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You established a Des Moines location last June in the new Davis Brown Tower downtown. What led the bank to enter this market?

First National Bank of Omaha, which we’re a part of, has been in business for over 150 years, and being in an adjacent state to Iowa, the bank has done business here for years and years. Looking at the landscape, we found it was just a great opportunity to expand a physical presence here to be closer to existing customers. We view Iowa as a great market to expand into because there’s good financial stability here and it was a natural fit.

How much are you looking to expand your staff here?

I don’t know that we can say a number. I think that part of the ability to start something new is to really be strategic in what we’re focusing on. We’re trying to establish and have established a good commercial banking presence and a good foundation of customers and we’re looking to expand that. Additionally, we offer corporate trust and retirement plan services, and we have a good client base already established in those two areas as well as investment banking. The bank bought Cybus Capital Markets LLC in March 2007, so Paul McGarvey, his charge is to expand the (merger and acquisitions) business and investment banking business here and we’ve also established a retail bank. So we’re first looking at the niches that we have provided from a distance and leveraging those to expand the existing customer base.

Has the economy changed your direction?

Our growth expectations have changed, and yet people still are looking for a quality, sound bank. We believe that we offer that, and while it’s tempered the growth aspirations, we still are lending money and looking to expand. We think it’s a good opportunity and it gives us a chance to be very strategic and targeted.

Have you gotten involved with the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)?

No. We’re fiercely independent and I think we’ve elected not to participate in the TARP program. The bank is well-capitalized and we believe at this time, it’s just not something we’re participating in.

What priorities are you focused on right now?

I think when you’re given the opportunity to start something new, that’s an exciting challenge. I think we want to make sure our existing customers are well taken care of and then look for niches or opportunities to grow.

Is this a totally new role for you?

I’ve been in the market for about 20 years. I have always worked in the commercial banking area. Prior to First National, I was with LaSalle Bank for about nine years. This kind of expands my role, but it gives me the opportunity to still be very involved in the commercial banking side of the business, which is what I’ve always done.

What got you into banking?

We had family friends that owned a bank in a nearby small town, and when I was 16, I started working as a teller and did some of the back-room stuff in the bank. During high school and college, I was able to work at a bank and it was always exciting. I think this still is the case – we get to deal with such a wide variety of clients and get to talk to and be a part of so many different companies, so many different people, and that variety is exciting.

Was going to a larger bank a tough transition for you?

Yeah, but I think at the end of the day, you’re still dealing with clients, providing quality service and building relationships regardless of the size of the bank. To be successful, that’s key, I think, to have established relationships and provide quality service regardless of the size of the institution. I think the advantage here is we have a very large institution, yet it’s privately held. We can operate in a manner that is localized decision making but yet has the products and services that any of the banks in this market have.

What do you like to do outside work?

Most of my time is spent with family. We’re fairly active in sports and in our church.

How would you describe your management style?

Servant leadership. I think empowering people, giving them the tools to make good decisions, is important.