Small business booster named Thibodaux Main Street manager

By Julia Arenstam Staff Writer

From stay at home mom to passionate advocate of small businesses, Danielle Stein is ready to take the reins at Thibodaux Main Street.

Stein begins the position Tuesday and plans to hit the ground running, meeting business owners and working with them to make the area a destination for locals and newcomers alike.

After graduating from Nicholls State University with a degree in family consumer science, Stein went to work as a juvenile probation officer for three years.

The stress of the demanding job was overwhelming so Stein transitioned to an office job in Houma before the birth of her daughter.

From the time her daughter was born until she began attending school, Stein stayed at home. After that, she decided it was time to go back to work.

She took a part-time job at Donner-Peltier Distillers, making the connections she will need at Thibodaux Main Street.

“I built my confidence from being a stay at home mom to being back in the workforce,” Stein said.

During her three years at the distillery, Stein improved her speaking skills, met people from every part of the community, talked with tourists about what brought them to town and developed a passion for small businesses.

She became an Ambassador for the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce and helped support local businesses.

As manager, Stein said she hopes to share her realization of what Thibodaux and Lafourche Parish have to offer beyond just food, but also the local sense of hospitality, culture and history.

Thibodaux Main Street isn’t just about events, it’s about making downtown Thibodaux a destination, she said.

Stein’s time at the distillery taught her about the need for community support and how that can be gathered through social media.

Incorporating social media will be a big factor in the organization’s success in promoting other businesses.

“It’s very important and relevant,” Stein said. Not only does it allow her to engage with the public, but it allows the public to engage with her, providing needed feedback.

With a previously high turnover rate of Main Street managers, Stein said it’s important to have someone in place long term who is willing to dive in deep to create a strong foothold in the community and expand from there.

Stein said she is fortunate enough to not have to work due to her husband’s job, but it also gives her the freedom to choose a job she’s passionate about.

There’s something for everyone in downtown, she said.

Information about Thibodaux Main Street can be found at http://ift.tt/2lz5WB3.

Staff Writer Julia Arenstam can be reached at 448-7636 or julia.arenstam@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @gingerale214.

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