Live Better by Centric CU

If you have ever run your hand along a cabinet door in Ouachita Parish, there is a real chance you have touched local craft without even knowing it. We sit down with Steve Sturdivant, owner of West Ouachita Cabinets in West Monroe, to unpack how custom cabinetry actually gets built, how a small shop earns trust, and why the best businesses are often rooted in simple habits: show up, do the work, and keep learning.

Steve takes us back to the early days, from childhood “building projects” to working across the construction trades before finding his lane in custom cabinets. We talk about the leap from a 12 by 16 storage building to an 8,000 square foot shop with 11 employees, plus the moment a first full-house cabinet job turned into steady referrals. If you are a small business owner, a maker, or someone thinking about the skilled trades, you will hear what growth looks like when it is built one job at a time.

We also get into the practical side of modern cabinet making in Louisiana: favorite materials like rift sawn white oak, specialty CNC work, and why Steve invested in an edge bander to offer frameless full overlay cabinetry as design trends move in from larger markets. He explains how 3D CAD design and renderings help customers visualize kitchens, baths, and built-ins before production, reducing confusion and preventing expensive mistakes.

Along the way, Steve shares how faith shapes his definition of success, plus why a trusted financial partner matters when you are buying equipment or planning expansion. Subscribe for more Louisiana builder stories, share this with someone who loves home design or small business, and leave a review with your favorite takeaway.

Some stories are worth sharing because they're inspiring. Others are worth sharing because they remind us who we are.

Many people know Justin Martin from Duck Dynasty and Duck Dynasty: The Revival. But around Centric, Justin's story begins long before television.

At the heart of his journey is his mother, Joleen Martin, whose dedication to Centric Credit Union has touched generations of members. For 49 years, Joleen faithfully served our members with compassion, integrity, and a genuine desire to help others achieve financial success. Today, she continues that commitment as a member of our Board of Directors.

Her legacy isn't measured simply by the years she served—it's reflected in the relationships she built, the trust she earned, and the countless lives she impacted along the way.

Justin grew up with Centric as part of his everyday life. As a lifelong member, he experienced firsthand the values that have guided our credit union for generations: putting people first, serving our community, and building lasting relationships. Those same values were reinforced every day at home through his mother's example.

The lessons she taught about faith, humility, hard work, and serving others became the foundation of the man Justin is today. While his career has taken him to places few could have imagined, those core values have never changed.

At Centric, we believe our greatest stories aren't about buildings, products, or financial services. They're about people. They're about the families who grow with us, the generations who trust us, and the communities that become stronger when we invest in one another.

Justin's story is a reminder that legacies aren't built overnight. They're created through years of showing up, doing the right thing, and caring for the people around you.

We're proud to celebrate not only Justin's journey, but also the incredible legacy Joleen has built through nearly five decades of service. Together, their story reflects what has always been at the heart of Centric: family, community, and a commitment to making a difference that lasts for generations.

A winter storm shouldn’t decide who eats, who stays warm, or who can afford next month’s rent. When Winter Storm Fern pushed Northeast Louisiana past the breaking point—power out, roads blocked, fridges thawing—we moved fast with our friends at United Way of Northeast Louisiana to meet families where they were and get help into their hands with dignity.

Meghan Jones, United Way’s Director of Marketing and Communications, walks us through the real-time activation: 211 call data lighting up with urgent needs, a wave of applications crossing 11,000 families, and a clear shift from heat to food as the primary crisis. We talk through the unseen failures that compound a storm—medications that require refrigeration, missed wages for hourly workers, and the impossible tradeoffs ALICE families face between groceries, gas, and rent. You’ll hear why direct, flexible aid often beats one-size-fits-all relief and how partnerships keep efforts focused, fast, and free of duplication.

Together with Centric Credit Union, United Way distributed no-cost gift cards so families could buy what mattered most—formula, prescriptions, fuel, food—without red tape or fees. Centric also offered skip-a-pays and emergency loans to ease the financial shock past the first week. Along the way, we share the stories that guided decisions, like a mother trekking for baby formula in the cold, and the grit of teams working from generators and car chargers to keep 211 and outreach online. Recovery doesn’t end when the lights return; debris, displacement, and budgets need time to heal.

If you want to help, you can text FAMILYRELIEF to 91999, donate at unitedwayneela.org, or stop by 1201 Hudson Lane in Monroe. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who cares about community resilience, and leave a review with one insight you’re taking forward—your support helps more neighbors find the help they need, faster.

Deadlines have a way of forcing clarity, and the final weeks of the year might be the most valuable money window you get. We sit down with Billy Joiner, CFO at Centric, to map out a practical, no-fluff plan for locking in free money, avoiding costly penalties, and starting January on steady ground. From retirement matches to healthcare accounts and charitable strategies, we focus on the moves that deliver the highest return for the least effort.

