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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2013)
business january8 2013 Vernonia US Bank Has a New Manager Matt Stone has done a lot in a Stone considers himself sort of a as a volunteer, after talking with local short time during his career at US Bank. “poster boy” for moving around the US firefighters at his bank branch. “ I was Now he is the new manager of the Ver- Bank system as he has worked himself able to be a volunteer in the community nonia branch. up the company ladder. He started out I worked in, which was really great,” he Stone started working in Verno- as a part time teller and was promoted says. nia on November 16, 2012 as the new to the position of Universal Banker after Stone then moved to the Raleigh branch manager. Stone says he Hills Branch where he worked as is happy to be working in Ver- a Personal Banker, which was a nonia and wants to try to help much busier with a different cus- the community professionally in tomer base. “I learned a lot about whatever ways he can. time management and about be- A California native from ing efficient,” says Stone. After the Bay Area, Stone moved to a year, Stone was promoted to Oregon with his wife Natalee in Customer Service Manager and 2006 settling in Hillsboro. Matt moved to the Farmington office and Natalee joined her parents in Aloha where he learned about and brother in Forest Grove a operations and working with few years ago, where they built staff. From there Stone went a home in a new development back to the Tanasbourne office just five doors down the street where he had started and took from her brother and family. a position as a Small Business Natalee’s parents also live close Specialist. “That was a position I by. had applied for before but didn’t Shortly after moving to get, but was something I really Oregon, Stone began interview- wanted to pursue,” says Stone. ing for positions in the banking Matt Stone is the new Branch Manger at US Bank in Vernonia. In that position Stone says he industry. He took a job for a worked exclusively with small short time with Wells Fargo before being six months, which combines a Banker business clients, helping them with fi- offered a position with US Bank. “It and Teller position. “That was my fa- nancing, commercial real estate, budget was a no brainer for me,” says Stone. vorite position, just because I got to talk management, investments, and business “US Bank was where I really wanted to with more people and there is so much banking. Stone says he sees that posi- be. ” Stone started at the Tanasbourne you can do,” says Stone. tion as good preparation for the Bank branch working as a teller. Stone then moved to the Cor- Manager position he now holds because Stone, who is enthusiastic, ear- nelius office as a Universal Banker and there are so many moving parts to small nest and personable, quickly moved up Personal Banker where he worked for business management. through the ranks at US Bank. “A lot of several years. Stone says he enjoyed the Stone became aware of the Man- times with US Bank, if you see some- small town feel of working there where ager position in Vernonia and took some one new often it is because someone has he knew most of the customers by name. time to explore the town, the branch received a promotion,” explains Stone. Stone, who had taken some junior col- and meet with the District Manager be- “Often times they can’t do that within lege courses in Fire Service before mov- fore applying for and accepting the job. the branch you are in because there isn’t ing to Oregon, says he was motivated “I put a lot of thought into this type of a position available.” to join the Cornelius fire department move,” says Stone. “Since I didn’t know from the editor continued from page 3 ranks of the rodeo queen world, from Miss Rodeo Columbia County to Miss Rodeo Oregon and all the way to the top, as Miss Rodeo America. I would also like to thank all our other special contributors who have provided feature articles throughout the year: to Karen Miller for her work on our Senior Stars stories which acknowl- edges and shares the stories those spe- cial folks in our community-our senior citizens; to Jill Hult who has stepped in on numerous occasions over the years to help us with reporting and fea- ture stories, to Bill Langmaid who has shared his passion for our community on several different subjects; and to our two student interns during the past two school years- Nate Izzett and Savannah Brown, who shared their insight and perspective into the life of the youth in our community. They say it takes a village to raise a child. The same could be said for publishing a community newspaper. It takes a lot of different perspectives, ideas, and points of view to make this a well-rounded publication. Thank you again to all of you who have shared your time and energy, your art, your photos, your stories, your thoughts and ideas and your voices. I couldn’t do it without you. anything about the branch, the commu- nity and the management model here, I wanted to be sure that I was doing what was in the best interest for myself and for the branch. I didn’t want to go some- where that wasn’t going to be a good fit.” Obviously, Stone decided to take the position here in Vernonia. Stone and his wife Natalee have two boys, Dylan who just turned three and Luke who will be two in March. “My family is hugely important to me,” says Stone. “Having my in-laws and brother in-law close by is great.” Stone says he likes sports and is a San Francis- co Giants and 49ers fan. He says when he moved to Oregon he chose to be a Beavers fan, only because the team col- ors matched the Giants-if he had grown up in Oakland and been an A’s fan, he would have picked the green and gold Ducks. He says he also enjoys working and relaxing in his yard and spending time gardening and also working in his garage on his truck and other household projects. Stone says he actually enjoys the commute back and forth from For- est Grove toVernonia. He has been get- ting to know his staff, the community, the people, and the local businesses. “I want to get to know as many people as possible,” says Stone. “Living in Forest Grove, I love the idea that I know my neighbors and talk with them and the sense of commu- nity we have. And I know that that is here in Vernonia,” says Stone. “At the end of the day, I’m here to help people financially, that is my job. I just want to make a difference.” Vernonia Health Board is pleased to announce the opening of the Vernonia Health Center February 19, 2013 Scott Laird Editor and Publisher Vernonia Computer Services Computer problems? We can help. Hardware testing, repair, replacement Mac – Windows – Linux Software install/upgrade Virus/spyware removal Custom systems built Housecalls Available Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-6 and by appointment Bill Langmaid (971) 998-3705 bill@rangelights.com 7 Local resident Tera Roberts, NP will be the Health Care Provider Mon & Wed 1:00-5:00 PM Tue 3:00-7:00 PM 510 Bridge Street, Vernonia To Schedule an appointment Call 800-244-4870
