St. Bernard Business and Professional Women’s Club has selected Dr. James L. Shoemaker and Jenifer M. Heintz as Man and Woman of the Year for 2019. The Club will hold its annual gala on October 16, 2019, as the parish celebrates National Business Women’s Week October 14 – 18th. National Business Women’s Week has honored the contributions of working women since 1928. The evening gala, which includes dinner, will be held at the Sigur Civic Center’s North Ballroom 8425 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, LA.
For more information about tickets to the gala, contact LenaNunez at 504-491-5266. Seating is limited and tickets will be on sale through October 10th. The gala begins with a cash bar from 6 – 7 PM followed by dinner and the awards program.
James L. Shoemaker, DC moved to St. Bernard Parish in 1985. He has practiced chiropractic medicine for over 50 years with 30 of those years being in Chalmette. His business was one of the first to return to St. Bernard immediately after Hurricane Katrina. He saw patients out of an RV that he drove in several times a week.
Shoemaker received his BA from Columbia College, Columbia, MO and received his Doctor of Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College, Kansas City, MO. He is a Board Qualified Chiropractic Orthopedist and a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician licensed in Louisiana, Kansas, and Utah. Dr. Shoemaker served in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Kansas National Guard.
Presently he volunteers as the Chiropractic Physician at the Saenger Theater, Big Easy Roller Girls, and Elev8 Pro which is a local wrestling organization. He also volunteers as the treating physician for the missionaries of his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and previously volunteered with the New Orleans Brass Roller Guys, Crossfit Chalmette, the New Orleans Opera Association, Chiropractic Physician for Camp Hope, St. Bernard Project, St. Bernard Special Olympics and many more organizations.
In 1993 he reigned as King of Lourdes. He is a past member of the Rotary Club and a current member of St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized by the St. Bernard Parish Government as Business of the Month in 2015.
He is the husband of Carol Shoemaker and the father of six children: Liz, Staci, Stephanie, Jennifer, Karissa, and Andrew and 11 grandchildren.
Jenifer Heintz has been a St. Bernard resident since the age of 5. Ms. Heintz attended Guthier Elementary, Millaudon Middle and is a graduate of PGT Beauregard High School. During her high school days, Ms. Heintz served as vice president of the Student Council, president of her senior class, and Captain of the Belles Dance Team.
Ms. Heintz is employed at Fradella’s Collision Center and the New Orleans Lakefront Arena. She is the mother of two adult children, Jaime and Timothy and significant other of Patrick Meyers.
Ms. Heintz serves as Chairman of the St. Bernard Tourist Commission, a member of St. Bernard Business and Professional Women’s Club, Old Arabi Neighborhood Assn., Old Arabi Sugar Fest Board, St. Bernard Battered Women’s Shelter Board, and a graduate of Leadership St. Bernard. Jenifer is an avid volunteer of all the organizations she belongs to as well as St. Bernard Seafood Market, Sippin in the Sunset, Derby at Docville, Battle of New Orleans Jackson Day Race, and Tour da Parish. She also assists with the audio and video boards at her church, Celebration Church. She enjoys line dancing, spending time with her family, gardening and taking care of her cats.
Both honorees were nominated and chosen by the BPW members.