Pub. 5 2010-2011 Issue 6

www.nebankers.org 20 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. What advice would you give to today’s young people who are either interested in banking or just beginning their banking careers? I would give all young people beginning a career the same advice, whether or not they are in banking: find and follow your passion. If you have great passion for what you are doing, you will be successful and happy. Too many people become trapped in a job because they do not have the ability or encouragement to change. Banking is a great career and one that will need that next generation to help navigate our future. Advice: “Be patient.” Learn all you can and be willing to learn more. Don’t be in a rush—take your time and be patient. Your time will come. Be ready when it does and like the Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared.” What qualities do you believe are most important to be successful in banking? I believe and follow three very simple core values: 1) Recognize the importance of people in your success. 2) Conduct yourself with a sense of responsibility. 3) Strive to reach your potential. These core values can guide you to success in both your personal and professional lives, including banking. The Boy Scout law is a good read on the qualities needed to be suc- cessful, not only in banking but also in life. Being “trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent” will give you a great foundation. If you can work those qualities into your personal and professional lives, you will be successful in whatever direction you choose to go. Instead of going to work, what would you rather be doing on Monday morning? I love my job and the people I work for and with. I can’t image anything better than heading to work onMonday—except maybe running to work! I really feel like Warren Buffett when he said, “I tap dance to work each day.” The really cool thing about being a community banker is working with a great group of folks here at the bank, and having great customers in the Newman Grove community. What is something else you would like to accomplish? On the professional side, I will be committing my energies to con- tinuing the work of representing the banking industry and making sure our voice is heard by policymakers across our country. On the personal side, before my recent knee issues, I had hoped to complete an Ironman triathlon. Now I just want to play ball with my grandkids. Helping community banking survive and thrive for the next genera- tions of community bankers who will follow. What book have you recently finished reading? “The Truth About Leadership,” by James Kouzes and Barry Posner “Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs, and the Chesapeake Bay,” by William W. Warner. It’s a wonderful story about the crabs of the Chesapeake and the watermen who ply their trade to bring them in. I also read “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine,” by Michael Lewis. It’s a very good account of what led us to the finan- cial meltdown. “Swimmers” makes you feel good; “Short” makes your blood boil. What is something about you not everyone knows? I’ve enjoyed running for many years. I’ve logged more than 35,000 miles and just recently took up cycling because of a recurring knee issue. I used to hit homeruns off Don Eberly (Stanton State Bank) as a kid. His version of the story is that he always struck me out. Neither of us can find the box scores to support either memory. Most likely it lies somewhere on either side of the middle. What are your outside interests? Running, cycling, singing, everything Husker, and enjoying my family, which currently includes three grandkids. Music (guitar, mandolin, and playing in a band), snow skiing, boating, biking, travel, pheasant hunting with my pup Roxy, along with enjoying family and friends. What else would you really like our membership to know? The most important things in my life are faith, family, and friends. I have great passion for our industry and I’ve enjoyed some level of success. Any success I’ve achieved has in large part been the result of the hard work and dedication of other people. My parents gave me direction and my sister continues to be an example of our family’s commitment to church and community. My wife and children have been constant sources of encouragement and support. I’ve enjoyed great co-workers at the bank: Dean, Ron, Duane, Mike, Luke, and Ruthie, and the rest of our staff who have allowed me the opportunity to follow my dreams. In addition, being surrounded by industry leaders on both the state and national level has fueled my passion to facilitate positive change. Teamwork really has made my dream work. I am currently vice chairman of the Independent Community Bankers Association and I encourage fellow bankers to pick up the phone and give me a call regarding the issues and concerns of our banking industry. Your input is important in order for community banking to do well in the days ahead. Give me a call at 402-447-6211 if you’d like to visit.