in me to make our community better ,” Strutton said .
When you think about it , it makes Billie a natural fit for Main Street Duncan .
“ I am passionate about the mission of Main Street because I believe a thriving downtown is vital to our community ,” Billie said . “ It represents the roots of our community . It is our heritage . As a community , to be viable , we must constantly be innovative and open to change , but to be valuable , we must always hold tight to our foundation . Main Street will always be the heart of our community . The businesses are owned by our friends and neighbors . The buildings have a story , our story . I love the atmosphere of our downtown and will work to continue to give it life .”
While she works to hit all of these goals , Billie also makes connections with the community members who care about their hometown , just like she does , which is another driving factor in her mission .
“ I get to work with other community minded individuals to make Duncan a place where families want to live , work , and play ,” she said .
The “ live , work , and play ” part for families is key for Billie , who is very-family oriented herself . Her and her husband , Rodney , have five children , four grandsons and a grand baby on the way .
“ Being a Nana is one of God ’ s greatest blessings ,” Strutton said .
But there ’ s more to family than just blood ties for Strutton . As a person who experienced Japan after high school , Strutton and her family have kept the cultural exchange going strong .
“ For the last several years we have hosted an exchange student in our home ,” Strutton said . “ Our current student , Agnese Ducci , is from Italy . We have had wonderful experiences with these students and enjoy learning about their culture while teaching them about ours .”
Getting the best experiences out of life is almost second nature to Strutton , and it shows through her lifestyle . She enjoys walking , hiking and running and has run every kind of race , from a 5k to a full marathon .
These experiences , however , also gave Billie some golden words of advice to leave behind for future generations of women to come .
“ Don ’ t compare yourself to others ,” she said . “ Focus on what you are good at and pursue opportunities that will maximize your strengths .
“ Always look for ways to challenge yourself and grow . It can be scary , but just know that every successful person you meet pushed themselves past their comfort zone ,” she said .
Her final tip , and probably what makes her so good for Main Street Duncan : “ Invest in your community and take ownership in making it better .” DM