Krystin Franco - Employee Spotlight June 2022 Monday, May 30, 2022

Krystin’s Journey Here:

Krystin Franco has been with Home Furniture Plus Bedding in Lake Charles for two and half years working, full-time while maintaining a full-time college schedule in Accounting.

What do you like best about your job?

“I like the fact that everyone is very supportive and willing to help me with me working both inside the store at the counter as well as working next door in Accounting. I love how they all encourage me to succeed!”

Gene Bertrand, store manager, adds, “Having Krystin working in our store has been a key element to our success. There are many reasons for this, but the main thing being her determination to do the right thing.

As many of you are aware we have had a ‘whirlwind’ of business over the last year and a half, and Krystin has been in the middle of that whirlwind the entire time. It’s almost funny to say this, but it really doesn’t surprise me as to the excellent level of her work because that is just how good she really is. She is simply a great person to work with and she continues to learn and get better every day.

Even with all of that hard work and focus on display daily, one of the things about Krystin that really shines through is how much she cares for her niece Myla. Any time a conversation changes over to Myla, Krystin just lights up! It is usually a funny story or situation, but the way Krystin delivers that conversation fully conveys a message of who she really is.

She is also very focused on school and somehow manages a work/academic schedule that leaves neither side lacking excellence.

One more thing about her is her keen sense of humor. You ALWAYS have to be ready with Krystin around—because if you aren’t she’s going to cleverly slip in a ‘joke’ cleverly hidden as a ‘teaching moment’. Grammar, proper STORIS procedures, and ticket errors are her favorite targets and no one is safe!!

I’ve been at this job for a long time, and I’ve been fortunate to meet many really good, hard-working people that I’ve admired and been proud to work alongside. Krystin is definitely one of those people.

I look forward to seeing Krystin continue to grow both with our company as well as academically in her accounting field of study.”

 When Krystin is not at work:

“I really like to read, but these days, when I’m not at work, my free time is occupied with school and studying.”

 Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“You must accept that the work can be demanding, but the work culture is unlike any other place. It’s a great team!”

Wil Weston, assistant store manager, adds, “What can I say about Krystin & her work journey since she has been here? It has been one amazing transformation from the beginning up to now. She truly cares what goes on with her co-workers as well as with the customer. She has been very enthusiastic about learning how Home Furniture operates from the front counter to the warehouse and even from a management standpoint. She is sweet and polite to everyone that encounters her. Her work ethic has been amazing. With her juggling a full-time school schedule and being a full-time employee, she has been able to perform at a high level without missing a beat. From the time I made her my lead, through ‘baptism by fire’ as we call it, she has grown from a young lady into a leader. I remember her saying, ‘Thanks for trusting me so much with the ladies at the front counter.’ Her passion for wanting to know more about the Home Furniture way has allowed her to adventure into our accounting department, which is her college major. Her future is bright in whatever path she chooses to go down. While she is here in the Lake Charles store, we like to call her our ‘Lil GG’ or ‘Wonder Woman.”

 Krystin currently resides in Sulphur, LA, where she was born and raised. She will be graduating in Accounting from McNeese State University in the Fall of 2023.

Amanda Doucet - Employee Spotlight May 2022 Monday, April 25, 2022

Amanda’s Journey Here:

Amanda Doucet has been with our Home Furniture marketing team since November 2020.

Says Amanda, “The stars aligned, allowing me to come ‘Home!’ Home Furniture, that is! Plus, I’m now living where I grew up! I’m really home!”

Prior to joining our team, Amanda worked in the hotel industry for 20 years as well as for Ashley Furniture in Durham, North Carolina as a “Retail Experience” manager, which consisted of customer relations, overseeing employees, and assisting the store manager as well as corporate headquarters.

In 2018, Amanda returned to Louisiana where she worked in marketing for Ivan Smith Furniture in Shreveport.

What do you like best about your job?

“Definitely the people I work with and for! The collaboration and teamwork here is phenomenal! The way people treat each other is heartfelt with true interest in your well-being.”

Karen Holston, with marketing, says, “There are days when you just need a bit of inspiration and a boost of positive energy. Since Amanda has joined our team, we don’t have to look far. She’s our sunshine on a rainy day!”

Doug Smith, with marketing, adds, “Amanda is a wonderful asset to our company. Not only does she contribute much knowledge and experience, she is eager to learn new things. She has a wonderful attitude and brings a lot of creativity along with being a great team member.”

When Amanda is not at work:

“First and foremost, is being ‘Granna’ to my one and only granddaughter (so far), Kamille! I also enjoy spending time with my family, going to estate sales, and thrifting, as well as spoiling my dog, Lalalu!”

