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CEO of the Year 2023 Finalist: Jim Reuter

Colorado is full of devoted entrepreneurs, business leaders and tech-savvy visionaries who are constantly taking the business world to new heights. It’s no secret that here, at ColoradoBiz, we love the Colorado business community. That’s why, every year, we spotlight the most impressive CEOs throughout our Centennial state and give credit where credit is due — to the forward-thinking minds constantly chasing the next great idea and upholding their business practices to the most purposeful ideals. We’re proud to introduce our finalists for CoBiz’s prestigious 2022 CEO of the Year award.

Jim Reuter

CEO, FirstBank

Lakewood, Colorado

Website: www.efirstbank.com

Jim Reuter’s career at FirstBank has spanned more than 35 years, the past seven as CEO. His commitment to stakeholders is evident throughout the $28 billion organization.

Reuter guided FirstBank to develop many of its mobile banking applications in-house and pushed the organization to be among the first banks in the nation to introduce new technologies and faster payment services (such as Zelle).

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has flourished under Reuter’s leadership. More than 40% of FirstBank’s employees identify as minorities, and nearly 60% of the bank’s management team – from assistant manager to C-suite – are women. Reuters also helped launch FirstBank’s Multicultural Banking Centers, which offer customers banking services and financial education resources in their native or preferred language with an understanding of their culture.

FirstBank has been recognized nationally for digital banking and customer experience; for the third consecutive year, it was ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power.

Reuter, who grew up on a farm in rural Wisconsin with three brothers, attributes much of his persistence and professional acumen to his father who, despite having only an eighth-grade education, became one of the region’s most successful farmers and created a profitable trucking business.

Reuter’s business sense shows up in many ways. For instance, many consultants advised him to automate FirstBank’s customer service center, a 24/7 department with nearly 200 staff members. But Reuter didn’t believe that would provide an optimal customer experience, and he didn’t like the idea of eliminating staff. And when FirstBank’s support of the LGBTQ community drew angry calls and threats, Reuter handled those calls himself, believing it’s important to stand by all employees and communities, especially those that face opposition. Those are some reasons Reuter boasts a 90%+ approval rating on Glassdoor.

 

Mike TaylorMike Taylor is the editor of ColoradoBiz.CEO of the Year 2023 Finalist: Vinay Nair

Best of Colorado 2023 — Finance

Many of this year’s Best of Colorado winners embody the art of specialization. They don’t pretend to be something they are not, rather they concentrate on one element and aim to perfect it. That in turn has clearly helped them make a name for themselves.

Our readers (Best of Colorado customers) not only remember them but make a concerted effort to vote for them. That’s a tremendous accomplishment in this era of overwhelming messages, marketing and mindshare. But that takes time. Here at ColoradoBiz, we’ve heard many serial entrepreneurs and CEOs depict their success as a climb rather than a meandering journey. After all, the highest summits are always uphill and rarely scaled on the first day.

So, here’s to this year’s Best of Colorado winners. They have found a way to perfect their craft, grow their brand, and be recognized for their specialization. They have scaled the summit of success.

Check out our Best of Colorado 2023 issue here!

BEST BANK 

FirstBank employees at Az Gives Day Winner 2022
FirstBank

FIRSTBANK 

In business since 1963, FirstBank is among the largest privately held banks in the U.S., with nearly $28 billion in assets and operating in more than 100 branch locations across Colorado, Arizona and California. 

FirstBank’s products range from personal and business, loans for mortgages, commercial real estate and construction, 1031 Exchanges, as well as online and mobile offerings.   

Runners-up:

BEST PERSONAL BANKING SERVICES 

ALPINE BANK

In business for 50 years, Alpine Bank has branches across the Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. 

From Denver to Durango, Boulder to Battlement Mesa, Alpine serves individuals and businesses with online and mobile banking, deposit accounts, loan financing and wealth management. Customers appreciate Alpine’s size and streamlined structure that enables it to provide one-on-one service and make local lending decisions quickly.  

Runners-up:

BEST CREDIT UNION 

COLORADO CREDIT UNION 

CCU’s story dates back to 1973 when 35 Johns Manville employees combined their funds and started a member-owned financial cooperative. In 1998, membership was extended to other employer groups and local communities, and in 2005, the name was from Johns Manville Credit Union to Colorado Credit Union. Today, CCU serves more than 20,000 members across several employer groups and communities in Colorado. 

Runners-up:

BEST MORTGAGE BROKER 

ASLAN HOME LENDING 

Aslan operates in 14 states and has access to every lending option leading to the purchase or refinance of a home. 

Other loans Aslan can make happen: renovation and new construction loans; no-income verification investor loans; loans in which borrowers verify income from bank statements or P&Ls, not tax returns or pay stubs. 

Aslan also can advance loans for commercial buildings valued up to $5 million dollars and can greenlight loans for individuals with a 500 FICO score – if they can deliver 10% down. 

Runners-up:

BEST SBA LENDER 

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LIVE OAK BANK 

Live Oak is a digital, cloud-based bank serving small business owners in all 50 states. With a stated mission of becoming “America’s small-business bank,” Live Oak is the No. 1 SBA lender by dollar volume in the country. Through its technology- and service-driven banking products, Live Oak aims to help business owners buy, build and expand. 

Runners-up:

BEST TAX ADVISER (TIE) 

MOSS ADAMS

With more than 4,400 professionals in more than 30 locations across the West and beyond, Moss Adams works with some of the world’s most innovative companies. Its strength lies in the middle market, and it advises clients at all stages of development – from startup to rapid growth and expansion, to transition.  

