If you enjoy the River’s Edge Film Festival, the LowerTown Art and Music Festival, the Carson Center’s Art and Wine Auction and the upcoming BBQ on the River, you’ll likely run across Brad Simmons, 27. For the past several years, this Murray native has volunteered his energy and good looks to make these great events even greater successes!
iList Paducah: Brad Simmons, you are just cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! You’re just darling!
Brad Simmons: Thank you!
IL: So you’re from Murray. How did Paducah get a hold of you?
BS: I graduated from Murray State in 2002 with a finance degree and an information technology option. I’d been working part-time for US Bank while going to school. After I graduated, I sent resumes all over the place, and US Bank offered me a credit analyst job in Paducah. So I did that for two years. And then CSI called.
IL: CSI! What a great company. What do you do there?
BS: I’m an information systems internal auditor.
IL: Auditor – that sounds mean.
BS: It’s not as threatening as it sounds. I travel to our satellite offices frequently, so it’s not like I come in and I’m Big Brother. I just look at our network security and operations and report on whether policies are being followed. This helps assure management, our customers, stockholders and regulators that we mitigate the risks associated with our line of business.
IL: What do you think of (CSI President and Founder) John Williams? Are you able to soak up any of his entrepreneurial spirit?
BS: John is a character. If I had his knowledge, I could do anything. He’s a good guy.
IL: You travel a lot, don’t you?
BS: Yes, it averages about a week each month. I go anywhere from Orrville, Ohio, the home of Smuckers – the only time I’ve seen a train that was exclusively carrying corn syrup, straight to the factory – to Denver and Chicago. Anywhere we have customers.
IL: Do you fly from Barkley Regional Airport?
BS: Absolutely! I love that airport. You can park 30 feet from the door and you’re good to go.
IL: Did you know they have wireless now?
BS: Yes, I heard that! What a great benefit to catch up on the news before an early-morning flight!
IL: Doesn’t all that travel adversely impact your social life?
BS: I’m at Doe’s and di Fratelli’s a lot! One thing I did have to stop was my volunteer work with the Housing Authority and Paducah Parks after-school program. Basically, from 4-6 p.m., every day after school, kids can come and get help with their homework. And there’s usually a sport involved. I got better with my kickball game! It’s a great program. It keeps kids from being bored, which keeps them from getting into trouble in the afternoon before mom and dad come home from work.
I used to do that every day after work when I was with US Bank, but now that I travel so much, I’ve had to find other volunteer opportunities. Every now and then at the mall, I’ll hear, “Mr. Brad! Mr. Brad!” And it’s some of the kids I worked with.
IL: That’s cool that they remember you! What are your volunteer activities now?
BS: I’m involved in the Carson Center Art and Wine Auction, BBQ on the River, the LowerTown Art and Music Festival and the River’s Edge Film Festival. CSI strongly supports employee volunteerism – the company is very active in the community. Actually, most businesses here are very community-oriented.
IL: Now Brad Simmons, not all young men are so outgoing and involved in the community. Did you learn that on your own? Or through your parents?
BS: After being here for a year, I did some internal reflection and realized that I hadn’t been involved in much besides working at the bank. I didn’t feel like I’d fulfilled anything important besides my job, and I wasn’t comfortable with that. I read about the after-school program and thought, what better way to be involved than to help our youth. So I went in for an interview and they gave me a chance.
IL: Would you recommend that other young people get involved in the community? Is it a good way to meet people?
BS: Yes, definitely. There are several people in my age group here, and everyone is friendly, open and welcoming to others. I’m especially glad that I found out about the Twenty Thirty Group.
IL: How’d you find out about them?
BS: From iList Paducah.
IL: Sweet!
BS: I ran into Stacy Thomas there. She was a Murray classmate of mine. And also Brent McKown. He was a frat brother of mine.
IL: Which fraternity?
BS: Alpha Sigma Phi.
IL: Good one! What’s your idea of a great date?
BS: Anything Downtown. I go to Maiden Alley a lot. And I like the Market House Theatre. There’s always something going on Downtown.
IL: And you love to travel?
BS: Yes – I’ll even go to Paris for a weekend, if the opportunity comes up. I did that a few years ago. A couple of years ago, I got an email from Northwest Airlines with a great flight deal. My boss was standing right there. So I just asked if I could take Friday and Monday off and bought the ticket right then.
IL: You just went on your own? Do you like traveling alone?
BS: Yes. It’s great because you don’t have to argue about what you want to see. I took a train to Chartres, for example, because I’d done a report on the cathedral but never had a chance to see it before. Most people would think that was boring. I also went to a mass at St. Sulpice where Daniel Roth, the famous organist, was playing. You can go up there and stand beside him. Those are probably the kinds of things I can only do by myself – not many people share that interest with me!
IL: What about meals? I always feel like a dork sitting at dinner by myself, but I admire folks who do it with such ease.
BS: That’s why I like Chartier. It’s a restaurant in Paris that has communal seating. So you always sit with other people. Since I’m American, people always want to talk about George Bush and the war. Once we get past that, people usually share their wine with me! If you speak the language a little bit, they look at you as a person and not a Bush follower.
IL: Are you fluent in French?
BS: I’m conversational. I used to be more fluent when I was an exchange student in high school. I’m raring to go back to France. Just waiting for another Northwest Airlines email.
IL: Well Brad Simmons, I suspect there are plenty of femmes around town who’d love to go to Paris with you, cathedral visits and all! You are just le bomb. Rock on, mon ami, rock on!
