Ralph Lassa Email & Phone Number

Wisconsin, United States

Fort Atkinson & Surrounding Areas

Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, United States

Jefferson, Wi

Lawton, Oklahoma Area

I bring more than 16 years of community banking experience to my role as VP Commercial Lender at City National Bank. After a year of productive contributions, I am thoroughly knowledgable of my loan relationships and have an easy, professional rapport with new and existing customers. I quickly understand customers’ needs and meet them with sincerity and respect. This genuinely cooperative attitude towards my business customers results in the ability to quickly establish trusting relationships. Additionally, I lead our Customer Relationship Program. This program is a formalized effort to maintain and strengthen connections with customers. I help coordinate activities of eight co-workers and team up with the Treasury Cash Management department and our Comanche county branch locations to develop business and to help ensure we meet all aspects of our customers’ banking needs.Primary aspects of duties and activities:- Working steadily with commercial lending staff and executive management to build and maintain customer relationships.- Proficiency in all aspects of the lending process: solicitation, negotiation, underwriting, closing, monitoring, collecting.- Detailed focus on every loan for compliance with policies and procedures. - Coaching peers on “SNL,” a third-party prospecting program to map and research businesses. - Collaborating with local branches and the Treasury Cash Management department to prospect and cross- sell.- Member of the Intranet Governance Committee.- Member of the RCM Committee, which approves transaction limits for unique accounts.Accomplishments:- Created the bank’s Customer Relationship Program, including all procedures and documentation.- Successfully restructured multiple weak and problem credits and improved customer relationships.- Significantly contributed to increased collaboration between the lending and treasury cash management departments.

Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Serving as a SOS Financial Counselor was an honor that broadened my financial expertise and influenced me profoundly. The SOS program supports Surviving family members of fallen soldiers as well as widows of military retirees. Interacting with Survivors required the ability to communicate compassionately with grieving family members. I repeatedly witnessed spouses and families thrust into financial chaos upon the death of their active or retired service member. Advising these family members about their financial situation often brought greater sorrow instead of security. I remain in contact with one such widow of a military retiree. Her household income was over $5,000 a month while her husband was alive. After his death, she was left with only social security of $900 a month and no savings. The great importance of planning for the future was made crystal clear to me over and over with such examples.Job duties:- Provided financial advice, guidance, and administrative support to eligible Survivors.- Partnered with government and non-government organizations to assist Survivors.- Planned and coordinated annual events and monthly Survivor support group meetings.- Conducted briefings for military personnel from command level to enlisted as well as various local non-military groups. - Completed detailed reporting on each client and on program activities.- Presented Banking and Savings Financial Readiness classes for new soldiers.- Contributed to training of unit financial guidance officers.- Authored financial education articles for quarterly SOS newsletters.- Led the entire program during a two month transition between program managers, while fulfilling financial counselor duties.Accomplishments:- U.S. Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service - 2015- Initiated the inclusion of financial education to the Growing Spouses Army Strong program.- Instigated annual Gold Star Luncheons at the Commanding General’s residence.Remember the Fallen

Northcentral Illinois

Gehant Bank is a small, family-owned community bank in rural north-central Illinois, a highly productive agricultural area primarily growing corn and soybeans. Gehant Bank opened in 1897 and has a rich history as a family-owned and operated bank to this day. I was the branch manager and key team member in establishing its first and only full-service branch. As the sole branch Loan Officer, I hit the ground running and developed the loan portfolio from the ground up, forming meaningful relationships with our customers. Commercial and agricultural loans comprised the majority of my portfolio. As a result of my initiative, branch growth exceeded forecasted profitability by almost two years. Within four years, I was promoted to Vice President. My loan portfolio growth comprised one-third of bank-wide loan growth during my tenure with the bank.Along with Loan Officer and Branch Manager, I was also the bank BSA Officer. I restructured the BSA program resulting in highly favorable FDIC exams. I enjoy working to improve processes. In addition to restructuring the BSA program, I revised the ALLL Calculation Methodology and performed the quarterly ALLL calculations. I also revised and performed IRR monitoring and reporting. Additional duties and accomplishments:- Principal bank-wide Loan Officer for secondary market home loans.- Revised or created multiple policies & reports: - Loan Policy - BSA Policy and program documentation - ALM Policy - ALLL Calculation Methodology & Quarterly Calculation Report - HPML and ATR documentation - Loan Checklists- Performed quarterly BSA internal audits.- Completed periodic internal loan file review.- Managed the bank branch in every respect, including interior and exterior building maintenance, systems functions, personnel oversight, and teller support. - Regular communication with auditors and bank examiners to discuss findings and recommendations.

Northcentral Illinois

Living in the agricultural heartland of rural, north-central Illinois provided the unique opportunity to develop relationships with the area’s farming families. Such connections grew into good friendships. As a result, I worked with three different farming operations in the evenings and on weekends during their busy harvest season. I developed a love for Midwest farming and consider this experience to have been a great pleasure and privilege. I worked with Siskedor Farms for my final 5 harvest seasons. I enjoyed the work, operating the very large equipment, and more importantly, the owner became a close friend and influential mentor.

Stanislaus National Forest

As a Wildland Firefighter with the US Forest Service, I worked on hand crews, which are comprised of 10 to 20 individuals whose primary role is to create fuel breaks in areas inaccessible to machinery. Each crew member uses a particular type of hand tool to clear vegetation and create a fuel break of the required width that looks like a dirt path. Each year, I was selected to one of the two prestigious “sawyer” positions - running a chain saw at the front of the line. I also operated crew haul vehicles and helped prepare crew time reports. It was physically grueling but fulfilling work. This work helped put me through college without incurring any debt, for which I am very thankful and proud to to have accomplished.

Pinecrest, Ca

Between graduation from Columbia College and continuing my education at CSU Stanislaus, I worked at nearby Dodge Ridge ski resort. There, I was introduced to the world of snowboarding. I fell in love with it! During my first season at Dodge Ridge, I learned about wildland firefighting. Thank you, Dodge Ridge, for all of the great opportunities!

Bachelor'S Degree, Finance, General, Summa Cum Laude

Associates, Business Administration, Accounting Concentration, Valedictorian

Activities and Societies: Jazz program volunteer and musician.Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra mountains near Sonora CA, Columbia.