Pub. 12 2015 Issue 1

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 Spring • 2015 7 Business, Commercial, Finance and Real Estate Transactions Practice Montgomery & Andrews brings outstanding legal knowledge and experience to provide practical, value-driven assistance and solutions to financial institutions and to individuals and businesses engaged in commercial and consumer transactions. www.montand.com Galen Buller Harold Lavender Alexia Constantaras Seth McMillan Suzanne Odom Thomas Olson Sharon Shaheen Carolyn Wolf Albuquerque Office 6301 Indian School Rd. N.E., Suite 400 Albuquerque, N.M. 87110 505-884-4200 Santa Fe Office 325 Paseo de Peralta Santa Fe, N.M. 87501 505-982-3873 LarryWells & Jack Campbell 2155 Louisiana, NE Suite 10300 Albuquerque, N.M. 87110 505-766-9926 Larry Wells Jack Campbell into my office with that yellow tablet with every item accom - plished. During that visit, he informed me I was the new Presi- dent of Western Bank. Community banking is about your neighbors, employees, customers and family. These people truly define a commu - nity. Western Bank is an oil and gas bank in an oil and gas town. Whether oil is $30 or $130, we have proven that common sense community banking still works. Western Bank has been involved in 13 start-up businesses that today employ over 500 full-time workers in Artesia. We believe that small businesses drive a community and community banks drive small business- es. We also have fun in Artesia. With 28 State Football Champi- onships, a jumbotron and skyboxes in the football stadium, we prove that Friday Night Lights doesn’t happen only in Texas. I have been fortunate that one of my hobbies has allowed me to compete at the highest level. I am proud to have been a member of the Professional Bowlers Association, but I never dreamed that my bowling ability would set me up for something more rewarding than a tournament victory or a 300 game. Eight years ago, I began the bowling program at Artesia High School. Two State Championships, 162 kids and 38,000 miles on the bus later, I have been blessed to have a part in each of those kids’ lives. In my mind, if all I do is teach my students to bowl, I have failed miserably. My goal is to provide a positive influ - ence on their future endeavors. It’s like having 30 teenagers in your family for four months a year and I love it. I believe that the best day you can have is one where you make someone else feel better. We must recognize the gifts we have been given and pass them on to others. Most importantly, I have a wonderful family, including my wife Ronda, four fan- tastic children and three beautiful grandchildren. It simply does not get any better than this. The next order of business is to personally invite you to at- tend the 104th NMBA Annual Meeting and Convention on June 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. We have a wonderful 3 day program planned, including a golf tournament, cooking classes and a group of terrific speakers. The speakers include Dorothy Savarase, Vice Chairman of the ABA, Thomas Siems, Senior Economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Nick Maniatis, director of the New Mexico State Film Office. Also, two film producers will be in attendance to discuss the state of the film and television industry in New Mexico and the role of New Mexico banks in the industry. Of course there is no lack of entertainment in Vegas, no matter what your interests or hob- bies are. So please join us. n