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know:

“As a teenager, I met Jane Goodall and got to speak to her briefly one on one. I did not want to run off to the jungle to work with the chimps. I had a healthy fear of them and creepy crawly things that might live near them. I did respect and idolize Dr. Goodall’s passion and compassion for the animals and their well-being.”

Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Be ready to work as a team member. The success of this company relies on everyone, regardless of which department you work in. To get, for example, furniture into our customer’s homes, we all must do our part. Learn to learn from those around you. Everyone has some knowledge to offer that will help you grow not only as an employee but as a person as well!”

Amanda was raised in Acadiana and has lived in Louisiana most of her life. She now resides in Church Point, LA with her son, Chase, taking frequent excursions to Shreveport to visit her daughters, Kaylsea and Alaina, and their families.

David Texada - Employee Spotlight April 2022 Monday, March 21, 2022

David’s Journey Here:

While teaching an 8th grade catechism class in Lake Charles, LA, Home Furniture’s original founding father, Mr. George P. Fleming, mentioned to his students that if they ever needed anything, to let him know. Four years later, in 1970, 30 days after his high school graduation, David Texada did just that. He approached Mr. Fleming for a job as a warehouseman. Not only was David hired, but Mr. Fleming had David obtain a chauffeur's license that same day.

About a year later, Mr. Fleming’s son, George E. (Ged) Fleming, asked David to go into sales, and David never looked back. Then, in 1972, Ged asked David to do something else. Ged informed David that he was going to open up a Home Furniture store in Lafayette, LA, and asked David to transfer with him.  

“Let’s go! And as they say, the rest was history!” was David’s response. And he never looked back.

Adds David, “I then jumped on my motorcycle and rode to Lafayette to check it out. I had never been there in my life!”

Aside from a short stint of moving back to Lake Charles, LA for 5 years in management and sales, David has been at the Lafayette Home Furniture stores ever since, first at the original Lafayette location on Jefferson street, and then at the current location on Surrey street.

 What do you like best about your job?

“I like people! I like talking with everyone…coworkers and customers alike!”

Riggins Dore, Surrey Street store manager, adds, “David has been a staple at home furniture for 52 years. He shows up every day with a smile and is ready to go. He is great with his customers and is a team player through and through.”

Ross Dees, Home Furniture’s Chief Operating Officer and District Manager, adds, “Congratulations David on over 50 years with Home Furniture! You have set a very high bar that I am not sure will ever be broken in terms of years of service. Thanks for all the dedication to our customers and the company throughout your career.”

 

When David is not at work:

“I love fishing, working in my yard, visiting with friends and clients, and of course, spending time with my family.

My son, William, lives in Orlando, FL while my daughter, Dawn, lives in Houston, TX with my two grandchildren, Thad and Avery.”

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know:

“I am the unofficial and unopposed mayor of Swords, LA!”

 Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Be friendly. Ask a lot of questions, including our manufacturer’s reps along with your co-workers. You’re never too old to learn something new.”  Tony Kemp, Home Furniture’s Chief Executive Officer, adds, “Congratulations David. May we all be as fortunate as you to have such a long career.”

Born and raised in Lake Charles, LA, David currently resides in Swords, LA.  Great job, David, on your 52 years of continued dedication and loyalty along with being the very first sales hiree of Home Furniture in Lafayette 50 years ago!

Bill Gragg - Employee Spotlight March 2022 Sunday, February 27, 2022

Bill’s Journey Here:

Bill Gragg began his journey as an inventory manager at our Beaumont location in 2000. For the next 13 years, he fulfilled the position of assistant manager, and in 2014, Bill became manager of our Nederland store.

What do you like best about your job?

“It’s all about the people. I never wake up in the morning and not want to come to work. The people make all the difference.”

Ross Dees, CFO and District Manager of Home Furniture, adds, “Bill has contributed to the success of Home Furniture for over 21 years!  His personal values are definitely in alignment with our company values. We are extremely grateful for all he has done to help the Beaumont and Nederland stores be so successful during his years of service!”

When Bill is not at work:

“I enjoy spending time with my family, which includes seven grandchildren! And I enjoy watching sports. I love my Astros!”

 

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know:

“That I sold flooring and I was in the restaurant business before joining Home Furniture.”

 

Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Be open-minded. Stay positive, and have a plan. Home Furniture doesn’t work inside a box. Enthusiasm will carry you a long way!”

Born and raised in Mid-County, TX, Bill resides in Nederland with his wife, Kay.

After 21 years of service, Bill will be retiring on March 31^st, 2022.

