Money & Career Heather Hidalgo-LaFleur (37)
As one of the youngest marketing leaders in the CHRISTUS health system, which spans six states, Heather Hidalgo-LaFleur finds her motivation each day from the fact that she loves her job and the organization she works for. “I really feel like we’re there to better the community and I’m proud of our mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” she says. In addition to handling marketing and communications for the hospital, she also manages the first workplace wellness program in the CHRISTUS health system, which includes more than 30 companies across Lake Charles and surrounding areas. Her leadership and contributions have helped the hospital earn National Research Corporation’s Consumer Choice Award for best quality, reputation, doctors and nurses for five years in a row. Hidalgo-LaFleur’s personal definition of thriving plays a lot into the passion and energy she puts into her career and personal life. “Happiness has to be a part of thriving. If you’re not happy then the rest doesn’t really mean anything,” she adds. “Being the best person that you can be through work and your relationships or whatever you find most important is thriving.” In addition to her many responsibilities at the hospital, she also lends her time and talent to variety of community organizations and boards. She is a past vice-president of the Lake Charles Chapter of the American Advertising Federation and is involved with the American Heart Association and Calcasieu Parish Medical Society. She formerly served on the KID POWER of Southwest Louisiana and the Alzheimer’s Association boards. She and her husband Kevin enjoy spending their free time with their dog Doc and attending various community events like Live at the Lakefront, Downtown at Sundown and the Spring Art Walk just to name a few. To pull it all off, she is inspired by her parents who work hard and have strong moral compasses. Her husband’s support through everything she does is also an inspiration.
Janet Woolman (38)
Janet Woolman, executive director of economic development at McNeese State University and of the Louisiana Environmental Research Center, believes that innovation happens at the crossroads of the disciplines, and she links that belief to her personal definition of thriving. For her, it all boils down to having diversity in everything in which you are in engaged. “The richness that diversity brings to one’s life through friends from all walks of life and from other countries, travelling and experiencing other cultures changes one’s perspective,” she adds. “Taking risks and not allowing fear of the unknown to prohibit one from exploring different aspects of life is what it means to thrive.” Innovation is the name of the game for Woolman, who hopes to make Southwest Louisiana a better place through her work in developing the Innovation Center and managing the McNeese Student Incubator, both inside the SEED Center. “I hope to continue in a meaningful way, paving new paths, being a part of the transformation that higher education is currently undergoing,” she says. “It is my goal to lead innovation within the university and community while continuing to grow professionally and contribute back to our state and the broader academic community.” Motivated by public service, Woolman says she went into higher education with her sights set on service. “Collaborating to bridge the skills of the students, the expertise of the faculty and the resources of the community and businesses in the area to transform the local region is very important.” She adds that mentoring happens at all different levels and that her students teach her daily through their viewpoints to help her gain a better understanding of what is needed to make this area a hub for innovation in the region. Woolman credits the many professors who took an interest in her as a student for her inspiration to be the person she is. “Dr. Jeanne Dabavol is one that comes to mind. She took a chance on me and gave me opportunity. Margaret Thatcher is another person who inspires me. She broke the molds and led her country down a new road.”
30 www.thriveswla.com
Thrive Magazine for Better Living
April 2014