< Previous68 www.crestviewchamber.com A Journey of Caring ~ A Glimpse into the Life of Ann Teel Hatcher When Ann Teel Hatcher sees something that needs to be done, she does it. “I trace my early caring nature to visiting the nursing home when I was 7 years old,” she says. “As a child, it was good to know my smile could help brighten someone’s day.” When she was in 5th grade, her school participated in a Crestview community beautification project. Ann led her class by picking up sacks of trash that ended up growing to more than one-story high. Her class won the competition through her leadership, dedication, and community spirit. At Crestview High School, Ann’s senior year she was voted Most Likely to Succeed, won Most School Spirit, earned Honor Graduate, and voted Senior Superlative. Always a believer in doing what she can to help her community, it was a natural career path for her to become a State Farm Agent after receiving her bachelor’s degree in business specializing in Risk Management & Insurance. Key words for her interactions with customers and community include respect, listen, and care. Ann just celebrated her 35th Anniversary with State Farm. “My dad was a 54-year State Farm Agent here. I started going to his office when I was 7 emptying the trash cans on weekends. By age 13, I graduated to answering the phone, routing calls, and filing. My Dad was a brilliant, amazing man and a pioneer for our community development. I was his protégé and learned so much from him,” she says. “People like to be heard, understood, and cared about.” she says. Not long ago, she realized she hadn’t seen a local disabled veteran who usually walks around town. She stopped by the veteran’s apartment to check on him. “No one answered, and I noticed there was an eviction notice on the door. I went down the street to his mother’s home. I found out he was in the hospital, and his mother didn’t know about the eviction notice. I went to the hospital to visit the veteran and discovered he was on suicide watch. He had lost hope,” Ann says. “I saw his face light up when I walked into his room. He realized someone from the community cared enough to reach out, and it made all the difference in the world to him.” Ann could have gone about her day, but she wasn’t finished. She paid the veteran’s rent, electricity and water bills so when he got out of the hospital, he had his home and belongings. “That day I knew I had made a difference in someone’s life in a powerful way,” she says. “On that day, I helped save a life.” Ann was recently featured in a national magazine for acts of kindness. For Ann, acts of good just happen naturally. “I don’t have to look for them. The decision to act is easy,” she says. “Acts of goodness are in each person; it’s just a matter of acting on them.” Ann Teel Hatcher BUSINESS IN CRESTVIEWSee Us: Ann Teel Hatcher, Agent Corner of Hwy 85 & 90 497 N Ferdon Blvd Crestview, FL 850.682.7522 www.remarkablebyann.com Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ® State Farm Insurance Companies Home Offices: Bloomington, Illinois Good rates backed by good neighbor service – that’s State Farm Insurance.Next >