- for a long time -- with each other.” Asked separately, Jerry said the same thing. “You need to have patience,” he said. “Patience.” “I have people tell me, “Ohhhh, I could never be in business with my husband,’“ Vera said. “But Jerry and I have a good balance. I can be strong when he can’t, and he can be strong when I can’t. It’s just a matter of the right partner. There are times where we don’t even necessarily have to say anything, and we understand. It’s not always easy when you’re together 24/7. It can have its ups and downs. But we make it work. We are a good balance.”
Thrive Magazine for Better Living
January 2012