02 Broadcaster Press January 27, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com 1101 Announcements Events St. Peter-Greenfield Cemetery Association Annual Meeting, January 30, 6pm, 20 North Pine Street, Vermillion. 1200 The Art of Success Series: First Dakota National Bank: All in the Family By Alan Dale alan.dale@plaintalk.net Editor’s Note: It is has been quite the adventure working on this, The Art of Success, series here for the Plain Talk. For four months we have highlighted some of the bigger trend setters, best standard bearers, and shining examples of what success in all forms looks like The goal was simple: Present those who are successful at what they do so not only would Vermillion know about these wonderful stories, but also to provide motivation. If any one person were to read this series and they themselves had a dream to begin a journey of their own, maybe they could glean some great points of reference to further their desires of becoming great at what they hope to do. We wanted to provide those within our readership who have a dream of their own, something tangible they could hold on to and say: “Hey if they did it this way, maybe I can too.” If even just one were to become a success because of this series than the Art of Success indeed was successful. We wrap up the series with the oldest business entity known to Vermillion: First Dakota National Bank. It is truly a story of a longterm presence here that has never wavered in doing what’s best for the people here. We know this series was a huge success and very popular with our readers, but don’t fret, this is only the beginning (see related column on Page 4). The Plain Talk has plenty other series like these planned, but just with varying, new angles. Success is inherent in Vermillion and now we put the exclamation mark on our desire to show this by presenting…First Dakota National Bank. So Long, So Vital South Dakota hadn’t become a state yet when banking in Vermillion was a vital part of daily life and commerce. Back in the days of horses being the main mode of transportation, First Dakota National Bank took life in Yankton first back in 1872, making it today the oldest of its kind in the Dakota Territories. Some people would make the 25-plus mile trip west to do their business with First Dakota National Bank. It was in 1988 that First Dakota National Bank made its move to Vermillion official when it set up shop at its current location at 111 Court Street after acquiring the location from American State Bank of Yankton. Before that it was built as Vermillion Bank as a branch of American State Bank of Yankton, the bank operated out of a trailer in what is now its parking lot. Since then, success in Vermillion has maintained itself for all that time since in part for how it maintains good people. “It’s a great company to work for because they reward people who do a good job, give you flexibility to make decisions locally and want your input on decisions on a local business,” Farron Pratt, president of the Vermillion branch of First Dakota National Bank, said. “They reward and treat their employees very well. “It is a family owned business and they understand that they have to surround themselves with good people. They treat them right, continue to treat them right and they don’t want to go anywhere else.” Then of course with loyal and dedicated employees in place, the residual effects are felt by the most important people: the customers. “We help a lot of people realize their dream of starting their own business, owning TODD’S ELECTRIC SERVICE their own business, operating their own business,” Pratt said. “It’s rewarding from that standpoint. Sometimes you get to know some of these people better than their own families because they share these types of things with you behind closed doors when they talk to you about where they want to take their business. “There is a reward for helping those kind of people, unfortunately we can’t help everyone.” Tammy Widemann, a vault teller for nearly 18 years at the Vermillion location, is the longest serving employee with the bank and finds her job to be more than just a place of work. “I feel like I am home every day and I am very comfortable here,” Widemann said. “I love Vermillion and it’s a great community. It’s a good mix with the college kids where you have new and updated and then you have those who have been here forever. That mix works. We are always out to please the customers and we have a good relationship with them so it makes it easier.” Pratt, who arrived in Vermillion in September of 2002 to take his current post, has been in banking for nearly 25 years and is glad he made the move. “I knew one of the individuals within the company I used to work for,” Pratt said. “I met with him and that meeting went very well. I met a gentleman named Denny Everson who was head of the AG Division at First Dakota National Bank and he was the reason why I work with First Dakota National Bank today. It was a great move.” Since then he has learned some key points that lead to success and what has made his company successful. “First of all you have to surround yourself with good people because you are only as successful as the people around you, especially in my job,” Pratt said. “Even if you are a sole proprietor you have to have a good banker, a “The Line To Power” Design/Build • Fiber Cabling • Commercial • Residential Service Calls • Boom Truck with Auger • Trenching Serving the Beresford and Vermillion Areas 1-800-560-2518 1221 Cornell St., Vermillion, SD • 605-624-5642 201 NW 13th St., Ste. 3, Beresford, SD • 800-560-2518 The Public is Invited to Attend! 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Running or Not Sell your Car or Truck TODAY Free Towing! Instant Offer: 1-888-420-3805 (MCN) First Dakota Natinonal Bank in Vermillion has had a long- DONATE YOUR CAR, standing place in the city. TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERI- ALAN DALE / THE PLAIN TALK “I am glad that I work for good accountant, a good something that has that network. much history behind it,” “You also have to have Widemann said. “I think the constant, good reason why it is what it is, is communication with those that when they brought in people. You need to keep Larry, things changed. He has seeing what’s working, what needs to get better. Those two a work ethic that I have never seen anything more superior. things are key in my mind for a business person to have. He is very connected to the You have to have that synergy people who work with him. He makes you feel like you and that makes teamwork.” That teamwork and other personally are important to the success of the business. key items can mean the “He brought in people difference in creating a top that he knew were loyal to business. him and would be loyal to “When I look at success him and would work with from a business or financial him. Everyone that came in, standpoint most people come in and know what they including me, you found that are going to do when they go place where you wanted to please him and you were into that,” Pratt said. “Where proud to be a part of what he they sometimes fall short is was a part of.” on the financial end and Then of course there was that’s where having a good upper management’s attitude banker goes a long way to not to stand pat. help those individuals and “You have to be able to see something in the change because the banking numbers to help them industry has changed so understand them better and much and so fast,” make better decisions based Widemann said. “The fact on them. Don’t forget about the financials, that’s a real key that they are on top of it when he is an old school guy, for success.” Success wasn’t guaranteed is pretty impressive. “They are on top of all the back in the 1980s as the e-mobile and all the banking company struggled before online. It still has its same Larry Ness stepped in as the rooted fundamentals. Larry’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the boys are taking over and he is stepping back a little more. It company in 1983. will be interesting to see their That tenuous time keeps perspective on it and how it everything in perspective. plays out. That could be a big “We never take anything for granted because way back change.” One thing that hasn’t when Larry Ness took over, needed to change is how well the bank was in a position to fail,” Pratt said. “Today we are they take care of their customers. over a billion dollars in “It’s been a super, good assets.” relationship,” Dick Hammond, a customer for 35 years, said. “I have been a customer for both personal banking and in 1988 when I started my business it was a natural to go to First Dakota National Bank. They have been a great partner in running my business. 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