Joel Gibbons always dreamed of a warmer climate. A graduate of Fenton High School, Joel went on to get a degree in accounting from Ferris State University. Then he moved back to his hometown, where he started working at Lewis & Knopf, CPAs, P.C., in Flint, and became a licensed Certified Public Accountant. The whole time, however, he was working his way out of town.  

“I had always vacationed where it was warm,” says Joel. “Why not move somewhere warm instead?”

Joel landed in Charleston, South Carolina. And he loved it there for a few years. But after the honeymoon phase started to wane, Joel discovered a few things he missed from his time in Michigan.  

“A switch went off and I thought, ‘You know, I miss a lot of things back in Michigan,’” says Joel. “I missed Christmas; it didn’t feel like the holidays without snow. I missed wearing hoodies in the fall. I missed Thanksgiving – my favorite holiday!” 

To Joel, the holidays were just not the same without the seasonal weather that came with them. Although South Carolina was warm, the summer heat made it too hot for him to want to go outside. So, he changed his mind and moved back home. 

Although he appreciated his experience living in a different city, Joel discovered that his roots were here in Michigan, and it was the place he wanted to settle down and call home. 

Joel thought Fenton would be the perfect place to settle down. He was offered a position back at Lewis and Knopf, where he was put on the partner track, and went on to start his family. Although he lives just one town over in Linden now, Joel still spends his time walking around downtown Fenton or taking his wife and kids up to Flint to see the city. 

For Joel, Genesee County is the perfect place. Being a big sports fan, he can easily head down to Detroit to see the Detroit Lions, Red Wings, Tigers, or Pistons in an hour. He is also a big fan of the University of Michigan and can make it there in a 30- to 45-minute drive. He also enjoys local sports. He’s gone to a Flint City Bucks game and catches a few Flint Firebirds games each year. 

These days, Joel spends time with his kids hanging out on the lake or walking along his subdivision. He has date nights at the RailYard in Fenton or heads to the Fenton Pub. He also takes time for himself to go golfing at one of the several courses in the area.

It’s been over a decade since Joel decided to make his move back to Genesee County, and Joel is glad that he saw the possibilities that Genesee County had to offer. 

“At that stage in my life, the possibility was for me to build my family here,” says Joel. “I did my research and knew this was going to be a great place for my family and career.”