When Business Banking Feels like Family: Stephanie LaFleur of Duluth
After two retirements, Stephanie LaFleur turned her focus to entrepreneurship: Reviving businesses and strengthening her Duluth community, all with the support of Affinity Plus.
Stephanie LaFleur had already retired twice before she became a business leader in Duluth, and the now-serial entrepreneur has no intentions of going work-free anytime soon.
Her first career as a state employee in law enforcement ended in early retirement in 2002, after Stephanie was called into active duty for the military following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. She remained on active duty until 2009, when she retired from military service.
Then in 2010, she and her husband Chris LaFleur started Serendipity Endeavors, Inc. in Duluth. They found defunct or struggling businesses, bought them, and turned them around, regardless of the industry.
Their current roster includes a movie-making business, an anesthesia business, an indoor golf and event center, and several others. Stephanie also serves as the president of the Lincoln Park Business Group in Duluth, a group that works to strengthen the businesses in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
With so much going on, they know where they do their business banking matters – it’s why they chose Affinity Plus.
“When Affinity Plus started offering business banking, we immediately opened up business accounts there,” Stephanie said.
A member since her state employee days in 1987, Stephanie said working with Affinity Plus for business banking was an easy choice. She’s known the employees there for decades, and already knew they had her goals and best interests in mind.
“Relationship are huge,” she said. “When you have a relationship with someone and they feel like family, you can trust them – that creates an ease to banking.”
She’s worked with Duluth Branch Manager Amanda Bruggman since Amanda was a member advisor, and said the other Duluth employees she’s met in the years between continue to impress her with their dedication to the credit union’s membership.
And while another retirement may be in the cards someday, Stephanie said she and Chris aren’t quite ready to slow down yet. There’s still business to be done, and she plans to celebrate 40 years with Affinity Plus in 2027.
“I enjoy the family atmosphere,” Stephanie said. “When it comes to banking, that is a huge thing.”
