Declaration of Independents

Laurence Dempsey

Vice President of Operations
Pathfinder/LLD Insurance Group
Houston, Texas

A community service mindset prevails at Pathfinder Insurance, and co-owner Laurie Dempsey leads by example. Among the priorities for Pathfinder is a long-term commitment to mentoring disadvantaged youth in the local school district—work that is both gratifying and sobering.

THE CHALLENGE?

The kids we work with typically have a lot of disappointment in their lives and lack adult accountability. We try to be their friend, mentor or role model. Sometimes in one-on-one sessions, they don’t want to talk or they’re stressed because their lives are so challenging. It’s not always, ‘Oh, wow, isn’t this a great experience?’ It’s real life.

IN YOUR AGENCY?

Community work is part of our agency’s everyday culture. Our community service committee develops a plan for what organizations we will work with throughout the year, proposes options to the rest of our staff and then organizes campaigns for the selected initiatives. Last holiday season, we worked with a veterans program to establish a relationship with an injured war veteran and his family who had a lot of needs. We were able to make it easier for them to get through the holidays.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

We mentor students one-on-one from sixth grade through high school. Students I work with are not yet college age, but other mentors help students get through the application process and into college. These kids are the first in their families to go to college and often the only ones who speak English. I’ve seen some amazing things. It starts with just having a responsible adult in their lives.

MOTIVATION?

Gratitude. It’s difficult for me to live the life I live and not try to satisfy the need we see in others. There is such a need for diverse people to interact, become part of the community and yet preserve everything they value from their own cultures. You can just see it out there.