N.A.
SPRING 2016
Cultivating
deep local roots
Stan Harper (left)
and Michael Harper
(center) meet at their
family farm near
Ogden with
BankChampaign
Senior Vice President
Dan Rock.
As Stan Harper reflects on his 38
years of full-time farming, he can’t
help but think about his family’s
deep connections to agriculture. That
history has shaped the process of
passing the torch to his son, Michael,
as the fourth generation of Harpers
stewarding land near Ogden in
Champaign County.
“I’m glad Michael can work with
BankChampaign and Dan [Rock]…
it’s already been an easy transition,”
Stan said. “I’ve worked with Dan
since 1983, and he’s always been
there for me. With BankChampaign’s
help, we’ve been able to expand our
operation, upgrade our equipment,
and keep our debt limits down.”
Stan appreciates that Dan also grew
up on a farm and has a brother who’s a
farmer, so he knows both the business
and Mother Nature aspects of it.
“Dan understands that there are good
times and bad times in farming, and
he’s stuck with us,” Stan added. “With
the excessive rain, last year was a bad
one. The price we received for our
corn was roughly 50% of the price
from two years ago and the input costs
were about the same, so we had to get
creative on getting things financed this
year, but BankChampaign helped us
get it worked out.”
Stan started farming full-time in
1978 after graduating from the
University of Illinois in 1977 with a
degree in agriculture. It was a natural
progression — while growing up, he
had worked alongside his father on
the family’s 500 acres, and took on
a larger role after his father’s health
declined.
“We also ran a purebred shorthorn
cattle operation that I rebuilt while I
was in college and afterward,” he said.
“Then in 1980, five of us from around
the country imported a plane load of
shorthorn cattle from Ireland. It was
a new deal for the United States, and
it was exciting that I got in on it. We
showed and sold cattle all across the
country and in Canada, and our kids
[son Michael and daughter Laura] got
involved, too.”
As the Harper’s farm operation grew
to 900 and then about 1300 acres,
Michael followed Stan’s path to take
on increased responsibility. He also
farms an additional 350 acres through
a rental agreement.
“I always did chores and enjoyed
driving the tractor and working the
ground,” Michael said. “After trying
some other types of jobs, I didn’t find
anything I liked as well as this. When
we had an opportunity to expand
the operation, I was glad to join. It’s
important to keep it going.”
That involvement is vital not only
for tradition, but for the future of
agriculture. With just 6 percent of all
principal farm operators in the U.S.
under the age of 35, it’s becoming
increasingly rare for family farms to
continue with the next generation.
“I’m hoping that Michael can make
even more progress with all of the
technology that’s a part of farming
now,” Stan said. “From precision cropmapping to guidance systems, it just
keeps getting more sophisticated, and
you have to find ways to stay ahead
of the curve in what is now a very
competitive, global business.”
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Letter from the Chairman
Continuity and succession planning
are crucial to any size enterprise,
from small family operations to the
largest of corporations. The Harpers
show how continuity and a focused
succession plan lead directly to the
success of a fourth generation-owned family business.
Farming, like banking, has progressed over the years
due to a multitude of technological advancements. That
said, one constant remains: the need to develop and
maintain working relationships that are trustworthy and
dependable. Stan Harper’s long-standing relationship with
Senior Vice President Dan Rock and BankChampaign
is a great example of continuity, comfortability and
dependability in a working relationship. This continuity
has translated into a working relationship with the next
generation of the farming operation, Stan’s son Michael.
Loyalty and longevity adds a comfort level integral to the
continuation of a successful business.
Continuity in a business relationship is essential not only
for clients, but for BankChampaign as well. The bank’s
“Wealth Model” is built on this continuity theme and is
designed to assist our business customers with attaining
wealth through development, enhancement and expansion
of their business; management of that attained wealth;
and, finally, assistance with transfer of that wealth to
future generations.
