MEET MORE OF OUR 2024 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
Erin Pechanach, Becky Messmann and Erika Nowak all came to Ixonia Bank for its personalized approach to banking. This boutique commercial bank offers a community bank “white glove” service approach focused on providing customers with a personal touch – and the three women leaders are maintaining that reputation and significantly growing the business together.
“Customers come in and they know who their bankers are. And when they call, they get a person, not a phone menu,” says Nowak, executive vice president and CFO. “That goes not just on the teller line, but for our lenders as well on the commercial side. Ixonia Bank is passionately committed to building authentic relationships while delivering an elevated banking experience. That’s very important to us.”
“We all have one common goal – to see everyone here succeed and grow.”
– Erika Nowak
In-house departments and the bank’s smaller scale create an accessible, more personal experience for their clients.
“We don’t have to reach out to somebody in another state to make decisions. It’s all done here locally, which allows you to get answers faster,” says Messmann, senior vice president – director of human resources
That ethos benefits their team members as well. Messmann, Nowak and Pechanach all agree that teamwork helps move their mission forward. “We all directly support one another, which contributes to a collaborative and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the core of everything we do,” says Pechanach, first vice president – director of credit administration.
Q&A
What are some of the more rewarding aspects of your job?
BM: I would say for me, the most rewarding thing is when employees come to me with problems. I love to listen. I don’t know that I can always give the help that they might be looking to me for, but I may be able to connect them with the person or resource that can. I love when people trust me enough to come talk to me about whatever their issue or problem is. That’s great.
EP: Helping small business owners with starting a new venture. It could be purchasing a new piece of equipment, or starting a new business line. It’s great to be able to provide that assistance to someone who’s working so hard to bring their dreams to life. We did a lot of SBA PPP loans during the pandemic. And that’s when I really realized why I do what I do. It was rewarding to keep those businesses open and to help them flourish.
EN: I would say watching employees grow in their positions and flourish in the field. In the past I had an accounting clerk who was just phenomenal and had so much potential. We encouraged him to try going to school and really explore banking as a career path. He worked during the day and went to school at night and a few years later, he got a position as a controller at another institution. We were sorry to lose him but it was amazing to see him really develop a rewarding career path.
Do you have any advice for women looking to grow their career in banking?
EN: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I need to understand the whys, whats and hows behind what we’re doing. I truly believe that’s what has helped me grow is understanding the ins and outs of every process and how everything works. Sometimes it’s asking the same questions over and over again, because they happen in different ways at different places, and you get to fine tune things as you get older and learn different things.
EP: I agree, make sure to ask that question, tell them to explain why they’re doing this, or why is this important and that it is beneficial. It’s good advice generally, I even have told my kids as they go through high school and college to be inquisitive, ask ‘why? You need to figure out why things are happening, and that will only help you learn more, grow more and understand more.
BM: I would add, always be ready and willing to take on new roles and duties. Learning new things and having more insight will only benefit you in the long run.
