You might say that Link Newcomb has it made in the shades. If you are fortunate enough to own a pair of Oakley sunglasses, you understand why.

Growing up in western Oklahoma, Link Newcomb had plans for a career as a certified public accountant like his dad. Newcomb achieved his goal of becoming a CPA, but he didn’t stop there and today he is the Chief Operating Officer of Oakley, Inc., a company that grosses nearly $600 million annually. Newcomb gives a lot of credit to the FFA for teaching him skills that have helped him reach this level of professional development.

Newcomb was born in Sayre, but he grew up in Elk City where his dad worked and farmed on the side. Newcomb and his brother had a general interest in agriculture and started showing cattle as elementary students. When they joined the FFA, Link was excited about all the opportunities the organization offered. He soon found himself giving speeches, both prepared and extemporaneous; showing cattle, sheep and hogs; and holding local office.

Now as Newcomb looks back on his experience, he says he uses many of the skills he learned as an FFA member on a daily basis.

“I am a competitive businessman today and have many responsibilities. The FFA helped me develop a keen sense of responsibility as well as sportsmanship, which are important in the business world,” said Newcomb. “I also do a lot of speaking, and I use the skills I acquired while giving speeches in the FFA.”

As a graduating high school senior, Newcomb was elected Southwest District Vice President. Newcomb said that his year of service provided his fondest memories of FFA. His favorite thing about that year was getting to know the other state officers and all the miles he logged while learning a lot about small towns across the state.

Newcomb acquired his bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University in just four years. After graduation, he worked as a CPA for Author Young in Oklahoma City for a year before entering law school.

He received his law degree from the University of Texas in Austin and then went to work for a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan, N.Y., for a year. He then went to work as a corporate attorney in Los Angeles for one of the largest law firms in the U.S.

In his fifth year at this firm Oakley approached Newcomb with a job offer. The company was not interested in hiring another attorney; instead they offered him a job as vice president of international sales. Newcomb took the job without telling them that he didn’t think that he was qualified.

Just as in every other task Newcomb has taken on, he was able to exceed expectations and his career with Oakley flourished. He has held many positions with Oakley since his hiring, including executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief executive officer. In 1999 he took the reins as chief operating officer.

When Newcomb is not at work, he enjoys going to the racetrack to watch his horses run. He owns 20 quarter horses that he runs at a racetrack near his California home. One of his prize horses, First Place Queen, had two wins in Newcomb’s first few years in the business. He now keeps this horse at his parent’s place in Elk City.

Newcomb said his rural Oklahoma roots have helped him carve out a rewarding life in the big city because he developed common sense and ethical principles as he was growing up. Newcomb’s advice to FFA members is “take advantage of FFA activities that interest you while learning and competing.”