Meet Your Chairman Greg Shupe President and CEO of Pioneer Community Bank Greg Shupe’s banking career began with an unexpected conversation on a golf course. Thirty-one years later, the southern West Virginia native remains passionate about community banking, the relationships he has built and the value of learning every part of the business. As chairman of the West Virginia Bankers Association, he looks forward to supporting the organization’s education and advocacy efforts while continuing to learn from his fellow bankers. We recently spoke with Greg about his career, his advice for emerging leaders and what keeps him busy outside the bank. The following are excerpts from our conversation. HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN BANKING? It’s kind of a funny story. I graduated from Concord University with a degree in finance and was having a hard time finding a job, like a lot of people in the early ‘90s. There weren’t many opportunities in southern West Virginia, especially around Beckley, where I lived and wanted to stay. I was on the golf course playing with a guy I barely knew, and he mentioned that his bank was looking for a commercial loan collection manager. He asked whether I might be interested, and I said, “Absolutely!” Before I knew it, I had the start of a career. I was willing to do whatever it took to learn more about the industry. I worked my way through several positions, which allowed me to explore more opportunities. I then made an employer change, which resulted in my moving to Mercer County, where I continued to expand my career for the next 10 years before returning to the Beckley area. I’ve been with Pioneer Community Bank since 2014. WHAT IS THE BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED? Someone once told me, “Adversity does not build character; it reveals it.” I didn’t fully understand that until I experienced it. We’ve faced adversity during my time at the bank, and that advice has stayed with me. I keep that quote on the bulletin board in my office. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE EMERGING LEADERS IN BANKING? Be patient. When you’re young in your career, you may want to run a bank within a couple of years, but that’s not always how it works. If you show a strong work ethic and stay the course, good opportunities will present themselves. You have to remain patient as you prepare for them. Learn as much as you can. Pay attention to the leaders in your organization and learn from their habits. People will notice your effort over time. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN BANKING? Community banking is a passion of mine, and it’s where I’ve spent my entire career. One of the things I appreciate most is the opportunity to learn how the whole bank works. You learn about products and how those products affect the organization. Whatever bank you choose, look for ways to learn all its different facets so you can become a well-rounded banker. If you understand the financials, you can better understand the impact you’re making on your company, your clients and your community. That’s how you make a career of it: You learn as much as you can. That’s what I’ve tried to do, and I’m still learning. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR BANKING OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS? I think the biggest opportunity is also the biggest challenge: artificial intelligence. Community banks are going to face challenges keeping up with AI as larger institutions incorporate it into their 5 WEST VIRGINIA BANKER
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