Connie Lonneman is a 2017 selection for Outstanding Women in Banking honors. She, along with four other women, are being recognized for their outstanding contributions to their jobs and the banking industry. The recognition is sponsored by Clifton Larson Allan -a professional services network and the ninth largest accounting firm in the US, and presented by Northwestern Financial Review magazine.
“So often, people who are the heart and soul of your organization go unrecognized because they’re not on the front line with their pictures on the front page of the newspaper doing things,” stated Greg Raymo, President and CEO of First Bank Southwest. Mr. Raymo was referring to 35 year employee Connie Lonneman. “Because Connie has such a deep knowledge of the overall bank, and she knows every aspect of the bank, she’s one of those special ones. She does everything, but is not out in the public’s eye. This is the reason we at First Bank Southwest felt Connie deserved this award.”
Almost four decades ago, Connie Lonneman found herself without a job when the Safeway plant closed its doors. First State Bank Southwest at that time, was located in Rushmore, and happened to have a opening. Connie got the job and began her career in the banking industry. She started as a teller, then added secretarial duties and bookkeeping and whatever else needed doing. When the bank made the decision to move it’s main headquarters to Worthington, Connie went along. Thirty-five years later Connie is still with the bank and wears the titles of Human Resource Director and Executive Secretary.
Over the many years with the bank, Connie has seen people come and go, especially some of the colleagues she started with.
“There’s some flexibility in my job and we have great benefits. It’s always been a good group of people to work with,” she said. “I enjoy coming to work every day. There’s never been a reason for me to look anywhere else.”
The KSOP, as it is known, is an employee stock ownership program featuring a 401(K). It is one of the great benefits Connie was referring to. Whenever an employee makes a cash contribution to his or her 401(K), it is matched with stock. Connie was involved in putting together both the KSOP and the holding company for these stocks. When the time comes for an employee to retire, or divest some of their 401(K), Connie knows the ins and outs of the process. That knowledge and experience made her a natural choice as a trustee when one of the three trustees retired.
Raymo referred to another, more tangible reason. “There are always employees who are drama people. There are employees who love to talk. Connie is just not one of those people,” he said. “Connie is known as the person you can talk to and be sure it’s not going anyplace else. She is very highly respected for her ability to maintain confidentiality. You need to have someone like Connie at the table,” said Raymo. “That’s why she certainly qualifies as a trustee and part of our senior management team.”
Connie and her husband Jerry, own and operate a hog and grain farm that Jerry grew up on south of Adrian. They have raised three children in the Adrian area and now look forward to having the grandkids enjoy farm life.
“She’s one of those rare people whose nose is to the grindstone all the time,” said Raymo. Congratulations Connie Lonneman for a well deserved and great honor!
