Meet Helen Jarnes.  Read about The Many Hats She Wears.  She is a business woman and her actions make many contributions to our community

Questions:

Q: Tell us a little bit about what you do and why you’re doing it?

A: I retired at the age of 42, and I invested my income in real estate. I decided to dedicate my life to helping others. I cater and cook for organizations that I support, such as Habitat for Humanity, the Food Bank, and Sedona Area Homeless Alliance. I have cooked for the Rotary’s Chili Cook-Off with the Mayor for the past five years. I love to cook – it’s my hobby.

Q:  What is one thing that you wished you learned earlier in life?

A: I’m a huge goal setter, and if there’s something I want to learn or something I want to do, I set goals. I never finished college, but I always took classes even when I was working full time. I was always pushing myself to learn more, yet I don’t have a degree.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Sedona?

A: 18 years now.

Q: What do you like most living here in Sedona?

A: I love everything about Sedona – especially the community.

Q: What is one piece of advice that changed your life?

A: My mother has given me advice my whole life. She’s very spiritual and reads a lot of philosophy and spiritual books. She’s very advanced in her thinking and would impart information that she wanted me to learn. I’ve learned so much from her. One of the best pieces of advice she gave me, “Whatever you do, Helen, stand on your own two feet and support yourself before you get married.” She married so that someone would support her, and her marriage ended in divorce.

Q: Who is the most exciting person you’ve met here in  Sedona?

A: There are so many. I always tell people that they will find the most incredible women in this town. There are wonderful men too, but the women here are just amazing. The one person who stands out is Helen Wolfe, who founded The Sedona Women. I’ve been a member for 18 years, and I was on the board. She’s someone who has a presence, but at the same time, her beauty and her kindness are so incredible. I admire her, and I would love to be like that.

Q:  If you could go back in time, what age would you be again and why?

A: I’ve loved all my ages. In my early 40s, I accomplished many of my goals during that time, and I decided to quit working for the large company in San Diego as a Construction Project Manager. I had invested all my money in real estate and was doing well enough to work independently. I quit a great corporate job with all of its benefits and become my own boss. A few years later, I met my husband.

Q: How would your closest friends describe you?

A: Ambitious, generous, kind, and giving ( I give my time and whatever I can do to help others).

Q: What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?

A: To succeed as a Native American-Hispanic woman in the corporate world. I was one of the first female construction project managers for one of the largest companies in San Diego.

Q: Choosing anyone with whom would you love to have lunch? Why?

A: Eckhart Tolle. He is so unique, and I love his books.

Q: When someone comes to visit you in Sedona, where do you take them?

A: Always on a hike up to Sugarloaf because it’s close to the house. I am amazed at the phenomenal view you get from the top of the Sugarloaf, and you could see all of the Sedona. I would take them to the Grand Canyon and some great restaurants in town.

Q: How would you like to be remembered?

A: As a kind, generous, giving person and someone whose always there for them.

Q: If you’re going to write a book, what would the title be? And why?

A: The title would be “The Many Hats of Helen.” Because of everything I do, from mountain biking and wearing my helmet to construction management projects all over San Diego, I would wear my hard hat. When I was 12 years old, I rode a motorcycle, and my mom would make us wear our helmets. Even now, I ride a Harley. I love hats!

Q: Is there something that you would like us to know that I haven’t asked you?

A: I was a helicopter crew chief in Oxford, Germany, in the 80s. That was a quick growth step for me, going from being a teenager to being a mature adult, seeing the world, traveling alone, and getting to know other people. Also, learning how to work with men because the Army is a man’s world. You have to maneuver through it to gain their respect.

From the interview with Jonelle Klein,.