Pub. 4 2014 Issue 2

23 SPRING 2014 Getting to know Jim Lundy w 1. How did you begin your career in banking? After practicing law from 1974 through the end of 1983, my wife and I moved our four young chil- dren from Flagstaff to Phoenix on New Year’s Day, 1984 and I began my banking career as a manage- ment trainee with United Bank of Arizona. My goal was to become a commercial lender and then build off that experience as the founda- tion for a career in commercial banking management. 2. What are you most proud of regarding your leadership at Alliance Bank? Navigating the severe financial crisis and continuing to make new loans and build new commercial relationships when the banking in- dustry in general was pulling back from the Arizona market. The state needed bankers that under- stood our economy and believed in our region’s future, and Alliance Bank’s record of continuing to lend in the 2008-2010 timeframe through the present day has been excellent. 3. What is something about you that would surprise our readers? I was a 147 lb. starting linebacker and the leading tackler on my high school football team (the Miami Vandals). Of course we went 2 & 8 that year, beating only Ray and Superior. We were stopped cold by Snowflake, clobbered by Safford, mauled by Eloy… well, you get the picture. In retrospect, it was a great background for being a banker in 2009, dealing with dif- ficult borrowers, critical regulators and nervous investors. You’d better be willing to go to the office every day willing to do battle even when you seem to be losing more than you are winning. 4. Describe a perfect Sunday. It’s either the first or middle Sunday of two weeks at the beach. At least some of our grown children and grandchildren are part of the scene. We go to church and out to break- fast and then head for the sand. Later that evening we barbeque burgers. Since “vacation” just started, no one is leaving for work on Monday. No Sunday Blues! 5. What are you reading these days and what books would you recom- mend as “must reads?” I just finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and have also recently read all the Daniel Silva novels based on the Israeli agent, Gabriel Allon. My vote for the “Great American Novel” is The Winds of War by Herman Wouk, and the most useful book I have ever read as it relates to success in business is On Writing Well by William Zins- ser. Anyone who wants to improve their communication skills should read that book (preferably more than once!).