MABE Survey
We have received 24 completed online surveys .  Dave Lathrop handed out hard copies to members that said they had not completed the online survey.  They were asked to complete the hard copy surveys today before leaving the meeting.  Dave will compile the results and bring them in next week.

Leads & Introductions
Members gave leads and introductions.  They also thanked members for business and made announcements.

Shari Flemming came today as a guest of Erin La Grassa.  She couldn't make it to the guest event last week so she came today.  She is a stay-at-home mom that was looking for something to do to stay busy.  She started a business creating slide shows and converting VHS tapes and 8mm to DVD.  She helps people preserve their memories.

Membership
Dave Lathrop thanked everyone that participated in last week's guest event.  As a result, we have one new membership application online, Ryan Bohlander, Jumpstart Kids Fitness. 

Both Chuck Hultstrand and Greg Stewart have resigned from MABE.  Both were founding members and will be missed.  We are more than a leads group.  We are a family.  If you know of other members at a crossroads, please extend your support to them.

Training
We had 14 members attend the first training session last night.  Members in attendance shared their thoughts on the experience.  If you missed it, you have another opportunity next week.  Click here for details. 

Main Speaker

Jake acknowledged that this group is different in that it is more like a family.  He is very happy to be a part of MABE.

Jake is originally from Minnesota.  He also lived on the East Coast for a while.  He came to Arizona on a whim and decided to stay.

His banking career started at Bank of America.  He began as a teller.  It was an interesting experience.  Something funny about being a teller...Monies have different smells.  The worst smelling money is from Subway.  A weird but true fact.  He did well at Bank of America.  He quickly became a top performing teller.  As he moved on to the banker side he took a position at Desert Schools.  Same thing happened there.  After 6 months he was credited as a top performer.  He realized that he enjoyed the relationship side of things which prompted him to move to M&I Bank.  He started as a personal banker.  He did a participated in a branch manager development program which helped him transition into his current position as branch manager.

Jake mentioned his community involvement which includes working with the Boys & Girls Club and the Big Brother/Big Sister program. He is on his second little brother.   He also  does financial education seminars.  They are seminars on banking.  You are never to old to learn something new. 

Jake shared with the group his many funny experience in banking.   All kinds of fun things happen, good and bad.  He has been branch manager for two years.  It has been a rocky road - Definitely an experience worthy of a book.

Part of his day-to-day operations includes checking in with staff, monitoring reports, etc.  Ultimately, he is responsible for everything.  He tries to go out to see one or two client a day to see how they are doing.  They have a large client base so it is difficult to meet with everyone.  We he does see clients, he goes over their plans.  Many start with a business plan but it takes a different direction.  He helps keep them stay focused.  He will look into their financials and offer advice on where they can cut or add.  Learning more about his client's businesses also helps him make recommendations.   He knows what banks are looking for when determining whether or not to lend money.  He can tell you when a good time is to borrow and offer advice through the process.

A big misconception is that you get a free credit score once a year.  You don't get the score.  You get a basic report.  There are different reports.  For example, car dealerships will pull up a report that focuses in on items that would affect your auto purchase.  When you look at reports from different companies, know that they use different scales.