SEPTEMBER 2021
307-322-2545 • CHBEF.COM
Meet the Team That Makes Our Business Possible THE PEOPLE OF CHB
with every day. We like to refer to them as the “voices of CHB” because they ensure we provide great service to our associate brokers. We rely on them to provide fast, efficient service. Next up are Travis and Cynthia, who manage the frontlines of our operation. They ensure all our deals come through, and without them, we wouldn’t get the right information to the right people. Mark also assists with this. His expertise is in deals, matching our policies with the details and ensuring that every component is in alignment. Meanwhile, Janie is our go- to tech guru. She keeps our computers and office systems running smoothly and efficiently. Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our chief operations officer, Ed. Without Ed’s expertise and commitment to our team, we wouldn’t run as smoothly as we do. Ed keeps each step in the process moving forward, and we rely on his knowledge to complete our work every day. And then, of course, there’s me! I “fill in the gaps,” and regularly communicate with our associate brokers. I believe education about CHB keeps our partnerships strong, and if you couldn’t tell, I like to brag a little about the great employees we have here on our staff. I’m not
I joined CHB just under two years ago, but unlike other jobs I’ve had, I joined a company with familiar faces. On my first day at CHB, I was greeted by a few people I already knew after living here for the past 30 years. There’s something to be said about going to work with people you know and like. However, since then, I’ve witnessed something more powerful. It sounds cliche, but without the people, CHB wouldn’t be the strong company it is today. As we approach Labor Day this September, I want to recognize the people who make up CHB. When you work for a company in your small community, that small-town atmosphere carries over into your job, and it’s the collaboration and teamwork that has propelled this company into its 25 years of life.
And its people make that possible.
When you call our titles department, you can talk with a real person. Marissa and Trish will help you find a solution to your problem without having to battle a robotic answering service. And they’re great at it, too. Same goes for Vic and Leslie, who operate our funding department. They
keep track of all the details that come through their office simultaneously, creating a natural process that ensures nothing is missed.
just blowing smoke when I tell you they are committed to the work they do every day. I witness it; I see their compassion for the people we work with.
Then there’s Jan, Philly, Krista, and Kathy in our client services department. I like to call them the “idea factory,” as they help borrowers come up with feasible solutions. Of course, none of this would be possible without Janet. She answers the phone and directs our callers to the right person, ensuring a client’s needs are met seamlessly. Many of our readers will also know Joey, Jade, Carly, Wyatt, and Mark. They are the underwriters our brokers work
I enjoy coming to work every day because I like what I do for a living, but more importantly, I’m honored to work with the people who make CHB the company that it is.
–Kit West
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Upcoming Events
The Jackson Retreat
Aug. 19–22 Jackson, WY
AACFB Conference Sept. 8–10 Nashville, TN Join the American Association of
new techniques. Golfing — well after eight holes, the rain came down hard. The best part about the whole experience was learning more about our Broker Associates, their businesses, their pain points, and their successes. An unexpected bonus happened — our Broker Associates got to learn more about each other. These are the businesses that go head-to-head every day as direct competitors, and here they were sharing their businesses. We will do this again. The relationships that were built from this weekend have the ability to last a lifetime.
The 2nd annual CHB Broker Weekend at Jackson was, well, phenomenal! Four brokers attended the event for a “getting to know each other” weekend. The best way to get to know people is to eat, drink, play, and work together — we did all of that, pretty much in that order! Fishing, golfing, and a gun-shooting exercise were the highlights. Floating the Snake River catching cuttys (cutthroats) and white fish was a challenge, but we were able to get a few. The “Jackson Hole Shooting Experience” was just that — an incredible experience. Not only did we shoot a variety of handguns and rifles, but we were able to hone our skills and learn
Commercial Finance Brokers at their annual conference! This year’s event, “Power of the Past, Force of the Future” will be held online and in person. Visit AnnualConference.AACFB.org to learn more and register. CHB Open House Sept. 23 and Oct. 21, 4:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. Wheatland, WY Come see what we do here at CHB! Meet our team and learn more about our operations during our open house events. Our doors will be open to the public.
IS YOUR BUSINESS RUNNING THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO? Follow the Road to Optimization
over. The same applies to systems and processes within your business. Follow Your Road Map It may sound simple, but it rarely is. You need the tools, resources, and support of your team ( just as your team needs your support) to put your plan into action. If you want any part of your business to become optimized, the pieces must fit together. If your team needs help, get them that help. The road map should also offer flexibility in the event that you run into any roadblocks, and it should have enough guidance to get your business from point A to point B. The plan needs to be detailed but not too detailed because you don’t want to give yourself room to cut corners (which can be tempting when you want to save time and/or money). When you cut corners, you’re liable to miss a step, which could end up setting you back or putting you right where you started. Optimizing your small business isn’t easy, but if you want it to run the way you intended, it’s absolutely necessary. Walk through these steps and you’ll achieve that wonderful thing called optimization.
The challenge is getting to the actual source of the problem. It’s like back pain — you can throw painkillers at it, but the fundamental problem remains, and the pain will inevitably return. Find the source and you’ll be able to correct the problem. Make a Plan Once you’ve identified the problem, you can create a plan to overcome it — and put your business on the path you intended. It’s important to have a plan for every area you want to optimize — whether you have an ongoing problem or that area of the business simply isn’t running smoothly. Coming back to the marketing campaign example, let’s say the campaign was poorly targeted and now you’re going to miss your Q2 sales goal. You’re just not reaching your ideal customers. Why? Maybe you’re missing key data — the demographic data was wrong or out of date, or you’re leaning too heavily into the wrong platform (i.e., you’ve used Instagram when Facebook would have made more sense).
