Best of Sun City Summerlin – Irene Kleutgens

Manager, Community Services

Twenty-eight years ago, I arrived in the United States with one bag and my modest savings, and although I miss being close to family and some things so familiar growing up, I never looked back!!

I grew up in a small village in Germany, graduated business school and after finishing an apprenticeship, worked in an accounting department for several years. Looking for adventure, I moved to beautiful Aachen, an exciting city, situated where the borders of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet. I loved living and working in Aachen but was still looking for something. Then I met my future husband!

Dirk is a musician and when he was offered a record deal in the U.S., he asked me to move with him. Without any doubts, I sold all my belongings and after being together for only six months we arrived in Los Angeles. Now the U.S. is my home. The home where I got married, where our son was born and where we bought our first home.

After receiving my green card, I worked several different jobs until Dirk became busier and we decided to establish our own record company. We worked in the music business for many years until the changes in the record industry, and then the big market crash in 2008 brought us to Las Vegas. We adapted to the changes in the music business until the unimaginable happened and due to COVID-19 everything closed, and every event was canceled.

I needed to find work and fast! I was so lucky to find a position with Sun City Summerlin during the pandemic. I love working with Sun City Summerlin’s many Clubs and their members, seeing events come alive, helping residents, and working in a fast-paced office where every day brings new challenges. Driving to work in the morning seeing the beautiful landscapes of Sun City Summerlin I feel lucky to be a small part of this beautiful community.