School isn’t out for summer: Colorado Springs’ Ken Brower is attending graduate school certificate program for community bankers.
Waypoint Bank – Colorado Springs Vice President Ken Brower is attending the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC), a 25-month graduate certificate program and partnership between the Colorado Bankers Association and the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Ken shared that most community bank branch and market presidents in Colorado have completed this course, and he is “honored to be selected for this program, as it is for identified future leaders of banks.” He’s also grateful that the bank is paying 100% of the cost of the program and allowing him to attend the summer sessions without using his PTO.
“Completing this certificate program will benefit the bank and our customers, as it gives me access to outside viewpoints and current best practices for our industry,” Ken continued. “I share these viewpoints with Waypoint Bank to help direct growth and opportunities. This will also allow the bank to provide more flexible product options to customers while maintaining strong controls and sound banking principles.”
Ken also said, “It should give me the knowledge and skills to positively contribute at higher management levels of my organization.” He also sees this program as a solid step forward in his career. “Waypoint Bank management has invited me to committee meetings that relate to the subject matter in my classes, such as the asset & liability management committee,” he continued. “They have also been very receptive about encouraging me to bounce ideas off them for my papers.”
He received his undergraduate degree in Finance and Real Estate from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Ken focuses on commercial banking for Waypoint Bank – Colorado Springs, along with additional branch operations oversight responsibilities. He serves on both the Colorado loan committee and the bank’s new product committee. He appreciates the “we are in this together” mindset the bank uses when working with customers.
“Waypoint Bank strongly believes in developing our employees and investing in them,” explained Nebraska Market President Tim Sladek. “The GSBC has been a big piece of that investment.” These members of Waypoint Bank’s management team have also completed this program:
Cozad – CEO Kirk Riley, Branch President Tim Sladek, Senior Vice President Kevin Gilbert; Cambridge – Branch President Derek Downer; Colorado Springs – Colorado Market President Robert Lucia, Colorado Senior Credit Officer Becky Akers; and Fort Collins – Northern Colorado Market Manager David Besch.