We walk through the top three actions you can take in under 30 minutes: make sure you capture your full 401k match, update beneficiaries across every account, and review HSA or FSA contributions before deadlines hit. Billy breaks down HSA versus FSA in plain English, including rollover rules, eligible expenses, and how to avoid use-it-or-lose-it surprises. We also dig into charitable giving timing, how a donor-advised fund can bunch deductions for tax impact, and when donating appreciated assets makes sense. If open enrollment feels like a maze, we guide you to compare total cost of care, revisit network changes, and consider disability coverage that protects your income.

Retirees and their families will find a clear reminder on required minimum distributions—what’s due by December 31, the first-year exception, and how to get reliable help fast. We close with everyday money habits that actually move the needle, from packing lunch to cutting drink costs when eating out, plus a call to bring the whole family into the budget conversation so kids learn how money works. Link your accounts in your banking app, track progress in real time, and nudge your contributions now rather than “someday.”

Ready to take action? Pick one or two items from our checklist and finish them this week. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a year-end nudge, and leave a quick review to help more people live better with their money.

Some holidays feel bright on the outside and heavy on the inside. We sit down with Liz Gaught from the Center for Children and Families to show what hope looks like when it’s built on everyday actions: a single recorded interview that spares a child from retelling trauma, a counselor stepping into a living room to spot strengths and needs, a wish list that becomes new clothes and a toy to open on Christmas morning.

Starting with CASA and growing across 48 parishes in Louisiana and seven counties in Mississippi, the Center pairs advocacy, education, and prevention with direct services that meet families where they are. Liz walks us through the Children’s Advocacy Center approach, why prevention trainings matter, and how the new Hope Center in West Monroe adds counseling and medication management for kids who need both therapy and clinical care. The thread running through it all is trust: families see the same team before and after the holidays, and donors know gifts reach specific children already in services.

We also talk about the Christmas Project—how it began with 50 soccer balls and now mobilizes businesses, churches, and neighbors to adopt wish lists, host collection sites, and fund essentials you won’t find under a tree. One powerful example: a partner donation purchased six mattresses for siblings who had been sleeping on air beds and the floor. That’s what local support can do when relationships are in place and needs are verified.

Behind these programs is a culture that protects the protectors. Liz shares how leadership builds a workplace where heavy stories meet real recovery—puzzles on the table, shared meals, short walks, and benefits that help teams stay grounded. We close with a reminder that the tunnel isn’t the end; there is light, and community keeps it burning. If you’re ready to help or need help, visit standforhope.org. If this conversation moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who believes hope should last longer than a season.

The holidays should feel warm and human, not like a budgeting panic. We sat down with Casey Messer to unpack how to enjoy a generous, memorable season without waking up to a January bill spiral. From setting a clear, per-person budget to automating weekly transfers into a dedicated holiday fund, we walk through practical steps that calm the mind and protect your money.

We start with planning that works even if you’re late to the party: build a simple list, put numbers beside names, and track what you’ve already bought with photos or a quick spreadsheet. Then we move into smarter tools—goal-based budgeting, category alerts, and transaction tags—so you see spending in real time instead of guessing. Casey shares why experiences often beat piles of gifts, how a well-run Secret Santa creates intention, and where traditions like matching pajamas can be fun without the annual cost creep.

Money stress often rises as the calendar fills, so we reset the mindset too. Define what the season means to you and let that guide choices about events, hosting, and gifts. If you’ve already overspent, skip the shame spiral and try a no-spend January while you set up next year’s plan. We also cover the hidden costs between now and December—groceries, travel, and parties—and how to stagger purchases to avoid last-minute premiums. With Centric’s mobile app, you can connect accounts, set budgets, tag holiday spending, and get nudges that help you stay on track.

Ready to trade excess for meaning and build a holiday that actually fits your life? Press play, save your favorites, and share this episode with a friend who needs a calm, clear plan. If you found value, follow Live Better, rate the show, and leave a quick review to help others find us.

August offers the perfect opportunity to reset your finances before the busy end-of-year season. Casey, a financial education specialist with over 10 years at Centric Credit Union, shares practical strategies to manage expenses during the costly back-to-school season and beyond.

• Back-to-school expenses can exceed holiday spending costs, with basic public school fees alone costing hundreds of dollars
• The free Centric Credit Union app features an Insights tool that automatically categorizes spending and helps create custom budgets
• Setting up spending alerts at 80% of your budget provides accountability and prevents overspending
• Distinguishing between needs versus wants is crucial during financially intensive seasons
• Taking time to evaluate your spending patterns can reveal "sneaky spending" habits that derail your budget
• The budgeting tools can automatically tag recurring vendors to specific categories, making expense tracking easier

Download or open your Centric Credit Union app to explore these financial management tools. Find more resources, tips and inspiration at mycentricorg. Centric is federally insured by the NCUA.