Pub. 6 2011-2012 Issue 4

November/December 2011 7 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. 233 South 13th Street, Suite 700 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 474-1555 • Fax: (402) 474-2946 NBA Board of Directors NBA Staff George Beattie NBA President & CEO george.beattie@nebankers.org Joni Sundquist Vice President of Communications joni.sundquist@nebankers.org Kendell G. Holthus NBA Chairman (2011-2012) (402) 363-7414 Cornerstone Bank, York Clark D. Lehr NBA Chairman-Elect (2011-2012) (402) 563-3656 First Nebraska Bank, Columbus Robert A. Balfany (402) 434-1035 U.S. Bank, N.A., Lincoln Nicholas W. Baxter (402) 602-1839 First National Bank of Omaha, Omaha Cory A. Bergt (402) 434-4122 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Lincoln David P. Dannehl (308) 876-2451 First State Bank of Loomis, Loomis Donovan H. Ellis (402) 396-3431 Midwest Bank, N.A., Pilger Alan L. Fosler (402) 323-1272 Union Bank & Trust Co., Lincoln Stephen J. Hatz (402) 918-1567 Bank of the West, Omaha Michael J. Homa (402) 351-4248 Mutual of Omaha Bank, Omaha Allan D. Jefferson (402) 362-4411 York State Bank & Trust Co., York Jeffrey C. Johnson (402) 562-2108 Columbus Bank & Trust Co., Columbus Philip Jossi (308) 893-2351 State Bank of Riverdale, Riverdale Timothy E. Keller (402) 375-2043 F&M Bank, Wayne John F. Kotouc (402) 399-5088 American National Bank, Omaha Vicki L. Kraai (402) 773-5541 Astra Bank, Sutton Clarence L. Landen III (402) 449-0919 Security National Bank of Omaha, Omaha Kevin Larson (402) 372-5147 CharterWest National Bank, West Point Brian Lierman (402) 475-0521 Great Western Bank, Lincoln Barry J. Lockard (402) 434-2225 Cornhusker Bank, Lincoln Ken H. Niedan (308) 368-5555 Hershey State Bank, Hershey David A. Ochsner (402) 476-1131 Nebraska Bankers’ Bank, Lincoln Ryne D. Seaman (402) 643-3636 The Cattle National Bank & Trust, Seward John P. Stinner (308) 436-2300 Valley Bank & Trust Co., Gering James H. Varney (877) 860-2266 Custer Federal Savings & Loan, Broken Bow Michael B. Jacobson NBA Past Chairman (308) 534-2861 NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte Larry D. Marik NBA Past Chairman (402) 562-5846 First National Bank of Columbus, Columbus Public-Private Partnership Helping to Stop the Brain Drain George Beattie, President & CEO, Nebraska Bankers Association O VER THE YEARS, MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF THE “BRAIN drain” here in Nebraska. A great deal has been said and done to counter the phenomenon. The Nebraska Bankers Association and our member financial institutions have invested a great deal to ensure we keep our “best and brightest” in the state. At the top of our list is the financial support given to the NBA’s banker-directed funds at the University of Nebraska Foundation. Since the early 1970s, bankers have made contributions to the foundation knowing that a committee of their colleagues would govern the way the funds would be used. The top priority of the committee, known as the University Foundation Allocation Committee (UFAC), is scholarships for those pursuing financial-related degrees. The committee is especially proud of the new agricultural finance and bankingmajor within theUniversity of Nebraska- Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics. This par- ticular program was born out of the need for ag lenders in communities all across our state. The program requires an internship in a Nebraska bank. The internship sets specific goals for both the banker and the intern that are designed to advance their knowledge of banking and ag lending. We are in the season of placing interns for next year. First, thank you to those of you who have participated in the program. Second, please consider the possibility of taking an Q Brain Drain — continued on page 8 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE