How does IBA involvement help your career? The single best thing the IBA has done for my career is the networking opportunities gained through Association-sponsored conferences and peer group meetings. The Indiana network of community bankers really does take care of one another. What are your leadership plans for the IBA? Help keep up the momentum, especially in education. We need the next generation to love banking just like we do. I’ll do my best to make sure younger bankers feel just as welcome and have the same opportunities as I did as an inexperienced 31-year-old CEO many years ago. What advice would you offer to young bankers beginning their careers? Get involved and never stop learning. Get involved, not only with the IBA through the likes of the Future Leadership Division, but also with local community organizations. You’ll be surprised how important your network will be to your career as you move up the ladder. And make sure you take advantage of the educational opportunities. It only gets tougher as you get older with more and more responsibilities, so get that CPA or MBA while you’re young. If you weren’t a banker, what would be your career? I would probably be a fishing guide in the Keys. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 11
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