How did you get started in the banking industry? After graduating from the University of Wyoming, I had the opportunity to participate in Farm Credit’s 9th District Management Training program in Wichita, Kansas. During and after the program, I was based in Limon, Colorado, with the Production Credit Association. Shortly after that, I relocated to Wyoming to start my commercial banking career with Rawlins National Bank. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Most definitely it is working with the employees of the bank to mentor them and assist in their career development. Equally rewarding is partnering with our great customers to help them find solutions to grow their businesses while providing the highest standard of service. What are you most proud of in your professional life so far? Over the past 15 years, I have had the opportunity to work with a number of troubled banks, and it was very rewarding to put teams together to bring the institutions back to good financial and regulatory health, where they are now strong contributors to both their respective communities and customers. I must say, though, it is more fun working for a strong family-owned bank now! What is your favorite movie or book, and why? Anything written by C.J. Box. He is a Wyoming author, and the majority of his storylines are based in areas where I was born and raised. Tell us something about yourself most people don’t know. I was the youngest private pilot in the nation for one day! I was fortunate to be able to work for a fixed based operator (FBO) during my high school years, which was a great high school job. Plus, I had the opportunity to learn to fly at a very young age. I took my pilot license “check ride” on my birthday and was the youngest pilot in the nation for that day until some other youngster took their check ride the next day on their birthday, dethroning me of my shortlived honor! Sam Summers Community President — Greeley Mountain Valley Bank GOING BEYOND THE DESK TO HEAR THE STORIES OF COLORADO BANKERS How did you get started in the banking industry? My career began just after I had graduated with an associate’s degree in business. I was looking to take a break from school and wanted a position that offered a regular schedule. I got a job in the customer service department with what was then The Bank of Cherry Creek. Thirty-three years later, I am at the same bank, now known as ANB Bank, and have risen through the ranks to become the director of audit. What are you most proud of in your professional life so far? I am most proud of the progress I have made climbing the ladder within this company. Looking back, I can hardly believe how far I have come from my humble beginnings in customer service. I was able to do this with the support of a couple of great mentors as supervisors and ANB Bank’s propensity to promote from within. The bank giving me those opportunities played no small part in my success. ANB Bank has allowed me to forge a career that I draw a great deal of pride from. What do you enjoy about your job? As an auditor, my responsibility is to dig into almost all facets of the bank’s business. As a result, I get to experience, even if only in a limited capacity, almost every element of the bank’s operations. Doing this allows me the opportunity to not only learn a great deal about everything the bank does, but it has allowed me to facilitate longlasting and productive relationships with co-workers from all areas of the bank. What do you geek out about? Walt Disney World is perhaps the thing I geek out about the most. I could talk at length about the experiences that my family and I have had there over the past two decades. Amy Darnell Senior Vice President, Director of Audit ANB Bank Do you know a deserving Colorado bank employee we should feature? Contact Patricia Wells at patricia@ColoradoBankers.org. 13 Colorado Banker
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==