Corey Stein: 2024 Danos Employee of the Year

When it comes to quiet excellence, few embody it like Corey Stein. Named Danos’ 2024 Staff Employee of the Year, Corey has distinguished himself as a steady and trusted leader in information security, protecting the company’s operations, employees and customers from ever-evolving cyber threats.

Corey’s journey with Danos began in 2013 following a chance encounter with Information Systems Director Sonny Orgeron at a men’s intramural softball game. Sonny mentioned to Corey, who was working as an I.T. generalist at a local bank, that the Danos I.T. team was growing. A few months later, Corey joined the team at the Larose office as a network administrator.

Under Sonny’s mentorship over the next several years, Corey progressed through roles as a network and security administrator before assuming his current position as information security officer.

 Along the way, he earned his Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification—the gold standard in the industry—and developed a deep, broad knowledge of information security, from disaster recovery and integration to configuration and availability.

“Sonny has been essential to my growth and development,” says Corey.” He is a class-act manager. I can’t fully express in words the impact he has had on me.”

Passionate About Winning

Corey’s passion for “winning” is evident in every aspect of his work.

“Corey doesn’t wait for problems to arise — he anticipates them. His passion for 'winning' means staying ahead of threats to ensure our systems remain safe,” says one coworker.

His calm, practical approach has been critical in complex initiatives. Corey was instrumental in migrating critical server workloads to the Baton Rouge data center ahead of Hurricane Ida, and he has led technical planning for multiple mergers and acquisitions. Under Corey’s leadership, Danos has not experienced any major security incidents. Last year, he was recognized as Cybersecurity Leader of the Year at the Louisiana IT Symposium.

Despite the often behind-the-scenes nature of his work, Corey is committed to developing great people. He takes the time to mentor colleagues, explain complex technology concepts in accessible ways and empower his team to make confident decisions. His efforts reflect dedication not only to technical excellence but also to the Danos purpose and values.

“The WOW factor that Corey possesses is his humility,” said another colleague. “He is not someone who seeks recognition or the attention of others, yet he excels in his work. I admire his subtle approach and capability to accomplish the tasks at hand. Corey encourages his fellow colleagues and supports them in their successes. He displays the qualities of a servant leader.”

Away from work, Corey and his wife Katie are parents of three children ages 13, 10 and 8. Together they enjoy camping, scouts, swimming, sports and cooking. A native of Chackbay who now lives in Larose, Corey values the time he spends with his family, an indication of why he chooses to work at Danos.  

“It’s rare to align so fully to a company’s purpose and values,” says Corey. “Between the people, ownership and culture, I feel like I’m meant to work here.”

Through humility, expertise and servant leadership, Corey Stein models Danos’ purpose and values—a professional whose steady hand and quiet dedication safeguard the company today and prepare it for tomorrow.