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!”
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.
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.
“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.
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.
