Carolyn Treaudo Bell, Class of 1972
Carolyn Treaudo Bell at the 2018 AEC Reunion
Becoming involved with AEC was due to an invite from my cousin, Barbara Octave. I had just separated from my husband and needed to brush up on my secretarial skills to properly take care of myself and my daughter. Even though I had two years of college from Southern University in New Orleans, It was not enough to make it in the business world.
While I was in college, I had worked for a stock brokerage firm basically doing filing and data input, but never really had formal secretarial training. I ended up moving back home with my family with a goal of being there for one year. Fortunately, the opportunity came along via AEC matching my goals and objectives. My parents were very supportive.
The Director, Alice Geoffray, was an efficient leader with an innate ability to care for each and every individual who attended the Adult Education Center. As a matter of fact, the entire faculty had the same type of demeanor.
Moreover, this quality of nurturing gave us what we needed to be an asset in the business world. The curriculum not only incorporated secretarial skills, but it also prepared us to be ready for many scenarios that we may encounter.
1972 AEC Graduation: Carolyn Bell '72 and Bernadine Irving '66
“I had just separated from my husband and needed to brush up on my secretarial skills to properly take care of myself and my daughter.”
Upon my completion and graduation, I was immediately hired by Pan American Life Insurance and later found a better job with an oil-related company working in a one-girl office for seven guys. After working there for 18 years, I was laid off and I started doing real estate full-time. I had received a real estate license in 1978 from Delgado Community College and a real estate broker’s license in 1996. I had always worked real estate part-time so this gave me another opportunity to continue in that career.
“This quality of nurturing gave us what we needed to be an asset in the business world.”
After being full-time for approximately 6 years, I was offered a branch manager position in New Orleans East office helping over 70 plus agents on a daily basis with their real estate careers. I received a lot of Management training and traveled to many parts of the country. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed the office, I was again laid off. My family and I moved to Texas, and later to St. James Parish, and later lived in trailers until our homes were renovated. This was a major project and a severely emotional roller coaster ride, however we survived by the grace of God.
I started my own Real Estate business called Trudoors Real Estate and Associates LLC, and now Carolyn Treaudo Bell Real Estate. I have volunteered for school projects, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children, Habitat for Humanity, AARP, President of my neighborhood association, active in my church Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries, and many other venues. I have certificates from the Louisiana Realtors Association training institute, 40 hours of mediation training from the New York Peace Institute, certificate from the Civic Leadership Academy for the City of New Orleans. I have modeled and have done TV commercials.
Four generations together celebrating the 90th birthday of Mrs. Gennive Bazile Treaudo (seated). Standing L-R: Bria Rene Wroten, Deana Catrice Bell, Carolyn Treaudo Bell.
Hence, the most rewarding of all has been my daughter, Deana Catrice Bell, who is a Registered Nurse, and my granddaughter, Bria Rene Wroten, who is in her senior year at Xavier University pursuing a career in Biology Pre-med, and having my 92 year old mother, Mrs. Gennive Treaudo, still in my life. I also have five brothers and two sisters.
Carolyn Treaudo Bell
Class of 1972