Folsom resident Roger Gaylord III was still in high school when he started his first business—a website selling skates. At the time, he was a competitive rollerblader, or “aggressive skater,” and it seemed only logical to parlay his love of skating into his senior project. He eventually sold the site in 2006, but the experience taught him just how much young people can achieve. “I learned that you can take something you love and turn it in to something,” he shares.
Gaylord is now 31 years old and a national account manager for Stanley Security. He is also the founder of Lay Away Angels, a holiday charity drive that pays off the accounts of people with children’s toys on layaway. What’s more, in 2012, Gaylord became one of the City of Folsom’s youngest utility commissioners, and he’s currently gearing up to run for Folsom City Council in 2016 after losing by two percent in 2014. His biggest goal is to get more people active in the community by bringing greater transparency—through social media such as Facebook (facebook.com/gaylord4folsom) and Twitter—to the council’s activities. He credits his high school success with showing him that youth can be an asset, rather than a disadvantage, when it comes to enacting change. “I’m willing to stand up for what I believe in,” Gaylord enthuses. “I’m not interested in politics. I’m interested in community.”

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For more about Roger Gaylord and other local happenings and information, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style – Folsom El Dorado Hills edition. Find your copy here.