VCNB Banker Rescues Horses In Her Free Time

Posted on March 9, 2022 by vcnbfamily

VCNB Senior Business Banker Sue Ross proves that real heroes don’t wear capes. Sometimes they wear their business suits to the office and muck boots after work. That’s because the veteran banker has spent the last twenty years rescuing horses in her free time.

Many customers know Sue as the friendly banker at our Grove City branch. What they may not realize is that she and her husband Donald have what she calls a five acre ranchette where they care for rescued horses. Just this winter, they took in Waylon, an elderly horse who Sue wasn’t sure would even survive. Today, he is bright eyed with a strong will to live. He’s the fourteenth horse that Sue has rescued.

Sue grew up around horses on her family’s hundred acre farm but she spent many years without any horses in her life. “When 9/11 happened, it occurred to me that life is too short. I looked in the mirror and asked what I enjoy doing and what would make me happier. I’m most happy and content with horses.”

Around the same time, she read about the Last Chance Corral, an Athens based organization that offers a safe haven for rescued horses and orphaned foals. “I read about them and said I want to do that! I wanted to rescue a foal!” she exclaimed.

Since then, she has rescued seven foals. “I just love them. Babies are like kittens and puppies. You can run with them and play with them,” she explained. “They’re so much fun.”

When Sue heard about Waylon, she already had three horses in her care but felt compelled to help this elderly gent who was living in rural Ross County without shelter, enough to eat or even a tree to provide protection. She said his owner, though well meaning, lacked the resources to give Waylon the care he needed.

His feet badly needed attention and his teeth were all either missing or broken after at least seven years of neglected dental health. He was emaciated, coming in at about 400 pounds underweight for a horse of his age and stature.

She rescued him on the same day the ice storm hit Ohio, headed up Route 104 with Waylon in tow, just as the sleet began. She set to work, employing all the tricks in the book she had learned over her years of dealing with neglected horses. She credits her vet for providing top notch care, a healthy diet designed to help him gain weight, and much one-on-one attention for his gradual turn around.

Extra care is taken to give Waylon plenty of time to eat his special blend of hay and grains, adapting the routine of the other three horses to make sure Waylon can be included in their activities. He gets other allowances like a heated water bucket, more frequent brushing, a blanket and more frequent stall cleaning because he goes more than the others. “The other horses just look and I’m sure they’re wondering why that old man is getting all the attention,” she laughed.

“Our horses are like pets. They have big balls to play with and they all have distinct personalities,” she said as she began describing one that is particularly skilled at using his nose like fingers to unlock stall doors or to grab the clothing of his humans. “Ask them if they are ready to eat dinner and they’ll answer! They’ll carry buckets even when you don’t want them to and they love to play. They’re just a lot of fun. Like 1,000 pound dogs” she said.

For anyone interested in owning a horse, Sue warns that they are a rather costly investment, with monthly feeding/farrier/worming/vaccines topping out at around $200 for an average horse. She gets up at 5:30 or earlier to clean stalls and feed everyone before work. Then it’s the same routine in the evenings to clean and feed again. She credits a friend who is sponsoring Waylon to help offset some of his costs.

She also recommends visiting Last Chance Corral to get involved in their rescue efforts and to learn more about horses. She has worked with the Ohio ASPCA and touts them as great resources for information and for helping abused, neglected and abandoned animals.

Sue said she has no illusions that this elderly horse will live many more years but that won’t stop her from giving him her all. “He’s my baby and I know that nothing lasts forever but I can be sure he has a full belly and will be loved for as long as he’s here,” she said. “I hope that he makes it to spring and gets to lay out in the sun. Horses love to sunbathe and I want that for him, to soak in the sun with a full belly and knowing that he’s safe and loved.”

Heather Boothe To Manage VCNB McArthur Location

Posted on February 24, 2022 by vcnbfamily

VCNB is pleased to welcome Heather Boothe back to the bank family. Heather was recently named the new Branch Manager at the bank’s founding location in McArthur.

The Vinton County resident began her banking career in 1996 when she started with the bank as a part time teller. She worked her way up to full time employment as a teller, a customer service representative and eventually Head Teller. In this role, she took on added responsibility and got to serve her customers in an expanded capacity when she began providing some new account services as well.

In recent years, Heather has expanded her banking knowledge with positions at other financial institutions in the region. These experiences have given her an in depth knowledge of banking through positions like universal banker and assistant branch manager. This knowledge and experience will serve her well in leading the team in McArthur.

