Natalie Haertlein has been involved in projects supporting Prescott Valley all the way back to her high school days when she joined efforts to form a girls soccer team at Bradshaw Mountain High School. She never got to play on that team because the club didn’t officially turn into a team until the year after she graduated, but she was happy to help future graduates.
Prescott Valley has been Haertlein’s home since she was in the 6th grade, and she plans to keep it that way. After attending Yavapai College and getting her feet wet in the insurance industry, she started her own independent American Family Insurance office in PV at the tender age of 28.
“My favorite part is just talking with people – getting to know people and making sure they’re protected from that worst day,” Haertlein said.
She’s watched the town’s population grow exponentially over the last three decades, and she wants to help it grow the right way.
“You want to see smart growth,” Haertlein said, and that’s one reason she supports the Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation. PVEDF helps new industries connect with local businesses so they can get the best personal service, said Leslie Contreras, PVEDF economic development coordinator.
PVEDF promotes smart growth by working to attract industries with prosperous wages and jobs, which in turn support existing businesses and future generations including Haertlein’s four boys.
“The community supports us, and we support them,” Haertlein explained. “By doing business with us, they’re 100-percent supporting local jobs. We want to see kids prosper and grow up and be productive members of society.”
She also appreciates how PVEDF helps connect existing small businesses like hers.
“PVEDF brings us together so we have an opportunity to all be successful,” Haertlein said.
Haertlein sees a strong parallel between protecting families and her insurance calling.
“Insurance is about protecting families’ way of life, and that kind of goes hand in hand with volunteering and being involved in the community,” Haertlein observed.
She has volunteered for a wide variety of organizations over the years including the PV Chamber of Commerce as a Chamber Ambassador and Festival of Trees participant; Soroptimist International of Prescott Valley with programs including “Choices Not Boundaries” for middle school girls and the Women’s Opportunity Awards; Prescott Area Leadership after graduating from its 2013-14 class; the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life; and the local Winners Circle Networking Group. And, of course, she has coached soccer.