South County Profile: Andrea Leo

ANDREA LEO

Andrea Leo moved to Shasta County as a child with her family from Anaheim. Her family was looking for a good environment to raise a family and a better quality of life. For Leo, this is exactly what she found. Leo attended West Valley High School in Cottonwood then attended Shasta College taking general education classes.

She began working in the field of banking when she was 19 years old, and has been in the industry ever since.

Leo is currently the Operations Officer at North Valley Bank in Cottonwood. While at work, Leo supervises bank staff, does record keeping, balancing tellers at the end of the day and working with customers.

Leo's favorite part of her job is working with the customers. She has come to know them well, since they come in to bank a few times a week also because she knows them by name. Leo has been at North Valley Bank in Cottonwood for the past four years.

Leo enjoys working with her staff. For the future, Leo is comfortable where she is at and would like to continue to work at the Cottonwood Branch.

Leo is helping to co-chair the Cottonwood Rodeo Parade with co-worker Cheri Skudlarek of Cottonwood. In years past, she has worked on the carnival for the kiddy parade. Leo enjoys the community involvement that is involved in all of the planning for the events.

She said she appreciates that the Cottonwood Rodeo Parade has an old fashion appeal to it and is just fun.

In her spare time, Leo enjoys spending time with family, friends, riding quads, taking short holiday trips to Oregon and scrap booking.

Leo enjoys living in Cottonwood because of the home town feel, where every one knows each other.

"Cottonwood is just home! The dynamics of it are different from Redding and we are planning to stay here," said Leo.

Leo's advice for future bankers is to be prepared to work long hours If you are working in a small bank you need to be able to multi-task. Being a people-person is a big part of the job.

Leo is a 1996 graduate of West Valley High School. She married her high school sweet-heart Corey Harbert. They have been married for eight years and have a two year old daughter named Lilly.

Name: Andrea Leo.

Born where and when: Anaheim, 1978.

Occupation: Operations Officer at North Valley Bank in Cottonwood.

Marital Status: Married to husband Corey Harbert for 8 years.

Family: My husband Corey and daughter Lilly who is two years old.

Pets: One cat named Little.

My worst job: Luckily I haven't really had one.

My first job: First real one . . . Simpson Credit Union, Customer Service Representative.

In my spare time I: Spend time with friends, family and do some scrapbooking.

My favorite book: Wicked by Gregory Maguire.

My favorite movie: Pretty in Pink.

My favorite recording artist: Prince.

My dream car: A 1982 DeLorean equipped with a flux capacitor.

My friends like me because: Hopefully I am fun to be around.

If stranded on a deserted island I would want: Lip Gloss.

The one thing in life I've learned is: Be who you are and say what you feel!

The best advice my parents gave me: I can do all things if I set my mind to it.

My most embarrassing moment: Getting sea sick on a romantic dinner cruise in Hawaii.

My most irrational act: What happens in Vegas.

My most valued material possession: Family pictures.

What I like best about the North State: The location.

My hero is: My mom.

My pet peeve is: Having to repeat myself, don't ask if you aren't willing to listen to the answer.

My fantasy is: Winning the lottery and early retirement.

If I could change one thing about myself, I would: Have more patience.

The one thing Shasta County needs most is: Entertainment and night life.

The most enjoyable thing about life is: Raising my daughter Lilly.