IN PROFILE: Tammi DeBauche

BUSINESS: Owner of Irene’s Casino in Pahrump, Irene’s Gambling Lounge and Irene’s Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas.

AGE: 44

BACKGROUND: “I’m an entrepreneur. I was managing a 685-unit apartment complex in Las Vegas, when the original Irene’s came up for sale. I was 22 and decided to buy it.”

FIRST JOB: “I started babysitting when I was 12. My first public job was in retail for a specialty kitchen store.”

YEARS IN BUSINESS: “I have lived in Pahrump for five years, but have been coming here since 1990. I joined the Moose Lodge but find my community contributions go to community events and Christmas. I’ll do whatever I can in order to help these organizations. We get involved in food donations to the food banks and for community dinners.”

PERSONAL: “I’m an outdoors person. We really enjoy four-wheel razor riding. I like to be creative and I like projects.”

BUSINESS CLIMATE: “Having a business in Pahrump gives you an opportunity to get to know people. You not only become a part of the community, but you become a part of someone else’s life. Las Vegas is too fast, people don’t have that moment to stop and chat.

“As for bringing businesses here, I don’t pass judgment on officials because I don’t know what the long-term goals are that effect the decisions they make.

“One thing I’ve noticed about the businesses we have here is inconsistent practices. It makes it hard for them to build loyalty.”