Pub. 13 2016 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 Issue 2 • 2016 7 have many federal offices in our state and we should look to expand those, not limit them. Tourism and recruiting retir- ees should be stepped up with proper incentives. In the coming years, I think New Mexico is going to strug- gle without making changes in our business environment. We have to be more aggressive in securing new businesses and assisting existing business in New Mexico. WHAT PERSONS HAVE HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CAREER? There have been many people that have had an impact on my life, but most important were my mom and dad. They worked hard all of their lives. They taught me that work was important and you should be on time, have a good attitude and do what it takes to get the job done. Work isn’t defined by the time on a clock. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW BANKERS? It is a great time to be a banker. Today, all bankers are problem solvers whether you are in the back room or front line. Banking has become so detailed with so many mov- ing parts and complexities, that every banker is challenged with providing solutions inside and outside the walls of the bank. It is important to be proactive with your respective role in the bank, because if you are not, you may have a short career. Be a problem solver and be prepared to offer solutions. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY I am married to Kirstin Carlson and have two daughters, one attending ENMU at Portales and my youngest daughter is a senior in high school in Plano, Texas. WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF BANKING? I enjoy the outdoors including hunting, fishing, golf and working on our place. We have horses and there is always a fence that needs to be fixed somewhere. WHAT IS YOUR CLAIM TO FAME? In 1999, I wrote a letter to the U.S. Post Office requesting them to issue a postage stamp to honor the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. After spearheading the effort by obtaining hundreds in letters of support from fellow New Mexicans, our Congressional delegation, passing a New Mexico House Memorial in support at the NM Legislature, and obtaining letters of support from many Governors across the U.S., the Postal Service issued a Carlsbad Caverns Post Card in 2002. The US Secretary of Interior came to Carlsbad to make the presentation. At that time, the postal service was saving the stamp request so it could become part of a national park issue. In 2016, a Carlsbad Caverns Stamp was issued. A month later, President Obama visited the park with his fam- ily, the only sitting President to visit the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Lessons learned: You can make anything happen, some things take time, titles are important to be identified and letters are powerful tools. 