Nestled way down the bayou lies a quaint fishing community straddling Bayou Lafourche, roughly 30 miles from the Louisiana beaches of Grand Isle. It’s here in Cut Off, surrounded by the waters of Sportsman’s Paradise and a large yet close-knit family, where Russ Vegas was born and raised. “It’s small town, easy living,” he says with a smile. 

Despite spending the past 15 years in Baton Rouge, Russ has proudly maintained the distinctive down-the-bayou drawl synonymous with his upbringing. While Baton Rouge has become home for him, his wife, Briana, and their two-year-old Brooks, the foundational lessons he learned as a boy in Cut Off remain the cornerstone of his identity. It's where he learned the power of faith, the importance of treating others with respect and the enduring value of family - principles that continue to guide him today.

 

When his older sister enrolled at LSU, Russ looked around and thought, “Well, I guess I’ll go to Baton Rouge, too.” He packed his bags for the 100-mile road trip to the big city and enrolled in nursing school, excited for a career dedicated to helping others during their most vulnerable times. But the classes were early, and partying was fun, he admits with a smile. “At the time, I didn’t think to take afternoon classes,” he laughs. “And around that time, a friend told me about a job opening for a Realtor.”

As they say, the rest is history. It was time to buckle down, and he quickly began pouring the same passion for helping others that he had planned to put into nursing into assisting people in finding a home. He absorbed business and sales principles, discovering a natural aptitude for relating to others and demonstrating genuine care and concern. Helping others solve problems is second nature. After all, he’s honed those skills by watching his parents, who, for four decades, have run a local insurance company in his hometown.

“I run my business with that same small-town, mom-and-pop shop feel,” he says. “I want people to feel like they are part of the family.” And Russ thrives on taking care of his family. “My goal has always been to retire my parents early,” he says. “I don’t think my dad will ever truly retire. That’s just the kind of man he is, but I want him to be able to.”

Last year, Russ and Briana started working hard toward that goal by opening a satellite insurance office in Baton Rouge. “We work on it together, but she runs the day-to-day operations and does a great job taking care of our people,” he says.

For Russ, life is all about taking care of his people. “Family is the most important thing to me, and the older I get, the more I see that,” he says. With a sizable family comprising blood relatives like the 24 cousins and chosen family forged through lifelong friendships, Russ finds fulfillment in fostering connections and supporting those around him.

 

Now, as a husband and father, Russ feels the tug of family on his heart more than ever. “It’s not just pride, but a sense of responsibility,” he says. “When I look into my son’s eyes, what I want and need to do in life becomes so clear. And I knew that if he were the one asking me what to do, I’d tell him to take a chance on himself. So that’s what I’m doing in this new chapter.” After ten years with the same brokerage where his real estate career began, Russ has joined Blue Heron Realty. With Briana just a few office doors down, working to grow the family’s insurance business in the big city, Russ has never felt more at home.

Now that he's a dad, he has a new perspective on life. “It goes by so fast. When people say don’t blink, they mean it,” he says. Russ and Briana value time spent with their little one, known affectionately as “The Politician,” because he never meets a stranger. When they’re not outside playing, they’re likely at Rouses, where Brooks is sure to tell everyone he sees, “Hey!”

These days, Russ's principles of life and business are uniquely intertwined. “It always comes back to the basics,” he says, referring to sales and everyday life. It’s easy to get away from being intentional, but I keep that as my constant goal—to be present and intentional with conversations, relationships, everything.”

As he looks to the future, he’s fueled by love and determination, standing ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead, always guided by the timeless values of faith, family and genuine care for others that he learned down there in the heart of the bayou. “I want everyone I meet and work with to think, ‘Man, I’m thankful for Russ,’” he says. “I strive to make people feel comfortable. I want them to know I’m there and look at their problems like my own.”