Pub. 7 2019 Issue 2

9 The Community Banker HELENA'S TOM MCGREE AWARDED MIB'S 2019 GRADUATE BANKING SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP I n order to help MIB’s member banks provide the high- est-quality education to their bank employ- ees, the Montana Inde- pendent Bankers Asso- ciation offers a $2,500 scholarship each year to a graduate-level banking school of the recipient’s choice. TomMcGree of First Security Bank of Helena is this year’s recipient of MIB’s grad- uate banking school scholarship. Tom is currently the Chief Operating Officer. Tom began his banking career as a commercial loan officer for Mountain West, before working for First Interstate Bank. Tom has a strong financial background. He completed an MBA at Gonzaga Uni- versity and has taken a number of leadership development programs, including Leadership Flathead and Leadership Montana. Throughout his banking career, Tom has been an active member of his local community. He has served on many non-profit and volunteer boards, including the Montana Community Foundation, Grand Street Theatre, the Helena Education Foundation and the Helena Regional Airport Authority. In his scholarship application, Tomwrote that the MIB has provid- ed himwith great educational and professional opportunities. Tom stated that the association has been helpful to him in developing his banking contacts across the state and in improving his knowledge of the industry. He noted that the association has helped him gain insight into policy-related matters that impact Montana’s community banking industry. Tom said he applied for the MIB scholarship because by enrolling in a banking school, he will gain insight, information, resources and experience that will make him a more effective banker and business professional. Tom wrote that his goal as a banking professional in this stage of his career is to help First Security Bank of Helena grow, pros- per and to evolve for the benefit of the Bank’s stakeholders and for the local community. Tom believes that attending a banking school, using the MIB’s scholarship for support, will help him perform his job more effectively. Writing in support of Tom’s application, Loren Brown, First Security’s President and CEO, specified that Tom has a continuous desire to learn and expand his banking knowledge. Loren said, “Tom is the ideal candi- date for banking graduate school as he understands not only growing personally from the program, but making sure others do as well.” Tomwill be attending the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. MIB Member News