Employee Spotlight: Brittney Fremin

Brittney Fremin, Danos commercial supervisor, is the 2021 Danos Staff Employee of the Year award winner. 

“Her attention to service should be modeled across the organization. Her ‘wow’ factor is her ability to perform at a high level, regardless of how many bids or proposals are going through the funnel. She does all of this while smiling and being a joy to be around,” said General Manager of Production Services Mike Guidry.   

Brittney began her Danos career 10 years ago when she graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing in 2012. While visiting an LSU career fair, she ran into a friend and Danos employee. Although she grew up “down the bayou” in Galiano, Louisiana, she wasn’t familiar with Danos. Recognizing Brittney would be a good fit with the Danos team, the employee connected Brittney with the hiring group who hired Brittney for a summer internship.   

During the fall of 2012, Brittney focused on studying for a Master of Business Administration from Nicholls State University, but she returned to Danos the following summer to continue working as an intern. In September 2013, she began working with Danos full time as a commercial assistant. Later, she moved into the role of commercial analyst before being promoted to commercial supervisor in 2019. Currently, she oversees the commercial process from bid inception to bid submittal. 

Quality Assurance and Asset Manager John Bigler has worked with Brittney and helped serve as a mentor. John said: “Brittney started working at Danos while she was still studying for her master’s degree at Nicholls. That alone showed me that she was great at multitasking. Immediately, I could see the positive impact she made on the Danos team. Even though she knew very little about our business to start, that didn’t deter her at all. She was eager to learn and always asking questions.”  

“Over time, her abilities and confidence grew, making her even more impactful to our business,” said John. “She is one of the most organized people I have ever met in my life, and it shows in her daily work. She is the only person I know that can find a 10-year-old email or file within minutes!” 

In her 10 years, Brittney has come to love and appreciate the Danos culture. 

“I enjoy the people and the way management empowers employees. They trust me to make decisions I need to do my job,” says Brittney. “I also love the family atmosphere and how accessible everyone is. I feel like I can go to anyone on the leadership team or any executive and talk to them if I needed.” 

Executive Secretary Tish Hebert said, “Brittney is always willing to lend a hand to make things better. She has such a spirit and a joy about her.” 

Her willingness to lend a hand to make things better is evidenced in the work she gives to Danos beyond her role as commercial supervisor. She manages Danos’ outstanding internship program, one that she is enthusiastic about because of her own Danos beginning. In addition, she is passionate about the Danos Foundation and serves as the GIVES chair. Last year Brittney completely revamped the Danos GIVES grant approval process.  

Foundation Executive Director Renee Piper said, “She revised the evaluation rubric to better reflect the Foundation’s guiding principles. She gathered a team of colleagues, provided clear guidance and empowered them to evaluate the grant applications. Following the team review and subsequent recommendations, Brittney did something that had not been done previously - she recommended giving funds to fewer organizations but with higher dollar amounts. The result of her bias to action? Danos will help solve big challenges in our communities like never before!" 

Brittney lives in Thibodaux with her husband Paul and their dog Moose. She’s a Peloton enthusiast, loves to travel and enjoys spending time with her friends and family. In particular, she likes to support her godchild Finn by regularly attending his baseball and soccer games on weekends. 

On selecting Brittney as this year’s winner, a colleague noted, “Brittney receives small recognitions all the time. They add up. It’s time for her big recognition.” 

“I’m honored and thankful to work for such a wonderful company,” said Brittney. “It is really nice that Danos gives this award. But beyond that, the company does a tremendous job of recognizing employees in smaller ways throughout the year, which means a lot. Many companies don’t have something like this. But it gives employees a little inspiration to keep going and keep striving for excellence. I feel like all my work means something and is appreciated.” 

Several of Brittney’s colleagues noted regarding her win: 

Risk Manager Ross Barker: “I have had the pleasure to work alongside Brittney for my seven years with Danos. She is a great joy to work with and sets the standard every day by representing Danos’ purpose and values. Danos and I are both very fortunate to have her on our team. Congratulations on winning employee of the year for 2021. I look forward to the many successes you achieve!” 

Quality Assurance Manager John Bigler: “Congratulations to Brittney on this great accomplishment that is well deserved.” 

Commercial Analyst Eliannys Cabrera: “To say that Brittney deserves this award is an understatement. Brittney is a dedicated, hardworking employee who goes above and beyond, and she does it with such ease that I am always left in awe and admiration. Her intelligence and ways of thinking and problem solving are a few of her many qualities and traits that embody the Danos purpose and values. Not only is she loyal to what she does, but she is loyal to the people around her. Brittney is a model employee, coworker and friend not only to me but to the people who work with her and know her. Congratulations, Brittney, on this amazing achievement! 

Commercial Analyst Katie Lapeyrouse: “Brittney has many great attributes and contributes so much more to this company beyond the duties in her job scope. She is open to helping and participating where needed whether it is with the Foundation, the intern program or other committees. She has helped make my transition into her group so enjoyable. I appreciate all that she does for not only her group but also companywide. She is a true gem!”