Like Stan and Michael Harper’s farm operation,
BankChampaign’s roots run deep with multi-generational
ownership, management and a family atmosphere. We take
great pride in being a locally owned and operated financial
institution in Champaign County and we seek to develop
“roots” with all of our customers.
As we spring into a new planting season in 2016, let me
once again thank you for the opportunity to serve your
financial and insurance needs.
L. Dean Clausen
Chairman
Protecting your data: Google exec offers tips
A growing number of companies have
been targeted by hackers who hope to
get customers’ personal data and credit
card numbers. While we hope companies are doing all they can to prevent
these kinds of incidents, we consumers
can also take security precautions to
protect ourselves.
to have that information sent to
hackers instead. Risher says these
cons are becoming more difficult
to spot as hackers often just copy
the exact online page you’re used
to seeing and put it in a social
context that’s misleading.
Recently, Mark Risher, Google’s spam
and online abuse chief, offered his top
tips:
Keep your software
updated
When hackers discover new
ways to steal data, gadget and
software companies usually work
quickly to release fixes for those
vulnerabilities. But it’s up to us
to install those updates on all of
our devices — phones, laptops
or televisions — or set it so that
updates occur automatically.
Don’t fall for “phishing”
scams
Phishing occurs when users are
tricked into submitting login
credentials on a fake website, only
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Before entering any login data,
Risher advises that you closely
examine the URL, which will
often display an address that’s
slightly different than the website
it’s imitating. The same is true of
email phishing scams; tricksters
will often use an email address
that looks legitimate but may be
a character off from a company’s
actual email address.
Add recovery contact info
to your accounts
If your account is compromised,
companies will probably try to let
you know. Add a phone number
or an alternate email address so
that companies have another way
of verifying that the account is
yours in case you’re prevented
from logging in.
Don’t use the same password for multiple sites
This is a common issue because
passwords are difficult to remember. Risher recommends using a
password manager such as Last
Pass or 1Password that will store
passwords or even generate new
unique passwords on your behalf
each time you log in to a website.
Enable two-factor
authentication
Two-factor authentication adds
an extra layer of security to your
accounts by requiring another
code in addition to your memorized password. That code can
be sent to your smartphone via a
text message or generated by an
app. So even if a hacker has your
username and password, without
your smartphone (and the code),
he or she won’t be able to access
your account.
Meet our first Postgraduate Scholarship winner
You may already know that
BankChampaign supports numerous
charitable organizations in our
community, both with financial
donations and through the volunteer
efforts of our board members, officers
and staff.
Now we’re sponsoring a new
scholarship for a University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign studentathlete who’s continuing study toward
an advanced degree. We’re pleased
to introduce Jennifer Coady of
Hinsdale, Illinois as the first recipient
of the BankChampaign Postgraduate
Scholarship.
Jen, who will be pursuing a Master’s
in Accounting Science, was a four-year
member of the women’s swim and dive
team, and specialized in breaststroke
and individual medley events. With
an overall grade point average of
3.75/4.00 and a 4.00/4.00 GPA in
her major of Accountancy, she earned
Academic All-Big Ten honors in both
2014 and 2015, and was named a Big
Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2015.
In addition, she served as a mentor to
incoming athletes and also mentored
other College of Business students.
Jerry McBurney, Manager of Business
Development for Fighting Illini
Sports, worked with us to design the
scholarship’s structure.
BankChampaign Postgraduate Scholarship
winner Jennifer Coady (center) accepts a
ceremonial check from bank Senior Vice
President John Clausen (right). Jen’s U of I swim
coach, Sue Novitsky, is at left.
“Juggling the demands of being a
student-athlete has definitely been
a challenge, but I have learned so
many valuable lessons through
my experience, including time
management, leadership, goal
setting and dedication,” Jen said.
“The BankChampaign scholarship
will be a huge help as I pursue my
Master’s degree,” she added. “I feel
very fortunate to have received such
a generous scholarship that will allow
me to continue my education and
further my career development at the
University of Illinois.”