Yet her heart always was with her roots at VCNB. “I have always loved this bank. This is where I got my start. Bob Will was my first boss and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. He saw things in people and valued people. He valued customers and he taught me to do the same. I want our customers to know they’re more than an account number or a face in line. They’re our neighbors and friends and we will take care of them like we would our own family,” she said.

Heather is a Meigs County native who enjoys travel and the Cincinnati Bengals. She has one grown son, Alec Boothe. She looks forward to becoming more involved and representing the bank in the community. “I love the way our bank gives back to the community and I’m looking forward to being a part of that,” she said. “That’s the thing about community banking. We love our community and the people in it.”

Stop by the bank in McArthur to see Heather and to welcome her home.

Meet Your Banker: Callie Duhl

Posted on July 17, 2020 by vcnbfamily

In our Meet Your Banker Series, we visit with Callie Duhl. Callie is the Branch Manager of our Jackson County Banking Center in Jackson.

Callie Duhl is the Branch Manager of our Jackson County Banking Center in Jackson.

Chat with Callie about her life and career and one thing is clear. She is devoted to her community, family and bank customers. The Jackson native has spent her entire life in Jackson, graduating from Jackson High School and building a long banking career before joining the VCNB Financial Family last year.

Like many VCNB Branch Managers, she started her career as a teller, working her way through a variety of positions including head teller, assistant manager and lender, seeing the banking business from a variety of angles. “I’ve done lending for most of my career and that’s what I like the best. It’s fun helping people get the things they need or want, the things that improve their lives,” she said.

Yet, this isn’t the life path Callie had envisioned for herself. As a lover of the outdoors, she has always enjoyed spending time caring for flowers, mowing and doing other outdoor work. “I never gave a thought to sitting behind a desk eight to ten hours a day. However, this is the path that God lead me down. My Grandpa always told me that God has a big sense of humor,” she exclaimed. “I’m right where I’m supposed to be and I’m glad to be here.”

Callie and her husband Alan have a fifty acre farm that keeps them busy. They have been married for 35 years and have one son. Their son works for the sheriff’s office and his wife is an RN. They have four young children who Callie adores.

She also is active as a founding member and treasurer of the Jackson Area Kiwanis. “Up until Covid hit we were staying busy in the community. It’s been different this summer but everything has been different,” she said.

Callie praised her customers for being so patient with lobby limitations during the early months of the pandemic. “Our customers have been just wonderful. So patient and kind to wait their turn. We couldn’t ask for better,” she said.

She takes customer service very seriously. “It’s important to me that we know our customers and that we do as much for them as we can,” she said. “Most of the time, when someone comes in, at least one of us knows their name and I think that’s important for people to feel comfortable coming in and doing business with us. We have all the technology anyone could want and we have the products they’re looking for but most people are really looking to make a connection with their banker.”

Meet Your Banker: Katy Hanes

Posted on July 9, 2020 by vcnbfamily

Our Meet Your Banker series continues today with Katy Hanes who is the Branch Manager at our Friendly Bremen Banking Center on East Main Street in Lancaster.

Katy Hanes is the Branch Manager of our Friendly Bremen Banking Center on East Main St. in Lancaster.

For Katy, her job, family and connection to the agricultural community are so closely intertwined, it is hard to separate the three. The Amanda area native grew up in a farm family and is happy that her job allows her to serve so many customers who are part of the local agricultural community.

She grew up on a crop and cattle farm, belonged to 4-H for 12 years, and learned to value the agricultural community so much that she went after a degree in Agricultural Business at Ohio State University. While she didn’t intend to become a banker, Katy said that the job gives her an opportunity to help lots of people and to use her experience in agriculture to specifically help area farmers.

“One of the things I appreciate about working for a community bank is that we get to know our customers and their unique needs. Growing up on a farm, I understand a farmer’s business and their needs. They don’t have to explain their life and the challenges to me the way they would to someone without that background,” she explained. “And it’s sort of fun when a customer comes in and they recognize me from 4-H. We’ve never met but they remember me as that little girl showing her steer at the fair years ago. It’s important for a banker to be able to relate to their customers and this is an area where I can definitely relate.”

Today Katy lives on a 140 acre farm with her husband Calvin and their two kids. They have about 75 cows and their calves and enjoy the farm life. The farm, work and family keep her busy but she does find time to enjoy the bank’s involvement in various community activities. Her kids, ages five and seven, both love horses and their practice and competitions keep the whole family on the go.

