Published: April 24, 2008 07:05 pm      

Business: Travis Sanders

ASHLAND — From his very first day of work in Ashland, Travis Sanders was comfortable with a place he now calls home.

Sanders, 34, has been in Ashland since 2005 working as an attorney for VanAntwerp, Monge, Jones and Edwards. He lived in bigger cities while attending law school but likes the down-home feel of northeastern Kentucky’s biggest city.

“My first day of work, I parked in the parking garage, walked across that street at 8 in the morning and it was a completely different scenario,” he said. “I appreciated it, and the people I work with are amazing. They put family first.”

Family is important to Sanders. He and his wife, Melissa, have three boys: 9-year-old Cameron, 4-year-old Cannon and 1-year-old Chase.

Sanders said his and his wife’s views of the area have changed since they’ve become more involved in community activities. Like many others, he likes the small-town feel but the big-time possibilities.

“During law school, I worked at some of the larger firms in Lexington,” he said. “At the time, we had two kids. I was kind of looking for a smaller town but, at the same time, I wanted a law firm that was larger with a strong background and clients. This firm fit closely and we really like the community.”

Sanders isn’t one to watch others make a difference. He rolls up his sleeves and dives into projects headfirst. He’s a member of the Young Professional Association as vice president, serves on the board for the Ashland Alliance and is the secretary-treasurer of the Boyd County Bar Association.

“When I came here, a lot of people wanted to do things but didn’t want to step out and make that commitment,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons why me, Laura (Timberlake) and Mary Kay (McGinnis) are working closely together (on the Young Professional Association). We don’t want people who complain all the time. If you complain, we expect you to step up and do something about it.”

Jim Purgerson of Ashland Alliance said young people like Sanders are a blessing to the community.

“He’s definitely the type of person we’d love to recruit to the Ashland area,” Purgerson said. “He’s a bright, talented young person. He’s an excellent attorney who has gotten really involved with the community. From my point of view, I was impressed enough with him to elect him to our board.”

Having some “young blood” on the Alliance board has generated new ideas and energy to the organization, Purgerson said.

“When need to get their opinions,” he said. “He’s got a vested interest (in the area) and that helps ... when we’re out trying to recruit young people. When I say recruit, I mean to get them interested in our area. It’s great to have someone like Travis who is one of them.”

Sanders said the area has many great attractions but a little more nightlife would be a boost for the younger generation.

“Some nightlife activities are really needed to keep young people here,” he said. “There’s a few places, but that’s just it. There aren’t a lot of choices. The Paramount (Arts Center) is a great thing for the area and there are ways for young people to get involved in the community, too. I think we have a good base of young people here. We need some of that older community to reach out to the younger community and be involved. Sometimes it’s intimidating for younger people to talk with the older generation.”

Of course, the kindness of those in the area and the focus on family makes the Ashland area attractive to anyone.

“I would first describe it as a family-oriented community,” he said. “For somebody with family, that’s extremely important.”

Sanders said while walking to his car at lunch one day, he saw an older woman who was walking and slipped. “Seven people went over to help her and ask her if she was OK,” he said. “I’ve lived in Lexington, Pennsylvania, Boston … that wouldn’t happen in those places.”

One advantage Sanders said he has over many others in the area is he doesn’t have any preconceived notions about Ashland.

“One of the great things from my perspective is I don’t know how it used to be,” he said. “I’ve only been here for three years. For me coming in, I see a strong community with a great group of young professionals.”

Sanders said he knows about the industrial background of the area but looks to a bright future here with what’s available, especially through the healthcare opportunities.

“Having that healthcare industry can attract supplemental industries,” he said. “King’s Daughters is one of the largest (hospitals) in the state and has a great reputation across the state. I’ve talked to a lot of people who know about King’s Daughters. They bring in a lot of young, qualified professionals.”

As for his own professional life, Sanders said he’s in the perfect firm to learn and grow as an attorney.

“They gave me a lot of leeway and support,” he said. “It’s one of the rare places I’ve seen where you can walk right down the hallway and talk to some of the best lawyers in the state like Carl Edwards and Greg Monge. Everybody here wants what’s best for the community.”

Purgerson is convinced attracting more people like Travis Sanders can only benefit northeastern Kentucky.

“He cares,” Purgerson said of Sanders. “Regardless of age, for us, it’s of great importance to have volunteers work with our nonprofits in the area. It’s great to see some young people who want to get involved and want to give. That’s what he’s done in a short time.”

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.