Randy Baker is the CEO and president of Lawson Bank. He enjoys golfing and woodworking in his free time with his family. Baker has over 30 years of banking experience, including positions at several banks in Kansas and Missouri. As the head of Lawson Bank, he emphasizes building personal relationships with customers and utilizing new technologies while maintaining the community bank's traditional values. Baker believes community banking will continue to thrive due to customers valuing relationships over impersonal big banks, though increasing regulations and technology costs present challenges.
Slides for the general session entitled "The Insider" at Detroit Regional Chamber's Business InSight 2009 conference, October 27, 2008 at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.
Speakers included Tammy Carnrike, COO of Detroit Regional Chamber; Bruce McCully, President of Dynamic Edge and event chair; Nancy Kaffer of Crain's Detroit Business; Robert "Bob" Fish, Co-Founder & CEO of BIGGBY COFFEE; Mary Ellen Sheets, Founder of Two Men and a Truck; and Jeff Spilman, Managing Partner of S3 Entertainment Group.
Commercial lending in Texas is not a hassle anymore. We are a direct commercial mortgage banking firm in Texas specializing in commercial real estate loans, multifamily lending, and apartment loans among others.
A tale of two networkers - a story about MLM leadsMark Hobbs
This is the story of two network marketers. How they were recruited and how they met two years later at a big company mlm training. A great lesson about online leads.
Slides for the general session entitled "The Insider" at Detroit Regional Chamber's Business InSight 2009 conference, October 27, 2008 at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.
Speakers included Tammy Carnrike, COO of Detroit Regional Chamber; Bruce McCully, President of Dynamic Edge and event chair; Nancy Kaffer of Crain's Detroit Business; Robert "Bob" Fish, Co-Founder & CEO of BIGGBY COFFEE; Mary Ellen Sheets, Founder of Two Men and a Truck; and Jeff Spilman, Managing Partner of S3 Entertainment Group.
Commercial lending in Texas is not a hassle anymore. We are a direct commercial mortgage banking firm in Texas specializing in commercial real estate loans, multifamily lending, and apartment loans among others.
A tale of two networkers - a story about MLM leadsMark Hobbs
This is the story of two network marketers. How they were recruited and how they met two years later at a big company mlm training. A great lesson about online leads.
Mondi E&I company presentation April 2016Mondi Group
We are Mondi: IN TOUCH EVERY DAY
At Mondi, our products protect and preserve the things that matter.
Mondi is an international packaging and paper Group, employing around 25,000 people across more than 30 countries. Our key operations are located in central Europe, Russia, North America and South Africa. We offer over 100 packaging and paper products, customised into more than 100,000 different solutions for customers, end consumers and industrial end uses - touching the lives of millions of people every day. In 2015, Mondi had revenues of €6.8 billion and a return on capital employed of 20.5%.
The Mondi Group is fully integrated across the packaging and paper value chain - from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and compound plastics, to developing effective and innovative industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Our innovative technologies and products can be found in a variety of applications including hygiene components, stand-up pouches, super-strong cement bags, clever retail boxes and office paper. Our key customers are in industries such as automotive; building and construction; chemicals; food and beverage; home and personal care; medical and pharmaceutical; packaging and paper converting; pet care; and office and professional printing.
Mondi has a dual listed company structure, with a primary listing on the JSE Limited for Mondi Limited under the ticker code MND and a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange for Mondi plc, under the ticker code MNDI.
For us, acting sustainably makes good business sense and is part of the way we work every day. We have been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the JSE's Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index since 2007.
It was the adoption of 'spreadsheet' computing, social-media (print) & reputation marketing (word of mouth) that fueled our mortgage banking growth. Prior to fax machines our 'mobile' strategy comprised the 'new startup' FedEx & an airline ticket. Oh what I could have done with 'digital assets' (an 'online' presence, a NXGen MobiApp & social media) back then! Find out what your digital assets are and how people 'see' you online.
Go Here: http://nxgendigitalmarketing.repgrader.com/socialcapitalreport
Mondi E&I company presentation April 2016Mondi Group
We are Mondi: IN TOUCH EVERY DAY
At Mondi, our products protect and preserve the things that matter.
Mondi is an international packaging and paper Group, employing around 25,000 people across more than 30 countries. Our key operations are located in central Europe, Russia, North America and South Africa. We offer over 100 packaging and paper products, customised into more than 100,000 different solutions for customers, end consumers and industrial end uses - touching the lives of millions of people every day. In 2015, Mondi had revenues of €6.8 billion and a return on capital employed of 20.5%.
