NEDC Board Member Spotlight Q & A with Dr. Kristian Dugger

What is your hometown? Manson, Iowa

Occupation and company you work for? Optometrist, McFarland Clinic Nevada

Iowa Army National Guard Soldier, State Surgeon/Commander, Iowa Medical Readiness Detachment, Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa

What is a fun fact about your business or something you’re doing at your business that you’re excited about? My optometry practice with McFarland Clinic in downtown Nevada is celebrating 23 years in business in 2021. My twin daughters, Peyton and Sydni, who were raised in Nevada, will graduate from optometry school in 2022.

What is your role with the NEDC, and how long have you been involved? I have been on the board of directors for two years.

What is the most interesting or incredible thing you have learned about local economic development by being involved in the NEDC? We are extremely fortunate in Nevada to have a great group of community leaders supporting a full-time economic development professional like John Hall.

Why do you continue to be involved in local economic development? Why is this an important issue for you? Economic development efforts benefit the whole community. Businesses are benefited by attracting new businesses, new jobs, and new families to our community. Local residents are benefited with ever-improving community access to goods and services. Small towns like Nevada offer the best living conditions through safe, quiet neighborhoods. Thanks to economic development efforts over the past 25-plus years, people who live and work in town enjoy a great way of life. Each of us should do our part to keep our community headed in a positive direction.

What other involvements do you have in the local community/county?  Nevada Rotary Club, member of Cornerstone Church, Iowa Army National Guard

What are your favorite pastimes/hobbies? Spending time outdoors, traveling, running

Who are the members of your family? Wife Angie, married 29 years, daughter Peyton Myers and her husband Jonathan Myers, and daughter Sydni

What is something fun about you that only your high school or college friends would probably know? I graduated from a small high school. My friends and classmates were involved together in sports, band, chorus all year round. Opportunities for activities in a high school like Manson High in the 1980s were plentiful. It was normal for us to participate in football, basketball, track, baseball, band, jazz band, chorus, swing choir. We kept busy and were well prepared for life outside of Manson, Iowa!

If you had only one hour a week to watch TV, what would you watch? Anything Space-X

What has 2020 taught you? Quality of life; living in Iowa is the greatest in the country and as good as anywhere on God’s green earth!