40 Under 40: Nathan L. Brown, insurance executive

Nathan L. Brown

AGE: 27

FAMILY: Wife Heather

EMPLOYER: WE Walker-Lakenan Insurance

POSITION: Agent/producer/account executive

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT: Although I do take part in the "usual" community activities (Chamber of Commerce events and of course pretty much every Jackson High School football game), the vast majority of my community involvement is through my church and youth group. I have served as youth pastor of Calvary United Pentecostal Church since 2005 and assistant pastor since 2007. Through volunteer work, I have participated in several service projects, city beautification, "Random Acts of Kindness", etc. Recently I created and organized a new community outreach center (sponsored by my church) open a few times a month to help keep kids off the streets and out of trouble. I take quite an active interest and role in working with and mentoring teens in the area in order to involve them in community projects and self improvement. This is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family, and I want to do anything I can to keep it that way. I also serve on the Missouri District Youth Committee representing several area churches on a State Board organizing large events, camps, conventions, etc.

HIS TYPICAL DAY:

Honestly, I really have no clue what my typical day entails. My job does not allow for a typical day. Although I do try to stay organized and structured, changing minute to minute and being able to multitask is a requirement in this job. I typically get up much earlier than necessary. I try to do my daily prayer and Bible reading, read the Southeast Missourian (online, of course), watch the weather, and then get ready for work. I'm usually in about 8:30 a.m. and have a pretty good idea of what HAS to be done (appointments, e-mails, phone calls, etc.). By 10 or 10:30 a.m., I try to be out of my office and out "pounding the pavement" (clearly I'm not going to do much in the way of sales if I'm just continually behind my desk). Typically, I either conduct business meetings over lunch or go home and eat with my wife. Then I'll stop back in the office, check e-mails, go over a few things with my CSR, and then get back out visiting businesses and their owners. I will then usually get back in about 3:30 or 4 p.m., and then catch up on office stuff until about 5:30 or later. After I leave the office, I usually have something to do for/with my church.

MOST SATISFYING PART OF HIS WORK:

Truly the business I'm in offers a ton of things that are just incredibly satisfying. I love being able to make new relationships on a daily basis. Now that I've been doing this for a few years, some of my clients have become some of my best friends. I'm certainly a people person, so my work allows me to continually build friendships and just enjoy people.

But I would say most of all, it really satisfies me to know that I am taking care of people. In this crazy world of uncertainty, it's nice to know that (even though they don't necessarily like to pay for it) I can give people peace of mind knowing that which is most important to them (their family, home, business, livelihood and more) is safe should something go terribly wrong. It sounds crazy to say, but helping someone get back on their feet and finally back to normal after the unthinkable happens is definitely the most satisfying thing about my job.

HIS WORST HAIRCUT:

When I was about 11 or 12 years old, for some reason my mom thought it would be a great idea for me to let my hair grow out a little bit. I then started styling it myself with all kinds of "product" ... AND A HAIR DRYER. I brushed it straight back, blew it dry, coated it with several layers of hair spray, and fluffed it up with not one hair out of place! For some reason I thought it looked awesome, but looking back at pictures, I looked like a kid with a 50-year-old's hair!

HIS FAVORITE SONG FROM THE '80s:

Let's go with "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, 1981.

HIS MOST EMBARASSING WORK MOMENT:

In my office, there are three steps down that drop from the offices to the kitchen. Just a couple of months ago, I came into the office and went to the kitchen to get some morning orange juice (NOT A COFFEE PERSON). On the way back up, I completely missed the first step, tumbled UP the stairs, threw my cup of juice all over the walls and ceiling, and busted my knee in the process. And worst of all, the entire office staff was standing right there the whole time just busting up laughing! I was so sticky and stained that I had to go home, clean up, and change clothes before I came back.