The Mondi Group is fully integrated across the packaging and paper value chain - from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and compound plastics, to developing effective and innovative industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Our innovative technologies and products can be found in a variety of applications including hygiene components, stand-up pouches, super-strong cement bags, clever retail boxes and office paper. Our key customers are in industries such as automotive; building and construction; chemicals; food and beverage; home and personal care; medical and pharmaceutical; packaging and paper converting; pet care; and office and professional printing.
Mondi has a dual listed company structure, with a primary listing on the JSE Limited for Mondi Limited under the ticker code MND and a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange for Mondi plc, under the ticker code MNDI.
For us, acting sustainably makes good business sense and is part of the way we work every day. We have been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the JSE's Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index since 2007.
It was the adoption of 'spreadsheet' computing, social-media (print) & reputation marketing (word of mouth) that fueled our mortgage banking growth. Prior to fax machines our 'mobile' strategy comprised the 'new startup' FedEx & an airline ticket. Oh what I could have done with 'digital assets' (an 'online' presence, a NXGen MobiApp & social media) back then! Find out what your digital assets are and how people 'see' you online.
Go Here: http://nxgendigitalmarketing.repgrader.com/socialcapitalreport
Entrepreneur Expose\' is a series of events for women entrepreneurs and business owners who want to start a business or want to build an exisitng business. The events combine expo and conference, thus providing a complete avenue to make the connections necessary to truly build a successful empire. Pitch to the media and angel investors; meet other entrepreneurs, state resources, media writers, bankers, attorneys and virtual assistants to name a few great connections. Everything a woman needs to be a successful business owner/entrepreneur, including great exposure and our own "Sharkette Tank."
Entrepreneur Expose\' is a series of events for and about women entrepreneurs and business owners who want to start a business or take an existing business to the next level. The events are comprised of expo, resource connections, speakers, break-out sessions, workshops, pitching opportunities to the media and angel investors. The future will include the opportunity to convert a business into a franchise, an angel investment group within Entrepreneur Expose\', and pitching workshops held between the major events. By 2011, Entrepreneur Expose\' will expand outside of New Jersey, with the long term goal of becoming a national organization. For more information: (908)852-4200, info@entrepreneurexpose.com or www.entrepreneurexpose.com.
The RE Investment News is the monthly newsletter of Mid-America Association of Real Estate Investors. This is their special edition of Why to Invest in the Kansas City Metro Markets.
Dean Graziosi - 7 Ways to Finding Funding Right NowDean Graziosi
Find Funding Right Now - 7 Ways to Fund Your Deals In Today's Down Market..
We're going to give you specific go-to resources that will help you to locate financing in these seven major funding resource categories:
- Community Banks and Credit Unions
- Friends and Family
- Government Funding and Grants
- Investors
- Hard Money
- Lines of Credit
- Short Term Funding
My Brothers Keeper Long Beach and National Action PlanHoward Perry
The 100 Black Men of Long Beach is one of the charter members of this coalition developed by The City of Long Beach. My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Local Action Plan, is a significant endeavor to establish and implement new approaches to address the needs and priorities of youth and ensure that all young people, including boys and young men of color, have the opportunity to succeed. The MBK Local Action Plan includes a call to action for mentorship, as part of the City’s Safe Long Beach efforts.The MBK Local Action Plan focuses on the six crucial milestones for success: Ensure that Long Beach youth are physically and mentally prepared to start school
Read at grade level by the third grade
Graduate from high school
Complete post-secondary education or training
Successfully enter the workforce
Remain safe from violent crime
We are now in the implementation of this policy.
WZAQ FM 92.3 The Highway is a Contemporary Christian Music source for listeners in Eastern Kentucky, South Western West Virginia, and Southern Ohio. Our positive and uplifting, family firendly format has something for everyone. We have local and national programing, local sports, community news and events, even a sell and trade call in show, Tradio. WZAQ FM provides a wide variety of advertising and sponsorship opportunities for business in the tri-state area.
Download a copy of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Business Voice. This monthly news magazine is distributed to nearly 10,000 local business professionals every month.
1. B A C K G R O U N D O N
Randy Baker
By Kristin Rulon, Assistant Editor, BankNews Media
F
or many, golfing gives people a
chance to unwind, enjoying peace
and quiet. For Randy Baker, CEO
and president of Lawson Bank, it’s
a hobby for his brood of four.