“I talk a lot about agriculture because that’s what I grew up with and that’s what I know best. It’s what I’m most passionate about but I really love getting to know all kinds of people. We live in a great community and that shows in the wonderful customers we have here!”

Meet Your Banker: Sue Ross

Posted on July 2, 2020 by vcnbfamily

Our Meet Your Banker series continues today with Sue Ross who is the Branch Manager at our Franklin County Banking Center in Grove City.

Sue never intended to be a banker but after a forty year career there is no doubt that banking is her calling. Most of those years have been spent working for Grove City banks but the last five have been with VCNB.

Sue Ross is the Branch Manager of our Franklin County Banking Center in Grove City.

She started her banking career eleven days after graduating from Utica High School. She actually began working in lending, indirect lending, risk management, equipment leasing, and trust.

Sue spent a few years in a corporate environment where bankers devote most waking hours to work. “You worked 55 to 65 hours per week and it was all about doing more. There was no work life balance so it was a pleasant adjustment coming here,” she said. “They say no one ever puts on your headstone that you should’ve worked a little more and it’s true!”

Instead, she appreciates the reasonable work schedule and focus on customer relationships at VCNB. “I love generational banking! You take good care of mom and dad and when the time comes, you develop a relationship with their child as they need a savings account and a first car loan. As they’re getting married and need a home, as they’re raising their own children, the cycle continues because you were first a trusted advisor for their parents,” she explained.

Sue and her husband Donald live on a five acre ranchette with all their kids – three horses, two dogs and a cat. They spend a lot of time caring for their critter kids as well as helping elderly friends and neighbors.

She is active with the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Chamber Foundation Scholarship Committee. Sue also prides herself on being a resource for local seniors, has volunteered at local nursing homes and is an avid bingo caller for Evans Senior Center in Grove City. She volunteers with the Refuge, providing financial education and budgeting assistance to women who are overcoming addiction.

There are two quotes that Sue draws from for inspiration. The first is “never allow yourself to be too busy to make someone feel special.” The other is an Albert Schweitzer quote. “He said ‘aim for service and success will follow’ and I just think that says it all. It has been a rewarding career because I truly love serving our customers. The true reward is getting to know them and building long, lasting relationships with people who become your friends and sometimes become like family.”

Meet Your Banker: Matt Hearn

Posted on June 26, 2020 by vcnbfamily

Our Meet Your Banker series continues today with Matt Hearn. Matt is the Branch Manager at our Canal Banking Center in Canal Winchester.

Matt Hearn is the Branch Manager of our Canal Banking Center in Canal Winchester.

Ask Matt to talk about banking and it’s clear that it’s all about the customers for this California native. “I like being able to get to know my customers and I think they appreciate the personal touch they get from us. That’s not something that’s encouraged or even possible at big banks so it feels really good to offer it here,” he said.

Matt should know. He cut his teeth in banking by working his way up from Retail Banker to Branch Manager for a big bank in Lancaster. He spent about six years there before making the move to VCNB’s Lancaster West Fair Avenue branch. He was hired to be a Retail Banking Officer but quickly rose to the position of Branch Manager.

Earlier this year, he made another change by moving to our Canal Winchester branch which he manages today.

“I have found opportunities here to really get to know my customer. They come in and we have a chance to talk about their child who just graduated high school or about what they need from us. Nothing makes me happier than when they bring their dogs and we get to give them a treat,” he said with a laugh.

In his free time, Matt sits on the Income Council of United Way for Fairfield County. He’s been a member since 2017 and says their primary focus is on funding for shelters, food banks and emergency services.

He and his wife have been married for four years and have a one year-old daughter.

“The best part of my job is the relationships. Nothing makes you feel better about what you do than when a customer says they trust you or when a customer shows up in your new office just to see you.”

Meet Your Banker: Charlotte McCarty

Posted on June 12, 2020 by vcnbfamily

Today we continue our “Meet Your Banker” series by talking with Charlotte McCarty. Charlotte is the Branch Manager of our Vinton County National Bank in Wilkesville.

Charlotte McCarty is the Branch Manager of our Vinton County National Bank in Wilkesville.

Charlotte has spent most of her banking career serving the people of Wilkesville and it shows. That’s because almost everyone knows and respects the Vinton County native who started at the bank more than 25 years ago. After training in McArthur, she took up her post as a part time teller in Wilkesville and has since grown to hold different positions including Assistant Cashier, Head Teller, Branch Service Manager and now, Branch Manager.

