Working from home has its challenges, like when the neighbors come over.

Carla Anderson of Center has polite ways to tell them when she's busy. Sometimes, though, she can't ignore them, like the time her neighbor came running to get help with a calf stuck in a creek.

She ended her conference call with a promise to call her clients back. They understood. Usually, Anderson's clients don't know she's in North Dakota, until they get to know her.

"A lot of people don't realize I work from North Dakota," she said. "My e-mail shows my (business) address and phone number in Washington, D.C."

Anderson works for e-Coperincus, a consulting firm for broadband and government affairs in Washington. The company's clients are scattered across the country. Anderson travels for her job, and does much of her work using the broadband communication it supports. She uses Internet conferencing, telephone conferencing, e-mail and other forms of electronic communication to reach her clients.

These same methods for communicating and working with clients are used in her other position as deputy executive director of the E9-1-1 Institute. The nonprofit organization is meant to raise awareness about 911 usage.

Anderson grew up in Center. About nine years ago, her family moved to the outskirts of town onto a hobby-farm-size spread. A small room at the front of the house was made into an office, with built-in cabinetry made by her husband. She has two computers, a fax machine and a printer that she uses for business.

"It's all about setting up the right situation," she said. "If I did not have a decent broadband connection, I would not be able to do this."

Her house not only has broadband, but has wireless capabilities. This works especially well while her older son is home. He can be on his computer in the living room or basement while she is in her office.

By working at home, she gets the flexibility of someone who is self-employed. When she works from home, she can take time to eat lunch with her son, Andrew. It also means she can work at 6 a.m. or 2 a.m., if it suits her.

"I get more work done here," she said. "You have to be really disciplined and self-motivated."

When she goes to the D.C. office, her schedule is jammed with meetings and visits to different agencies. She keeps an apartment nearby. It was more cost-effective than staying in hotels, she said.

Between traveling to the Washington office and to other clients, she travels enough to have gold member status with Northwest Airlines.

"I have not reached the platinum level," she said. "I don't want to. It means I'm traveling too much."

On average, she is gone six to seven days a month. It works for her. The time she travels gives her an opportunity to socialize. This can be lacking when working from home.

"It's always a relief to fly into Bismarck, get in my car and drive home," she said.

She gets inquires from people on how to work from home. She doesn't have one simple answer to make it happen. It seems to be a combination of the person's work ethic and job responsibilities, she said.

Anderson started her career in healthcare working with telemedicine and rural health. Then she switched to public safety with her work for E9-1-1.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)