Real Estate Lending Officer, First National Bank & Trust Company
AGE: 32
JOB DESCRIPTION: My responsibilities include making real estate and some personal loans; providing a point-of-sale environment to existing and potential customers; conducting loan interviews, analysis of credit, sales and networking; and developing new business through community involvement.
YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA: 29
ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in business administration with majors in management and marketing from Columbia College.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Current and past involvement includes: working with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce for the past six years as Total Resource Campaign member, alternate income committee member, Women’s Network public relations committee chair, steering committee member and co-chair of the 2007 Business Conference & Showcase. For the past four years I have been involved with the American Heart Association’s Missouri Heart Walk and the Annual Dr. Hugh Stephenson Heart Ball steering committees. In addition, I have been involved in Women’s Intersport Network (WIN) fund-raising, Clean Up Columbia and fund-raising efforts through FNB for the Central Missouri Humane Society and multiple sclerosis.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: I have been with First National Bank & Trust Company for seven years. I have 12 years of banking experience, 10 years of supervisory and management experience, five years of lending experience and three years of human resources experience.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE: I admire Michelle Hill-Ishmael, owner of Express Personnel Services and The Home Team Inspection Service. Michelle is a successful businesswoman who balances two businesses along with her family and friends and still volunteers a significant amount of time to Women’s Network, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and many other community services. She is a genuine person who always has something nice to say and is a pleasure to be around.
WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB: I am passionate about my job because I get to be involved in the community and meet people while helping them make their dreams reality. A lot of times I am the first person someone meets when they decide they are going to purchase a new home. I am excited when I am able to qualify customers and help them find the best loan that meets their needs for the purchase of a home.
IF I WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR ALIVING, I WOULD: be a marine biologist and study great white sharks.
BIGGEST CAREER OBSTACLE I’VE OVERCOME: I realized that I would not get where I wanted to be in my career without my college degree. So while working full time at FNB I attended Columbia College as a full-time student in the evening program, and with the support of my family, friends and company I accomplished that goal.
A FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: I am currently one of the co-chairs for the 2007 Business Conference & Showcase for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. This has been a wonderful and fun event to chair, as the steering committee is made up of many experienced individuals who make chairing this event a pleasure. This year’s showcase has an exciting lineup of well-known speakers presenting on many topics that are relevant to your business. So mark your calendars for March 6, 2007!
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROFESSION: Being a banker is not just knowing how to pilot a calculator or analyze numbers. It is an exciting and fun profession that allows one to be part of a team and to interact with a multitude of different people and personality types.
WHAT I DO FOR FUN: I enjoy reading and seeing movies at the theater. I enjoy listening to music at some of Columbia’s live music venues, and I like spending time with my family and friends.
FAMILY: My parents, Fred and Carole Julian, are recently retired residents of Columbia. I have one sister, two brothers and 13 nieces and nephews. I am married to Charley Waddill, owner of Columbia Quality Construction, and we have two Siberian huskies named Yana and Altai.
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA: Stephens Park, walking my dogs.
ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M MOST PROUD OF: I was honored to receive the Banker of the Year award in 2004 from First National Bank & Trust Company.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT: I was married in Big Sky, Mont., at the top of Lone Peak.
