Bina Bou

Bina Bou Principal, Allstate Insurance Co. agency, CongersIn 1975, Bina Bou fled her native Cambodia to Thailand, just before the Khmer Rouge overran her homeland.

"I missed the 'killing fields' by hours," said Bou, in reference to the bloodshed and indiscriminate murder of her countrymen by the Cambodian Communists."Some of my co-workers left behind were executed."

Today, 30 years later and half a world away, Bou is principal of the Allstate Insurance Co. agency in Congers, where she sells property, casualty and life insurance policies.

Bou came to the United States in 1975 when she was 18 years old, and initially worked as a housekeeper and baby sitter for her sponsor.She knew some English, she said, and kept working at it.

The following year, Bou wanted other work and went to a New York State employment office in Rockland County.

"I said, 'I know about typing and filing,' " she said."They said, 'Allstate needs a file clerk.' I went to apply for it and landed a job."

That job was with the Allstate office in Bardonia, where she worked in various positions in the claims department until 1988.She then became an Allstate insurance agent and two years later opened her own agency in Congers, where she also lives.

"I think I am really fortunate to come to a country with opportunity," Bou said.