The People Project:
Jenna Fugarino
By Ashley & Andrew LeSaicherre | September 3, 2022
Meet Jenna Fugarino!
Jenna was born in Hammond, Louisiana. She is the daughter of Ronnie and Bridget Fugarino and is the youngest of three children. She has two older brothers, Ryan and Bryce. She attended Holy Ghost Catholic School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. She then attended Southeastern Louisiana University where she earned her Business Administration degree in 2013. After SLU, she attended law school at the Mississippi College School of Law, where she graduated in 2016. She met her husband, Justin, there on the dance floor at the Barrister’s Ball. They were married in 2018 and lived in Jackson, MS until they moved back to Mandeville in 2019. Jenna is licensed to practice law in both Louisiana and Mississippi. She worked for defense law firms for a time, until she settled in as the Marketing Attorney at Fleur De Lis Law & Title Company in 2020. Jenna and Justin have a son, Teddy (2.5), and a daughter, Reynolds (4 months).
We want to thank Jenna for spending some time with us and letting us get to know about her life and her love of the area.
Q: What led you to your current career?
A: I had taken a little time off after Teddy was born, and then just through people in the community had heard that Fleur De Lis was looking for someone with my skillset. The rest is history!
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the area, and what do you like to get there?
A: Cena! Everything there is so good.
Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A: Two things immediately come to mind. One is just the neighborhood we grew up in. It was such a fun time. But, the second is more specific: when my dad surprised me with tickets to NSync! And it was this whole reveal with riddles and everything. Three of my best friends came to the concert with me, and my dad came, too, and wore headphones the whole time.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: France! But we are going soon for our 5-year anniversary.
Q: What is your favorite movie? What is the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
A: Pretty Woman. I don’t remember my first movie in the theater, but I do remember running up and down the aisles at the theaters that were at the Hammond Square Mall.
Q: Do you have a favorite book? What do you love about it?
A: I have a lot of favorite books. I’d say my most recent one is Where the Crawdads Sing. I also enjoy Jesus Calling.
Q: What advice would you give a group of people?
A: The advice my dad used to give me: If you want to eat the fruit, you can’t hug the tree trunk. Meaning that to experience great things, you have to grow, keep climbing and lean into the uncomfortable moments.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: Eat at as many Michelin Star restaurants as I can! And to go to wine country in California.
Q: What is your favorite music or an artist or band that you would like to see?
A: Lizzo. Haim. Chris Stapleton.
Q: What current or former business makes you the most nostalgic about the area?
A: The Red, White & Brew
Q: If you could choose one person to go to lunch with that you’ve never met, who is it?
A: Ina Garten. We would eat at her house in the Hamptons.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique that you love about the area?
A: The community. And I love all of the cool things to do, the downtown events, the farmers markets, etc.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: With a 13 and a 11-year-old, I’m sure I’ll just be running kids to soccer practices and whatever else they are into!
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you (even friends or family)?
A: I hate even the thought of the bottom of shoes touching anything (like a couch cushion).
Q: What is a word or phrase that comes to mind when you think of the word “Home”?
A: My kids.
Q: If you could have a full-time staff member that is fully paid for, what would that be? (Chef, housekeeper, driver, coach, personal trainer, etc.)
A: A housekeeper that does laundry…folds it AND puts it away!
Q: If you had to choose one type of cuisine to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
A: French food. I love how luxurious it is. Butter is the best!
Q: What do you do when you are alone in your car?
A: Ride in silence. Sometimes it is the only quiet time I have.
Q: What is the last gift you gave and received?
A: The last give I gave was shampoo and conditioner to my dad for his birthday! The last gift I received was from Justin for when I returned to work after having Reynolds.
Q: What are you known for?
A: Being a really good cook.
Q: What is your favorite 90s jam?
A: Anything by Shania Twain or the Spice Girls.
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
A: I would be able to duplicate myself so I could get everything done.
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: Cooking, traveling, spending time with my kids and husband, and collecting wine for special occasions!
Q: What is your most commonly used emoji?
A: The clinking champagne glasses.
Q: What is something you are most proud of?
A: Besides family, just growing up and maturing. Realizing that it is more important to be kind than to be right. Developing the courage to stand up for myself and others.
Q: What two items would you take with you if you shipwrecked on a deserted island where food and water were taken care of?
A: A cold bottle of champagne and my husband!
Q: If you won the lottery, what would you purchase or spend money on?
A: I’d buy a house in Watercolor, Florida. And just invest the rest to make sure everyone was taken care of.
Q: What do you want your legacy to be?
A: That I was an intentional person. Intentional with my time and relationships. That I treated people with kindness, even though that isn’t always easy. That I gave back to my community and that I raised really good humans.
Who would YOU like for us to get to know?
We love meeting, knowing, and working with our community, and we love working with homes and all types of properties. Helping our community achieve their goals through buying and selling property is something we consider ourselves very fortunate to get to do. Contact one of our REALTORS® if we can help!
