Writer: Anna Cushing

Business advisor brings ‘mojo’ to board service

Highland Bank is still very much a family-owned bank. Rick Wall, president and CEO, sits next to his brother and sister on the board, and the patriarch is nearly completely settled in retirement. Recently, however, the $526 million bank has made an effort to bring in outside perspectives to expand the board’s purview. [Continue]

Wisconsin director makes every word count

During a typical board meeting at Nicolet National Bank, Green Bay, Wis., there are 16 people who meet for an hour and a half, and John Dykema might only open his mouth twice. “But people lean in and listen when he does,” said Bob Atwell, the bank’s chair and CEO. [Continue]

‘Numbers man’ continues to serve South Dakota bank

Kent Edson has always been a numbers person. Although he grew up on a farm, Edson didn’t want to be a farmer, so he never took any ag classes. In high school, he worked with the state as an engineer’s aid for an interstate highway system in Sioux Falls, so he thought he’d be an engineer. His high school bookkeeping teacher, however, told him he really should be a CPA. [Continue]

Experienced banker’s steady hand offers guidance

The meeting room at Park State Bank is still a little groggy at 7 a.m. Chatter is limited and coffee is essential. Yet Tom Palmer will already be well into his day as he walks in, having been rowing on the river since 4:30 a.m. Palmer sits down with the meeting material — notes and comments thoroughly prepped.  [Continue]

Departing wisdom from IBA’s Linda Koch

As part of Linda Koch’s job as president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Bankers Association, she’s driven the wrong way down a couple too many one-way streets. While traversing rural southern Illinois on her way to visit member banks, she has screamed in fear of crashing into rogue cows as IBA’s members relations manager sat laughing behind the wheel. [Continue]