Larry Domingue, Beaumont store manager, adds, “Bill and I have worked with each other for more than two decades.  Every position that Bill worked for me, he excelled.  Bill was, and is, well liked in Beaumont by everyone.  He is honest, hard-working, smart, and funny.  The first time that I experienced Bill’s creative sense of humor was at a Christmas party years ago.  Unbeknown to me, Bill went to several employees and video taped them as he asked them who was the best manager.  Each employee responded that Larry was.  The clip ended with him coming home to Kay and asking her who was the best manager at Home Furniture.  She, of course, told Bill that he was, and hugged him.  Then she whispered to the camera, it’s Larry.  It was hilarious.  Bill and I have discussed kids, grandkids, politics, faith, sports, vacationing, and everything that two good friends would discuss.  Bill is a man of faith with very strong convictions. I have loved the times that Bill and I have worked with each other.  Bill has made a great impact on my life and he has been a positive influence on me as a husband, father, grandfather, friend, and manager.  I wish him the best of times as he embarks on a new journey.

Tony Kemp, Home Furniture CEO, adds, “I’m really going to miss Bill. He is a great leader of his team, but he is an even better husband and father.”

Bill, You will always be remembered for your hard work throughout the years. Thank you for your dedication to the team. Enjoy your retirement!

Home Furniture Plus Bedding Celebrates Exceptional Sales Performances for 2021 Thursday, January 27, 2022

Nick Scarsone - Employee Spotlight January 2022 Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Nick’s journey here:

Nick Scarsone has been with Home Furniture at our Julia Aubin location for over two years. Prior to joining our team, Nick worked at Union Pacific Railroad for 39 years. Nick says, “I stayed with them so long because it was a good job and I have always worked hard and continue to set high standards for myself.”

Charles George, store manager, adds, “Mr. Nick is always at least 30 minutes early for his shift. He is very crafty with tools and keeps our warehouse 100% functional. If there is something he feels will make the job easier, he always puts that in place to help the flow of merchandise coming in and going out of the warehouse doors. Mr. Nick also built racks for our supplies and a tool board to organize all the tools needed to build our floor samples as well as tighten things up when they get a little loose. He has been a leader since his arrival and he is a morning key holder at Store 80. When I was the only manager and my assistant was out for a couple of weeks, Mr. Nick stepped up and opened the store every morning. He’s always willing to help and has a great attitude. He is an asset to our team.”

 

What do you like best about your job?

“It’s a good environment and everyone is friendly, like family. It also keeps me busy and I love meeting customers when they come for load outs.”

 

When Nick is not at work:

“I love spending time with my family. I have 4 kids and 4 grandchildren. I also love listening to and playing music as well as fishing. My favorite sport is baseball, but my favorite sports team is LSU!”

 

The ONE thing most of us may not know:

“I always start my day off with reading a few pages of the Bible. I believe in family and I miss my mom and grandson, Logan, very much.

Born in White Castle, LA, and raised in Plaquemine, LA, Nick and his wife Patsy currently reside in Prairieville, LA.

Roy and Larry - Employee Spotlight December 2021 Saturday, November 27, 2021 When I (Gene Bertrand, Store Manager) was asked to recognize someone that I appreciate for our employee spotlight, these are the first two names that came to my mind: Roy Myrick and Larry Bellard.


Roy and Larry are still here. They are the last remaining warehouse team members at our Lake Charles store. Over the last few months, we’ve had others attempt to work in the warehouse, but none have lasted. Yet, over all of the years along with the addition of Covid, enduring a pair of hurricanes, an ice storm, and a flood, Roy and Larry are still here and working better than ever.


Roy joined Home Furniture in April of 1997. He came to us from a job working at the cemetery. That’s a great story if you ever get the chance to hear him tell it! He has seen a LOT of things change around this place! A LOT!


Larry originally started with Home Furniture in January of 2001 after working in the auto-detailing business. He was a Home Furniture delivery helper for over 10 years. He left us in May of 2011, but came back in January of 2018! We are so glad Larry came back Home!


ROY’S HOBBIES:

Fishing; Cleaning and detailing his car; and cheering on the New Orleans Saints! (During football season, I can always tell how the Saints played just by Roy’s demeanor on Mondays!)


LARRY’S HOBBIES:

Pets; fishing; and horseback riding (the only things that Larry is nicer to other than our customers are his animals!)

Larry shows great kindness to the Lake Charles Home Furniture kitties—buying them food and making sure they get fed.


