"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Leadership Word Cloud
This word cloud was derived from recommendations made by my former team. The complete recommendations can be found on my LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bearolemodel/.
Technology and Innovation
I created a video kiosk to improve service in the branches. While it didn't take off like the iPhone, it was embraced by members and allowed me to present to others at the Maine Technology Users Group. The most recent advance was moving the contact center to the cloud, allowing for increased efficiency, service, and employee engagement.
More about me
Leadership
"Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position."
- Brian Tracy
Yes, the feedback from my former team is overwhelmingly positive, but it came as a result of building strong work relationships through constant communication, empowerment, and leading by example. A member of my team assumed my role when I left Lighthouse, and other former team members have taken on leadership roles both inside and outside the organization.
Professional Growth
"Work harder on yourself than on your job."
- Jim Rohn
Continuous learning and growth help me stay curious and open to new ideas, foster innovation, and inspire others to do the same. I've been fortunate to learn from several leadership programs, but graduating from an extensive nine-month advanced management program through Cornell University was the highlight. I also recently received an Agile Expert (AgileXP) certification in March of 2026, which includes certifications in SSGI-CAP, Scrum Master, Project Management, and Lean Practitioner.
Results
"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."
- Colin Powell
Through effective leadership, professional development, and a strong commitment, my teams have achieved great success. This includes meeting key performance indicators (deposit growth, loan growth, customer satisfaction, decreased attrition), and innovation (moving the call center to the cloud, creating the branch kiosk, reorganization to allow for additional career growth), to name a few.
The specifics
A more formal resume can be found below, which includes a deeper dive into my professional career.
Finally, what is leadership without team building? The last picture involves taking one for the team to benefit local food shelters.
