Independent Banker - April 2019 - 54
business world. It is something all community bankers
should be proud to be part of.
Heitkamp: I realized early on that community banking
was going to be my journey. You hear all the time that
community banking isn't a job; it's a calling. I was " called "
to this industry at an early age, and it was because I saw
firsthand people helping people. I get to hear great stories
of how we helped someone's parent who had a vision,
but just needed someone to believe in and invest in their
I WANT TO HELP MENTOR
AND FOSTER THE SAME
KIND OF PASSION I HAVE
FOR COMMUNITY BANKING
IN OTHERS.
-NOAH WILCOX
vision. We get to do that every day, and I can't think of
anything more rewarding than to help someone achieve
their dream.
Loving: I realized it was what I wanted to do early on in
my first job. Giving back to the community and helping our
customers struck a chord with me. I have worked at various
institutions in my career, but it wasn't until I almost went to
work for a large institution that I realized the real difference
in the models and approach to banking. Truly, community
banking was the winner and the way I wanted to go.
Who is or was your professional mentor?
Kennedy: My late father-in-law, J. J. Johnson, leveraged
virtually all his assets to acquire a failing community bank.
He taught me the value of a person's character, and the
importance of building and maintaining relationships.
Also, former ICBA chairman Rusty Cloutier inspired me,
by word and deed, to be an industry advocate, and former
ICBA president and CEO Cam Fine showed me that
advocating for something one believes in passionately can
be bare-knuckles combat, not for the faint of heart.
Wilcox: I have and have had many mentors over the years.
But two of the most prominent in my life have been my
grandfather, who I worked alongside for nearly 20 years
54 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q April 2019
prior to his death in 2014, and my father, with whom I
worked for years until his retirement in 2014. My father
and I still discuss the business regularly.
Underwood: I had so many mentors throughout my
career and owe so much to all of them. Betsey Timm
and Dennis Logue, to name just two. Most impactful was
my dad, Robert Grant, a banker himself. When I had
doubts about moving to a new position, Dad was always
there to convince me that I was ready to take the leap.
Fisher: I have many friends and other bankers who I
consider to be mentors, including two of the names here0.
But that being said, I have to say that my father has always
been my biggest mentor. He has always given me enough
room to make mistakes, but then we discuss what I could
do differently. In 2003, when I took over running the bank,
he gave me the freedom to go in the direction I saw as a fit
for the bank. He really built the foundation for the bank
to be able to grow and become the successful organization
that we are today.
Frazier: I've been fortunate to learn how to be a
community banker and the power of relationships from Joe
Boling, and I was taught the power of communicating from
the heart by Dontá Wilson and the business of business by
Bernard Clineburg. All three were or are very successful
bankers, and I am thankful to have worked for them.
Zimmerman: My professional mentor was Ernie Rua, a
partner with KPMG Peat Marwick. He was the managing
partner of the Pittsburgh office when I started my public
accounting career. He was very professional, intelligent
and, most of all, down to earth and fair. I admired him
for having both feet on the ground and taking a practical
approach to a problem rather than a theoretical one. He
related well to the partners and the lowest-level staff.
Heitkamp: I have had many mentors along the way, but
one individual stands out above them all, and that's my
dad, Harlan Heitkamp. His integrity and optimistic nature
continue to guide me and inspire me.
Loving: My first banking job gave me the opportunity
to learn many aspects of banking. The president and
CEO, Al Dye, had a unique way of mentoring without
you realizing you were being mentored. I thought I
was learning banking. Actually, I was learning to be a
community banker.
Molly Bennett is executive editor of Independent Banker.
Independent Banker - April 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - April 2019
Table of Contents
Independent Banker - April 2019 - Cover1
Independent Banker - April 2019 - Cover2
Independent Banker - April 2019 - Table of Contents
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 2
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 3
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 4
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 5
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 6
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 7
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 8
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 9
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 10
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 11
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 12
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 13
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 14
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 15
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 16
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 17
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 18
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 19
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 20
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 21
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 22
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 23
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 24
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 25
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 26
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 27
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 28
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 29
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 30
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 31
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 32
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 33
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 34
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 35
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 36
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 37
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 38
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 39
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 40
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 41
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 42
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 43
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 44
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 45
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 46
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 47
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 48
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 49
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 50
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 51
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 52
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 53
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 54
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 55
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 56
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 57
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 58
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 59
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 60
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 61
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 62
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 63
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 64
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 65
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 66
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 67
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 68
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 69
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 70
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 71
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 72
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 73
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 74
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 75
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 76
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 77
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 78
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 79
Independent Banker - April 2019 - 80
Independent Banker - April 2019 - Cover3
Independent Banker - April 2019 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/august2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/july2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/june2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/may2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/april2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/march2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/february2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/january2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/december2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/november2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/october2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/august2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/july2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/may2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/april2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/february2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/january2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/november2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/october2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/august2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/july2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/may2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/april2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/february2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/january2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/november2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/october2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/august2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/july2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/may2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/april2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/march2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/february2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/january2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/november2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/october2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/august2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/july2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/may2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/april2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/march2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/february2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/january2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/november2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/october2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/august2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/july2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/may2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/march2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/february2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/january2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/november2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/october2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/august2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/july2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/may2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/april2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/march2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/february2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/january2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/november2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/october2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/september2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/august2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/july2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/may2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/independentbanker/april2017
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com