Anita holds a M.S. in Education from Iowa State University and B.S. in Journalism from the University of Kansas. Anita worked for Iowa State University and was the Program Manager for Science Bound. She has since retired and is involved in several community organizations, including councilwoman for the City of Ames, secretary of the Ames branch of the NAACP and finance chair for Friendship Baptist Church in Ames. Anita lives in Ames and enjoys spending time with her adult children and two grandchildren.
Anita believes that Northwest Bank has a passion for serving customers, helping their communities prosper, and taking care of their employees.
As a follower of Christ, Anita always wants to leave people and organizations (even if only in a small way) better than she found them.
Ann began her banking career in 1979, with experience as a Commercial Real Estate Assistant, Banking Officer, Mid-Market Commercial Banking, and managed many bank locations in the Des Moines, IA market. She is currently retired and enjoys quality time with friends, family, and Northwest Bank.
From experience, she actively believes in community banking and states that Northwest Bank embodies the very best of community banking. Ann enjoys seeing the employees and company evolve and grow throughout the years. She agrees that the board is a variety of wonderful business professionals that represent many industries and communities where Northwest Bank is located.
Ann sees that the organization cares deeply about the people and communities they serve and work to support the efforts of management to continue to provide a fiscally sound organization people want to work for and where customers are happy to bank.
In addition to her classroom education, Ann’s best education came from pure experience. From listening, watching, time with mentors, and people of influence (parents, friends, colleagues, bosses, teachers, and her husband).
Brent has an Ag Business degree from Iowa State University and 15 years of sales and marketing experience after graduation. He had the opportunity to move back to his family farm in Humboldt, IA and joined John Deere to help launch their entry into commercial application sector. Today, Brent has transitioned full-time to his family farm operation due to continued expansion. Brent is on the local Farm Bureau board, served as a 4-H leader, and coaches youth football and basketball travel teams.
Brent finds Northwest Bank to be a very innovative bank as it relates to customer contact (Comm center, bank hours, ITMs) and the intent to provide a rewarding environment for employees. He expresses that identifying top notch individuals in small communities and retaining them once they are trained is the key to success of Northwest Bank along with the commitment financially to funding community projects and events. In his first few months of serving on the board, he noticed that the board is a proponent of a culture where customers and employees come first.
Brent shares that the management team at Northwest Bank is a very motivated group and always looking for a better way to approach the market and to assist employees in making their job more efficient.
Brent and his family enjoy traveling and vacationing in the mountains or on a lake along with golfing, attend Iowa State sporting events, and concerts.
Casey received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. He has a variety of background experiences from being the DC, Press Secretary for a Senator, a Management Consultant for Accenture Strategy, and now working at Mills-Shellhammer-Puetz Insurance Agency.
He expresses that Northwest Bank has a strong and identifiable culture from branch to branch which makes it unique. Casey encourages anyone to reach out whether that is an individual team member or for the broader organization.
Casey’s favorite part about serving on Northwest Bank’s board is continuing to learn about the bank, the leadership that guides the organization, and team members.
Casey was a childhood model for United Colors of Benetton.
Corey grew up in Hebron, NE on a family farm of 4000 acres, 100 head dairy operation, and 500 head cow/calf/feedlot operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business from Wayne State College. Corey has immense experience of starting and owning retail stores or products such as: GNC retail franchise, a wholesale company called NDS Nutrition, and founded Complete Nutrition. Today, Corey enjoys investing in real estate, investing in start-up businesses, and overseeing all the various assets in his portfolio.
Corey is currently a member of Entrepreneur’s Organization for over 19 years and a member of the Young President’s Organization for over 11 years.
Corey’s highlight of Northwest Bank is the small town feel that our organization offers. He states that it is similar to how he was raised, and it is very family oriented and personal.
Corey enjoys spending time with his family on his farmland. He loves spending time on the tractor, planting food plots, running trail cameras for deer, and hunting.
Dwight is a fourth-generation farmer from Holstein, IA and received an education from Iowa State University in Ag Business, an M.B.A. from Drake University, and continuous education from Kellogg Business School of Management. He is currently the Chairman for Northwest Financial Corp. and Chairman of First National Bank in Creston, IA.
Dwight appreciates the differences in opinions and sharing experiences among our board because every member has a different life story.
A long-term strategic plan is what Dwight feels that makes Northwest Bank unique. He believes that our board members strive to be leaders in the communities they serve.
Dwight sold appliances at Sears to earn money to attend college.
Greg started his career with Northwest Bank in 1989 to lead the Mortgage loan division of the bank. He is currently the President and CEO of Northwest Financial Corp. and CEO of Northwest Bank, and he leads with empathy and empowerment and is honored to be part of the organization.
Greg guides our organization and leadership to value employees because he believes that when we treat employees well by providing opportunities for them to grow personally and professionally, it will help our customers and communities thrive. He shares that our board is highly engaged, driven, works together to better our culture, and each member brings a unique expertise to our board that provides for great questions and conversations around the direction and growth of our company.
Greg serves on the board of directors for the Pearson Lakes Art Center Board, Iowa Bankers Policy Board, and the Federal Reserve Bank CDIAC Committee.
Greg enjoys watching our employees grow and our company earn such a strong brand in the communities we serve.
On Greg's bucket list is to go on an extended cycling adventure in Italy and golf from the 'Gold' tees with Dwight before his 60th birthday.
