NATCHITOCHES – Throughout his career and in raising his family, Keith Poirrier of Lafayette has practiced integrity, moral fortitude, discipline, sacrifice in pursuing goals and demonstrated hard work. His tag line to all he encounters is, “Be all that your capabilities will allow you to be, always reaching for the top, humbly!”
Keith and his wife Daniella recently established the Poirrier Family Endowed Scholarship for Northwestern State University’s College of Business and Technology.
Poirrier enrolled at NSU in 1988 as an accounting major and a scholarship pole vaulter on the track and field team under legendary Coach Leon Johnson and Coach Chris Maggio, who later served as NSU’s 19th president.
“I chose accounting in the School of Business, as my interest was always in owning my own business. My dad always stressed that accounting management was the backbone of successful businesses, and that I had better know it if I was going to have my own business,” Poirrier said. “Throughout my college career at NSU, Coach Johnson and Coach Maggio were supportive mentors and friends in my development and pursuit of goals.”
That support and friendship continue today as Maggio has given several motivational speeches on ‘Habits of Highly Successful People’ to Poirrier’s colleagues in the Insurance Professionals of Acadiana and his team at Poirrier Group.
During his senior year at NSU, Poirrier became the lead Resident Assistant for the athletic dorm, Bossier Hall, and participated in the VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance) Program, helping senior taxpayers with their tax returns, an advantage in his learning of the tax business.
After obtaining his B.S. in Accounting from NSU in 1992, Poirrier founded QuickTax Financial Services, which operated as a tax preparation and bookkeeping business for the next 20 years. In 2000, he obtained his MBA from UL-Lafayette and shortly thereafter began his insurance career with Hub International, a “Top 10” national commercial insurance brokerage. While at Hub, he was recognized as one of Hub’s top national producers and awarded their Superior Sales Performance Award for three consecutive years. In 2011, he was awarded the “Power Broker of the Year” award in the Marine Industry by Risk & Insurance Magazine, a national publication.
Poirrier’s credentials include Certified Insurance Counselor, assigned by “The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.” In 2012, Berkley Oil and Gas Insurance Company, a global leader in the energy insurance sector, appointed him to its agency advisory board for a two-year term. His goal was to combine his accounting and tax knowledge with his experience in the high-risk insurance industry and open his own specialty insurance agency. In 2015, Poirrier founded Poirrier Group, LLC, a specialty, high risk, commercial insurance agency, where he serves as President and CEO.
Today, Poirrier Group and its talented staff are a recognized leader in the oil and gas insurance space, insuring businesses in 17 states. Poirrier’s vision for a dynamic team culture, strong customer service and integrity have set Poirrier Group apart from its competition. In 2023, Poirrier established Kampo Capital Partners, LLC, a recapitalization and mergers and acquisitions consulting firm to high-risk ventures, as a growth and support partner to Poirrier Group’s clients.
Poirrier remained connected to his alma mater, participating in the J. Walter Porter Forum, an annual event hosted by NSU’s School of Business to promote ethical standards in business, where he discussed the nature and risks of workplace harassment. Last semester he was invited by Dr. Scott Wysong, dean of NSU’s College of Business and Technology, to serve on the college’s advisory board.
“Given the support from NSU and the working relationship with the College of Business and Technology, I felt compelled to establish and fund the Poirrier Family Endowed Scholarship for business students,” Poirrier said. “The ideal student is a Louisiana resident, a junior or senior in the College of Business and Technology and making an impact via athletics, campus or community service.”
Keith and Daniella have been married for 29 years and have raised two very accomplished and hardworking children, Kaitlyn and André, who were both student-athletes at NSU. Kaitlyn played soccer and André played baseball.
The Poirriers are philanthropists in their community. To honor Poirrier’s parents, Dr. Gail P. Poirrier and Steven Poirrier, they established the Dr. Gail P. Poirrier Endowed Scholarship in Nursing and Allied Health Sciences for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and the Poirrier Group, LLC Founders Partner Investment Fund in Sales for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration at ULL. Keith and Daniella also support local sports and charities and enjoy cooking for the cloistered community of Discalced Nuns of the Carmelite Monastery of Lafayette for their special prayer sessions.
Poirrier said he is extremely thankful and grateful for the undying support from his wife, children and parents, as well as for the devotion of the Team Poirrier employees.
Information on NSU’s College of Business and Technology is available at https://www.nsula.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/college-of-business-and-technology/.