When Carl Stages Jr. graduated from LSU in 1981 with a degree in history, he had no idea that 22 years later he would be working at a bank, much less a food bank.
Stages has worked at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank for 14 years and currently is executive director.
This was not his original plan.
“After graduating from college, I was fortunate to be able to work in state government in the governor’s office,” Stages said.
Stages worked as executive assistant to the governor for a number of years.
“After working in that sector, I wanted a job where I could use the skills and talents that I had developed to work with the community and make a difference in people’s lives,” Stages said.
Stages is responsible for directing the day-to-day activities at the food bank. This includes agency relations, fundraising, public relations, warehouse operations and administrative aspects, he said.
“I work very closely with our staff to make sure that we marshal resources from the community to feed the hungry,” Stages said.
Stages said the most fulfilling part of his job is when someone calls who has nowhere else to turn and that person finds out the food bank can help them.
“I’ve been very lucky with the jobs that I’ve had through my life,” Stages said. “From working as a bag boy at a grocery store to working during college, each job has prepared me for the next.”
As for advice to students and graduates, Stages had plenty to say.
“You should always keep your options open,” he said. “You have to consider things with a cool mind, follow your heart and sometimes just go with your gut instinct.”
While working for a non-profit organization such as the food bank may not be the first option on many students’ job lists, Stages said students should investigate the position like any other.
“They shouldn’t make a generalization that just because it’s a non-profit organization it doesn’t do well,” he said. “If you put in the effort and do the best job that you can, in many instances you will be compensated just as well as in any other field.”
Stages said those looking at joining a non-profit organization should not look at it as a job, but as a career, especially if they have a passion for that type of work.
“You have to really believe in the position,” he said. “Recognize that, like at all jobs, there are good days and bad days, but here you have the personal satisfaction of making a difference in people’s lives.”