2013 Rising Stars in Banking: James Klein

Business owner Paul Copping thought a full-service bank was an oxymoron. Then he met James Klein, senior vice president at Iowa-based Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, a bank that has grown to $600 million in assets since it opened in 2001. For Copping, the bank's growth is no surprise. "I've never seen a lender bring the benefit of his learning and experience as an added value for his customers as James has done," he said..In 2010, having recently become the sole owner of a Cedar Rapids company which sells refurbished aircraft parts, Copping set out to grow his business. For years, RIM Enterprises LLC had achieved $2 million in annual revenue. Copping wanted to grow that number to $10 million or more..To do so, the salesman-turned-owner brought on two partners, Allan Nordine and Edwin Meader; all three of them had 15 years of experience selling refurbished parts. But while the company now had the skill to grow, it didn't have the capital to expand its inventory. "My partners came on board in April 2010, in the middle of the financial crisis; we were running into a brick wall trying to get financing. But it wasn't our financial strength; banks that offered us money before just weren't interested in lending.".That's when Copping met Klein. "CRB&T had done deals with companies in the same business as us and knew we would be a good investment. James put together the loan; it was absolutely fantastic. Within a year, we grew to $8 million in revenue," Copping said..Since then RIM has expanded its relationship with CRB&T adding a line of credit in 2011, and increasing the line in 2012. Copping expects his company will reach its revenue goal by 2015..But, Klein has done more for RIM than provide funds, Copping said. "He has invested in us to make our management skills better. He takes an ongoing, never-ending interest in helping us run a better business," the business owner said..Copping said Klein stops by to see how things are going once a month and takes RIM's ownership team to lunch once a quarter. "We have banked with larger banks before; I never have had someone from a large bank stand in my office. When James takes us to lunch he'll ask what we are doing for A, B or C; he always listens and then offers advice," Copping said. "It's all the little things. On employee retention for instance, we once we told James about our company golf day. He asked if everyone in the company played golf. We realized we were missing people. Now we have a spa day for some of the ladies, other employees have a fishing day.".RIM enterprises is planning an executive retreat so management can pull out of the daily grind to talk about the company's future. "That was a suggestion from James," Copping said..Copping still remembers a piece of advice from Klein. "He told me once, 'Paul, if you ever needed anything done by a lawyer, CPA or any other professional don't choose someone because they will do it cheap, choose them because they'll do it well,'" Copping recounted. "That was some of the best advice I have ever received.".Klein attributes his ability to add value for clients like RIM Enterprises to the teaching of his mentor, Ron Larson, a retired banker who worked with Klein at CRB&T early on. "Ron was a thinker, I am more of a doer; he helped me to learn to take the time to listen and think before responding," Klein said. "That was a key lesson which helped in my relationship with RIM.".But Klein's mentor isn't all that has helped him stand apart. He has continued to educate himself as he has gained experience through his professional career. After graduating from the University of Iowa in 1995, Klein's first job was at Perpetual Savings Bank in Cedar Rapids. Starting as a teller in 1995, he became a branch manager by 1998 and was promoted to assistant vice president/market manager of the bank in 2000. In 2002, Klein took a similar position at Liberty Bank in Cedar Rapids where he stayed until 2004. He then moved to CRB&T to become a senior vice president, the position he holds today..Over the same period, Klein earned a master's of business administration degree from the University of Iowa in 2003. He completed the Iowa Bankers Association's school of banking in 2007, also completing IBA's lending school in 2009 and its leadership institute in 2010. Currently, Klein is three years into the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colo.; he expects to graduate this year..Today Klein's responsibilities stretch across the bank. In addition to leading the bank and providing strategic input on the executive management team, Klein also manages a commercial banking loan portfolio and a third of the bank's 85 employees. The 40-year-old also manages the retail side of the bank, as well as its mortgage, marketing and small business departments. He also sits on the bank's asset liability management committee as well as its pricing committee..With 17 years of experience, Klein is happy he can share it with employees and customers alike. "If you asked any of my employees what I value, they'd tell you education and community involvement," Klein said. "I love educating others; no one can take an education away from you.".This year Klein became an instructor for the Iowa Bankers Association's consumer credit school. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Kirkwood and Kaplan Universities, both located in Cedar Rapids, where he teaches money management and banking courses.Other 2013 Rising Stars in Banking include:Chris Conrad, First Bank & Trust, Sioux Falls, S.D.Karen Brekke, Frandsen Bank & Trust, East Grand Forks, Minn.Ty Lucas, Nebraskaland National Bank, North Platte, Neb.Korey Schow, Bank of Keystone, Neb.Christie Obenauer, Union State Bank, Hazen, N.D.Jeff Gilbert, Frontenac Bank, St. Charles, Mo.Matthew Howrey, North Salem State Bank, North Salem, Ind.