It is not unusual to walk into the warehouse and hear the two of them going at it. It really is almost like a sketched and rehearsed comedy. Larry is a subtle instigator (clever and sneaky) and Roy is quite possibly the best at coming up with one-liners that are very hard to beat (I told Roy he missed his calling as a stand-up comic!). You literally can get stomach pains from laughing if you hang around them for a few minutes. And the whole time they are getting work done and taking care of customers.


They were both around with our founder, Ged Fleming, and continue to honor his legacy by exhibiting many of the values he set forth. Although many things have changed over the years, Roy and Larry have always maintained a steadfast work ethic. Tony, Ross, and Dwayne have mentioned on several occasions how good they are and how fortunate we are to have them here. They are absolutely right!


Thank you, Roy and Larry, for being dedicated, loyal, appreciative, courteous, easy-going, responsible, friendly, and reliable!


Written by Gene Bertrand, Store Manager, Lake Charles Home Furniture Plus Bedding

Paul Le - Employee Spotlight 2021 Saturday, November 27, 2021

Paul’s Journey Here:

Paul Le has been a salesperson at our New Iberia, LA location since January, 2017.

Paul first arrived to the United States in 1975 from Vietnam along with his parents, Ben and Ann, his younger sister, Lisa, and his younger brother, Tony.

Says Paul, “Living in the USA and working at Home Furniture is like living the Perfect Dream! Dreams do come true if you want it bad enough and work hard for it! This company has allowed me to fulfill this dream!”

 Joe Davis, store manager, adds, “What makes Paul Le so great is that he truly wants to help people . He opens up the customer’s mind as to what is possible . He does it every day, every week , every month and every year! He is truly a great asset to our company.”

 

What do you like best about your job?

“I love helping people and making their dreams come true as well!”

 

When Paul is not at work:

“While I enjoy travelling and sightseeing, these days occupy my spare time getting ready for the arrival of my daughter, Joli. And of course, I love spending time with my family!”

 

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know:

“That I can speak Vietnamese very fluently!”

 

Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Home Furniture is the best company and has the best customers. This is the best job, hands down! If you like helping people, and help them achieve their dream, this is the best job for you.”

Paul resides in New Iberia, LA with his wife, Thao N, and their three sons, Noel, Jake, Jack, and daughter, Joli.

Lori Berwick - Employee Spotlight December 2021 Thursday, November 25, 2021

Tony Kemp, Home Furniture CEO, says “We are very fortunate to have Lori on the team. She is a key asset to the ongoing success of our company.”

Lori Berwick works at the Home Furniture Accounting Office in Lake Charles, where she manages the accounting department team. She has been with the company for 27 years. Lori is very passionate about her work and she is also passionate about helping others.  We have recently highlighted 2 of Lori's Mission Trips to Haiti where she traveled with Louisiana's Baptist Children's Home and worked with Louisiana Reach Haiti to build an orphanage for children in and around Port Au Prince. You can read about them here: https://homefurn.com/haiti-part-1   and here:  https://homefurn.com/haiti-mission-trip-home-furniture-plus-bedding.

Jill Mills - Employee Spotlight November 2021 Thursday, November 11, 2021

Jill’s Journey at Home Furniture Plus Bedding:

“I began my journey with Home Furniture as an intern in 1996 upon recommendation by one of my professors. Shortly after graduating from McNeese State University, I became full-time at the Lake Charles accounting office, and I’ve been with the company for over 20 years now. I’ve met some amazing co-workers over the years that have become a second family to me!”

What do you like best about your job?

“The thing I appreciate the most is working for Home Furniture, and I appreciate the flexibility that the company offers with an emphasis on work and life balance. I love doing accounting, and coordinating and organizing goodwill events, such as the Give Thanks, Give Hope campaign for St. Jude each year. I’ve been doing this since 2017. The company makes a considerable effort to keep the outreach local and personal, making the experience meaningful for the connection between the community and our Home Furniture employees.

Lori Berwick, Home Furniture CFO, adds, “Jill is a tremendous asset to our accounting department and our company. I’m so glad she is a part of the Home Furniture team.”

When Jill is not at work:

“I enjoy spending time outdoors, reading and traveling. And my family really loves the Houston Astros!”

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know:

“I’ve been on mission trips to Colombia and Nicaragua, where I taught conversational English. Also, my kids and I were extras in a movie filmed in Lafayette, LA, but only my son Aaron’s part made the final cut! Oh, and I am a huge Investigative Discovery Channel and Jeopardy Junkie!”

Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Home Furniture certainly has a great family atmosphere. The company is very supportive of those who work hard and who are team players.”

