Teamwork at Litchfield Bancorp

Oct. 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Mark E. Macomber was the right man at the right time to lead Litchfield Bancorp out of a dire situation in 1994, the year he was named president and chief executive officer. Struggling with financial problems, the bank was given one year by federal regulators to get back on solid ground. For the newly-promoted Macomber, it was a challenge he was prepared for.
  "Mark did it in six months," recalled Donald Mayland of Lakeville, chairman of the bank's board of directors. "The secret to his success, I believe, is that he surrounded himself with the very best talent he could find."
  That talent included Thomas J. Villanova, who will succeed the retiring Macomber as president and chief executive officer on Jan. 1, 2012. One of Macomber's first decisions as the bank's leader was to hire Villanova as a vice president and commercial lender in July 1994. With Villanova and other new hires on board, it wasn't long before the bank's fiscal health improved and regulators were satisfied.
  "Mark is the type of manager who wants that kind of talent around him," Mayland said. "He and his new management team went quickly to work getting on profitable footing and growing it every year."
  Macomber's moves not only solved the bank's financial problems, they also created a high level of morale that continues today, according to Mayland.
  "I do not believe that you could enter any workplace and find a group of people who are more dedicated to their jobs and to each other," Mayland said. "This is clearly the strongest legacy Mark leaves us."
  One of the key members of Macomber's team has been Paul McLaughlin, who has advanced through the ranks to senior retail banking officer and senior vice president. McLaughlin often represents the bank at public events and said that while Macomber is demanding of his staff, he cares about them personally and professionally.
  Staff, McLaughlin said, responds by working harder for the good of the bank.  "Mark has always been one to lead by example," McLaughlin, who called Macomber his mentor, said. "Work hard and have fun is something he asks of all of us. He gets to know us and truly cares for us. He is forthcoming and honest and someone we want to make proud of us."
  Macomber's leadership capability was evident from the start of his run as president and chief executive officer, according to Jane Hinkel of Litchfield, who serves on the board of directors.
  "As a leader, Mark has always believed in delegating and not micro-managing," Hinkel said. "However, the ultimate responsibility has always rested on Mark's shoulders. The true test of the consummate professional, Mark is a good listener. Thoughts, ideas, outside comments, suggestions were always weighed carefully and incorporated into the process of how to become a more meaningful community bank."
  Macomber's management style has long been admired by Connecticut Banking Commissioner Howard Pitkin. According to Pitkin, Macomber has retained his modesty despite so many accomplishments in banking, a trait not always found among banking executives.
  "Success sometimes expands the ego, however, Mark has always kept his feet on the ground, been accessible, and always been a gentleman," Pitkin said. "His passion for banking and to do things right the first time have contributed to his success but, more than anything, his integrity and honesty have paved the way to where he's brought Litchfield Bancorp."
  Macomber, who is retiring on Dec. 31 after a banking career of 35 years, used the momentum from restoring Litchfield Bancorp to profitability to become not only a leader in the banking business statewide but nationally as well. Leadership positions Macomber assumed at both levels resulted from the strong management team at the bank.
  Although his duties required frequent travel to represent organizations such as the Connecticut Community Bankers Association, the Connecticut Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association, Macomber never had to worry about the bank not meeting the needs of its customers while he was away.
 "He was able to delegate responsibilities to people with the certain knowledge that they would be carried out," Mayland said. "Tom Villanova quickly became one of those people."
  Macomber and Villanova, executive vice president and chief operating officer since 2005, complement one another by employing different management styles, according to Mayland. Seventeen years of working with Macomber, Mayland said, has left Villanova prepared for the bank's top job.  
"Things will change under Tom’s leadership, but that is to be expected when a new leader has a strong personality of his own," Mayland said.  "But different doesn’t mean less effective.  Mark built the team and Tom is the perfect person to take it over."
  The bank has invested heavily in Villanova's education as a banker, sending him to America's Community Bankers National School of Banking, the American Bankers Association Senior Leadership Program, and a number of other programs. It was all part of a plan for the future, according Hinkel.
  "As far back as 2002, Mark established a framework for Tom to develop into the position of CEO," Hinkel said. "He gave Tom the tools and guidance to fulfill the necessary requirements for the role of CEO all the while utilizing Tom's strengths as senior loan officer."
  Locally, Villanova is chairman of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Connecticut and served a co-chairman of a United Way campaign. His experience at the bank and track record of community involvement has prepared him well for the president and chief executive officer's job, according to Macomber.
  Macomber also cited Villanova's involvement with the Connecticut Mutual Holding Company, a consortium allowing Litchfield Bancorp, Northwest Community Bank in Winsted and the Collinsville Savings Society in Canton to pool resources and create efficiencies.
  "He worked extremely well with Steve Reilly, president and CEO at Northwest Community Bank, when Steve was that bank's chief lending officer," Macomber said of Villanova. "Together they initiated and completed our efforts to consolidate all credit, loan origination, and loan servicing functions at the holding company level."
  Under Villanova's leadership, the bank is certain to remain a community leader in Northwest Connecticut. Involving the bank and its employees in the lives of area residents, particularly those served by non-profit causes, has been a top priority of Macomber's.
 "Mark is, in my opinion, the consummate CEO, the intelligent, professional, knowledgeable leader Litchfield Bancorp has been the beneficiary of, and because of his leadership, his successor, Tom Villanova, will continue to serve the bank and the community in an exemplary way," Hinkel said.
  Though retirement beckons, Macomber will remain a fixture at the bank by retaining a seat on its board of directors, a move Mayland endorsed and Villanova supported.  
 “When Mark let me know of his intention to retire, we discussed his staying on the board of directors; something I strongly desire,” Mayland said. I discussed Mark’s staying on the board with Tom and he immediately expressed his strong desire to have this happen as well.
 "The point being that Tom is sure of himself and also desires having the best talent possible as part of his team, something that makes me rest very easy about the bank’s future."

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Litchfield Bancorp is a mutual savings bank with assets of $220 million offering full service offices in Litchfield, Torrington, Oakville, Washington and Lakeville. To find out why Every Customer Counts, go to LitchfieldBancorp.com or call 860-567-9401.