GOING BEYOND THE DESK TO HEAR THE STORIES OF COLORADO BANKERS How did you get started in the banking industry? Upon graduating from CSU in the mid-80s, I began my career with Federal Land Bank in Southeastern Colorado. It felt like we foreclosed on more farms and ranches than we made new loans during my first year. It was a tough time in agriculture and in lending, but looking back, it was a great experience starting out as a new lender. It allowed me to see and experience first-hand, with my hand actually “in the poop”, the importance of cash flow-based lending vs. collateral or balance sheet-based lending. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? We make a difference! I can drive down Main Street or around Northeastern Colorado and look at the many successful operations that make N.E. Colorado what it is today. I know we had an impact in making our towns, communities and Northeastern Colorado a better place to live, raise a family, operate a business, and retire. Can you tell us about your involvement in Agricultural Banking? In order to have a successful N.E. Colorado, we have to have a successful agricultural community. Our towns in N.E. Colorado — and for that matter, all of Colorado — would not thrive without the Ag Commerce generated by our farm and ranch families and agricultural business in general. It is extremely important to me that we continue to provide the financial tools and expertise needed for ag operations to be successful. We take agriculture, including water, for granted and without our farm, ranch and agribusiness community, we don’t eat. I like to eat! Tell us something about yourself most people don’t know. I graduated #7 in my class. Although we only had 15 in the graduating class at Peetz High School, we had an extremely sharp class and thus the reason for me graduating #7 in a class of 15. Steve Meier Regional President Bank of Colorado What makes your bank unique? AMG began as a wealth management firm and built banking on top of that to meet our clients’ needs over their lifetimes. Our services are integrated to make life easier for our clients. We consider ourselves a community bank with a national reach, providing wealth management and banking solutions to our clients across the U.S. We are focused on understanding a client’s goals and developing solutions to meet those goals. How do you like to give back to the community? I most enjoy giving back to the community by personally volunteering, which allows me to directly see the impact that a non-profit is having related to its mission. As part of being on the Jr. Achievement board and a volunteer, I love working with students of all ages as they learn something new in every interaction — be it a second grader learning how money moves in a community or a high schooler figuring out what career they would excel at. What is the most important thing you’ve learned from a career in banking? Banks help communities successfully function and grow. Bankers bring people together to innovate, build, and transfer ideas as well as things. Tell us something about yourself most people don’t know. I enjoy preparing tax returns for family members while I watch movie marathons. Sheryl Bollinger President & CEO AMG National Trust March • April 2023 15
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