Greg grew up in the Galva, Iowa area on a family farm with four brothers. After graduating from the local high school, he began farming with his dad and brother. In the cold season, he took a night job working on the dock in cold storage. He made his way from a seasonal dock worker to owning his own cold storage. In 1998, he and his wife Janna founded Nor-AM Cold Storage, of which Greg is currently the CEO and COB. His insights into the cold storage industry business provide valuable perspective to the board. He and Janna have four kids. All their children are married. They have been blessed with 10 grandchildren and look forward to seeing them grow and where their lives take them. In his free-time, Greg enjoys golf, hunting with his dog Cash, and touring with his wife Janna on their Harley.
Greg is delighted by the origin of Northwest Bank. Two farm boys from Ida County working hard to build a successful company. It’s a real-life American dream.
Greg celebrates that Northwest Bank is a Top Workplace and enjoys how they elevate employees in their careers. Greg likes to know that if he would reach out to a potential customer they will be treated well and get the best experience that Northwest Bank has to offer.
Favorite quote: “Recognizing opportunity is so difficult for most people because it goes around disguised in overalls, looking like hard work”. Thomas Edison
Jeff holds an Ag Business degree from Iowa State University and is a graduate of Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. He has 43+ years of banking industry experience and the last 11+ he was the CEO of Northwest Financial Corporation. Jeff is currently a board member of Northwest Financial Corp., Northwest Bank, First National Bank of Creston, Northwest Wealth Management, and serves as the Iowa Superintendent of Banking.
Jeff enjoys the great working relationship of the board, the culture of the company, and the pride in the organization. Jeff wants readers to know that our board members take their role seriously and are proud to be part of this organization.
He states that the culture of Northwest Bank has always been to take care of employees, customers, and communities and if we do those three things well, the organization will grow and prosper.
Jeff’s favorite quote: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be human.” – Will Rogers
Jim is an accounting graduate of University of Northern Iowa and the President and CEO of Campbell, Higgins, & Mummert, P.C., a public accounting firm, for the past 25+ years. He grew up around Galva, IA which introduced him to the love of a farm and a strong work ethic. Jim expresses the importance and value of volunteering, which has led him to volunteering for multiple organizations. He has served for the YMCA, Spencer Community School Foundation, Spencer Hospital Foundation, and several church boards. In addition, he has served and continues to serve on multiple advisory committees and assisted with many projects that allow him to give back and stay connected with his community.
As a director of Northwest Bank, Jim enjoys providing his financial acumen to board discussions and decisions.
He appreciates the family-centered atmosphere of Northwest Bank Financial Corp. and the commitment and involvement in the communities we serve.
Jim’s goals include the following: Attend the Olympics, NCAA Final Four Game, and the Super Bowl.
Joe is a graduate of Cornell College and has enjoyed working for Northwest Bank for the past 18+ years. He is currently the President of Northwest Bank, and he focuses on three main areas to add value to the bank: business development, banker career development, and market strategies.
Joe is honored to build relationships with our board members and get to know their areas of expertise.
Joe appreciates that Northwest Banks board has incredibly smart and capable individuals that bring unique and valuable insights to the management of the bank. Joe plans to continue focusing on quality, quality bankers, quality customers, quality products, and quality systems and processes.
Neal graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Animal Science and thereafter began his 50+ year career in banking. He began working as a teller and then spent half of his career as an Ag-banker. His primary role now is being the Director of Northwest Financial Corp., the holding company for Northwest Bank.
Neal loves to help develop new business in any way he can and enjoys the wonderful people he meets and gets to work with along the way.
In 1965, Neal won the Iowa State University Livestock Showmanship Contest.
Ray Gaesser grew up on a small farm in southern Indiana, where farming was always his passion. He states, "It’s a blessing to have a career that aligns so closely with one’s passion."
Ray and Elaine were married in November 1977, shortly after purchasing a farm near Corning, Iowa, where they continue to live and work. They have two adult children: Jennifer, who is the vocal lead at Creston High School, and Chris, who along with his wife Shannon, now manages most of the family farm. Chris, an agronomist trained at home and Iowa State University, and Shannon, who holds a business degree from the University of Iowa, make a strong team in managing the farm.
Over the years, the Gaesser family farm has expanded to 5,000 acres, with 80% rented from neighbors. Chris and Shannon now manage about 90% of the operation, allowing Ray and Elaine to retain about 10% while gradually transitioning responsibilities.
Ray’s formal education includes a high school diploma, complemented by extensive management and leadership training. He has served as president of both the Iowa Soybean Association and the American Soybean Association, gaining invaluable experience and insights into Iowa, national, and global agriculture and policy.
Ray's favorite quote: “THE WORLD IS CHANGED BY YOUR ACTIONS- NOT BY YOUR OPINIONS “- Paulo Coelho
Ray and his family accomplished one of their bucket list items last summer, with a train ride in the Canadian Rockies. Their next big trip is to explore New Zealand!
Teresa offers a double major in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Northern Iowa. She began working for Northwest Bank as a credit analyst, then as a Business Banker, and finally a Portfolio Manager. Currently, Teresa is the Chief Operating Officer for her husband’s company, Beck Engineering in Northwest Iowa and assists with accounting, payroll, business development, and human resources.
Teresa shares that she enjoys serving on the Northwest Bank board because the bank is a first-class organization that always focuses on doing everything the right way. She can tell that every employee truly cares about the people and communities they serve, and they are wonderful to work with.
Teresa expresses that what makes Northwest Bank unique is the fact it’s a large institution that can provide many opportunities for its clients but because of their market centricity and dedication of ownership to each community, clients get an intimate level of service that is appreciated from a community bank.
