Pub. 5 2015-2016 Issue 1

14 O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G C O L O R A D A N S R E A L I Z E D R E A M S Colorado Bankers Association Elects Leadership for 2015-2016 Year CBA also recognizes three bankers with new award for dedication to industry advocacy Bankers onMay 28 voted unanimously to elect three of their own to lead the Colorado Bankers Association in the coming year. Mark Bower, Executive Vice President and CFO of Home State Bank, will serve as CBA chairman for the 2015-2016 year. He will be assisted by David Kelly, chief risk officer at First- Bank who will serve as CBA chair-elect and by Mark Driscoll, Colorado market president of First National Bank. Bower said he hopes to continue on the trajectory of his predecessor Jeff Schmitz of Citywide Banks, in growing ranks of bankers skilled in industry advocacy. He encouraged bankers to educate and involve their customers in support of their banks. “Some of us even have staff who don’t fully understand what a community bank is and its value in the economy,” he said. Kelly agreed. “Advocacy, advocacy, advocacy; that’s what it’s all about. Even a little bit goes a long way.” He said he hopes to help CBA in its continued effort toward regulatory relief for banks. “We need regulation that is moder- ated so it doesn’t hurt the economy.” Also during the organization’s annual summit, CBA recog- nized three up-and-coming bankers who have gone the extra mile to advocate for their banks and their industry. Each of them has graduated fromCBA's Center for Bank Advocacy: A training practicum, a yearlong course in industry and policy advocacy. They are: Mark Abell, Vectra Bank Michelle Banaugh, Wells Fargo David Portman, FirstBank Mark Bower, Home State Bank – CBA chairman Mark Bower has been in community banking for 32 years. He currently is the Executive Vice President/ CFO/COO and a director of Home State Bank, a locally owned bank headquartered in Loveland Colorado with 11 branches in Northern Colorado and total assets of approximately $700 million, where he has worked the past 19 years. He oversees the bank’s operations, IT, financial planning and reporting, asset/liability management, investments, audit, and compliance areas. He is a graduate of Augustana College in South Dakota where he earned a degree in Accounting and Business Administration, completed his CPA certification in 1982, and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He is active in Loveland Sertoma and the Colorado Bankers Association. He is currently a board member of Vintage City Church and lives in Loveland with his wife Ann and their three daughters. David Kelly, FirstBank – CBA chair-elect David Kelly is the Chief Risk Officer for FirstBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of FirstBank Holding Company. His responsibilities include the develop- ment, implementation, and ongoing management of all loan operations processes for the company. He is responsible for managing compliance with all lending related laws, loan documentation, collateral perfection and protection, as well as the appraisal function for the company. He has developed the company’s risk management processes for commercial real estate lending and is currently developing the company’s proprietary lending platform. David has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry at FirstBank, with over 15 years of experience in compliance management. Mark Driscoll, First National Bank Fort Collins – CBA treasurer Mark Driscoll is currently Colorado Market Presi- dent of First National Bank of Omaha. The Colora- do bank is a $2.3 Billion institution with 24 retail banking offices. During a 32 year banking career, Driscoll has served as President of First National Bank for 18 of those years with the remaining years in various management and lending positions with First National Bank and one other bank. Driscoll has also worked at Colorado State University for a total of seven years – four years as an assistant football coach (1976-1980), and three years (2003-2006) as Director of Athletics. Driscoll currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Innosphere, the Colorado Bankers Association, Mountain States Employers Council and Serve 6.8. He is a graduate of Colorado State University with both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Business Administra- tion. Mark and his wife Neyla have three grown children and two grandchildren. 