What attracted you to banking as your career?
I wasn’t actually attracted to banking as a career initially. I became interested in the bank examiner role first. The thought of travel and endless training opportunities was intriguing coming out of college.
What do you most enjoy about banking?
The people. The friends I’ve made since working at North Salem State Bank are priceless. We have the best customers in the world, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Describe a pivotal moment in your career.
Back in 2008, at the start of the Great Recession, I was traveling weekly for the Department of Financial Institutions. We were examining a bank in San Ramon, California, when I got a picture of my oldest son standing for the first time. I knew then it was time to get off the road and a chance phone call from Rod Lasley led to a CFO opportunity with NSSB.
How does IBA involvement help your career?
The single best thing the IBA has done for my career is the networking opportunities gained through Association-sponsored conferences and peer group meetings. The Indiana network of community bankers really does take care of one another.
What are your leadership plans for the IBA?
Help keep up the momentum, especially in education. We need the next generation to love banking just like we do. I’ll do my best to make sure younger bankers feel just as welcome and have the same opportunities as I did as an inexperienced 31-year-old CEO many years ago.
What advice would you offer to young bankers beginning their careers?
Get involved and never stop learning. Get involved, not only with the IBA through the likes of the Future Leadership Division, but also with local community organizations. You’ll be surprised how important your network will be to your career as you move up the ladder. And make sure you take advantage of the educational opportunities. It only gets tougher as you get older with more and more responsibilities, so get that CPA or MBA while you’re young.
If you weren’t a banker, what would be your career?
I would probably be a fishing guide in the Keys.
Tell us about an influential person in your life.
Besides having great parents and a brother I idolized, I didn’t realize how important former DFI Director Charlie Phillips was to my career until I got older. He was the first to really show an interest in my professional future and a brief conversation at a seminar in Bloomington led to me going back to school to get my MBA.
Describe your home life. What do you like to do for fun?
My home life is awesome and very rewarding. I’m the proud dad of two high school boys so we never have a dull moment. I’m usually into whatever they are into at the moment; currently baseball, hunting and fishing. Whatever we do, it normally involves friends and family enjoying the great outdoors on the water somewhere.
