As owner and chairman, Chris views First Westroads Bank as a family endeavor, not just because both of his children are involved in the organization, but because everyone who works there is treated like a member of the family.

Chris got his first taste of banking when he was recruited by a senior executive who took him under his wing. From that time on, Chris knew it was the career for him. He wasn’t wrong.

Chris’s vision for First Westroads Bank, which hasn’t changed in more than 30 years, is to create an atmosphere and approach that exceeds customers’ expectations and celebrates their successes. One that does away with red tape, empowering employees to wear many hats, and be available and ready to react when customers need them. He wants business owners of all industries and levels of experience, including physicians, to walk through the doors and know they’re in good hands, because they are.

When it comes to his beloved city, Omaha, Chris believes that you can’t call yourself a community bank without giving back to the community. For as long as he can remember, First Westroads Bank has been building relationships and partnerships with local nonprofit organizations to help raise awareness and further their efforts.

When he’s not working, which is rare, you can find Chris on the golf course perfecting his swing. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Betsy, and children, Daniel and Annie.

Most college students change their major a few times before landing on an area of study, and even then they’re not always sure of their decision. Not Mark. With razor-sharp focus and an unswerving desire to work in the financial industry, Mark majored in finance. It was and continues to be a great fit.

Mark started his career as a personal banker with an emphasis on the retail side of banking. A couple of years later, he migrated to the commercial side and has been honing his knowledge in commercial banking, credit administration and management ever since.

Mark views every day as an opportunity to help the bank’s customers achieve their dreams, not just by providing products and services and calling it good, but by building lasting relationships. He wants to hear the customers’ backstories, because he knows that understanding where the customer is coming from makes all the difference.

Having worked in larger banks, Mark prefers the personalized approach of a community bank. Employees are empowered to do what needs to be done for customers. They view it as a partnership, investing in customers’ achievements and successes. What he truly loves about being president of First Westroads Bank is leading a group of passionate people willing to go above and beyond, every single day.

When Mark’s not in the office, you can find him either on a golf course or cheering the loudest at a Creighton Bluejays game. Of course, his favorite activity is spending time with his wife, Sharon, and his children, Emma, Sam and Annie.

After growing up in Pilger, Nebraska, Margie started her banking career in a small, rural bank near her hometown. She quickly found a passion for the banking industry, she moved to Omaha in 1986 and began a long, successful career in the financial offices of multiple banks. Her skills in accounting along with other focuses such as Mortgage and Capital Markets have given her great respect across the banking industry.

For over 30 years, Margie has worked in community banking from American National Bank to Mutual of Omaha Bank all due to her love of counting and garnering trust from customers. Margie finds First Westroads to be special in that the employees have a unique ability to be close with clients due to the size of the bank. Like others at First Westroads, she wants to break the perception of “banker’s hours” as the clients’ needs come first.

Outside of work, Margie finds community involvement essential to community building. She currently chairs the board for Community Alliance Rehab Services and has served on the Special Olympics, VNA, and Joslyn Castle. As an advocate for education, she has served as a school board member and an adjunct professor at Metro and currently assists with interview preparation at UNO.

When not working or supporting her community, Margie can be found driving on the golf course or playing with her three kids and four grandkids. She lives in Valley with her husband, Mike

Carl always wanted a career that allowed him to work in the finance industry and help people take their vision from idea to successful business. He found his calling in commercial lending. He really enjoys working one-on-one with customers, listening to their goals and finding the right solution to help them make it happen. Working in a community bank allows him to really dive into the client’s world and customize products for their needs. He gets to work with a variety of clients who come from all walks of life and varied business backgrounds.

Although Carl has a diverse banking background, his areas of expertise are commercial and industrial lending, commercial real estate and treasury management. He finds the diversity of industries in which he works interesting, challenging and rewarding. He and his team are dedicated to helping each other and are truly passionate about doing what’s right for the customer.

When Carl is not in the office, you can find him hitting the golf course in the summer and hunting in the colder months. He’s also a devoted Husker fan. Carl lives in Omaha with his wife, Jennifer, and his daughter, Anna.

Banking has been a part of Tim’s life for as long as he can remember. His dad spent the majority of his career at the same bank in South Omaha, starting in the back room when he was about 18 years old and working his way up the ladder until he became president of the bank. Tim was able to learn all aspects of banking, including how to take care of clients, from his dad. Prior to his dad’s retirement, Tim saw firsthand how important the client relationship was when father and son had the opportunity to work together for multiple years.

Tim has been in the finance industry for more than 20 years. His area of focus is commercial lending, which he enjoys, as it provides him with an opportunity to work closely with clients and provide solutions through the services offered by First Westroads.

Tim appreciates working with the First Westroads Bank team. He believes that each employee makes the others better. It’s a great group of people who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and pitch in whenever they’re needed.

When not in the office, you can find Tim cheering on his kids from the sidelines as he attends cross-country meets, golf tournaments, football games and gymnastics competitions. He lives in Omaha with his wife, Mary, and his three children, Jack, Hanna and Ben.

Brett's journey in the banking industry began in 2004 after graduating from Creighton University with a BSBA in Finance. Initially considering a career in pharmacy, he found his passion for financial analysis and accounting during his business coursework. Despite being accepted to pharmacy school, Brett heeded his father's advice and continued with banking. His specialty lies in commercial real estate lending, focusing on new developments, construction, rehab loans, and purchase/refinance transactions.

