BUSINESS: Agent for State Farm Insurance
AGE: 49
BACKGROUND: “I moved here from the mid-west 14 years ago. I went into lending right out of college and started as a claims agent with State Farm in 1987. In 1996 I became an agent.”
FIRST JOB:  “I grew up on my parents’ farm in Iowa and my first job was farm chores when I was 10 or 11.”
YEARS IN BUSINESS:  “I’ve been in business here for 14 years and in the insurance business for 26 years. I’m a former member of the town board and served on the planning commission as well.
“I’m very involved with youth soccer and contribute both time and money to the program. I’ve been the coach for the past 10 years.”
PERSONAL: “I’m either at the office or involved in soccer. I do go back to my parents’ farm about three times a year to spend time farming in the spring, summer and fall.”
BUSINESS CLIMATE:
“Business has been slow this past year. It was really booming before that. This used to be the fastest growing small community in the country and it will bounce back over the long term.
“This will always be a service-oriented community focused on retirees. It’s a great place to retire. We’re close to Las Vegas and California and we have a great climate.”
“We need to shop local as much as possible and help the small businesses here survive.”