Christus Ochsner SWLA Foundation
August 13, 2021
How Healthy Image Began
It’s thanks to an OB/GYN clinic that Healthy Image Marketing Agency was born in 2002.
Kristy Como Armand and Christine Fisher had experience in healthcare marketing thanks to their years at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital’s marketing department. Kristy was the marketing director and Christine started as an intern and worked her way up in a variety of positions within the department. They enjoyed a great camaraderie with the marketing team but, as it often goes, all good things must come to an end. The department was outsourced and everyone went their separate ways for a few years. Then, that local OB/GYN office began looking for a marketing agency.
“We could do what we did for the hospital and its departments for other businesses,” Kristy said. Christine said, “Okay.” That’s as complicated as it got.
The two ladies made a list of agency names, chose one and pitched their ideas to the physician group. Then, surprise! Healthy Image was chosen. No one was more stunned than Kristy and Christine, but also, no one was more grateful. Attention to detail and achieving the clients’ goals were the fundamental principles of Healthy Image and that was a combination that worked.
Barbara VanGossen worked at a graphic design agency and had worked alongside Kristy and Christine on projects during their years at the hospital. Barbara was tapped to handle design for the newly formed Healthy Image.
Thanks to positive word of mouth, Healthy Image grew, clients were added and the business flourished. We moved from working at our homes to opening our first location on 4th Avenue in Lake Charles in 2004, where we were treated to the smell of delicious burgers and onion rings from next-door neighbor Cotton’s Hamburgers. Ironically, it was the same office where Kristy was hired and where she first hired Christine during the hospital years.
Barbara joined as a partner in 2007 and the agency continued to grow, expanding beyond healthcare and into finance, industry, real estate and many other business sectors. We moved into our second location on University Drive in 2008, added more team members and clients, continuing to foster the fun, hardworking, supportive atmosphere enjoyed by the HI crew.
In 2017, we built our office building on Ihles Road, opening it with a grand celebration surrounded by our families and friends. Truly, a day of gratitude and joy.
In 2020, Shonda Manuel, one of our long-time team members, became a partner.
Today, we offer a full range of marketing services from advertising and public relations to web design, videography, social media and pretty much everything in between. We’re grateful for the quality of clients we are fortunate to work with, solid names within the Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas communities; a wide variety including healthcare, financial, retail, political and non-profit.
We have a firm grasp on our founding principles – attention to detail and achieving the clients’ goals – and we’re happy to say we’re still working for that OB/GYN clinic.