So what do Maryland, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan have in common? Me! Yup six states in a day and 8 in 24 hours. Not bad, but not sure it’s a record. So, the days of flying first class to Europe or Australia are gone, but now I can ride through America’s heartland and have Kopp’s famous frozen custard, I like it.
Right now I am in recovery mode, but I am truly happy with the results of the journey. I just finished a great business dinner in Grand Rapids with the CU Answers folks – the people who make, “bank in a box for the rest of us.” Not only can they provide us with an entire back office staff – they will make our calls – do the collection work we hope to avoid – balance our books, and right now give me all sorts of ideas on how we can stay afloat in the difficult first year.
As the wine is poured Laura Vilker, even offers to improve our business card, and take my daughter (who I am travelling with) thrifting– now that is Midwestern kindness. Her husband, Jim Vilker, a legend, is seated directly across from me. Jim has an amazing resume having been both an examiner and run bank operations throughout the Midwest. Right now he is going on about how arcane the regulators can be. Yup, we are getting a little worried about that. Everyone agrees that the regulators will have no idea what to make of us, and that that is a good thing.
Tomorrow promises to be a key stop on our road. I get to kick the digital tires of the bank in a box – I can’t wait….