Discovering More About Your Local Retail Owner
Engaging personality. Multi-talented and dedicated. Mentor and community leader. Pearland's own, Leanne Dobard Alvarez, retail owner of The UPS Store located at 11601 Shadow Creek Parkway has a story to tell that started in New Orleans. She is a proud native and it's home to her college and the beginning of her career that started with Anheuser-Busch. With years of sales experience, she went on to become a medical-surgical instruments sales representative before she was introduced to a friend's brother, Rick, who owned two The UPS Store locations in Dallas.
Leanne was intrigued with owning a The UPS Store, and therefore she shadowed Rick at his stores for a week. He became Leanne's mentor and inspiration to become a The UPS Store retail owner. She's proudly owned the Pearland store location since 2006 and has loved watching Pearland grow from a sleepy cow pasture landscape to a now thriving business community which includes her son, Evan. Evan, who has worked for both Drake and The Houston Dynamo/Dash soccer team, now manages and helps run the family The UPS Store business where their customers love their New Orleans-style hospitality; a customer once told her "Leanne, you make me want to go find something to ship – just so I can come visit your store!"
She's proudly owned the Pearland store location since 2006 and has loved watching Pearland grow from a sleepy cow pasture landscape to a now thriving business community which includes her son, Evan.
Community Is Everything
Leanne is a positive force and active pillar of the community where she lends her support and leadership to several organizations and charities. Currently, she serves as President of The UPS Store Houston Co-Op Board, is President of her HOA and is involved with Pearland Chamber of Commerce. She also truly lights up with glee discussing her passion of the arts and Pearland's own Community Theater. She's a founding member and is the self-proclaimed "props mistress," in charge of all aspects of props procurement and management for their plays and productions. After the nine years she's dedicated to the theater, perhaps Leanne will take on a small acting role from one of their plays. She's fearless and always willing to give her all to new and interesting adventures.
Leanne is a positive force and active pillar of the community where she lends her support and leadership to several organizations and charities.
Sharing Life's Lessons
Leanne's philosophy of being an "open book" is the backbone of her community leadership platform. She often shares sage advice with the next generation of small business owners, telling them to hire for personality, look for positive can-do attitudes when hiring and reminding them that owning a business is hard work, and it can be all-consuming at times. So, make sure to take time to relax.
Living Life to the Fullest
While Leanne enjoys the "hustle and bustle" of The UPS Store, she has learned to "turn it off" and relax. She adores traveling with her husband Mike to destinations like Phoenix, New Orleans, Greece, Europe and her favorite spots in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. When she is not traveling, she loves to read books, often reading two books at once from her favorite authors, Dan Brown and James Patterson.
Leanne decompresses with yoga, working out with a personal trainer and walking through the neighborhood listening to power ballad love songs and singing along. She loves photography and adding to her extensive porcelain dolls of color collection. But, her go-to passion is cooking. She loves entertaining and cooking her famous Louisiana Creole dishes for family, friends, and co-workers. When pressed to share her cooking secret, she confessed "It's the love that makes the food taste great!"
Next time you happen to see Leanne in the store – stop and say hello and ask if she has any leftovers!
