IN PROFILE: James Horton

BUSINESS: Preferred RV Resort General Manager

AGE: 47

BACKGROUND: “In my first life I produced and directed movies and television before I went to law school and took classes in the hospitality industry.”

FIRST JOB: “I worked in the kitchen at college in New York.”

YEARS IN BUSINESS: “I moved to Pahrump in 2005 from Las Vegas and have worked here since then. Preferred RV is a member of both the Las Vegas and Pahrump chambers of commerce. The employees here are a community-active group and donate time and effort to local charities. We also support nonprofits like Food for Thought and the fundraisers we hold here about three times per year have a portion of the proceeds donated to local organizations. I personally serve on the tourism board.”

PERSONAL: “I decided instead of complaining about the kind of movies being offered, I would go back to making my own. I’ve spent my spare time for the last two years working on “Do Not Disturb.”

BUSINESS CLIMATE: “There is an abundance of opportunity here to make something. We need better paying jobs that come from what we can support, such as light manufacturing. One of the challenges of the tourism board is changing the perception of Pahrump. There are amenities here and we do have accommodations. We have a winery and other attractions. We’ve made some progress in the last two years. It would be nice if everyone would pull together and work together instead of working against each other and complaining about the results.”