Kirby Davidson has set a high bar as president and CEO of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But members of the GSB search committee, chaired by Rose Oswald Poels, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, are confident they’ve found their leader in Paul Katz.
His path up until joining GSB shares some similarities with Davidson’s, notably communications work with bankers’ trade associations. A native New Jerseyan who’s made his home in Virginia since the mid 1970s, Katz got his start as a financial analyst with a defense contractor that worked with the U.S. Navy. Following his father’s lead, Katz pivoted into the trade association world, joining America’s Community Bankers in 1991. He worked in a variety of areas, including communications, legislative analysis and member relations. He joined the American Bankers Association as a director of membership in 2000 and spent the next 18 years with the organization, focusing on member and association relations.
“Candidly, I think that was certainly one of the most fulfilling roles I had there,” Katz said. “I enjoyed working with the state association leaders throughout the country.” He also traveled around the country, seeing the work of bankers at the heart of their communities. “It was one of the most enriching experiences within my career, because you really get a chance to see what these leaders do in their communities,” he said.
In 2018, Katz left to join Promontory Mortgage Path, started by former Comptroller of the Currency Gene Ludwig. The startup aimed to be Rocket Mortgage for community banks, Katz said, offering backend support via fulfillment, processing, underwriting and closing, and front-end support through its proprietary technology. While there, he worked in sales, marketing and strategic partnerships, but also learned how every element of the complex process came together to make the tech solution successful.
The blend of relationship strength, entrepreneurial spirit and tech strategy impressed GSB’s search committee, Oswald Poels said. Katz had thrown his hat into the ring during the initial six-week application window at the beginning of this year, which drew more than 300 responses. After GSB’s search firm completed initial screening, Oswald Poels and her team narrowed the list of 17 candidates down to three finalists. At the in-person interviews, Katz came out on top.
“We’re excited about the relationships, the experience, the knowledge that Paul is bringing to GSB,” Oswald Poels said. “We know that he will take what is already an organization that’s on a very strong foundation and build that out even more so into the future.”
Katz’ focus during his early days is gaining familiarity with the school and faculty, but he’s confident about the skills and background he brings. “I have a ton to learn, but at the same time, I feel like I have a pretty good head start on the role, given the understanding of the bank culture and how decisions are made,” he said.
“I give so much credit to Kirby and believe that Paul is going to be able to grab that baton and carry it forward,” said Randy Hultgren, president of the Illinois Bankers Association and immediate past chair of the GSB board of trustees. Hultgren, who first came to know Katz during his days as a U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 14th Congressional District, believes he will perform admirably. “I think he’s going to be terrific.”
Katz is eager to carry on the legacy of education and leadership training that Davidson has established over the years.
“When all is said and done, the GSB focus is to develop well-rounded leaders who can have a positive impact on their organizations,” he said. “And we obviously have that, at GSB and our specialty schools. But when you take that one step further, what you really quickly realize is we’re enabling these leaders — our students — to have an even more profound impact on their communities. For me that’s a pretty good reason to get up and go to work every day.”