Editor’s note: Every Monday, the Muscatine Journal profiles a local figure who responds to questions provided by one of our reporters.

MUSCATINE, Iowa — Muscatine’s Barb Davis knows how to keep a commitment.

She worked at Bandag for 32 years before coming to work at Musco Lighting three years ago as a business analyst, and she’s looking forward to more years with that company.

This year, she’ll celebrate her 25th anniversary with husband Bob Davis.

She became a mother 24 years ago when her daughter Whitney was born.

Her son Brock, now 20, has cerebral palsy, and Barb said the Muscatine Community School District cooperated with her to provide a good education for him. Brock was one of the first children with a disability in the District to be included in the regular classroom setting. He is now a student at Muscatine Community College.

Davis said she believes in giving back and accepted an invitation to

join the Davenport Family Resources Inc. advisory board in April. She was specifically recruited to represent  the Family Resources Inc. office  in Muscatine.

Personal

Who: Barb Davis

Age: 57

Hometown: Muscatine

Employment: Business analyst for Musco Lighting Co. since 2006

Family: Husband, Bob Davis; daughter, Whitney Davis, 24; son, Brock Davis, 20.

Education: Associate’s degree from Muscatine Community College, 1982; bachelor’s degree in business administration Marycrest College, 1988.

Volunteer work: Member of the advisory board for Crossroads Inc. in Muscatine, a non-profit center that provides work opportunities for

people with disabilities.

Q&A

How did you come to be on the Family Resources board?

I have been involved with the fundraising dinner for the Family Resources Inc. domestic violence shelter in Muscatine for the past four years.

The Davenport Family Resources Inc. was looking for someone from Muscatine to be on the Board. They are very committed to their services here and wanted someone from our city to be on the Board. Dawn Sturms, the director of the Muscatine Family Resources Inc. programs, and Cheryl Goodwin, president of Family Resources Inc. in Davenport, asked me out to lunch and invited me to join the board.

Why are you a supporter of Family Resources Inc. programs?Family Resources Inc. believes in helping women, children and families, especially those who don’t have the help they need. Everyone needs to know how to take care of themselves, and Family Resources programs help people learn how to do that.

Why do you choose to volunteer?I wanted to give back to the community. Muscatine has been very good to my family. I also believe it’s important to show support and provide a role model. Mentoring is a big key word in everything today, not just in business.

Who has inspired you in your life?

My parents, the late Verona and Alva Oerman. I grew up in a good farm family with a good work ethic. The person who inspired me most in my career was Charlie Edwards. I worked with him the first eight years I was at Bandag and he encouraged me to go to school and take on as much as I wanted to try. He retired in 1983 as senior vice president of the rubber and equipment group.