Northwestern State University’s School of Business will host the 52nd annual J. Walter Porter Forum Thursday, Oct. 25. This year’s theme is “Leadership and Empowerment: Time’s Up,” centered on highlighting the importance of why all business professionals should lead in the fight against sexual harassment in the workplace.
The forum will take place from 9:40 a.m.-noon in Russell Hall Room 102. Speakers will be Julie Couret and Keith Poirrier.
Couret is founder and Chief Executive Coach of her management consulting firm, 7602 Business Performance. She has been training leaders and developing team communication and problem solving skills for more than 15 years. She helps leaders reach their most effective potential through focused and results driven one-on-one coaching and training. She utilizes a direct and solution-orientated approach with her clients as she swiftly and effectively identifies the opportunities, strengths and solutions for her clients’ personnel management situations. Couret is the trusted sounding board for senior leaders, leading and navigating sensitive and critical decisions.
Couret is a graduate of Leadership Jefferson, the youngest female president of the Greater New Orleans Executive Association and serves on the board of directors for both the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and the Advisory Council of the New Orleans.
After obtaining his B.S. in Accounting from NSU in 1992, Poirrier founded Quicktax Financial Services, LLC (QFS). QFS began as a tax preparation business and now offers financial and business consulting services and serves as a business brokerage for capital growth funding, recapitalization and mergers and acquisitions. In 2000, he obtained his MBA from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and shortly after, began his insurance career with Hub International, a “Top 10” national insurance brokerage.
While working for Hub, Poirrier was recognized as one of Hub’s top national producers, and awarded their Superior Sales Performance Award for three consecutive years. In 2011, he was awarded the “Power Broker of the Year” award in the Marine Industry by Risk & Insurance Magazine, a national publication. His credentials include Certified Insurance Counselor, assigned by “The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.”
In 2012, Berkley Oil and Gas, a global leader in the energy insurance sector, appointed him to its agency advisory board for a two year term. In 2015, he founded Poirrier Group, LLC, a specialty, high risk, commercial insurance agency, where he serves as president and CEO. At Poirrier Group, “Team Poirrier” focuses on writing complex commercial accounts and insuring the assets and liabilities of high net worth individuals; both requiring creative solutions to risk challenges. Poirrier’s vision for a dynamic team culture, strong customer service and exceptional integrity have set Poirrier Group apart from its competition and establishes “Team Poirrier” as a valued partner in managing commercial insurance programs and corporate risks.
The J. Walter Porter Forum is sponsored annually through NSU’s School of Business. The forum is made possible by the endowment established by the family and friends of the late J. Walter Porter in recognition of his interest in improving the image of business as a career field for college students and of his concern for moral and ethical standards as expressed in his philosophy of business. The forum is an effort to translate the textbook into practice by bringing capable, successful business executives to the campus to speak on selected topics in their area of expertise.
The Porter Forum is free and open to the public. For more Information, contact Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, dean of the College of Business and Technology, at kilcoyne@nsula.edu.