08/30/2006
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Renee and Roger Watson |
Roger Watson started his first small business in 1965, now he and his wife, Renee, own five successful small businesses that provide a multitude of services including tax preparation and consulting, estate planning, financial services, equipment and party rental, computer sales and service, short-term or long-term lot rental at an RV park, sales of fruit, vegetables, and garden and gift items.
Watson had worked at Arvin Industries for 11 years while also running a part-time tax and accounting service of his own. He eventually left his full-time job to start Taylor Rental Center (now known as Grand Rental Station) and to devote more time to his tax and accounting business. Watson focused more of his efforts on the tax and accounting business when he started Watson & Associates in 1986 as a financial services and estate-planning business.
In 1999, the Watsons diversified their business ventures even further by purchasing a 724-acre farm and starting the Mad River Farm Market.
"We grow all of our own vegetables that we sell through the market," said Watson's wife, Renee. In addition, they purchased Liberty Computer in 2004, which services and sells computers. In total, the Watsons' businesses employ anywhere from 35 to 150 employees depending on the season.
The Watsons have been members of NFIB for over 10 years because of NFIB's commitment to fight for small business. Since then the Watsons have joined the Leadership Trust, Leadership Council and their local Area Action Council, and the have attended NFIB National Small-Business Summits in Washington, D.C.
"After we attended our first Summit we were so impressed with Summit and with the people we met, we wanted to get more involved. We then learned about Leadership Trust and started to participate with them, and that got us further involved," said Renee.
NFIB has provided the Watsons with many opportunities to meet other small-business owners and to communicate with politicians. They have personally recruited 10–15 Leadership Trust members and held meetings with state representatives at their office.