In business for 110 years, Moss Adams advises and executes on all aspects of taxation, from public-company accounting to audits to personal taxes, and more.  

H&R BLOCK 

H&R Block aims “to get you every dollar you deserve,” and it strives to do that without adding much to what you already might owe your rich uncle, Sam. Services range from free (online) to $55 for Deluxe to $85 for filing with a tax pro. 

H&R Block’s software downloads directly to your computer, making it simple to get started on your taxes. The company’s tax pros have an average of 10 years’ experience handling all kinds of tax solutions, and the Max Fund Guarantee means your tax preparation if free if you find a bigger refund somewhere else. 

BEST TITLE COMPANY 

FIRST INTEGRITY TITLE CO. 

First Integrity Title has been locally owned and operated for more than 20 years and has consistently grown its market share to become one of the top-tier title companies, with more than 170 employees. With seven locations, the Denver-based company strives to maintain a client-first focus when it comes to service, product quality, pricing and insuring the real estate transaction. 

Runners-up:

BEST VALUATION CONSULTING 

Causey Leadership 2023
Causey Demgen & Moore

CAUSEY DEMGEN & MOORE P.C. 

Among its many services, Causey Demgen & Moore boasts a valuation & litigation team that brings years of experience and expertise to the job. The firm has performed hundreds of business valuations for companies appraised for less than $25,000 to more than $30 million. 

Causey Demgen & Moore’s extensive list of industries served includes professional services firms, manufacturing companies and retailers. The list includes accounting firms, medical practices, law firms, construction companies, wholesale/distribution companies, asset holding companies, software companies and many others. 

Runners-up:

BEST INVESTMENT FIRM 

CHARLES SCHWAB

Charles Schwab Corp. provides a full range of brokerage, banking and financial advisory services through its operating subsidiaries. In February, Schwab was named among Fortune magazine’s top 50 “World’s Most Admired Companies” for the sixth consecutive year. Schwab ranked second in the Securities and Asset Management category, with a top rank for innovation, use of corporate assets, quality of management and quality of products/services. 

Runners-up:

BEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT/FINANCIAL PLANNER 

OBERMEYER WOOD INVESTMENT COUNSEL

With offices in Denver and Aspen, Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel has been providing independent investment advice, financial guidance and problem-solving since 1982. Clients include individuals, families and nonprofits that have trusted Obermeyer Wood to help them identify and achieve financial goals. The firm’s investment management services, along with financial planning strategies, are aimed at putting clients on a path to financial peace of mind. 

As fiduciaries, representatives of the firm are legally bound to provide advice and guidance they believe will be best for the client and his or her finances. That means a duty to seek to avoid conflicts of interest and to disclose any that cannot be avoided. 

Runners-up:

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This article is part of the 2023 Best of Colorado Business Choice Awards. Explore all the winners and runners-up:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES | TECHNOLOGY/ELECTRONICS | TRANSPORTATION | FINANCE
FOOD/BEVERAGE | LODGING/ACCOMMODATIONS | MAINTENANCE | REAL ESTATE
HEALTH | LIFESTYLE | PERSONAL FULFILLMENT | OFFICE | RECREATION

Donations That Matter — What Cause Will You Support During ‘Colorado Gives Day?’

With the holiday season in full swing, the spirit of giving is upon us! Your kids may be begging for the newest iPhone, and your relatives may want the coolest Peleton bike on the market, but let’s not forget what really matters — supporting the betterment of our Colorado community. That’s where Colorado Gives Day, Colorado’s largest 24-hour giving event, comes in.

If you haven’t heard of the massive donation event, let us give you the run down. Colorado Gives Day, run by ColoradoGives.org, has been a massive initiative since 2010. Here’s how it works: on the first Tuesday of December since 2010, Coloradans come together to support nonprofits that strive to make Colorado, and the world at large, a better place. The initiative has collectively raised more than $362 million dollar for Colorado non-profits since its inaugural day of giving almost 12 years ago.

Better still, Community First Foundation, FirstBank and other Colorado community partners want to ensure your donations go even further. That’s why every donation made from November 1 through December 6 on ColoradoGives.org gets a boost from the $1.4 Million+ Incentive Fund.

Find a list of causes, non-profits and organizations to donate to through December 6th at ColoradoGives.org.

Faces of Colorado Business 2022: FirstBank

ColoradoBiz showcases the personalities behind the companies in a range of industries and in all stages of development, from startups to stalwarts.

 

READ — Faces of Colorado Business 2022: Fiore & Sons, Inc.

Late last year, FirstBank rolled out its new strategic plan, which includes an emphasis on “Include All,” or ensuring diversity is represented at each level of the organization and more resources are provided to bolster equity and inclusion within and outside  of the company. To date, 36 percent of FirstBank’s more than 2,700 employees identify as a person of color and 56 percent of the bank’s management team—from assistant manager to the C-suite—are women.

The bank recently introduced several leadership changes including promoting a group of its top-performing Executive Vice Presidents to President-level positions while also elevating its former President of Retail and Digital Banking, Kelly Kaminskas, to Chief Digital Officer, and President of Human Resources, Shannon Jones, to Chief People Officer.

“FirstBank is a big proponent of promote-from-within, and one of the many reasons our organization continues to be financially strong and perform well above industry norms is because we look to cultivate talent and grow our company internally,” said Jim Reuter, CEO of FirstBank.

The company is recognized as one of“America’s Best Top Workplaces” (receiving honors in “Culture Excellence”) by Top Workplaces, LLC, and was named a Top Workplace by the Denver Post for the 11th consecutive year.

 

learn more or contact FirstBank at www.efirstbank.com/business or call 303.237.5000