Blake Burkhart

For Blake Burkhart growing up attending powwows with his grandparents exposed him to the Chickasaw work ethic that has made him who he is today.

“It was at those powwows that I learned how our nation was made up of the unconquered and unconquerable people,” Blake shared during a recent meeting at Bank2. “My Chickasaw heritage has inspired me to not give up. My ancestors were people of grit and gumption. Much of my desire for success comes from them.”

Blake is another fine example of the caliber of young people that are proud to call themselves a Chickasaw. I have had the privilege in the last few years to work with some of the best and without question Blake is among the top of the list.

In 2004 Blake was selected to participate in an executive internship program at Bank2. The goal of the program is to expose college students to real life executive level business situations that will ultimately serve them in their careers.

Blake literally became my shadow for several months. He sat in and participated in many important and critical decision making meetings. I recall how impressed visiting executives were with the way he handled himself and became involved in our discussions.

“As a student I didn’t know what to expect having the opportunity to participate in executive level business meetings, Blake said. “It was a little intimidating at first but Ross brought me along and encouraged me to observe and learn from what I experienced. Working along side him has helped me with my interaction with clients as a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual.”

In addition to day-to-day activities as my personal intern, Blake helped to develop a capital plan presentation for the Bank2 Board of Directors and Governor Anoatubby. While his presentation was impressive, I was most impressed with his attitude when I asked him to help with less than glamorous activities, like the time I asked him to reorganize a storage room. He never blinked an eye. He always did what I asked and in a positive manner.

“At Bank2 I learned a lot about leadership, time management and how to conduct an efficient and effective team meeting,” Blake said. “In essence, being a good leader means meeting the needs of others. That includes customers and employees. When you are the top executive it’s likely that you will be the first to arrive and the last to leave. In the end, rolling up your sleeves and helping people is what matters most, not the number of zeros on your paycheck.”

With men like Blake Burkhart on the horizon, the future of the Chickasaw Nation has never looked brighter. The sky is the limit for this Bank2 protégé. I’m proud to know that Bank2 has played a role in Blake’s future as he provides financial needs analysis for his clients at Northwest Mutual. No doubt he gains great satisfaction knowing he is assisting his clients with investments, life insurance, estate preparation and retirement planning. If he can ever be of assistance to you then by all means give your fellow Chickasaw a call at 405-843-8391.

Ross A. Hill is president-CEO of Bank2. Bank2 is a growing $85 mil- lion full service financial institution with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Okla. Bank2 is owned 100% by the Chickasaw Nation. It’s About Money is published monthly by Bank2 as a financial service to members of the Chickasaw Nation. To learn more about the many great financial services and Bank2 home loan programs designed especially for Native Americans, call toll-free nationwide, 1-877-409-2265 or visit our Web site at www.bank2.biz