Karla Hunt, Shelter Insurance agency owner

By Lisa Yates
Editor


Who says insurance is a male-dominated profession?

Not Karla Hunt, an industry veteran with her own agency – Shelter Insurance, located at 3028 Ryan Street in Lake Charles.

“Even though I am a woman in a man's world, more and more women are getting into this industry,” she said.

Her message to other women who want to succeed in a male-dominated profession is: “Don't be afraid to do it just because you're female,” she said. “Go out and try.”

Hunt, 43, said she has been working in the industry since graduating from McNeese State University in 1986.

She has managed to carve out a successful career setting out to achieve a big goal.

“I've always worked for someone else,” she said. “So when I got into this profession, I set a goal to own an agency by the time I was 30 years-old.”

She accomplished her goal.

“I turned 30 on Oct. 24, 1994,” she said. “My hire date was Nov. 7, that same year.”

Pleased to have met that goal, Hunt said her other goal is to help people.

“I'm a helper, and insurance is a great way to help people,” she said. “Besides helping to insure homes and autos, I get to help families.”

Besides helping families save for their future – college for the kids and planning for retirement, life insurance helps families when a tragedy occurs.

“If the breadwinner dies, it's great to be able hand the widow a check to take care of expenses,” Hunt said.

Her company also helped people who have been affected by the recent hurricanes.

“After Rita, I really got to see my company shine,” Hunt said. “I also got to see first-hand the good in people. People were very patient during this stressful time; and, the adjusters put in a lot of time working many hours to help them.”

Running a thriving business and raising kids doesn't leave Hunt with a lot of spare time.

“I wash clothes and tote kids,” she said jokingly when asked about her leisure-time activities.

As a wife and mother with two elementary-aged girls, Hunt stays busy juggling the responsibilities of home, family and business.

“I'm a room mother,” she said. “I am very active and involved at the school with the children.”

She's also an active member of her church and she loves to read.

“My parents raised us to go to school and get a good education, then to go to work and become self-sufficient,” Hunt said.

Her parents and her husband, Stewart, have been very supportive.

“When I told my husband I had this opportunity, he said 'I think you can do it,'” Hunt said. “It's very scary to leave something comfortable and to branch out on your own.”