Originally from Moss Bluff, LA, Jill and Jason, her husband of 15 years, currently reside in Katy, TX, with their two children, Aaron (13) and Alayna (11), and the family dog, Scout.

Kenn Rosenberg - Employee Spotlight November 2021 Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Kenn’s Journey at Home Furniture Plus Bedding:

“It all started when I replied to that small ‘Help Wanted’ newspaper ad. I was actually hired as ‘Employee #1’ for the store on September 1st, 2000. I was the assistant manager for over three years and have been in sales ever since,” says Kenn Rosenberg, salesperson at our Airline location in Baton Rouge, LA.



Before joining our team, Kenn's prior work experience included store manager at a local rent-to-own furniture store and supervisor for Copelands.



Harry Wiggins, store manager, adds, “Kenn has been with Home Furniture for 21 years. He is quick to help and offers his input into issues affecting the sales staff. He also helps to train new sales hires and provides assistance to even the long-term salespeople when needed. He is relied upon for his vast experience and rational thought on how to proceed at unsure times. I am very blessed to have Kenn as part of my sales team and truly appreciate all that he does for the store, customers, sales members, and myself. He is one of a kind and has a great sense of humor that is never in short supply.”



What do you like best about your job?

“I enjoy the challenge of what’s going to happen today, and the best thing is, I get to help people! I feel like I’m the best manager of my business. I’m always trying to make everyone around me a little bit better than they were before we met.”



When Kenn is not at work...

“In my spare time, I love listening to my classic rock collection, and I love the tropical lifestyle. I’m actually building a tiki hut in my backyard right now. It’s called ‘Kenn’s Tacky Tiki Hut,’ and I even have a Facebook page for it!”



The ONE thing most of us may not know.

“That I have a very perceptive gift. I often see things that others don’t see when it comes to details.”



Advice for anyone wanting to join our Home Furniture team?

“Focus. Focus. Focus on what we do. Our job is to take care of our Home Furniture customers. We are the best at creating great customer experiences; we just happen to sell furniture and mattresses! And by the way, every customer first is a Home Furniture customer before they become my customer. Every situation is pretty much 3-sided as a Win-Win-Win scenario. The customer must win. The company must win. And then I will win. But if the customer doesn’t win, nobody wins.”



Born in Ohio and raised in Pittsburg, PA, Kenn moved to Slidell, LA in 1978. He and Julie, his wife of 32 years, currently reside in Denham Springs, LA. And oh, by the way, all three of Kenn and Julie’s sons have worked in the Home Furniture warehouse during their college years, and their youngest still does!

J T Truong - Employee Spotlight October 2021 Wednesday, September 15, 2021

JT's Journey here.

John "JT" Truong has been a top-performing salesperson at our Beaumont, TX location since April 2014. Before joining our team, JT attended Lamar Institute of Technology while working part-time at a local hardware store. Larry Domingue remarks, "JT has been with us for seven years. He has remained a student of his craft and enjoys helping his fellow salespeople. He is extremely focused and driven. He is dedicated to excellence, and success is the byproduct of his efforts." 

 

What do you like best about your job?

"I've found that being a salesperson at Home Furniture is my calling. What I like best is seeing the smiles on the customers' faces. I always confirm with them that they are satisfied. It makes me feel good knowing that I've done a good job. I continually drive myself to keep learning and improving my skills by reading books as well as educational videos because I know that at the end of the day, I am the one who writes my check."

 

The ONE thing most of us may not know.

"When I'm not at work, I'm flipping houses. I started doing this during the peak of Covid."

 

Advice for anyone wanting to join our Home Furniture team?

"At Home Furniture, we're a winning team. We are people-oriented. Sell to someone as if they are your own family. Work hard, and everything will come your way."

Born in Vietnam, JT moved to Beaumont, TX, in 1999 at nine years of age where he still resides along with his beloved Raycela Campbell and their three adorable children.

 

Fay Zachary- Employee Spotlight September 2021 Tuesday, August 31, 2021 Fay’s Journey here:
Before joining our team in 2009 at our Airline location in Baton Rouge, Fay Zachary worked in the grocery industry for 26 years and five years working at Office Depot.

Fay’s past retail experience led her to “doing a bit of everything” when she joined our team. And now, her job tasks consist of “still doing a bit of everything!” She also adds, “And the rest is history! I love it here!”

Fay’s skills can be felt anywhere in the store ranging from helping customers at the front counter to managing the warehouse and assisting management.

