2016 Rising Stars in Banking: Joel Rochleau

Very few small towns in rural Iowa have the equivalent of a marketing representative. Springville, Iowa, however, does have one and his name is Joel Rochleau, senior vice president and branch manager of the Springville branch of the $90 million Security State Bank, Waverly..In March, Rochleau was promoted to senior vice president of the bank for both serving the Springville community and for growing his branch's loan portfolio by six times and deposits by nearly as much since he came on board in 2009. His branch now runs at a 91 percent loan-to-deposit ratio, up from a 25 percent ratio when he took charge..Security State Bank has been working to increase its service and support in Springville since 2005, said Clair Lensing, who owns Fayette Bancorporation, Marion, Iowa, the holding company for Security State Bank and two other Iowa charters.."The growth Joel has brought to the Springville branch has fulfilled the strategic goals of the bank in that market," Lensing said. "Joel is a very strong community banker who is equally supportive of economic growth and other related activities; he is very active in promoting Springville. He is like Springville's PR person.".NorthWestern Financial Review is honoring Rochleau as a Rising Star in Banking for 2016, along with seven other bankers..Rochleau has worked to raise the profile of Springville – a town of some 1,110 people a few miles east of Cedar Rapids-Marion, Iowa – in a few different ways. One example is his work to upgrade the town's welcome sign. Some 30,000 cars pass Rochleau's branch of Security State Bank every day on U.S. Highway 151, the main thoroughfare from Cedar Rapids to Dubuque, Iowa. As 2012-2013 president of the Springville Economic Development Corporation Rochleau led the community fundraising effort to upgrade its welcome sign. Now travelers notice Springville as a city that is investing in itself..A few years ago, Rochleau got into long distance running because he lost a bet on a football game and had to run a five kilometer race. He lost a bet again and had to run a half marathon. Now he has completed 14 half marathons. In November, he will participate in the New York City Marathon, which attracts some 55,000 runners from around the world for a race through all five boroughs of the city..Rochleau has turned his passion for running into another means to promote Springville: The Springville Extreme Quarry Run, which he helped organize. "Many small towns have mud runs or adventure runs; Springville is unique because it has a quarry," he said. "We have a few recreational runners in town. One day four of us all agreed that a run through the quarry would be a lot of fun. We devised a committee and started planning.".In August, the town hosts its Springville Fun Days which attracts about 2,000 people, many from Cedar Rapids and Marion. "On Friday we have a tractor pull and on Saturday we have a parade and concert that evening. We decided we would plan the Quarry Run for Saturday morning," he said. "People come from Iowa but also from outside Iowa. We even have some from the coasts come. We have about 300 runners and about 50 percent come from outside the community," Rochleau said. "People in Cedar Rapids, for example, think we are a long way away. This is really about getting people to know who and where we are.".Runners' registration is used to fund school programs and community improvements. Last year, funds went to a program that sends student, who might not otherwise eat dinner, home with a meal. The 2016 run raised money for walking and biking trails in town..Rochleau, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from Iowa State University, Ames, also supports Springville and Linn County in various ways. He is vice president of the board of the Springville School Foundation, treasurer of the Springville Lions Club, a director on the Linn County Farm Bureau Board and a member of The Linn County Fair Association. He also serves on the County Grant Fund Committee of the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation..Other 2016 Rising Stars in Banking honorees:Andy Schornack, Flagship Bank, Eden Prairie, Minn.Steven Erickson, Oregon Community Bank, Oregon, Wis.Krista Heiss, NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte, Neb.Darla Kauffman, First State Bank of Middlebury, Ind.Darin Johnson, Security State Bank Sutherland, IowaDave Mason, First International Bank & Trust, Bismarck, N.D.Bryan Toft, Community Bank Owatonna, Minn.