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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2015)
PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, AUGUST 21, 2015 Agent already liking change of scenery By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes Temperatures have been warmer than normal this sum- mer in Oregon. Neal Buenz doesn’t mind. After all, Buenz originally hails from Iowa and was most recently in Minnesota before moving to Keizer in May to take over the American Family Insurance agency at 103 Mc- Nary Estates Drive from the retiring Marlene Parsons. When you’re from the Mid- west, hot temperatures are really 10 to 15 degrees warmer than the reading due to humidity. And that’s to say nothing of the wind chill in the winter. “It was tough to be in winter for nine months,” Buenz joked. “That’s a big part of coming here. Back there, when it’s nice out it is really hot.” Buenz and his wife had been eyeing an eventual move west for some time. “We had been wanting to get to the West Coast for three years,” he said. “Originally we were looking at San Diego or something else in California, but the pricing is absurd down Neal Buenz (right) has taken over the American Family Insurance agency formerly owned by Marlene Parsons, assisted by Nicki Gates (left). KEIZERTIMES/ Craig Murphy there. Plus I’m a huge basketball fan and the Blazers have a huge following. The district manager out here said we have a town looking for an agent.” Buenz fl ew out here and interviewed for the agent posi- tion. A couple of weeks later he was offered the job. In May, he drove a Penske truck with his belongings west for a fi ve-day trek. “I was chosen to succeed Marlene, who retired after she got married,” Buenz said. “I joined an agent-in-training program in Minnesota in July 2013. I interviewed here in March, had one shot and got it. It worked out really well. It was between here and Phoenix. I researched this town and the agency, weather, people, and this fi ts better. I’m 32; the average age here is 36. It’s a good demo- graphic for me to grow with.” While in Minnesota, Buenz was a car fi nance person for Ford when a friend in the in- dustry suggested he look into insurance. After working for a State Farm agent for nine months, he found American Family had an offi ce a block from where he lived, much easier than the 45-minute com- mute he had at the time. “The agent and I hit if off re- ally well,” Buenz said of his fi rst American Family experience. “I worked with that agent for two years. Things worked out.” The same was true for the current role. “I talked with Marlene quite a bit,” Buenz said. “She stayed a month longer than she had planned to integrate me with the agency and the community. We got acclimated really fast. Marlene stayed through June and I took over July 1.” Things got off to a good start, as Buenz and assistant Nicki Gates – who formerly worked as the assistant to Par- sons – were named agents of the month in July. “In Minneapolis, it’s so big that you don’t see the same people,” Buenz said. “Here you see the same people over and over in the grocery store. Ev- eryone is so laid back and nice here. Everyone is so cool and calm. I can’t see myself moving now.” Senior mentors sought Peer mentors to assist se- niors become more self-reli- ant and independent are being sought by Northwest Senior and Disability Services. Volunteer mentors should be adults 45 years and older who have patience, nonjudg- mental attitude and empathy to coach older adults and peo- ple living with disabilities ex- periencing depression, loneli- ness, anxiety and grief. The volunteers work with care- givers and people facing end- of-life challenges. The typical mentor volunteers about 10 to 12 hours each month. Training is provided. For more information or to apply contact Tara Manitsas at 503-304-3414. Breaking news in Keizer? Find out more at… Business&Services APPLIANCES ATTORNEY Come See Our New Showroom Walsh & Associates Estate Planning Elder Law Probate Social Security Attorneys at Law 503-304-4886 Nigel Guisinger • Personal Injuries Owner • Wrongful Death 3800 River Rd N in Keizer 503-390-0161 Richard Walsh 5845 Shoreview Ln. N. Suite 100, Keizer CR Kathy Belcher Attorney at Law Wills & Trusts Asset Protection Medical Directives Guardian & Conservatorships Free Consultation No fee until we win ANSWERS Protecting You & the Ones You Love 503-371-9636 • Auto Accidents APPLIANCE CR ATTORNEY Law Offi ces of McGinty & Belcher 694 High Street NE, Salem www.mcginty-belcher.com CR NC ATTORNEY BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Koho & Beatty Attorneys at Law, PC DENNIS KOHO • General Practice • Family Law • Business Law • Government Law Building Materials Bargain Center, Inc. 775 Front Street NE • Salem • 503-363-9070 503-390-3501 5305B River Road N, Keizer, OR 97303 ELEANOR BEATTY B M B C www.koholaw.com CR AUTO REPAIR www.keizerautomotive.com 6558 Wheatland Rd N - Keizer Our home is our single biggest investment and we want to keep it maintained. Sometimes we also want to do projects around the home to make it better for us or increase the value when it comes time to sell it. For those do-it-yourselfers who like the feel of a hammer and a saw in their hands, the fi rst step of a home project is to stop at Building Materials Bargain Center on Front Street near downtown Salem. Founded in 2003 the business has been owned since 2010 by Gene Vliet. Mike Oglevie serves as manager of the center. Building Materials Bargain Center offers a variety of construction materials, building materials and building supplies to customers. “We 503-390-2850 1225 AUTO SERVICE BARKDUST Brakes! Tires! Batteries! DELIVERY OR U-HAUL • Hemlock Mulch • Sawdust • Decorative Rock • Top Soil • Sand & Gravel • Fir Bark Mulch Full Service Oil Changes! Best tire prices in town… Guaranteed! Open 6 days per week — No appointment necessary We Service ALL MAKES & MODELS THE BARK BOYS CR BARBERSHOP CONSTRUCTION COLLECTION SERVICES Larry’s Barbershop W E P ROTECT Y OUR R EPUTATION f. WE CARE ENOUGH TO BUILD IT BETTER NEW COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, REMODELING, DESIGN AND WE GET YOUR MONEY BACK! 5036 RIVER RD N, KEIZER • 503.551.6198 HOURS: TUESDAY – FRIDAY, 10 AM TO 3 PM C ASCADE C OLLECTIONS, AUG. SPECIAL: ALL CUTS $8 • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! CCB NO. 203150 INC. 1375 13TH ST SE – SALEM help wanted: barber / stylist 1030 have a large selection of unfi nished cabinets to give our customers as many options as possible,” said Gene Vliet. Their products and services include construction materials, building materials, building supplies, cabinets, doors, windows, plywood, fencing, hardwood, fl ooring, lumber, moldings, paneling, walls, insulation and much more! We have most standard sizes in stock and yes, we deliver. “It’s the best place to get your improvement materials and save real money doing it,” said Vliet. Building Materials Bargain Center is located minutes from Keizer at 775 Front St., building D. They are open seven days a week. Have a question? Call them at 503-363-9070. 2840 Cherry Ave. NE • 378-7379 3555 River Rd N • (503) 304-7555 0904 BUILDING MATERIALS BARGAIN CENTER, INC. 503.364.9607 – (503) 364- 0455 cascadecollections.com CR cvcgoregon.com 132 GLYNBROOK ST N – SUITE 100 – KEIZER 1009