Pub. 14 2017 Issue 3

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 3 • 2017 5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MIKE LOWRIMORE NMBA PRESIDENT Bank of the West Our goal to is to have students become more intrigued by what banking has to offer as a career. I amhonored to be the 2017-2018 President of the NewMexico Bankers Association. It is evident that banking in the future is not going to be like anything we have seen be- fore. It is also evident that the NMBA will adapt tomeet our needs as we evolve. As bankers, we can be proud of our industry’s contribution the state and national economy. We will continue to need a strong NMBA to help support and continue that effort. In the year that I am serving as your president, I will work tomake sure our association is the best that it can be. An important question facing the banking in- dustry is what we can do to prepare for the fu- ture? In my view, fostering talent has always been a critical component to maintaining a strong, adaptive industry, but it has never been more important than today. I was reading an article recently that noted that more than 40 percent of the workforce will consist of millennials by 2020, according to var- ious social scientists. Brookings Institute esti- mates that millennials will make up 75 percent of the workforce by 2025. For the banking in- dustry, the statistics suggest that it must develop innovative strategies to recruit new employees and policies to reward and retain these employ- ees. These plans and programs must focus not merely on millennials, but should also recognize and reward individuals commonly referred to as “emerging leaders”. In that regard, the NMBA is collaborating with University of New Mexico Anderson School to develop a bank internship program which provides a select group of dedi- cated business students with exclusive opportu- nity to learn about banking in New Mexico and career paths in our industry. Although still in the planning stages, the NMBA feels that ideal par- ticipants would be junior-year business school students. Banks would also potentially offer one or two internship opportunities for an eight week paid internship program. Also, participating banks in each community would share meeting sponsorship opportunities for candidates, pro- vide speakers and full internship opportunities. At this juncture, is seems likely we would pilot the program in Albuquerque and later provide simultaneous programs across the state. Details and funding have to be worked out, but I believe that this is an exciting project. Our goal to is to have students become more intrigued by what banking has to offer as a career. As we promote the program on university campuses, we’ll be attending career fairs, interviewing students, discussing our industry and sharing information about opportunities in banking. The NMBA and the ICBANM recently co-spon- sored an emerging leaders program symposium in Albuquerque. Banking in the Leaders of To- morrow is a partnership among NMBA, ICBANM, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the Fed- eral Reserve Bank of Kansas City formed to bring emerging bank leaders together annually to learn about the Federal Reserve System and to build mutually beneficial relationships between the Federal Reserve and financial institution leaders. I was asked to participate in a panel with Jason Wyatt (Western Commerce Bank, Carlsbad), Jay Jenkins (Carlsbad National Bank), Jill Gutierrez (Bank 34, Alamogordo), and Paul Sowards (Cen- tury Bank, Santa Fe) to discuss “Leadership Les- sons From the Top: A Discussion with Bank Lead- ers.” I found the symposium rewarding and a wonderful opportunity to meet with many bright and energetic young bankers. I want to thank Jason, Jill, Paul, and Jay for their participation. They did a great job and represented our New Mexico Banks very well. The program’s ultimate goal is to provide an environment where energized and motivated as- sociation members have an opportunity for peer networking, educated growth and leadership de- velopment. It is an exciting and changing time and I am pleased we are taking steps to prepare our industry for the future. n