KIMBERLY BRANHAMNELSON, 50

Professional Responsibilities: Executive administration of the daily operations of Nelson and Associates Insurance. Creation of education material offered to the Nassau County community and producing curriculum standards and content for prelicensing courses for health insurance agents.

Community Involvement: I am a member of the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach and serve on the board of directors for the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce. I am also a member of The Anchor Church in Callahan. I orchestrate community give-back programs from Nelson and Associates Insurance, and support local nonprofit organizations that include Barnabas and Micah's Place.

Why did you go into your particular field? I have always been tied to the healthcare and education industries, with most of my family members in one field or the other. I chose the medical and education fields for the same reason, and that is to serve. I left the hospital setting in April 2021 to open a health insurance agency in Nassau County because of the large need for individual and family healthcare coverage. My desire to assist, educate and provide all residents of Nassau County with affordable quality health insurance is the drive that keeps me continuing what I do on a daily basis.

What's the best advice you've ever received? Never lose focus that God is in control. Always keep your family close.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I have always wanted to be a healthcare professional or teacher since I was in kindergarten. These two professions were very influential in my life at a young age and narrowed most of my future career choices.

What was your first job? My first job was as a pharmacy technician at Eckerd Drugstore.

What's your favorite aspect of your job? Helping people of all levels of society. When I am able to provide information to someone that does not know about the opportunities available to them in regard to healthcare coverage, it satisfies my intents and purposes.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your position? How to remain calm in challenging situations! Panic was a common visitor within my emotional being when I began functioning in leadership roles in my 20s.

When you're not at work, what do you do? If I am not at work (which is very rare), I am traveling with my family or spending time with my family.

Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? This is a tough question. I have had the fortunate opportunity to be amongst some of the greatest mentors, so choosing only one is tough. Depending on what issue is at hand would determine my answer; however, if professionally speaking, it would be Barb Gingher. At an early age, I had the privilege of working under Barb's direction. Over time, I would sit back in the shadows and watch how she would lead, guide, respond, and react to situations, issues, or simple advice. She upheld her position and personal self in the highest regards and remains well respected among those that have served under her leadership.

What is something about you that most people don't know? I have 20-plus back up plans. My dad always told me to never be dependent on anyone other than myself and to always have a backup plan. I figured having multiple would keep me clothed, fed, and safe. On a more direct note, most people do not know that I did three tours of missions to Indonesia. I delivered school supplies, toys, and clothing items to an orphanage and to young adults

that were in the school of ministry. The children in the orphanage were left without family after the tsunami in Indonesia back in 2004, and the young adults were exiled from their families when they made the decision to convert religious beliefs. If you couldn't do what you're doing right now, what would you want to do? If I could not do what I am doing now, I would

start a foundation. I have various focal points for a foundation, but one would be to help young adults obtain skills, training, or education to become successful community leaders, and the other would be to help build a safe house for children in eastern Kentucky who are displaced or rescued from abusive homes.