Joel Duncan has made quite a change in his lifestyle, leaving the sunshine of Florida for the bipolar spring/winter mix of Central Iowa. But when the opportunity arose to be the new chief executive officer of Merit Resources, a professional employer organization based in Urbandale, he couldn’t pass it up. He said it is the perfect position for someone with his background and he feels both he and the company can reach new levels of success together. Now, a little more than a month into his new job, Duncan is still excited about the company’s, and the Midwest business community’s, future.

How did your new position come about?

I’ve been in the industry for 16 years. I had built some connections through acquaintances at Merit. After I began looking at the company, I was impressed with the work they were doing here and felt my skill set would align nicely. My background is primarily in the sales and marketing arena. Here at Merit, I am going to work to position the company in the market and accelerate growth.

Where did you live before moving here?

I moved here from Sarasota, Fla., and started my job March 1. Everyone here still has a big advantage over me, because they know twice as much as me right now.

Why was this job so appealing to you?

The HR industry has had exceptional growth in other parts of the country. You haven’t seen that in the Midwest yet, but I think it’s coming. I know over time the business community is going to see our services as very valuable, so this is an exciting time to join the company. Merit has developed a unique function and has a good opportunity to be a market leader in the Midwest.

What are your initial thoughts on your new home state?

My first impression, which was sort of a surprise, was how exceptionally warm and welcoming everyone I’ve encountered has been. It has exceeded my expectations. I received a really warm reception. And I can’t go without mentioning that the cost of living and the 10-minute commutes were not surprising but still really, really great. I haven’t had a bad experience since I got here.

Where would someone find you on the weekend?

Outside the office, you will most likely find me running. I’ve been a runner for some time now, and I’m really excited to get out and explore the trails in the community. That is another thing I was happy to discover when I came here. The area is really great for someone who enjoys running. I will compete in half marathons, since I don’t have the time to train for a full marathon. I do it because I really enjoy it, but you won’t see me with tape across my chest at the finish line. I enjoy the competition, but I don’t take it too seriously.

What is the best part of your job?

Getting to utilize my 16 years of experience to have a significant impact on the company. I like a business environment that is nimble, and oftentimes, smaller organizations are more nimble. That is one of the great things about Merit. Plus, my management style is much more geared towards a nimble company than a bureaucracy.

How apprehensive were you about moving to Iowa?

There is always apprehension when you make a decision like this. But we made this decision as a family. We engaged our children in the process, and they saw us give consideration to their concerns. That helps to minimize the impact as much as possible. But each day we’ve been reassured of our choice by the people we’ve gotten to meet.

What is the number one thing you hope to accomplish with Merit?

Our biggest challenge as a company is that our service model isn’t utilized enough. Merit’s services can be very valuable to the small business community. We act as the off-site HR department for the small business owner, giving them guidance on compliance issues and employee benefits. We do for them what they as individual businesses can’t do on their own. But we also offer recruiting, training and retention strategies. We want to help businesses understand that people are their most important capital, something we truly believe.