40 UNDER FORTY Levi Mansfield Optometrist, Mary Katherine Hank Lone Oak Family Eye Care Education: Doctorate Degree from Southern College of Optometry Professional, community, and civic organizations: • American Optometric Association • Kentucky Optometric Association • Heartland Church Hobbies/Hidden Talents: Cycling, hunting, fishing, and skiing Career achievement you are most proud of: I am most proud of opening Lone Oak Family Eye Care. To have a great location and to be able to treat people how I would like to be treated is something I’ve always wanted to do. Also, being able to be an employer and provide jobs to individuals is very rewarding and something I am proud of. Best piece of business advice: My dad and two uncles ran Mansfield Auto Parts in Kevil my entire life and the store became very successful very quick. I would talk to my dad and my uncles growing up and they would tell me that people liked them because they tried to treat them right and they built trust with their customers. They also got to know them and became involved in the community. This certainly impacted me when I began doing eye exams in my hometown. I know if I am honest with people and treat them right and get to know them on a more personal level they would be much more likely to be a returning patient and to tell others about me, so that’s what I’ve tried to do. Extension Agent for Horticulture, McCracken County Extension Service Education: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Professional, community, and civic organizations: • Leadership Paducah Class #35 • Charity League of Paducah • Senior Center Garden Committee President • McCracken County Civic Beautification Board • Interracial Women’s Group • Paducah Young Professionals Career achievement you are most proud of: During my freshman year at college I started to take classes at the Madison County Extension Office. It was then I realized I wanted to work in Extension one day. I tried and tried and could never get an offer. After a couple years I decided to move back to my hometown. During 2020, COVID-19 hit and there was a hiring freeze for many companies. One day I saw a job posting as a horticulture assistant for the McCracken County Extension Office. So, I applied and didn’t hear back for awhile. Finally, one day I received a call from one of the agents offering me the position. Fast forward a year, the horticulture agent position opened up at my office. So, of course I applied for that position. About two months later I got the call from UK, offering me the horticulture agent position. My prayers had finally been answered and I couldn’t be happier! Best piece of business advice: My family started a local business in 1897 called Hank Brothers True Value. So, I have always been told to keep working until the job is finished. That is how the local business has been such a success for over a hundred years. This has helped me become a hard worker and always push myself until I get to the finish line. 20 SEPTEMBER 2022 | PROMOTING EVENTS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE | INTHEVUE.COM Michelle Bowling Executive Administrator, Window World of Paducah Professional, community, and civic organizations: • Window World Cares Local Event Coordinator • Tens For Teens Gift Card Drive Founder • Book For Hope Event Volunteer Hobbies/Hidden Talents: With two young children, free time is almost non-existent these days. We spend many nights shuffling between baseball and gymnastics. I love event planning and coordinating, traveling when I can, and always enjoy seeing a pro baseball or football game live. Biggest challenge in your professional career: Like most, 2020 was an extreme challenge for our industry. I had shifted roles just weeks prior and was in a very unique position when COVID-19 started affecting everything. I really had to step up and find solutions for our employees and customers. Because families and homes rely on us, giving up or failing was not an option for me. Strategically finding ways to be able to retain the people who work hard here every day while so many people lost jobs was huge for me. Making sure my team and our amazing customers have stability during such uncertain times in the world has been both a huge challenge and reward. Career achievement you are most proud of: When the December 2021 tornado devastated so many homes in our community last year, my proudest career achievement was being able to provide window and doors free of charge to families left with damage. Spending time talking with people who came in, hearing the nightmare they had just lived through, talking with them, and being able to bring a light on such a dark day, has been the proudest moment in my career so far.
