Fast Five with State Farm's James Perkinson
Tell us about yourself
Generation: Millennial with an old soul. I was probably one of the last of my peers to actually adopt Facebook, I held out as long as I could.
Career and community involvement:
I am team leader for State Farm for our new Rathdrum location set to open in March. I also serve as the current president and on the board of directors for Kootenai County Young Professionals (KCYP). I also enjoy volunteering for great events like Sweetheart’s Ball, St. Vincent de Paul’s fashion show, Wine, Women, and Shoes, and a few others.
1. What is your personal mantra?
"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
2. What attracted you to your current occupation?
Originally, I was a product of my senior year project at Post Falls High School. I did the reverse job fair in business/finance and met my boss there and she gave me the opportunity to go from fast food to an “adult” job. Now, I enjoy getting to take a complex subject and make it simple and relevant to clients.
3. Why do you think it's important to give back to your community?
This goes back to the first question. I believe there is a lot of negativity out there and one way to counter that negativity is action. In our community, there are so many fantastic nonprofits doing amazing things, but they need to help, too. Being younger, I may not have the finances to make a significant impact, but I can give my time and effort.
4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I have an absolute phobia of heights. I have a hard time riding the escalators at River Park Mall because how high they go and open it is.
5. If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Three things: First, pay off my debt. Second, take a nice vacation somewhere warm. Third, invest the rest. That money will be worth a whole lot more in 20 years. Compound interest, the eighth wonder of the world.
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Devin Weeks can be reached by email at dweeks@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DevinCDAPress