IN PROFILE: Kenneth Hargis Jr.

BUSINESS: Owner of Happy Hydroponics

AGE: 36

BACKGROUND: “I’ve lived here since 1993 and worked as a technician for AT&T. I’ve been doing hydroponics for the past 15 years.”

FIRST JOB: “I worked in an orchard in Reebly, Calif.”

YEARS IN BUSINESS: “I opened this business three years ago. We just moved from our old location on Frontage Road to a bigger space here (1500 E. Highway 372, Unit E). It has better visibility.

“We have been involved with donations to support Trojans baseball and we’re always supporting charity organizations when they need something.”

PERSONAL: “I like to restore custom cars and spend time with my family. We like to entertain and I’m into boating and fishing as well.”

BUSINESS CLIMATE: “I’m an advocate of shopping locally. It should be easier for businesses to come here and create jobs for the locals, not run them off. We need an area designated as commercial that we can call downtown Pahrump. Everything is so spread out.

“It’s easy to have a business here for just about anything. You just have to be customer oriented. Service is everything.”