What drew Brett to banking was the influence of his mother, a banker, and his exposure to both banking and pharmacy industries throughout his life. Brett appreciates the networking and relationship-building aspects of banking, especially witnessing projects come to life during construction. His two boys often accompany him to see the projects he has financed, providing a unique perspective on shaping Omaha's landscape.

Community holds significant importance for Brett, defined as a mindset of people coming together for a mutual cause. He actively contributes to various organizations, serving on the board of directors for First Tee Omaha, coaching youth soccer in Underwood, IA, participating in the CRE Summit Planning Committee since 2011, and serving as Treasurer for his church.

Brett enjoys golfing, traveling, watching movies, playing sports and board games, and engaging in video games with his sons. His family includes his wife, Colleen, and sons Ethan and Parish, along with their two Springer Spaniels, Rosie and Cora.

First Westroads Bank has been a part of Daniel’s life from an early age. The bank is a family business that has taught him a lot about integrity, transparency and community. He was drawn to working alongside his father when he witnessed firsthand the excitement and fulfillment that comes with helping customers realize their dreams, whether that’s a business owner expanding a company, an entrepreneur turning a vision into reality, or a young couple buying their first home.

Daniel focuses on connecting and communicating with the business community, local residents and area nonprofits through strong branding and marketing efforts. He also plays a role in helping the bank implement the latest technology to provide an enhanced customer experience at every touchpoint.

Daniel wants all customers, including present and future ones, to understand that working with First Westroads Bank will never be purely transactional. Employees are dedicated to building relationships with each customer, driven by a desire to do what’s right for everyone who walks through the doors.

Though Daniel started his career in journalism for a newspaper in Chicago, he sees himself working hard to uphold his family’s legacy within the bank.

When Daniel’s not in the office, you can find him outdoors golfing, hiking or playing tennis. He lives in Omaha with his golden retriever, Pete Murphy.

Cheri started her banking career at First Westroads Bank when a friend working there recruited her as a teller. That was more than 40 years ago. Throughout the years, Cheri gained experience and garnered a wealth of knowledge as she rose through the ranks. Today, she oversees loan operations, also applying her expertise in reviewing and auditing loans.

Cheri would love to shatter the stereotype of “banker’s hours,” which, she assures us, is pure myth. When the bank lobby is closed for customers, she remains in her office ensuring that loans are taking place and solutions are being provided to customers.

She loves working at First Westroads Bank because, as a community bank, it allows her to juggle a variety of responsibilities. The team atmosphere and can-do attitudes of the other employees are also a definite bonus.

When she’s not in the office, Cheri spends time volunteering at her church.

Ken stumbled into banking early in his professional career and is still going strong 17 and a half years later. Ken’s expertise lies in lending and consumer credit. He enjoys helping people obtain the financing they need to fit their individual circumstances. In addition, he has a knack for problem solving. 

Ken is living proof that not all bankers are money hungry executives who want to “deceive” customers into paying excessive fees. Ken, like the rest of the First Westroads employees, wants to build relationships with his customers and prospects to achieve success that benefits all parties involved. Thanks to the emphasis First Westroads places on community, Ken can build these relationships every day at work. 

When he is not hard at work in the office, Ken can be found supporting his children, Tylan  and Kamryn, in their sporting pursuits. He is a board member of Sporting Nebraska Youth Soccer Club. Ken also enjoys golfing and watching movies. 

Though Denise didn’t start her career in banking, she worked with enough loan officers to know it’s what she wanted to do. You see, she started her career in the title insurance industry and worked with numerous loan officers on closing loans. She befriended many of them, and when a position opened up, she was recruited to join the loans team.

When Denise made the jump to banking, she spent the first few years as a loan administrative assistant in residential mortgage lending. Her background in insurance, her astute mind and a passion for serving customers earned her the position of BSA Officer / Operations Manager.

Denise truly enjoys the interactions she has with customers and working among a group of people who always put customers first. Like all First Westroads Bank employees, she is the reason this community bank will do more to further dreams than other banks.

When she’s not in the office, Denise enjoys family time with her husband, Steve, her children, Michelle, Kadie, Molly and Travis, and her grandchild Seeley.

Growing up across the river in Woodbine, Iowa, Kelley was drawn to banking at an early age. She started working summers at her local bank during college, and after graduating, she accepted a position at First Westroads Bank as a night teller. As she progressed in her career, Kelley became involved in loan administration, lending, and management. Throughout her nearly 25 years with First Westroads, she gained experience in nearly every department, eventually assuming her current role as Human Resources Officer.

Kelley's attraction to First Westroads stems from her appreciation for the community banking atmosphere. She enjoys the opportunity to solve problems while also serving as an advocate for our employees. To her, the bank represents more than just a workplace—it is a genuine family. Kelley emphasizes that the sense of community cultivated at First Westroads creates an exceptional environment for employees which in turn extends to our customers.

Outside of work, Kelley actively engages in community involvement. She has assisted the Nebraska Choral Arts Society, volunteered in hospice care and served as the treasurer of her homeowner’s association for several years. Currently, Kelley serves as a board member for her neighborhood SID and is a PEO member. When she's not in the office, you can find Kelley traveling, swimming, or spending time with her two children, Keith and Amy, as well as her three grandchildren.