She also holds the distinction of being the bank’s first Master Teller, a difficult achievement that proved her knowledge and skill as a Senior Teller. “It’s funny because when I started here I didn’t know anything about banking and wasn’t sure that I could even do the job. But I was very excited to come to work and really enjoyed it,” she reminisced.

“The thing about working in a small community is that you get to know almost everyone and they get to know you. It feels good when someone calls and asks for you. It tells you that that you’re doing something right – that you’ve built a relationship with that person and that they trust you to take care of them,” Charlotte said.

She knows all about building relationships, having grown up in a family of ten kids. “I love being part of a large family. The closeness of a big family is something really special and it’s nice always having so many people around for support. With that said, I didn’t want a large family of my own! I just had two,” she laughed.

Her two – a boy and a girl – are grown now. She has three grandchildren as well. Charlotte stays busy in her free time. Her husband Denver pastors the Fairview Church of Christ in Christian Union. The couple have been active in their church for their entire married life and she has taken on many roles including Sunday School teacher and song leader. She also looks forward to Wilkesville’s events like the annual Fish Fry and the Independence Day parade.

Many people have recently benefited from Charlotte’s generosity and talent as a seamstress. She’s made over 140 masks with sewing supplies she had in her stash. “I had all kinds of fabric here that I hadn’t done anything with and enough elastic to get started with. So when I heard that people needed masks I thought that’s something I can help with!”

She has made many dresses over the years including all of the dresses for her daughter’s wedding party and the wedding gown, embellished with hand sewn pearls. Her granddaughters and their friends benefit from her talent as well as she does the alterations for their special event dresses.

Back at work, Charlotte said she and her staff continue working to serve customers and to prevent disruptions for customers through these challenging times. “We are still able to help customers with anything they need even though our lobby wasn’t open for a awhile. We just want to keep everyone safe in the process and to do everything we can to satisfy our customers,” she said. “It has been different but we’re making it work.”

Meet Your Banker: JJ Wright

Posted on June 5, 2020 by vcnbfamily

Some of our lobbies are open while others are available by appointment only but we are still here to help with what you need! Today we continue our “Meet Your Banker” series by talking with JJ Wright. JJ is the Branch Manager of our Hocking Hills Banking Center in Logan.

While JJ has worked in our Logan office since 2018, customers in three markets will recognize him. That’s because he’s also been the Branch Manager for our Canal Banking Center as well as the Friendly Bremen Banking Center on East Main Street in Lancaster.

JJ Wright is the Branch Manager of our Hocking Hills Banking Center.

The 2006 Lancaster High School graduate has a degree in Business Administration from Liberty University. His career has been spent in banking, starting out as a teller and working his way up through the ranks at another bank before moving to VCNB in 2015 to be the Branch Manager in Canal Winchester.

“It’s going to sound cheesy but I love helping people, especially the problem solving aspect of what I do,” he explained. “I appreciate that we are taught about why a policy or procedure exists and the bank gives us the tools and leeway to work with our customers. We’re sometimes able to find ways to help the customer whether it’s helping them get approved for a car loan because their car just blew up or finding ways to help them stop over drafting an account,” he said.

JJ grew up in Lancaster but has lived in Hocking County for the last ten years. He and his wife LaBreeska will soon celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. The couple have two children – McKenna, who is five and Jayce, who is three.

In his free time, JJ has taken up woodworking, a hobby which he is able to share with his wife. “I do the building and she’s phenomenal at the finishing – whether it be with stain or paint. So a lot of times, I’ll be working on a project and she’ll be over there finishing another,” he said while describing the blanket ladders, tv stand and other pieces they have completed. “It’s just a really good way to let go of stress after a long day. It’s nice to have that creative outlet and to have that sense of accomplishment when you can see what you’ve done.”

He is also very involved in the New Life Christian Center, belongs to the Logan Rotary Club, and serves on the United Way of Hocking County Board.

Many Hocking County Fair supporters will recognize JJ and the Logan staff for their work organizing and running the fair’s livestock sale. “This is a ton of work that extends beyond the fair but it’s an incredibly rewarding thing to do. Those kids have worked so hard on their 4-H projects. We love the small part we play in helping them sell their animals at the livestock sale.”

While VCNB has taken numerous safety precautions, the Logan branch did have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in April. While everyone is healthy, they continue to operate with drive-thru service only. “We are profoundly grateful to our customers for their understanding and willingness to let us work with them to best serve their unique needs and circumstances. So many of them have been concerned about our health and I honestly can’t stress how grateful we are for their caring and cooperation.”

