Meet Clay
A little about me
Picture this: I am at my first loan committee meeting (the place where banks decide which loans to approve or deny), and I have no clue what anyone is talking about. Other people in the meeting are rattling of trends, ratios, analysis and stories. The best I can do is simply fake a smile, nod occasionally like I understand what they are saying, and then furiously take notes that I can Google later in the safety of my cubicle. Little did I know, this experience would transform my career.
Fast forward a few years, and I am now the the Chief Credit Officer of a thriving community bank in Minnesota.
Let's face it, banking can be confusing, but it doesn't have to be. That's why this site exists. This site is the resource I wish existed when I first started my career. The premise is simple, let’s first equip community bankers with the fundamental tools and wisdom they need for their role (terminology, financial ratios & loan structure), then we help the banker identify what unique skills and abilities they bring to the market, and then we identify potential customers who will find value in those skills. Â
Why does this matter? Because when bankers serve their customers well, it sets off a positive chain reaction. Small businesses thrive, bankers careers progress, and communities flourish. It's a win-win-win scenario.
Outside of banking, I am married to my wife Britta, and we share three children in our home in Mankato, MN. My wife and I both grew up on farms, and as a farm kid, you have no choice, but to develop a strong work ethic. Being a banker now, I am trying to find ways to instill that same work ethic in my kids even though I don’t have bean fields to walk or rocks to pick. In addition to banking, I am a founder of a coffee roastery and coffee shop in Mankato that exposes people to the difference freshly roasted coffee can have on the taste of their favorite brew (this is also why you might notice a lot of my examples revolve around a hypothetical coffee business ;). Â
At the end of the day, what makes me the happiest is helping others to achieve their goals. Whether that is through teaching my banking skills to someone trying to improve or serving up a latte to long-time friends re-connecting in the coffee shop, I know I will look back fondly on my life if I can see a commitment of service to others, and I hope that those people are at least a little closer to their goals because of it. Â
