Independent Banker - June 2020 - 45

sometimes that I'm on the cusp between the millennials
and Gen X, " he says. " I can relate to the millennials
because I'm almost one of them, but I can also say, 'Those
darn millennials. I know, they're challenging!' "
Getzlaff has found that her age helps make connections.
" I think it gives me an advantage in the workforce with
our own employees, " she says, " because I feel like I'm in
the same position that a lot of them are in. When I was
fi rst having babies 10 years ago, it was, 'Oh, you have to
stay home today?' Now what I hear the most within our
own offi ce is, 'Thank you for being understanding. It's so
awesome to work with someone who gets what it's like to
have a sick kid.' "
Encouraging advancement among employees is critically
important to all four. " My heart is there, " Smith says,
" because Andrew Samuel, our CEO, took a shot on me
at 26 or 27 with no real qualifi cations, but hired me as a
person, giving me opportunities to learn. Not many college
graduates have come out in the last 10 years and said, 'I
want to be a community banker.' So, there's not a breadth
of talent there to go after. So, we've said, if it's not there,
then let's create it. "
All four agree that a broad, team-focused approach to
leadership succession is vital.
" Being a $3.5 billion bank, we are required to have
certain levels of succession planning in writing, "
Stenehjem says of First International Bank & Trust. " For
all of the key positions, we take a stoplight approach. We
have an emergency successor identifi ed, then we have
somebody that's maybe three to fi ve years away, and then
some individuals that we could groom for that position
down the road.
" For those individuals we identify for certain positions, "
he continues, " we will make sure that we have a career
conversation to make sure it's what they want to do. Then
... an active planning process begins, identifying the tools
and training the individual needs to be successful. "
Stenehjem's vision for his family's community bank
is a bold one, which has included expansion into the
hospitality industry and the recent purchase of a fi ntech
company. " If you look at the banks that are innovating
right now, " he says, " they're probably some of the ones
that have younger decision-makers in there that are
pushing the envelope. "
Roshan McArthur is a writer in California.
Andrew Pyles, 39
President and CEO
Eclipse Bank /// Louisville, Ky.
My leadership
philosophy
ANDREW
PYLES,
ECLIPSE BANK
Lead by
/// Described as a dynamic
trendsetter, Pyles joined the
struggling Eclipse Bank in 2016
and has turned its fortunes
around dramatically. He is also
a board member for the Healing
Place, a shelter for people
struggling with substance abuse.
example.
Never ask
your team to
do something
that you aren't
willing to do.
Brent Smith, 37
President
LINKBANK /// Camp Hill, Pa.
/// One of the founders of LINKBANK,
Smith oversaw asset growth of more than
$250 million in just a year after its inception.
He is deeply invested in the next generation
and in moving banks forward through digital
innovation, as well community prosperity via
the LINK Foundation.
independentbanker.org Q 45
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - June 2020

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