Meet Your Banker: Brittany Walters

Posted on May 22, 2020 by vcnbfamily

Today we continue our “Meet Your Banker” series by talking with Brittany Walters. Brittany is the Branch Manager of our Ross County Banking Center on Main Street in Chillicothe.

Brittany Walters is the Branch Manager of the Ross County Banking Center on Main Street in Chillicothe.

Brittany started her career, not in banking, but in customer service. She first worked for a major cell phone provider before becoming a personal banker at a big bank. Consequently, care for customer satisfaction is evident whenever she talks about helping customers.

She talks a lot about educating customers so that they can help themselves. “I don’t want to just tell a customer what kind of product they need. I like to guide them and help them feel comfortable with their choices,” she said. “It’s rewarding to educate someone about how their choices effect their credit and then to see their credit score go up because of their hard work.”

Brittany believes that offering this kind of education to customers is an important part of community banking. “You don’t find that community feel just anywhere but our involvement in the community allows us to be a resource to customers,” she said. “That extends to employees too. When your staff and coworkers feel like family, you all work together better. You help each other out more and you feel like we’re all in this together.”

The Jackson native went to Shawnee State University. She has been married to her husband Tim for eight years and the couple have two young boys. They live just outside Chillicothe where they have spent the last few years transforming their property with fruit trees, berry bushes and garden space. They even raise chickens for the farm fresh eggs and have enjoyed having baby chicks this spring.

She said they attempt to expand their crop every year and work to preserve beans, spaghetti sauce and other goodies to enjoy later. “We love doing anything outdoors! We especially enjoy hiking and spending time in the woods as a family,” she said. “And we love our garden! It’s a lot of work but it’s so rewarding to eat the food you grew yourself!”

Brittany is also involved in the community through annual events like Salvation Army bell ringing each Christmas and working the Buck Fifty. The Ross Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce is another organization she is involved with. She especially enjoys the Chamber’s quarterly New Member Breakfast which the bank sponsors. “It’s a lot of fun to network with new members. There’s good food and you get to hear about their plans for their businesses in the community and about how the bank might help,” she explained.

“And after all. Isn’t that what community banking is all about? Getting to know your neighbor and seeing how you can help?”

Meet Your Banker: Nicole Scott

Posted on May 14, 2020 by vcnbfamily

Here we continue our “Meet Your Banker” series by talking with Nicole Scott. Nicole is the Branch Manager of our Friendly Bremen Banking Center in Bremen.

Nicole Scott is the Branch Manager of our Friendly Bremen Banking Center in Bremen.

When Nicole talks about life as a community banker during COVID-19 the conversation quickly turns to others. “I miss seeing our regular customers and I worry about many who are struggling. In fact, I really miss a lot of the face-to-face contact that we’ve always taken for granted,” she said. “Most of all, I miss being able to shake hands with my customers.”

Nicole’s path to Branch Manager was somewhat unusual. She has a degree in Human Services and Corrections from Hocking College but she took a job with another bank’s operations department about fifteen years ago. The work suited her and she moved to a similar role at VCNB four years later. She calls her time in that department “rewarding and training like no other.”

In 2016, Nicole was involved in an accident that put her on a year-long path of recovery, nearly causing the loss of her arm. “I did some soul searching. That kind of experience makes you wonder what will happen if you don’t get better. It makes you question if you’ve done everything you should be doing” she said. “I define failure as making the choice not to do more when you know you can do more. So when I felt like I hit a plateau in my position in operations, I knew it was time to challenge myself and set new goals.”

She believed her purpose was to help customers. So she took the leap into the VCNB Personal Banker Program and worker her way up to Branch Manager in Bremen. Today she enjoys leading her branch employees and helping them grow. She also has strong feelings about community involvement. “I just love helping where I can.”

Nicole is Vice President for the Bremen Area Chamber of Commerce and will soon graduate from the Fairfield Leadership Program. She also seeks opportunities to show kindness to others both in her personal life and through charitable giving at the bank. For example, when she heard about an effort by the Mithoff to provide Fairfield County families with Easter baskets and holiday dinners, she jumped right in to help. “They provided dinners for about six hundred families and baskets for several hundred kids. What the bank was able to contribute, what I was able to contribute, was very small in the context of so many in our community who stepped up to help,” she said. “I was in awe of what they were able to accomplish with everyone pitching in.”

Nicole has three children and is the author of two published novels. She also enjoys long range rifle shooting and is proud to say she can hit a target at a thousand yards. An avid traveler, she seeks out unique and memorable experiences.

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