The People Project:
Joel Whatley
By Ashley & Andrew LeSaicherre | March 19, 2022
Meet Joel Whatley!
Joel was raised in Sulphur, Louisiana. He is one of 6 children. He has an older and a younger brother and three adopted younger sisters. He graduated from Sulphur High School in 1996, then worked with his father doing construction. He decided to attend Mcneese State University while working. He gave himself a deadline that if he didn't have a clear path of what he was going to do when he was 21 years old, he was going to join the military. So in 2000, Joel joined the Army National Guard. Then he transferred to Louisiana State University for a few years, and his unit was based in New Orleans. Over the years, he has deployed overseas three times, the first time in 2003, then 2008, and in 2017. He has been active duty for the Bravo Company in Hammond since his second deployment. He is the Readiness Counselor. Joel assists with training schedules, payroll, and many other administrative tasks for his company.
Joel earned his degree from Grantham University in Basic Studies in 2011. He met his wife, Kasse, during his 2008 deployment. After their deployment, she moved to Louisiana to be with him. They got married in 2009. Together they have two daughters, Lyla (12) and Nadia (10). They live in Ponchatoula with their French Bulldog, Branson, and cat, Theo. They usually foster cats from Kat Vet.
We want to thank Joel for spending some time with us and letting us get to know about his life and his love of the area.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the area, and what do you like to get there?
A: I enjoy Albasha and Tacos & Beer! Those $1 tacos on Tuesday are good.
Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A: A skiing trip to Colorado with my Mom and brothers. We went with our church, and she had been paying increments for us to go. We took a 25-hour bus ride to get there. It was the first time I had ever seen snow or mountains.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: I want to go to Peru to see Machu Picchu. I would like to walk up those steps. I am just curious about how they built that so long ago. I would also like to go to Egypt to see the Pyramids.
Q: What is your favorite series? What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: I like NCIS and The Witcher, and I also like comedies. The first movie I saw in the theater was the first Batman with my middle school friends.
Q: What advice would you give a group of people?
A: Do what you can while you can. Give it your all. Help each other and try your hardest. Do it right the first time. Don't put things off that you can do now.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I would like to bungee jump over water. Maybe one of my daughters would want to do it with me when they get older.
Q: What is your favorite music or an artist or band that you would like to see?
A: I like country and Christian music. I also like 90s and 2000s pop music. I would like to have seen The Eagles perform. I have always liked them.
Q: What current or former business makes you the most nostalgic about the area?
A: Kasse and I used to go to Eddie's Frozen Custard a lot.
Q: If you could choose one person to go to lunch with that you’ve never met, who is it?
A: Donald Trump. I would like to spend some time with him and chat. I'd let him take me to one of his favorite lunch spots in New York.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique that you love about the area?
A: I love downtown Ponchatoula. It has a very community feel. I like the Christmas lights and the parade they have.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: I will be retired from the military by then. I would like to have started my own business doing something. Maybe moved to Austin? I would like to travel and take Kasse to new places.
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you (even friends or family)?
A: That my parents adopted three sisters. They were 5,6 and 7 years old when they came. It helped shape who I am, how we opened our home to them.
Q: What is a word or phrase that comes to mind when you think of the word “Home”?
A: Protection or comfort.
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: I would like a personal assistant to do all the overflow things I don't have time or interest in. Also, they would plan fun things for us.
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: American food. Cheeseburgers, mac and cheese. Classic foods!
Q: What do you do when you are alone in your car?
A: Decompress, riding in silence thinking about my day. Just digesting the day.
Q: What is the last gift you gave and received?
A: The last gift I gave was a gag gift to Kasse. I bought mop shoes for Christmas for her and I hid them. We found it yesterday, and gave them to her. She wasn't impressed! The last gift I received was a gift card to AutoZone from my family for Christmas. They joke that if I fix something, I always break something.
Q: What are you known for?
A: Helping people. I like to help soldiers enroll in school, so they are always asking me questions about that.
Q: What is your favorite 90s jam?
A: Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts is one of my favorites. I also remember listening to my cassette tape of Ice, Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice and practicing the dance alone. So when it came on I could look like I knew how to do it with no effort!
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
A: Healing others.
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: I like working outside. I like helping people put up fences.
Q: What is your most commonly used emoji?
A: The one with the mom, dad and two daughters. I send that one to Kasse as a response to her questions!
Q: What is something you are most proud of?
A: Definitely my family; my wife and my girls.
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 knife, I can do anything with that, and a hammock.
Q: What is the funniest thing that happened to you recently?
A: I recently went snowboarding with my cousin and we were reaching the bottom of a slope and he stopped and was standing there. I couldn't stop and ran right into him. He was wearing a GoPro and you can see and hear it. After we hit each other, I was laying face down and he asked if I was okay. It is more funny now.
Q: If you won the lottery, what would you purchase or spend money on?
A: Financial security (paying off house and making sure the girls are set up), traveling and taking care of my extended family.
Joel was nominated by Kasse
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