Baker and his wife, Katye (owner
and dance director of All About Dance
by Katye), daughter Jenna and stepson
Braden all enjoy swinging the golf club
whenever they all can get together. Jen-
na is a senior in high school and Braden
is a freshman at California Polytechnic
State University.
“Golf is our family hobby,” Baker
said. “All four of us golf together,
whenever possible.”
Even though playing golf is a family
hobby, carpentry and spending time
with his dogs, two
Golden Retriev-
ers and Zorro the
family Bischon,
take up a lot of his
free time.
“I see so many
homes that could
be beautiful again.
I enjoy the car-
pentry work and
would like to fix
up homes to cre-
ate more value
and curb appeal
in the neighbor-
hood,” he said. “I
could see myself
in the home rehab
market if I weren’t
in banking. I also
really enjoy mar-
keting, especially
in the social me-
dia, digital media
and kiosk arena.”
Wood-working may be off the clock,
but during business hours Baker is using
his Kansas State University bachelor’s de-
gree in finance and economics and Law-
son Bank’s traditional banking values to
build a strong rapport with customers.
“We are still old fashioned and believe
in relationship building and going out
in person calling on our customers and
prospects,” he said. “Our bank can of-
fer all the ‘big bank’ products but with
the personal touch and a very quick re-
sponse. At the end of the day, almost all
banks offer the same products. It really
comes down to how well and how fast
you can deliver.”
One of Lawson Bank’s main focuses
has been staying up-to-date with tech-
nology, from mobile apps, mobile depos-
it, ATMs, online banking, its website and
social media.
“We utilized and mixed age groups in
multiple industries to form our advisory
board, which helps give us feedback and
direction,” Baker said.
Lawson Bank opened its doors in 1883
in Lawson, Mo. It was founded by broth-
ers, Washington and Addison Smith,
who, according to Baker, had their fair
share of stories being part of the Mexican
War and California Gold Rush before be-
ginning Lawson Bank.
Today, Lawson Bank, has four locations
(the main bank in Lawson and branches
in Excelsior Springs, Mo., Gladstone, Mo.,
14 The Show-Me Banker / March 2016
2. and Kansas City, Mo.) and
the same pride that has
kept them going for more
than 130 years.
The Lawson Bank in
Lawson was built in 1885,
serving then a community
of 600. Lawson’s popula-
tion now stands closer to
2,500. In 1914, a fire de-
stroyed the building, but
the “integrity and grit that
began the bank kept it going,” Baker said.
Although the bank has had a few own-
ership changes over the years, it has been
owned by Dr. Stephen McCray since the
early 1980s. Baker became president and
CEO of Lawson Bank in 2014.
Originally from Aurora, Colo.,
Baker began his career in 1986 with
Unipac student loans, a division of
U.S. Bank in Denver, Colo. He is also
a graduate of the CUNA School of
Lending in Madison, Wis.
For the past 30 years, Baker has
held the positions of chief credit offi-
cer with K-State Credit Union; senior
vice president with Bank Liberty chief
operating officer with Hillcrest Bank;
director of marketing and sales with
First Federal Bank; and senior vice
president of corporate development
with Citizens Bank & Trust.
Baker advises young bankers starting
out to not let regulations scare them away
from the industry.
“Young bankers need to understand
there are so many career paths in bank-
ing,” he said. “You can go the retail bank-
ing avenue, loan or deposit operations,
commercial banking, agriculture bank-
ing, finance, investment, bond trading,
etc. Take your time and learn all the
departments and then decide what you
like best. Be patient. Instant gratification
doesn’t exist.”
And as far as dealing with those not-
so-scary regulations, Baker knows many
banks are struggling because of the extra
costs to outsource or hire additional staff
to meet the increasing regulation demands.
“It seems like we have an audit for ev-
erything today,” he said. “Most of us are
looking for the most cost-effective ap-
proach. I believe that most of us are re-
ally looking at our business model and
explaining it to our examiners because
the majority of regulation doesn’t seem
to apply to a lot of community banks.”
So what does the future hold for
community banks with regulations
breathing down their necks? Baker
disagrees with the so-called trends of
doom and gloom.
“I believe community banking will
grow again. People still believe in the
relationship and knowing where they
bank,” he said. “Community banks tend
to be more open and eager to work with
our customers. The only thing I see get-
ting in the way are bank regulations and
technology costs. The costs are challeng-
ing, and we have to get more creative on
how we make money.”
www.miba.net / The Show-Me Banker 15