Pub. 11 2014 Issue 2

O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G N E W M E X I C O R E A L I Z E D R E A M S 4 “ My advice to new bankers is to take the time to realize the impact you will have. Don’t be afraid to relish the positives and learn from the negatives. Believe that you can make a difference. ” PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE KEN CLAYTON NMBA PRESIDENT Western Bank, Artesia M y first banking position was in 1988 when I became a management trainee at Sunwest Bank in Roswell, NM. Mr. Joe Mangum hired me even though I had no college experience or any business experience. Meet the President—Ken Clayton I was able to learn every aspect of banking as a trainee, eventually moving to the lending side and ending up as the manager of the real estate department. I moved to Valley Bank of Commerce where I learned the skills required to manage the complete bank process. In 1998, I relocated to Artesia, NM where I became a Sr. Vice-President at Western Bank. In April 2003, I was named President of West- ern Bank. The best part of being a community banker is the relationships you build with your cus- tomers and your community. Knowing that you have had a part in your customer’s success is very rewarding. I believe some of the future changes in bank- ing will involve the continuing advance of tech- nology related to both how we interact with our customers and the operational side of the bank. Technology has changed the expectations of the next generation of customers and we must adapt and react to those requirements. I am a graduate of the New Mexico School of Banking and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado. I also will serve on the Community Bank Council of American Banker’s Association in Washington, DC. In addition to my bank and NMBA duties, I serve on the Board on the Board of Directors of SWACHA in Dallas, Texas, the Artesia Gener- al Hospital, Artesia Country Club, and as a fi- nancial committee advisor to the S.P. & Estelle Yates Family Foundation. My wife Ronda and I have four children. Ron- da is a nurse and pharmacy director at Artesia General hospital. Our children are April, a New Mexico State graduate and nurse in Midland, TX, Brian, a New Mexico State graduate and employed with the Los Alamos National Labora- tory, Skylor, is a pre-dental major at Texas Tech and Taylor, a senior at Artesia High School. Bill Dampeer has allowed me the opportunity to achieve the success I have had in banking. Bill has always led by example and continues to share his knowledge on what it takes to be a successful banker. It is an honor to follow Bill’s footsteps as he is a past President of the New Mexico Bankers Association. My interests outside banking include bowl- ing, golfing and following Pittsburgh Pirate baseball. I also coach the two-time State Cham- pion Artesia High School Bowling Team. My advice to new bankers is to take the time to realize the impact you will have. Don’t be afraid to relish the positives and learn from the nega- tives. Believe that you can make a difference I love being a banker. I am beyond honored to be the President of the New Mexico Bankers Association and look forward to helping repre- sent the banks of New Mexico. n