Nicole McMahon: Which geographic area(s) do you cover? 

Mike Carey: Oregon and Hawaii 

NM: When did you start your NRA field rep career?

MC: June 2003 

NM: What drew you to the job? 

MC: I worked for a conservation group for about 11 years. One day I received a call from JP Nelson, my current supervisor and Western Region Director, telling me there was a job opening in Oregon. He asked me if I would be interested in interviewing for the position and of course I said, “Yes!” I am now in my 7^th year with the best organization in the U.S.

NM: What is unique about your particular geographic area?

MC: I cover two states. Oregon is divided by the Cascade Mountains. The west side of the state is the “Wet Side”, very green with dense forests. The east side is much dryer, interspersed with high deserts, ponderosa pine forest and much cooler. Hawaii is completely different. Lush & tropical with temperatures that stays constant all year.

NM: How many traveled miles do you average a year? 

MC: I average about 35,000 miles by truck and 20,000 miles by air.

NM: What’s the best part of your job?

MC: Working with the best volunteers in the country. It never ceases to amaze me the dedication they have to support the Second Amendment.

NM: Do you have a particularly memorable story about a banquet from your area?  

MC: At a recent Friends of NRA event, we had a game that allowed the winner to pick anything from the live auction as a prize. We had expensive firearms, beautiful jewelry and great limited edition items from the NRA, but the winner choose a Toy Tractor. He explained “It is for my Grandson, he will love it”!

NM: Is there anything else about your Friends of NRA experience you’d like to share? 

MC: I would just have to say how much I enjoy traveling and meeting all the folks that support the NRA.

Attend a 2009 Friends of NRA event in Hawaii or Oregon.  Contact NRA Field Representative Mike Carey at (541) 385-9404 or via email at mcarey@nrahq.org for more information.