Financial Literacy All Star #3: Christine Doud

First Nations Development Institute is proud to partner with Dr. Per Cap, aka Financial Education Consultant Shawn Spruce, during Financial Literacy Month to highlight the great work of some financial literacy heroes. Dr. Per Cap, as usual, provides his insight on all things related to financial education.

Dr. Per Cap's Financial Literacy 2017 All-Star Picks

Spring is here and it's time to celebrate national Financial Literacy Month by recognizing a new team of outstanding individuals who are working hard to expand financial education efforts throughout Indian Country. It's a tradition that each week in April I highlight the accomplishments of one totally awesome person who embodies the spirit of Native financial empowerment through selfless dedication, action over words, and an inclusive community vision.

All Star #3: Christine Doud, Business Leader, Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

Few small businesses turbocharge a Midwestern Native economy like an honest, affordable automotive repair shop. Six years ago, Christine Doud teamed up with her cousin, a stock car enthusiast, to open an auto shop in her home town. A member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Christine had a vision and her efforts paid big dividends to the community -- far beyond homegrown tune-ups, brake jobs and suspension work.

"My cousin was a mechanic at the tribal garage who raced cars on weekends," explained the former social worker and high school guidance counselor. "He always dreamed of owning a shop and one day asked if I wanted to go in on purchasing some vacant commercial property. I said, "Sure, but not for the price they're asking! The seller eventually agreed to our terms and we closed in a few days."

Cash flow powers up a business like fuel runs an engine. The motivated, aspiring entrepreneurs secured $75,000 in start-up financing from NiiJii Capital Partners, a local Native lender. After purchasing two lifts, a tire balancer and some used office equipment, LDF Auto Clinic raised the overhead doors for business. Christine admits the first year was rocky. Between a full-time position as the executive assistant to the Lac du Flambeau tribal president and managing the shop on evenings and weekends, she regularly logged 65-hour work weeks.

The business was born with a straightforward "community first" philosophy: Never turn away someone in need. While this was an honorable mission, it proved a dicey business model.

"We'd write invoices and try to work with customers who couldn't pay," recalled the amiable business woman. "Before we knew it we were $7,000 in debt, most of which had to be written off. So we got stricter but still worked with people who struggled. I'd allow them to pay for parts and a portion of the labor when I knew families needed a vehicle. As long as people made an effort I was flexible. I actually got my pet Shih Tzu in lieu of cash payment."

Word of mouth spread quickly and within 18 months the bustling shop employed three full-time mechanics offering the lowest service rates in the county to a strong loyal customer base. A motherly figure for many, Christine's tireless generosity reached beyond her customers.

"Our mechanics were mostly tribal," she added. "Once I hired a young man who had a knack for replacing rusted brake lines. I suggested he attend technical school while working part time at the shop, but he needed reliable transportation. I let him use the shop to fix his car so he could make the commute and offered him a bonus if he kept his grades up. Today he's a certified service technician."

Over the years, the list of folks on the receiving end of Christine's good nature stretches longer than the Talladega Superspeedway. She's loaned vehicles to community members to get to and from work, and connected people lacking education and job skills to schooling, training and employment programs. A big fan of ambition she once gave a shop loan to another business owner to purchase a tow truck. A mother of four and grandmother of three, Christine even took her son's friend under her wing after discovering the youth had no driver's license or high school diploma. After accompanying him to the tribal education office she taught him how to drive and let him use her car for his road test. The young man went on to earn a high school diploma and is working toward an electrician license.

Christine also served as a board member and vice chair for Wisconsin Native Loan Fund, an award-winning community development financial institution (CDFI) based in Lac du Flambeau. She credits the opportunity as a powerful learning experience that helped grow the organization into a statewide home lender for tribal communities.

In 2016, Christine and her business partner sold the auto shop to make time for other priorities such as family and volunteer work. Yet through a long career that's seen plenty of interesting twists, there's been one constant in her life.

"I can't say exactly how or when I became an advocate for my community, but sometimes I feel I was put here to inspire people to pursue their dreams," Christine reflected. "Whether I'm assisting behind the scenes or working upfront, the joy is in seeing those dreams come true."

We could use a few more golden-hearted business leaders like you in Indian Country, Christine. Thank you for all that you do!