Stephanie Larabee has called Okaloosa County home since 2007 after relocating from Jacksonville with her husband, who wanted to return to the community where he grew up. What began as a bank transfer has grown into a career focused on helping entrepreneurs turn their business goals into reality.
- Today, Stephanie serves as an SBA/Commercial Loan Officer with Midwest Regional Bank, working remotely to help business owners across multiple states secure financing to start, grow, or expand their businesses.
She approaches each day with a servant’s mindset, believing that even when she can’t approve a loan, she can still make a difference by offering guidance and encouragement.
Are you a life-long local, if not, where are you from originally and how did you end up in the area?
I moved to the area in 2007. My husband, Chris, grew up here and graduated from Choctaw high school in 1986. When we met, he was living here, but I was living in Jacksonville, Florida and so he moved over there for seven years. However, he always wanted to come back here as he did not like it in Jacksonville and wanted to raise a family over here, verses over there. We were able to move over here in 2007 as I had a job transfer with AmSouth Bank.
What’s your current job title and where do you work?
SBA/Commercial Loan Officer – Midwest Regional Bank
What’s your morning routine?
As soon as I wake up, I usually go outside on my back porch and stretch, whether it’s rain or shine, that morning light helps to set my circadian rhythm, get me awake and in a grateful state of mind ready to set my intention for the day with God/universe.
Describe what a typical workday looks like for you.
I recently have been blessed to be able to work from home in a remote position as an SBA 7A lender so my life has changed quite a bit now, where I don’t have to go out into the workforce day-to-day anymore. I now work with potential clients and various others, over the computer and phone and we talk about their loan request that they put into the SBA website for their 7A loans.
Sometimes I am able to help them, sometimes I am not, but I am always able to help give advice and hopefully different strategies and so forth if I am not able to do the deal. I really feel my job helps people make their dreams come true by helping them with a small business loan to help expand their business, purchase a business, start a business, buyout a partner, equipment needs and more.
I can do loans in the states of Florida, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Missouri, and Arizona.
What’s the first thing you do when you get to work (or start your workday)?
Log into my computer and turn on my focus music In the background.
Apple or Android?
Apple
What’s your go-to coffee (or tea) order?
Iced coffee
What’s your go-to lunch spot or work snack?
Love, Main Brew & Corner Cafe so much!!!
What’s one local business you love supporting?
I love supporting Main Brew coffee. I just feel like it’s such a cute little spot, I see people meeting up there all the time and I just feel like it’s such a great connection spot for the community to be able to go there for meetings and for socializing. I sometimes go there and work as well as they have Wi-Fi.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
Someone once told me to always look out for myself because I always worked in corporate America. They said “you are just a number” and I never really understood that until years ago when there was a shift in the economy and positions were eliminated at my bank.
I had been there for nine years and I worked tirelessly for that company and many many hours put in so much effort into that job and in the end, I was just a number. That taught me a huge lesson going forward and how I looked at my corporate job from then on. I was then able to keep it in the proper perspective after that as I learned that a balanced life is the key to happiness.
If you could give your 20-year-old self a piece of advice, what would it be?
You’re not FAT!!!!! ha ha
I’m sure many ladies are going to identify with this. If I could go back to my 20 year-old self, I would say; don’t even worry about your body or how you look, you look great – you’re 20! You’re skinny, you’re not fat and when you look back on pictures, you say to yourself, how in the world did I think I was fat??
How do you unwind after a long day?
Lift weights, take our dogs for a walk or get in the hot tub or pool, just depends on my vibe that day!
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I have 4 grown children and I am a Lollie/Grama to 7 grandchildren!!!!!
What’s inspiring you right now (book, podcast, person, hobby)?
Just trying to stay as healthy and fit as possible as I age, because our health is everything. I try to watch a lot of YouTube or podcast about staying healthy, eating healthy, staying fit – you know just listening to all that keeps me motivated and keeps my mindset in the correct state.
Early bird or night owl?
Early bird now, used to try to be a night owl when I was younger, but I was always an early bird at heart.
Most used emoji?
😍
Music while working — yes or no? (and if yes, what’s on your playlist?)
Yes, focus music, – it’s like slow classical music.
Favorite motivational quote?
Let’s GO!
It’s short and simple and I just have that sort of, let’s go attitude, let’s get it done type of attitude!
Standing desk or sitting? Mix?
Mix
If you could give any advice for someone getting into the same field as you, what advice would you give?
Do this job with the intention of helping people, ask God every day how you can help, what are you supposed to do today to help whoever you come in contact with and just be open to whatever comes to you to help them. Whether you get the deal, you don’t or you just gave advice…to me that’s not really working it’s helping and it makes a difference.
Are you a member of the FWB Chamber of Commerce?
Yes, I sure am, and I sit on the board of directors and I am very proud to do so. I believe in the chamber and the reason behind the chamber. Qnd the Fort Walton Beach Chamber is top-notch!
