Sharon Bergeron: Continued career offer rewards

“When I first came to Houma there were not many women with leadership roles in business,” Coastal Commerce Bank Vice President of Commercial Lending Sharon Bergeron said.

The daughter of a minister and missionary n Bergeron is originally from Baton Rouge, but spent an impressionable part of her childhood in Brazil n the banking executive has seen business, technology and societal roles change to the degree that expectations and opportunities taken for granted today are the treasures that keep her motivated and wanting to work.

Bergeron’s career in the finance industry began when she got a job as a secretary. With the encouragement of her supervisors, she entered into training to advance into management and commercial lending.

Having worked with large banking chains and locally owned and operated financial institutions, this lender said she prefers being able to get to know her customers as real people, being able to address their needs and not having to wait for answers from unknown decision makers 1,000 miles away. “If you as a customer don’t like the answer I give you, the office of the CEO is on the second floor,” she said pointing toward an elevator.

Outside of banking, Bergeron has been an advocate for business and community development. She served as chair for the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce and was among the individuals that lobbied to secure Fletcher Technical Community College its community college designation.

Bergeron has been a member of the Houma Terrebonne Public Trust Authority. She serves as vice chair of the Houma Historic District Commission, and is president of the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence.

When asked about her future objectives, Bergeron said, “To survive,” as she slapped her desk and laughed.

“I’m excited that I am part of a generation [baby boomers] that intends to keep working [rather than submit to traditional retirement],” Bergeron said. “I really am enjoying what I do. You laugh and you cheer and you cry with everyone here. I really like it.”

No matter how big or small a business or public organization might become, Bergeron said that it is the relationships with people that ultimately lead to success or failure. “You have to be a good listener,” she said. “Focus on education and want to succeed.”

NAME: Sharon Bergeron

TITLE: Vice President Commercial Lending

COMPANY: Coastal Commerce Bank

ESTABLISHED: 1999

ADDRESS: 1300 W. Tunnel Blvd., Houma

TELEPHONE: (985) 580-2265

WEBSITE: www.coastalcommerce.com

AGE: 67

EDUCATION: Baylor University

FAMILY: Widowed, seven children

FIRST JOB: Sales clerk at Western Auto

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Community work and making

Houma her home town.

ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE SELF: Caring

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Be a good listener, focus on education and

want to succeed

WOMAN IN BUSINESS YOU ADMIRE: All the women in the generation following hers that took on careers that had not previously been available to their gender.