Harry Wiggins, store manager, adds, “Fay has been a long-term member of the team here at store 50, and I cannot even begin to describe how important she is to the daily operation of the store. She provides great confidence to the sales team, ensuring that the inventory is accurate and provides outstanding customer service. She never hesitates to jump in wherever needed and always does an outstanding job regardless of the task. Fay spends the bulk of her time taking care of others both at work and home. She is always in demand and on the go. She is such an important person in so many lives and truly appreciated by me and all of the employees and customers. Thank you, Fay, for all that you do.”


What do you like best about your job?
“I love what I do, and the fact that I’m not stuck doing the same thing every day is awesome!”

When Fay isn’t at work...
“I enjoy reading and spending time with friends and my seven grandchildren, who range in ages from 3 years to 25 years old.”

The ONE thing most of us may not know?
“That my grandson, Eli, was one of the children featured as a spokesperson for Saint Jude's a few years ago with Home Furniture. He now lives in Columbus, Montana, and is considered fully healed!”

Advice for anyone wanting to join our Home Furniture team?
“To love what you do. Home Furniture is a great company to work for. They care about you. You’re not just a number.”


Born in Alabama and raised in Mississippi since the 6th grade, Fay now resides in Ethel, LA, with her husband, Steve.

Lisa Crooks - Employee Spotlight August 2021 Saturday, July 31, 2021

Lisa's Journey Here:
With one phone call, Lisa Menard Crooks transformed her journey from selling bicycles to establishing a career in sales with Home Furniture at our Johnston Street location beginning in January 2018. Prior to joining our team, Lisa owned and operated Capitol Cyclery for 42 years in Lafayette, LA.

What do you like about being a salesperson?
Lisa said “It doesn’t matter what is being sold, whether it’s bikes or beds, I just make sure I sell myself and my company, and Home Furniture makes it easy for me to welcome the customer and be the best you can at showing them what they need! It’s so exciting and such a joy to help them! I work with some great people, and I know that I have a great team that supports me. I love Home Furniture! It’s such a great team effort here. And if you love what you do, you’re never really doing a job!”

When Lisa isn't at work:
When Lisa was asked what she likes to do when she isn’t at work, she said “I enjoy cooking, but the highlight of my time off is spending time with my two-year-old granddaughter, Scarlett. And I’m looking so forward to my second granddaughter, Audrey, who is due August 8th!”

The ONE thing most of us don't know about you?
What is one thing most people don't know about Lisa? She says “That I am the woman I am today because of my growing up with seven older brothers! That taught me to be strong!”

Advice for anyone wanting to join our Home Furniture sales team?
What is Lisa’s advice for anyone wanting to join our Home Furniture sales team? “Always focus on the moment with your customer. They are excited about shopping and making a purchase and we need to be just as excited, and that’s what makes it so much fun!”


Frank Kolarik, Johnston Street manager, adds, “Lisa is certainly one of the most interesting people that I have had the pleasure to work with.”

Lisa can always be found with a smile and with plenty of enthusiasm and excitement. It’s easy to see why she loves her job so much. She has a vast and comprehensive knowledge of the products she sells, but she also possesses a wealth of knowledge of being in “the people business.”


Born and raised in Lafayette, LA., Lisa now resides in Scott, LA. with her husband, Jack.

Charles George - Employee Spotlight July 2021 Thursday, July 15, 2021 Charles George has been with Home Furniture for seven years. He served in sales for the first five years and currently serves as manager of our Julia Aubin location in Baton Rouge.

Before joining the Home Furniture Plus Bedding team, Charles’ experience of 16 years in senior management at a local competitor and his recognition of leadership abilities and promotions in the U.S. Army has benefitted his growth and success with both his family and
our Home Furniture family. Adds Charles, “Man, I love this company! I put God first in everything because while the goal may stay the same, we need to adjust our plans to fit God’s plan for us.”

Ross Dees, COO and District Manager of Home Furniture, adds, “Charles has been in retail sales and management his entire career. We are glad he is part of our leadership team at Home Furniture. He brings a lot of energy and passion for helping customers and leading the employees at the Julia Aubin location.”

To know Charles is to know of his love of trains! He became fascinated with them as a young boy and learned of them in detail from his father. One can easily see his enthusiasm and obsession with trains to this day as he proclaims, “My goal is to have a dedicated ‘Train Room’ in the house soon!”

After being honorably discharged from the military, Charles began his college education. At this point, he realized his passion and talent for working with and managing people while in sales. Plans changed, and Charles put his education on hold while he pursued a career in the world of retail.

Fast forward to just a couple of years ago, as a promise to his dying father, Charles committed to his goal of completing his college education. Achieving that goal, he now possesses a degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in General Studies with a concentration in Behavioral Science.

