College of Business Administration
Department of Finance and Economics

Finance, 2004

Lena Adams knows that hands-on experience certainly helps when making the transition from college life to a career, but she believes that knowing the fundamentals of business is just as important.

“I felt like I really understood English, finance and economics when I walked out of Nicholls State University,” Adams, investment representative at Edward Jones Investment in Houma, says. “If I had a question that couldn’t be answered in class, professors wouldn’t even hesitate to tell me to stop by their offices for extra help.”

While still in college, Adams worked for the Cintas Corporation in Thibodaux as an intern. After graduation, Cintas offered Adams a two-year management trainee position with the goal of becoming a key manager after completing the program.

“As a trainee for Cintas, I was able to learn the industrial laundry business from the bottom up,” Adams said. “The job was both mentally and physically challenging. But being a finance graduate, the market always seemed to be calling me, so I decided to explore my options.”

Adams was offered a position as a broker at Edward Jones Investment and began studying for her securities licenses. Adams said the job has been anything but easy; however, knowing that she’s helping people put their hard-earned money to work for them makes it worthwhile.