Pub. 3 2015 Issue 4

12 The Community Banker www.mibonline.org THE PASSING OF FRIENDS OF MIB MIB ANDMBA HOLD JOINT LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS AND BANQUET T he Montana Independent Bankers and the Montana Bankers Association held their biennial joint legislative meeting on January 14-15, 2015 to discuss issues of inter- est to Montana’s banks with Montana’s legislators. Leader- ship from both the House and Senate were present for a ques- tion-and-answer luncheon, and Governor Steve Bullock spoke at their breakfast. Both associations also hosted a reception and dinner for all state legislators, with over 100 persons in attendance. These events provided great oppor- tunities for connections and mutual education between state legislators and Montana bankers. M IB is pleased to wel- come a new director to its board of directors. Joel Rosenberg is Vice Presi- dent of Consumer and Commer- cial Lending at Valley Bank of Kalispell, where he has worked for the past ten years. Joel received a degree in Finance in 2003 from the Univer- sity of Montana Business School where he was also a 4-year let- terman on the football team. He began his banking career with US Bank in Vancouver, Washing- ton. Joel and his wife Shannon have a 6 year old boy named Ol- iver and two daughters: Reese, 4 and Hadlee, 1. The introduction of Hadlee prompted Joel to step away from coaching high school football which had spanned 10 years, including a 4-year stint as the defensive coordinator of the Flathead Braves. Although lending is his first priority, most of Joel’s time is currently devoted to IT, Market- ing, Credit Cards and Product & Services development. Joel has also assisted MIB for the past several years by organizing its annual golf tournament at our summer conventions. Joel brings with him much energy and expertise, and we are excit- ed to have him join us. MIB BOARDWELCOMES NEWDIRECTOR MIB News W e at MIB were saddened to hear of the recent passing of two long- time leaders in Montana’s banking community. Donald Vondra was President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of United Bank in Absarokee. While vacationing with friends in Mazatlan, Mexico, Don Vondra passed away Jan. 11, 2015, due to medical complications. In the summer of 1980, Don and his family moved to Absarokee, and Don began his banking career. With his “I can do anything” attitude he learned the business and later with friends and investors purchased the United Bank of Absarokee. He grew this bank and eventually expanded by building two additional banks, one in Columbus and one in Laurel. Don had become a member of MIB in 2014 and we enjoyed getting to know him at our last convention. He was a great guy and a tre- mendous community banker. K eith Colbo passed away in January in Missoula after an ex- tended illness. Keith served as executive director of MIB for fourteen years, from 1994-2006. Keith also had an impressive lifetime of work for the State of Montana. He served as assistant budget director to Governor Tim Babcock, as budget director to Governor Forrest Anderson, as the first director of the Department of Revenue, as the first director of the new Department of Budget and Program Planning, as chief of staff to Governor Judge, as direc- tor of Social and Rehabilitation Services, as director of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and as chief of staff to Governor Ted Schwinden. He was also appointed to the new Northwest Power Planning Council as chairman and was director of the Department of Commerce. We wish to express our thanks for Keith’s years of faithful service, and sympathy to his family for his passing. Donald Vondra Joel Rosenberg