My name is Mark Packard. To introduce myself, let me share a little bit about the people closest to me. I am married to the amazing Wendy Lee Packard, who asked me out on our first date by sliding a deposit slip into the bank drive up with her name and phone number. What a gutsy move, how could I ever say no to a girl like that! We have three beautiful daughters who TRY to keep their father out of trouble. I have an amazing mentor and best friend who I have worked with for over 40 years, and just so happens to be my brother, Matt Packard. Come to think of it, he has tried to teach me lessons for almost 60 years. I am the last child of Cal and Betty Packard, who I love and miss dearly. I am a fifth-generation banker at Central Bank, which started in Springville in 1891.
Our bank is built on the importance of culture and the stories that have created that culture, which gives us a firm foundation to charter our way forward in a complex and ever-changing industry. Culture is not only important in our individual banks, but it is also a vital component for the Utah Bankers Association. So, who are we as an association? And what has Utah Bankers grown up to be since its beginnings in 1909?
Marriner Eccles, who formed First Security Bank in 1928 and later served as the chair of the Federal Reserve Board, stated in a speech given to the UBA in 1925, “The strength and usefulness of these organizations depend upon the cooperative efforts of the members. Our very progress is directly dependent upon our ability to work together. Today in a highly complex state of commercial and industrial organization, man depends not upon his own unaided strength, but upon his ability to work in great units. Progress is a growing participation of more and more people in more and more of the good things of life.”
What a quote. Substituting Utah Bankers, let me reiterate one part: “The strength and usefulness of Utah bankers depends upon the cooperative efforts of the members. Our very progress is directly dependent upon our abilities to work together.”
Combining this ability to work together with the strategic vision of UBA — to Promote, Protect and Provide — makes us a strong and cohesive organization that can confront the challenges we face today.
To achieve our goals to promote, protect and provide, we must do it together. Over the last 115 years, we have pulled together through good times and challenging times to create an organization of camaraderie, caring and action. That is the culture that has been built in the UBA, and you can see the examples of this culture from the beginning.
In 1909, there were 95 national banks in the state of Utah, including McCornick & Co., Walker Brothers, Zions Savings Bank, National Bank of the Republic, Deseret National and First National Bank, to name a few. There were also many small institutions spread throughout the state.
In June of 1909, the Salt Lake Herald-Republican describe the first meeting of the Utah Bankers with this headline: “Utah Bankers Meet to Form an Association — To Promote Best Interest of the Institutions of State and Promote against Crime.”
The association had 61 of those 95 banks as initial members its first year, and Lewis S. Hills of Deseret National Bank was the first president. Bankers have been the core of leadership from the beginning. In fact, the organization was run solely by bankers for almost 60 years. This example of service has been amplified throughout the years, as bankers have engaged in the UBA to create a powerful team to promote, protect and provide for the Utah banking industry. There have been so many bankers in the past that have paved the way and sacrificed their time and talents for the betterment of our industry through the UBA. Each of us can think of people in our own organizations and other banks that have done this, and I can think of three generations of my own family that have had the opportunity to serve with other bankers and UBA staff.
Since the mid-1960s, there have only been four individuals to help bankers run the organization: Fred Eberhard, Harold Anderson, Lawry Alder and Howard Headlee. Each leader’s personality has been different, and each has promoted the goals of UBA in a unique way, while always moving the association forward.
Currently, we are blessed to have the bright, creative, tenacious and hard-working Howard Headlee leading us. We also need to thank his wife, Tana, for her sacrifice, and we appreciate her willingness to share Howard with us as he works long hours and is away from home.
But Howard can’t do it alone. The team that has been built at UBA is amazing! This team supports and helps us in so many ways. Becky, Sara, Brian and Beth are vital pieces in making the organization a success.
As we all now know, Becky is retiring at the end of this year. Her dedication to UBA is unmatched, her friendship is felt by all and her love for bankers and the industry is unrivaled. She will be missed! Each person in the UBA office is a skilled steward of their area, and they continually raise it up and prepare it so that the next person can take it to higher heights.
So, what role do we play? As I look around our great state, I see hours and years of service and dedication to Utah bankers and the industry. Thank you for all you and your organizations do for the UBA!
Your great work is embodied by this quote from Roy Simmons, a banking icon and leader of Zions National Bank for many years: “The only way to truly appreciate what you have is to work for it.” He also said in 1960 to the Junior Chamber of Commerce, “The only way you get ahead is to do something that no one asks you to do — do it on your own. Walk that extra mile.”
We can’t become complacent in our participation with UBA. It is a team sport, and we must do our part, continually elevating and promoting our game so that UBA can progress and move forward. That could mean supporting the committees, being more active with the state legislature, sending more bankers to D.C. to visit representatives or having employees participate in the Executive Development Program, Emerging Bank Leaders or the Women’s Conference. By engaging our employees and providing these opportunities, we enable the next generation to become protectors, who are invested in furthering the great works of past bankers.
I encourage you to sit down individually with your management and write down a few additional things that will increase your organization’s involvement with the UBA. The sacrifice you make as an individual and an organization will be returned to you, your bank and future generations of bankers many times over.
I’d like to close with a quote from NFL quarterback Tom Brady, from his Hall of Fame induction speech: “The foundation of a successful team, a family or business is asking what you can do to support the mission … Everyone (is) committed to winning. Everyone (is) selfless. Everyone (is) always asking, ‘What can I do to help the team win?’ As the great John Wooden said, ‘Happiness begins where selfishness ends.’ To be successful at anything, the truth is you don’t have to be special. You just have to be what most people aren’t. Consistent, determined and willing to work for it. No shortcuts.”
I love this quote because it represents our culture at UBA. We are consistent, determined and willing to work. We honor those who have come before us. We are working to ensure a better banking environment for today and in the future. This is who we are at the Utah Bankers Association.