Is your business optimized ? You might scratch your head and ask, “What does that even mean?” In terms of your business, it can mean a dozen different things. But let’s define it and make it concrete: Is your business doing what you want? While “small- business optimization” can mean a number of things, that first question, “Is your business optimized?” points you to other questions you need to ask: Have your marketing endeavors paid off? Are your employees working cohesively as a team? Are you hitting your financial goals? If you can answer “yes” to these questions, then your business is likely optimized. However, if you’re answering “no,” then your business needs some work. Here’s how you can remove obstacles and achieve optimization. Identify the Problem If your business, in part or whole, is running inefficiently, you must identify the source of the problem. If you won’t hit your Q2 sales goal, there is a reason. For example, your current marketing campaign may have a kink in it — it may be poorly targeted and/or on the wrong platform, or maybe it’s just a bad offer.
Fill in the holes and re-strategize. It may be as simple as realigning the campaign or starting
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GROWING INTO THE FUTURE New Software Will Increase Efficiency
ONE-PAN APPLE CIDER CHICKEN
Inspired by WellPlated.com
Bring the taste of fall into your kitchen with this sizzling skillet meal.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard • 4 tsp olive oil, divided • 3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2-inch slices • 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for garnish
• 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs • 1 tsp salt, divided • 1/2 tsp black pepper, divided • 1/2 cup apple cider
DIRECTIONS
For the past 25 years, CHB has called Wheatland, Wyoming, home. As you read in Kit’s cover article, working in a small town often means your business has a small-town atmosphere, and while our company is owned by a larger corporation, that environment of collaboration you find from a small business is still very much a part of our daily operations. However, because we are owned by a parent company, we have access to some powerful tools that have immense benefits for our clients and our employees. This fall, we are implementing one such tool. It’s an internal software system that will have a huge impact on our employees, but ultimately, it translates into greater productivity and service for our clients. SilverLake is a human resources program introduced by our parent company. It will provide our employees the opportunity to meet with their supervisors and discuss their goals for the next one, three, five, and 10 years, establishing steps to meet these goals. Furthermore, SilverLake will improve automation for our employees, reducing the time it takes for us to complete certain tasks and communicate with your clients. This will translate into better efficiency and productivity for our clients. Our staff will also have an increased opportunity to search for relevant data and utilize advanced financial tools. Our team is currently undergoing a training process, and it has come as a steep learning curve. This may mean slower response times and slowdowns with new loan production (temporarily), but we are confident our internal processing change will only have a positive impact on our clients. We’ve already seen how big of an effect it can have, and we’re excited about the opportunities it brings.
1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combine apple cider and mustard. Set aside. 3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tsp olive oil. When shimmering, add chicken thighs top-side down. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for 4 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Wipe the skillet clean. 4. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, then add sliced apples, remaining salt and pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes. 5. Return the chicken to the skillet and add apple cider-mustard mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, then serve sprinkled with rosemary! Gov. Mark Gordon Stops by C.H. Brown!
This July, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon spent a Tuesday morning with our employees at CHB. Gov. Gordon met with our credit, new loans, and account servicing departments learning about the nuances of CHB’s national-reach equipment financing business. Accompanying the governor was CHB founder Chuck
After 25 years in a small town, there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t learn something new. We’re constantly evolving and learning at CHB. Each new opportunity we’re given is a chance to grow! It’s our belief that this is one of the secrets to our longevity. Unless you can “change with the times” and learn new, more efficient, and more powerful ways of doing things, you will never create a lasting legacy.
Brown, who may no longer work full-time at CHB but whose influence continues to motivate our team today. It was an honor to host the governor for a visit, and our employees were proud to talk about their work. Unfortunately, we were all enjoying the moment and neglected to snap a photo! It’s on the list for next time. Stop by any time, Mr. Governor!
We believe this change will benefit the borrowers and brokers we work with, but if you have questions, please contact our team today.
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
C.H. Brown Co., LLC A PLATTE VALLEY COMPANY 20 W. Frontage Rd. • Wheatland, WY 82201 307-322-2545 • chbef.com
Inside
1 Meet the People of CHB 2 Recent and Upcoming Events 2 3 Necessary Steps to Optimize Your Business 3 One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken
3 Our Visit With Gov. Mark Gordon! 3 Our Employees Are in Training! 4 Predicting Financing Is Like Predicting the Weather
Financing Is Like the Weather — Unpredictable
like many things, business persisted, just as fall comes every year. Our brokers will always have clients who need updated trucking fleets and construction equipment — even as the financing industry fluctuates like the natural ebb and flow of the seasonal weather. Our goal at CHB is to provide that constant presence. We may not know how interest rates will change next year, but we do know that your brokerage relies on reliable service to help your borrowers get the financing they need to build their business. And as a small business, we understand that you will continue to grow and move forward, even as new challenges — like supply shortages — continue. So, as we prepare to bundle up this September, or continue to sweat it out in the West, we know we have to be prepared for whatever the market throws at us and our brokers. Our team at CHB is prepared to help you navigate financing services for your clients — regardless of the forecast.
There’s no predicting what Mother Nature will have for us here in Wyoming. This past Mother’s Day saw a snowstorm, and weeks later, on June 1, it was 101 degrees F. We continued into July with temperatures that were just as hot, but in mid-July we reached below 50 F one evening. As we look ahead to the start of fall this September, we can only be assured two things: It will either be freezing or boiling hot. The West truly is wild. Much like how Wyoming’s weather can be unpredictable, financing can be a bit of a mystery. At CHB, we use our expertise and software tools to help brokers and borrowers navigate the financial market together, but the truth is, no one has a concrete answer. The markets change with the seasons, and we have to be prepared for that. However, as we anticipate cooler, shorter days each fall, we’re reminded of the phrase “business as usual.” It’s taken on a slightly different meaning in the last two years, but
Happy fall!
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