“BankChampaign made an initial
commitment of $7,500 for each
of three years, and we chose to
pull in the Orange Crush to shoot
free throws at every Illinois home
basketball game,” Jerry explained.
“For each free throw made by
a member of this student-led
fundraising group, BankChampaign
added $100 — for a total of $9,900
in this year’s scholarship.”
Jen was selected for the scholarship
by a 12-member group of campus
academic services professionals who
work with every student-athlete on
curriculum, career planning and
advising. She will be an intern at
PricewaterhouseCoopers this summer,
working in either the financial services
or consumer products industry.
“The University of Illinois appreciates
BankChampaign’s support of Illinois
athletics and our student-athletes,
especially those who need the crucial
scholarship support to pursue an
advanced degree at Illinois,” Jerry said.
Striking a win for local kids
For the fourth straight year, BankChampaign employees participated
in Bowl for Kids’ Sake at Savoy’s Old
Orchard Lanes to benefit Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Champaign County.
Back row, left to right: Mike Donovan, Phil
Dykstra, Rachel Steinman, Emma Hieke and
Suzi Stachura.
Front row, left to right: Josie Donovan, Abbie
Dykstra, Cary Steinman and Nick Wilkins. Not
pictured is Andrew Meyer.
The event is one of the non-profit
organization’s largest fundraisers,
bringing in vital funds that provide
ongoing support for children, families
and volunteers to build and sustain
long-lasting relationships. Donations
also help defray the cost of necessary
background checks on volunteers to
ensure child safety.
The BankChampaign team, organized
by Josie Donovan, raised $1,313
through a raffle drawing of prizes
donated by the bank. She was joined
by bank employees Abbie Dykstra,
Cary Steinman, Nick Wilkins and
Emma Hieke, as well as fellow guest
bowlers Mike Donovan, Phil Dykstra,
Rachel Steinman, Andrew Meyer and
Suzi Stachura. Between bowlers and
sponsorships, the event raised nearly
$30,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Champaign County.
“ We love raising money
for this deserving
organization,” Josie
said. “It’s a bonus for
Big Brothers Big Sisters
to treat us to bowling
and pizza to celebrate
– it’s a fun event!”
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Presort Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 746
Champaign, IL
P.O. Box 1490, Champaign, IL 61824-1490
Return Service Requested
Congratulations
on promotions
Karen Sharp
was recently
promoted to Vice
President of Wealth
Management at
BankChampaign.
With more
than 16 years of
investment experience, she works
with trust administration, portfolio
management and overseeing trust
operations. Karen joined the bank in
2005 as branch manager and principal
for our Raymond James Investment
office, and transferred to the Wealth
Management department in 2011.
Charlie Osborne
was also promoted
to Vice President
of Wealth
Management
at the bank. He
is responsible
for portfolio
management in the Trust department.
Charlie joined the bank in 2007 as a
Financial Advisor with our Raymond
James Investment office, and
transferred to the Wealth Management
department in 2011.
Community
Shred Event
Saturday, June 4
9 11 am
Join us June 4 in the west parking lot of our 2101 S. Neil Street location.
Anyone can bring up to five 11” x 17” boxes or bags of documents to be
shredded.
Since most identity theft information is obtained through hard copy paper
sources, it’s important to shred anything that has a signature, account number, social security number, medical or legal information.
NewsBriefs
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and mobile banking. Talk to us today to get started!
• Subscribe to President Mark Ballard’s Investment Blog at investmentblog.
bankchampaign.com to get new insights.
Main Bank 2101 South Neil • 217.351.2870
MarketPlace Facility 5 Convenience Center • 217.351.2876
This publication is designed to provide news and information. It does not constitute legal, accounting or other professional advice.
Appropriate legal or accounting advice or other expert assistance should always be sought.
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