Pub. 10 2019 Issue 3

Summer 2019 9 West Virginia Banker trust. When you run a small bank, you tend to take a real personal ownership in its success. So worrying about big things and little things goes hand in hand with the job. Over the years, after a discus- sion on a topic, Leo seems to say it is not worth the worry, which is good advice and something that I strive to do. What is the most rewarding part of your career? The relationships that I have with the customers of the bank. I have been fortunate; my career in banking has been in the same community, so my relationships with my customers span decades. As community bankers we have boots on the ground, so to speak. I have personally helped businesses start and watched them grow and be passed on to the next generation. In many cases we have multigenerational banking relationships and it’s not something that I take lightly. It’s a privilege to be part of our customers’ lives. What do you think will be some of the dominant trends within the bank- ing industry in the next 5-10 years? I believe that we will see more technolog- ically advanced products, and I think the key will be to offer the right mix of those products to our customer base. All banks and financial institutions have access to the same products. We as bankers need to be wise in what products we offer. I think good old fashioned customer service will never go out of style. Provid- ing advice and customer support for the products we offer will be key. Working with our customer base to help them accomplish their financial goals will continue to be important. What is the biggest importance of being a WVBankers member; what makes it beneficial? Most importantly, WVBankers represents all banks in pending legislation, government regulations and the implementation of new rules and regulations. It really does not matter the size of the bank; legislation affects all banks evenly across the board. We are all in it together and WVBankers makes it a little easier. WVBankers does a great job in offering continuing education, which I think is so important. I know from experience that the people our bank has sent for training have come back with new man- agement perspectives of the banking industry. I think the banking industry needs good people – that next level of management is key for this industry. Do you have past experiences that will help your leadership in WVBankers? I would say that my 20 years as the president of the Pleasants County Development Authority has definitely given me some insights that will impact my thoughts and views in serving the WVBankers. I have seen firsthand how healthy communities and active and engaged banks go hand-in-hand. What inspired you to serve as a leader within the association? I think we all have an obligation and a responsibility to make our profession better, and to do that, you have to participate. During my career, I have been fortunate to have had mentors – at every bank I worked at – who took time to advise me and invest in my career. I think for those of us who have been mentored, it becomes a personal mission to give back and mentor someone else. What are your priorities and goals for WVBankers as Chairman? Unfortunately, over the past several years, mergers and acquisitions have seen the decline in the number of banks and, consequently, this has an impact on the revenue of the WVBankers. The association is focused on continuing to offer a variety of products, services and education to our members, while build- ing vendor relationships to add value to our membership. These will build better bankers and provide the association with the revenue to continue to represent the banking industry in West Virginia. Are you involved in any civic or charitable organizations? For the past 20 years, I have been the president of the Pleasants County Development Authority. The opportunity to be part of our community’s growth and development has been incredibly interesting and rewarding. Building strong communities has never been more important. I think the “small town” infrastructure is paramount to a strong economy. If you look back at your career and life, what would be three things that you have learned, that you would pass onto a younger mem- ber within the banking industry? I would say, first, take time to learn. Learn everything you can. The more you know, the better your work experi- ence will be. Build relationships. Nothing is as im- portant or as valuable as relationships. Be a good steward of relationships throughout your career, and they will serve you well. In addition, it is important to give a good day’s work. I think it is satisfying, in many ways, to feel like you accom- plished something. If you could describe the best day in this business, what would it look like? A good day is when it all comes togeth- er and I made a difference in the life of an employee or a customer. Tell us about your family. My wife, Laura and I have five chil- dren between us – one son and four daughters. We’ve been married 10 years. What is your favorite way to spend your free time? Any unusual hobbies? We live on 20 acres, just outside the city limits. After I leave work, I love to come home and be outside. It clears my head. About four acres of our property is landscaped, so I enjoy rid- ing the tractor mowing the lawn and working outside. I get time to think. It’s “me time.” Not sure it’s unusual, but it keeps the worrying contained to about four acres. 