Additionally, when asked to share the “One Thing” that most of us may not know, Charles replies, “I’m an actual chef! I used to work as a chef at Cypress Bayou Casino for six years, and I love practicing my culinary skills when I can!”

When not working or cooking up something delicious, Charles enjoys hunting, fishing, and watching his kids play sports.

Born and raised in Sorrell, LA, Charles resides in Jackson, LA, with his wife, Wanda, and daughter, Bailey. Charles and Wanda also have another daughter, Andrea, and a son, Landyn.

Charles also adds, “You can’t motivate everyone, but what you can do is to surround yourself with those who are motivated because they are the ones who will share the same vision as you.”

Thank you, Charles, for sharing the vision of Home Furniture and shining the light for others to follow!

Larry Domingue - Employee Spotlight July 2021 Tuesday, June 29, 2021

On a very cold day 25 years ago, Larry Domingue began his career with Home Furniture at the Grand Opening of our Beaumont, TX location as the assistant manager. Says Larry, “Back then, the assistant manager’s duties also included overseeing their own warehousing, receivables, and deliveries of all merchandise along with managing customer service.”

 Larry’s prior experience as a trainer at Atlantic Southeast Airlines and working for Walmart in the retail world became invaluable for both him and Home Furniture.

In January of 2000, Larry earned the promotion of manager but only after, as he says, “I was put in Tony Kemp’s office with a very small desk in the corner…and I had four months of intense Tony Kemp!”  It is obvious that Larry’s experience and intense training has and still pays dividends for Home Furniture.

As he says, “My ultimate goal is for our employees to enjoy working for Home Furniture and for me. I always try to set employees up for success. When this happens, it is ‘Mission Accomplished.”

Ross Dees, COO and District Manager of Home Furniture,  says, “Larry is an awesome leader in our company!  He brings a lot of passion and energy to the Beaumont store and the entire company.”

Tony Kemp, CEO, adds, “Larry is one of the best store managers I have ever worked with; more importantly, he is a man of character and integrity. I am proud to call him my friend and brother.”

Outside of work, Larry is also very passionate about enjoying his family, including seven grandchildren along with “all levels of football, from peewee league to the pro league!” He also stays active in learning to build things like the remodeling of different rooms of his house. But, when given the opportunity, it is his “teaching and preaching the Word of God” that is the driving passion for him. While serving as a member of the deacon board in his church, teaching and filling in as needed for pastoring, Larry is also currently studying to become a licensed minister.

When asked to share the one thing that hardly any of us may not know, Larry admittedly reveals, “My wife has gotten me hooked on watching the reality show ‘Married at First Sight!”

Born in Port Arthur, TX, Larry moved to San Francisco, CA at the age of five and returned to Texas in the 6th grade. He now resides in Groves, TX with his wife, Patti, and their two youngest sons, Jayden and Jeremiah.

Larry also adds, “The greatest thing about our company is: 1) Home Furniture is dedicated to taking care of our customers and 2) Home Furniture is dedicated to our employees. It can’t get any better than that.”

Thank you, Larry, for your passion for leading by example through both your words and actions along with your steadfast commitment to maintaining the Home Furniture culture.

Ronald Goolsby - Employee Spotlight June 2021 Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Mr. Ronald Goolsby has been with our Beaumont, TX location of Home Furniture Plus Bedding since 2001. Over the course of 20 years, Ronald has worked in the warehouse filling in the role of supervisor, as well as an in-house furniture repairman. Currently, his primary role consists of being a senior delivery driver. Ronald also has quite the reputation of having excellent customer relations skills.

Says Ronald, “We have a great boss and team that I have a lot of respect for, and I truly love working with our customers.”

Larry Domingue, store manager, says, “Ronald embodies the Home Furniture culture and represents himself and HFC well.”

Ronald has been in the furniture business for over 40 years, so when he joined our team, he was able to “hit the ground running!”

Adds Ronald, “When I started over 40 years ago, I was the youngest and now I’m the oldest!”

And it seems that Ronald’s experiences and wisdom are paying off as he is often relied upon for training new hires. Larry Domingue also adds, “Ronald has excellent customer service skills and has been very helpful with newer employees.  He helps teach them how to be successful with us and imparts his wisdom to them freely.  I greatly appreciate his good influence on his coworkers.  Ron is a great asset to us!”

Outside of work, Ronald can be found relaxing and staying very active with his nine grandchildren, along with participating in his Men’s Monday Night Bible Studies. Ronald resides in Beaumont, TX, where he was born and raised.

Thank you, Ronald, for exemplifying the Home Furniture culture and for leading by example.

