Pub. 9 2014-2015 Issue 4

November | December 2014 7 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Recruiting Next Generation Talent 233 South 13th Street, Suite 700 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 474-1555 • Fax: (402) 474-2946 NBA Board of Directors NBA Editorial Staff George Beattie NBA President & CEO george.beattie@nebankers.org Joni Sundquist Vice President of Communications joni.sundquist@nebankers.org  President’s Message — continued on page 9 Richard Baier, Successor President & CEO, Nebraska Bankers Association Craig G. Brewster NBA Chairman (402) 775-2271 Butte State Bank, Butte Michael Pate NBA Chairman-Elect (402) 916-1401 United Republic Bank, Omaha Steven L. Anderson (402) 845-6565 Bank of Doniphan, Doniphan Kelley Ayres (308) 832-2030 First Bank & Trust Co., Minden 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 John E. Bothof (402) 334-0300 Northwest Bank, Omaha Jerry A. Catlett (402) 353-2555 Bruning State Bank, Bruning Alan L. Fosler (402) 323-1272 Union Bank & Trust Co., Lincoln Mark W. Hansen (402) 434-3462 West Gate Bank, Lincoln Kristie K. Holoch (402) 363-7431 Cornerstone Bank, York Michael J. Homa (402) 351-4248 Mutual of Omaha Bank, Omaha Chris Hove (402) 420-8344 Nebraska Bank of Commerce, Lincoln Dale L. Johnson (308) 452-3225 Town & Country Bank, Ravenna Douglas G. Johnson (402) 329-6221 Midwest Bank, Pierce Susan K. Koranda (402) 256-3247 Security Bank, Laurel John F. Kotouc (402) 399-5088 American National Bank, Omaha Kevin J. Larson (402) 372-5147 CharterWest National Bank, West Point Garold G. Leggott (402) 363-6688 York State Bank, York Brian D. Lierman (308) 324-5691 Great Western Bank, Lexington Larry E. McPhillips (402) 367-4334 Bank of the Valley, David City Donald E. Moore (308) 345-4994 First Central Bank McCook, McCook Dudley C. Oltmans (308) 532-5936 Adams Bank & Trust, North Platte Anthony Rappa (402) 918-5442 Bank of the West, Omaha Kimberly A. Schroll (308) 534-2861 NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte Clark D. Lehr NBA Past Chairman (402) 563-3656 First Nebraska Bank, Columbus John P. Stinner NBA Past Chairman (308) 436-2300 Valley Bank & Trust Co., Gering A S YOU MAY KNOW, I AM AN AVID SPORTS FAN, ESPECIALLY football and baseball. With the start of each new sea- son (both the Huskers and the Royals), I find myself reflecting upon the importance of having, or not hav- ing, talented and dedicated players led by a focused coaching staff. Successfully growing your bank is no different! You need the right talent in all positions, focused on accomplishing a common goal. The NBAworks diligently with our state’s higher educational institutions to grow the pool of available, skilled talent to sup- port Nebraska financial institutions. In addition, we offer a wide variety of educational programs and support services designed to help our bank coaches, captains, and team leaders tomaintain a laser-like focus on growing profitable banks while traversing carefully through turbulent times in our industry. Over the past fewmonths, I have traveled extensively across our great state to meet with many of our dedicated members, both large and small (100-plus institutions through late Octo- ber). A key topic of discussion during each of these stops has focused on the ability of our member institutions to recruit and retain good young talent. Outside of the tidal wave of regula- tion that is smothering our members, it is clear that recruiting, training, and retaining next generation talent is key to the future of the banking industry in Nebraska. For the past eight years, your association has supported the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s nationally recognized Ag Banking & Finance program through the efforts of the NBA University Foundation Allocation Committee (UFAC). These funds provide sizable, multi-year scholarships to students en- rolled in the Ag Banking & Finance program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus. These highly talented stu- dents are also required, as part of their program, to take part in a summer internship with an NBA-member financial institution. Since the program’s inception, the NBA has provided $475,500 in scholarship dollars, which represents 336 scholarships. To date, 65 Ag Banking & Finance majors have participated in the NBA bank summer internship program, and 54 students have graduated from the University of Nebraska with an Ag Banking & Finance major. Of these, 68 percent (37 graduates) secured jobs within Nebraska banks upon graduation, and 32 graduates are still employed by the same Nebraska bank. In addition, 91