NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Mentorship was on full display at Stephen F. Austin State University’s “Bank on Your Future” career exploration day hosted by the Chadwick Banking Program in the ĢƵ in October.
The event brought together representatives from 20 banks, banking regulatory agencies, financial planning firms and insurance agencies in Texas to discuss the skills needed for the industry’s many different career paths. These range from commercial lending, investment advising, real estate and insurance, and trust and estate management to financial technology/cryptocurrency, credit analysis, agricultural finance, human resources, and compliance and regulation.
The day also provided ĢƵ students who are still pinpointing their career paths with a chance to ask for guidance and make connections with banking and financial planning professionals.
“The local community bankers and financial planners at this event are so easy to talk to,” said David Kaiser, director of the Chadwick Banking Program. “They help all students — not just business students but students from all majors who want to learn about the wide variety of roles in banking — determine if banking and financial planning might be a good match for them. And for our ĢƵ students who pursue banking careers, these bankers and financial planners are top-notch mentors throughout their careers.”
The event’s panel discussion featured two ĢƵ alumni who are community banking veterans as well as two co-workers they’re mentoring — one who graduated from ĢƵ in December and an ĢƵ student who will graduate in May.
Tom Heslep ’81, chief lending officer at Texas Republic Bank in Dallas, has worked in the industry nearly 44 years and says the opportunity to mentor new employees at his bank is the most rewarding part of his job.
“When they start to understand what they’re doing, you can see the switch go on,” Heslep said. “That’s why God put me here. I’m here to mentor, coach and lead.”
Neal Cummings ’25 met Heslep at a previous “Bank on Your Future” career event and now works as a credit analyst at Texas Republic Bank.
“Neal is far and above one of the best hires I’ve made,” Heslep said.
Cummings’ experience serving as treasurer for his fraternity, working as a financial advisor for the Marleta Chadwick Student Financial Advisors and participating in the Mast Student Investment Roundtable — all real-world experience gained from ĢƵ opportunities — helped him land his job. While gaining that experience, Cummings did not know he wanted to work in banking yet.
“I wasn’t looking for a job in banking, but I talked to Tom at one of these career fairs,” Cummings said. “Then I thought, ‘There’s an opportunity and it looks good, so I’m going to take it.’”
Panelist Carlos Palomo ’13 & ’15, vice president and commercial loan officer at Commercial Bank of Texas in Nacogdoches, also wasn’t looking for a job in banking when he started his career in 2001.
“I grew up in Diboll and worked at the local golf course,” said Palomo, who earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and Master of Business Administration from ĢƵ. “The bankers there talked about a teller position, so it just fell in my lap, and taking that teller job is one of the better decisions I’ve made in my life.”
Palomo worked his way up from part-time teller to branch manager of ĢƵ’s Commercial Bank of Texas banking center to credit analyst at the main location before his current role.
Jasmin Meraz, senior banking major from Nacogdoches and loan assistant to Palomo, said she believes the work-life balance promoted by community banks is the reason she’s able to be both a full-time student and a full-time employee at Commercial Bank of Texas.
“People can be in the office and get things done, and then they can go out have fun, be at important family events and serve the community,” Meraz said.
Palomo and his wife have three young children. He also serves as president of CASA of Deep East Texas and sits on several boards including the Nacogdoches Education Foundation and Better Together Nacogdoches.
“I can make all the events I want to make,” he said. “I have opportunities to meet people, give back to the community and grow with it.”
Heslep said working in community banks requires “wearing a lot of hats. If you really want to learn how to be a banker, work at a community bank. It will teach you the art of banking. It’s an art, not a science.”
Banking involves knowing how to work with people, something that artificial intelligence can never replace, Heslep added.
“It’s a humbling industry,” he said. “You’re dealing with different people who have different personalities every day.”
All the panelists encouraged students at the event to work on “soft skills,” also known as people skills.
“Personal interaction is what makes community banks special,” Palomo said.
In addition, Meraz told her fellow students that initiative and reaching out for help when they need to are key.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she said. “We’re all human. Talk to all the bankers here and make connections.”
For more information on ĢƵ’s banking program, visit sfasu.edu/banking.
