- previous
- 1
- 2
- | single page
Karen Bailey and Kris Green (Gary Redfern) |
Based in Las Vegas, Progressive uses Imperial County desert areas and the Border Tactical Indoor Range to hold a variety of training for the military, law enforcement and private security personnel.
Then, in 2007, Wharton needed help at Border Tactical, which was founded and is owned by Bill DuBois of El Centro, who also owns the adjacent Phoenix Uniforms store. Wharton, Kris says, knew two women who could more than handle the job.
“He’s pretty selective … for him to choose us,” Kris ponders, and yet she knows she is up to the task. “It’s definitely not your average job. My knowledge base on firearms has increased so much.”
Despite being a certified instructor who even teaches firearms at Imperial Valley College and is obviously in charge at the business and not short on confidence, Kris concedes she’s still in a business where women do not always get the respect they deserve.
“I’ve had people ask me a question. I give them an answer. They don’t believe me, so they ask the person I’m working with. I realize that will happen. I’ve developed a tough skin. What happens, happens,” she insists. “The population of women in shooting is growing, but it’s still not the fully acceptable thing to do. I’m blonde. I have blue eyes. I’m not the stereotypical shooter.”
Kris’ resolve may be true, not only because of her personality and upbringing, but also from the sheer joy she gets from her work.
Explaining how she became involved with DeAnza Rescue Unit, she recalls her husband and his father, Jeff Green of Brawley, would “get a call for a rescue and they’d be gone. I was, like, ‘I want to go.’ ”
If it’s up to Kris and Karen, more girls and women will be taking advantage of such opportunities.
“We help Don Wharton and Bill Smerdon do self-defense classes. At Border Tactical we offer private instruction, even one on one. We find that women are more comfortable being trained by other women,” Karen explains.
Self-defense is not something mother and daughter need when working so closely together, even with the younger being the boss.
Asked what it’s like to work for her daughter, Karen smiles, “I wish I could say terrible, but it’s good. We bounce ideas off each other. Working with her makes coming to work a joy. I’m not only working with my daughter, I’m working with one of my best friends.”
While Kris is content at where she is now, she concedes ambition may come calling someday.
“I’m enjoying this, but I will go back to college and learn administration of justice and business management. I find the law fascinating.”
Then, in 2007, Wharton needed help at Border Tactical, which was founded and is owned by Bill DuBois of El Centro, who also owns the adjacent Phoenix Uniforms store. Wharton, Kris says, knew two women who could more than handle the job.
“He’s pretty selective … for him to choose us,” Kris ponders, and yet she knows she is up to the task. “It’s definitely not your average job. My knowledge base on firearms has increased so much.”
Despite being a certified instructor who even teaches firearms at Imperial Valley College and is obviously in charge at the business and not short on confidence, Kris concedes she’s still in a business where women do not always get the respect they deserve.
“I’ve had people ask me a question. I give them an answer. They don’t believe me, so they ask the person I’m working with. I realize that will happen. I’ve developed a tough skin. What happens, happens,” she insists. “The population of women in shooting is growing, but it’s still not the fully acceptable thing to do. I’m blonde. I have blue eyes. I’m not the stereotypical shooter.”
Kris’ resolve may be true, not only because of her personality and upbringing, but also from the sheer joy she gets from her work.
Explaining how she became involved with DeAnza Rescue Unit, she recalls her husband and his father, Jeff Green of Brawley, would “get a call for a rescue and they’d be gone. I was, like, ‘I want to go.’ ”
If it’s up to Kris and Karen, more girls and women will be taking advantage of such opportunities.
“We help Don Wharton and Bill Smerdon do self-defense classes. At Border Tactical we offer private instruction, even one on one. We find that women are more comfortable being trained by other women,” Karen explains.
Self-defense is not something mother and daughter need when working so closely together, even with the younger being the boss.
Asked what it’s like to work for her daughter, Karen smiles, “I wish I could say terrible, but it’s good. We bounce ideas off each other. Working with her makes coming to work a joy. I’m not only working with my daughter, I’m working with one of my best friends.”
While Kris is content at where she is now, she concedes ambition may come calling someday.
“I’m enjoying this, but I will go back to college and learn administration of justice and business management. I find the law fascinating.”
