Independent Banker - April 2019 - 52

reform. After many years of work, S.2155 was passed with
bipartisan support.
Frazier: I first became involved at the state level and then
was appointed to ICBA's Congressional Affairs Committee.
I so appreciate Pierce Stone, Sal Marranca and Bill Loving's
welcoming approach to my first committee meetings. It
was their good mentoring that encouraged my involvement
in both the state and ICBA associations.
Zimmerman: I got involved because John McNair, the
calling officer for Pennsylvania at the time, convinced me
that ICBA was the best trade association for community
banks, and that I should be part of that.
Heitkamp: I got involved through our state association,
Independent Bankers Association of Texas. State
associations are so important to ICBA and are the
grassroots efforts for advocating and promoting
our industry.
Loving: I had been engaged at the state level. However,
in 2005 I reached out to ICBA to discuss the impact that
Sarbanes-Oxley would have on our $100 million-asset
institution that was also a public company. I offered to help
in any way possible, which led to an opportunity to testify
before the Small Business Advisory Committee of the SEC.
I knew at that point I wanted to be more engaged and
active in advocating for our industry.
What made you realize community
banking was the job for you?
Kennedy: The community bank where I got my start
was in danger of failing, so I was quickly engaged in an
exhilarating, all-hands-on-deck effort to breathe life back
into the bank. The better we helped others, the more we
helped ourselves. I was hooked.
Wilcox: I owned a consulting company and took on a
short-term consulting job with the family bank in the
late '90s. After just a few days, I realized how important
a community bank is to the community it is in; I saw how
symbiotic the relationship was. I just fell in love with the
whole business model, and how connected and a part of the
community fabric a community bank is. I never left.
Underwood: Most of my career was spent working
for a large regional bank. I realized that shareholderdriven
decisions made from afar did not often support
our local employees, clients and communities. I wanted
52 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q April 2019
to work for an organization that put employees first, as
I believe this creates an environment where motivated,
happy employees deliver excellent client service, resulting
in successful organizations and communities.
Fisher: If you asked me back in high school or even
college, I would have insisted there was no way I was
going back to Spencer, N.Y., to work at the family bank.
At that time, I was going to be a pilot and travel the world.
I did attend college on an Air Force ROTC scholarship,
IT IS A PROFESSION THAT
IS TRUSTWORTHY, HONEST
AND GENUINELY HELPS
BOTH CUSTOMERS AND
COMMUNITIES.
-TIM ZIMMERMAN
although my dream of being a pilot did not materialize.
After a short stint in the United States Air Force, my wife
and I decided that upstate New York would be a pretty
good place to raise a family. I came back and started as
an assistant office manager at the bank. I quickly realized
the benefits to living in rural America and the powerful
impact I could have on my community. It is always a good
feeling to be able to drive around and actually see the
good that a community bank can do for its community. I
really connected with community banking when I became
a commercial lender. I found it so rewarding to partner
with local businesses to help them succeed. I continue
to be amazed at the niche businesses our customers
have developed.
Frazier: A board member of the first bank I joined shared
with me the following: " Every town needs a good school, a
good library and a good bank. " As the largest shareholder,
I'm sure she meant that we were to be the " good bank. " In
an effort to ensure our bank was that good bank, I fell in
love with the many ways we can help people achieve their
dreams and positively impact our communities.
Zimmerman: When I was an auditor, I was attracted by
watching community bankers with their customers. It is a
profession that is trustworthy, honest and genuinely helps
both customers and communities. That is unique in the
Independent Banker - April 2019

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