The Billeaud Companies would like to welcome Russell “Rusty” Guidroz as our newest member of our Board of Directors.
Russell H. “Rusty” Guidroz was born in Lafayette, LA in 1948, but was raised in Lake Charles where he graduated from La Grange High School in 1966. He served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1971-1972 as a court reporter with the Judge Advocate (JAG) General Corp returning to Lake Charles to complete his undergraduate degree. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1973 from McNeese State University. Upon graduating, he was hired by First National Bank of Lake Charles (FNB) beginning a 41 year banking career. He served in various capacities during his 25 years with FNB, beginning in Retail Banking and ultimately as a Commercial Relationship Manager in the Commercial Banking area. During his employment with FNB, he completed numerous banking courses, including but not limited to courses at the School of Banking of the South at LSU and the National Commercial Lending School at University of Oklahoma. He was actively involved in many civic organizations in the community including Lake Charles Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club, holding various board and officer positions therein. His primary business affiliations were with the Louisiana Banking Association, Lake Charles Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau and Lake Charles Credit Bureau.
In 1988, Rusty accepted a position with First Federal Bank of Louisiana as Vice-President of Business Banking where he was hired to develop a commercial lending department. In 2008, he was promoted to Senior VP and Manager of Business Banking which had grown to a department consisting of 16 employees and over $120 million in commercial loans. Rusty retired in December of 2014.
Rusty is married to Theresa Guidroz and continues to reside in Lake Charles. Between the two, they have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. He enjoys gardening, waterfowl hunting as well as saltwater and freshwater fishing.