Patricia Landry - Employee Spotlight June 2021 Monday, May 31, 2021 Patricia Landry has been with Home Furniture Plus Bedding since 2003 as the office assistant at our New Iberia, LA location. Along with the billing of finance contracts and store procedures, her position over the past 18 years has included customer service operations as well.

Patricia adds, “I really like my job. It’s a pleasure working at Home Furniture. It’s a friendly atmosphere and I really enjoy meeting people. Home Furniture takes care of their employees.”

Joe Davis, manager of our New Iberia store, says, “Pat is simply the best! She is what the Home Furniture culture is all about. Pat always gets it done and has a smile on her face. She is a huge reason for our success.”

Outside of work, Patricia cherishes time spent with her family and two grandchildren, Haven and Wyatt, along with baking, crafting, and listening to music.

Born and raised in Jeanerette, LA, Patricia now resides in New Iberia, LA. And for those who may not know, Patricia’s son, Jesse, is also a team member who works at our Distribution Center in Lafayette, LA.

One can always sense a good atmosphere with pleasant smiles and attitudes from the office staff in New Iberia, which is no accident, due to the likes of Patricia Landry on the team.

Thank you, Patricia, for your dedication, determination, and for maintaining a positive attitude, day after day! Home Furniture Plus Bedding is lucky to have you.

William Schmolke - Employee Spotlight June 2021 Saturday, May 15, 2021

“At Home Furniture, we make furniture repairs on anything we sell, and I know that’s far and above what our competitors do,” says William Schmolke. Affectionately known as “Smokey”, he has been one of our chainwide service technicians since 2009. While Smokey’s job requires much skill and knowledge, he continues his self-disciplined drive of learning in order to stay current with the ever-changing world of furniture, equipment, tools, and repairs. As with all of our jobs at Home Furniture, perhaps the most important requirement is that of “people skills.” Smokey adds, “When I make a call, nearly every customer who answers the door is unhappy. You gotta be able to talk with them but to also be able to sell the repair, sell yourself, and sell Home Furniture! A satisfied customer is a happy customer, and when they’re happy, I know they’ll shop with us again.”

Flint Davis, Customer Relations Director, says, “I still recall vividly interviewing Schmolke on a Saturday morning. Who would have known a Saturday interview would result in a sigh of relief. Schmolke has made a positive impact since joining our service team and continues to show vast improvement. He is always researching online for new innovative ways to repair furniture. Schmolke models (GREEN & GROWING) quoted by our CEO, Mr. Tony Kemp. Thank you for being a difference maker! You are making Home Furniture better and my job easier. You are one prepared pioneer in our company.”

One of Home Furniture’s expectations is to be “Clean, Neat, and Organized” with every aspect of our jobs. One look at Smokey’s repair van (inside and out) is a true testament to that, which is just one indicator of what our customers can expect with the quality of his work, and it shows.

Outside of work, Smokey stays active on most weekends enjoying nature with his family, especially on the West Pearl River on his “Old Cajun Houseboat.”

Born and raised in Slidell, LA, Smokey resides in Walker, LA, with Linda, his wife of 21 years. And for those who may not know, Linda is also a Home Furniture team member who has been at our Airline location in Baton Rouge for the past eight years.

 

Thank you, Smokey, for your talents, skills, dedication, and for your representation of what our company stands for. 

Freda Stelly - Employee Spotlight May 2021 Friday, April 30, 2021

In the late 1980s, Freda Stelly began her career at the original Home Furniture Plus Bedding on Surrey Street as a part-time office helper during our big sale days. In May of 1994, Freda became a full-time employee - mastering the positions of customer service at the front counter, payroll, and accounts payable. It didn’t take long for Ged Fleming, our founder, to recognize and reward her work ethic, drive, and self-discipline. Ged confidently promoted Freda to Home Furniture’s Finance and Receivables Manager for all stores, a position she maintains today.

When asked about her employment, Freda shares that she has “enjoyed every minute working at Home Furniture. It is like family. We’ve been through a lot over the years, and it’s all been good.”

Riggins Dore, manager of our Surrey street store, says, “Freda is always willing to help anyone in the company no matter what she has going on. She comes in every day with a smile on her face and is a perfect example of the Home Furniture culture.”

Freda’s passion outside of work is spending time with her family, cooking, and fishing. And most of all, she treasures time spent with her 4-year-old great-grandchild, Ahnaleigh.
Born in Morgan City, LA, Freda now resides in Leonville with Robert, her husband of 41 years.

Thank you, Freda, for sharing your joyful attitude, self-discipline, and determination with our Home Furniture Plus Bedding family day after day.