Independent Banker - June 2022 - 42

Mentors
Bridging the knowledge gap
These emerging community bank leaders are passionate about learning and sharing
that knowledge with others. By Roshan McArthur
" Our public education system doesn't
do a great job of personal fi nance, "
says Jordan Sowers, chief credit
offi cer at Shamrock Bank N.A. in
Coalgate, Okla. " Our society as a
whole is better when individual
citizens make sound and prudent
[fi nancial] decisions. "
Sowers, like the other community
bankers in this category, understands
the importance of education in
generating prosperity, and he also
knows how often it falls to fi nancial
institutions to pick up the slack. At
$420 million-asset Shamrock Bank,
learning is woven through everything
it does, and Sowers believes investing
in a dedicated team that can pass
their knowledge to customers leads
to a higher long-term return for
the bank.
When Alexis Kahn joined
$1.6 billion-asset Chelsea Groton in
Groton, Conn., from an international
bank in New York fi ve years ago,
she was struck by Chelsea Groton's
" legitimate desire to prop up
and bolster the community in all
diff erent ways, from our foundation
giving to nonprofi ts, to enhancing
the community's level of fi nancial
knowledge. Because that is so much
of the cornerstone to the ability of
our community to thrive. "
Kahn, Chelsea Groton's cash
management sales manager, is
a voracious reader, translating
the knowledge she acquires into
newsletters and seminars for
business leaders in her community.
As one of the community bank's
dedicated " Chelsea educators, " she
has spearheaded, among many other
initiatives, the Chelsea Women's
Jordan Sowers, 39
Chief credit off icer
∠ Shamrock Bank N.A. | Coalgate, Okla.
According to Jordan Sowers, investing
in education and developing dedicated
employees are key to the success of
community banks. He believes that when bank
employees are equipped with local market
knowledge and decision-making authority,
they can best serve their customers.
Alexis Kahn, 37
Vice president, cash management sales, manager
∠ Chelsea Groton Bank | Groton, Conn.
Alexis Kahn's love of learning has led her to
create numerous financial learning tools for
her community and bank. Her business
seminars, industry-specific newsletters and
Advanced Business Banking training program
have aided dozens of her colleagues and
local business owners.
Bradley Stevens, 36
Sales manager
∠ Calhoun Banks | Grantsville, W.Va.
As a volunteer teacher and council member of his
local career center, Bradley Stevens is a strong
proponent of education. He provides time for his
staff for continuing education and encourages
participation in training events and community
programs. For the past three years, he's led the
Calhoun Banks' Community Outreach team,
which created training materials and lesson plans
for diff erent school ages.
42 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q June 2022
Independent Banker - June 2022

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