From her earliest origins to her appreciation of each unique neighborhood, to her deep involvement in giving back to the community, Elizabeth “Liz” Baldwin Hefler knows what it means to be a New Orleanian who loves New Orleans. It was Hefler’s lifelong interest in New Orleans that first led her to work at Hancock Whitney Bank, where she has recently taken on the title of Greater New Orleans Regional President.
Born and raised in the Crescent City, Hefler and her brothers were taught from a young age about the importance of giving back to the city they loved. Their parents led by example by doing extensive volunteer work themselves, and this lesson was further instilled by the Academy of the Sacred Heart, where fifty hours of service were required for graduation. Hefler says she spent her most meaningful volunteer time as a mentor to a young child at Good Shepherd School.
Spending every single Wednesday afternoon for a year with a young student helped her realize how important it was to a child to consistently show up on a regular basis. “She always greeted me with a smile and hug, which would often surprise me,” Hefler says. “I viewed myself almost as a stranger to her, but to this ten-year-old girl, I was a dependable, safe, understanding adult to whom she could talk and who cared.”
After graduation from the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Hefler then went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in economics at the University of Virginia. Family and the city of her roots called her home after graduation, and she was inspired to ask what industries helped New Orleans to thrive. Thus, an interest in commercial banking first bloomed.
Starting in the credit analysis training program, Hefler began her tenure at Hancock Whitney in 2004. Working in the bank’s commercial and middle-market segment, Liz Hefler now boasts twenty years at the Gulf region’s banking institution. Even more cause for celebration, she was promoted to the role of Greater New Orleans Regional President in August of 2023.
But as any true New Orleanian knows, life is never all about work. One of Hefler’s favorite things about New Orleans is how active of a city it is. When she isn’t working, you can find her spending quality time with friends and family. She and her husband Henry are happily kept busy by their three children ages six, ten, and twelve.
But you won’t find them simply sitting at home. As a family, they love to explore New Orleans culture by taking frequent family outings to museums, parks, restaurants, festivals, and of course, parades! One of Hefler’s favorite aspects of life in New Orleans is how proud New Orleanians are of their city.
“We love to show off how much we have to offer,” Hefler says. “Many people don’t realize how many options exist—there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy.”
And as people who have spent their whole lives there know, and those dreaming to one day visit can imagine, one of the best things to enjoy in New Orleans is the food. “Every section and neighborhood in the city has that bistro, diner, café, or restaurant that puts their own special touch on serving some of the best local food, whether it’s comfort food or high-end cuisine.”
Liz Hefler continues the practice of giving back to the community instilled in her at a young age and that she will no doubt pass on to her own children. She is very involved in her children’s school lives and extracurricular activities, and, like her own parents, she knows how to lead by example. She is using her education and work experience to help the next generation of New Orleanians achieve financial success.
Hefler is a financial education advocate and helps facilitate money management programs at greater New Orleans schools. She serves on the boards of the Stuart Hall School for Boys, Ascension DePaul Services of New Orleans, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and New Orleans Museum of Art. A past American Cancer Society Louisiana Belle, she has also been an active supporter of and served with the Louisiana Museum Foundation, the New Orleans Board of Trade, and the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Through her work at Hancock Whitney and her work in community service, she has had a multitude of opportunities to work with outstanding community leaders. One of the benefits of this is getting to know people who truly care about Greater New Orleans and the people who call it home.
“I’m grateful for that mentorship,” she says, “which has helped prepare me for a new chapter in my professional career—serving as Hancock Whitney Greater New Orleans Regional President.” Liz Hefler is honored and proud that she can continue to serve her hometown and contribute to her community’s success.
