Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • June 3, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 19 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2019 Starting at Cigna, he reached out to former Fleet colleagues running community banks in Connecticut for insights he might employ lead- ing a $100-million asset bank that was a small part of a large insurance company. He found they had similar business development, service and balance-sheet management issues. More importantly, he found their descriptions of leading community banks appealing. "What they did during the day … was a lot of why I got into banking in the first place — it was very customer-focused, very close to the customers," Geitz said. He got that at Simsbury Bank, where he went next, in 2004. He be- came active in community organiza- tions — an important part of the job and key to the bank's success — and saw up-close the local businesses, people and volunteers who make a community tick. "In Simsbury, I see that whole other world and it's a great world," Geitz said. Longtime Connecticut attorney Coleman B. Levy called Geitz a "great community banker." "He gets involved, he just doesn't write the check, but he and his em- ployees and his organization become involved and they're participants and that's what's critical," said Levy. For its size, Simsbury Bank did a tre- mendous amount for the community, Levy said. Geitz said Simsbury Bank priori- tizes giving for organizations "that are really important to the quality of life in the community … where $500 or $200 or $1,000 is really important and makes a difference to them." It also makes larger contributions, including to the Hill-Stead Museum and Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center, summer home of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's Talc- ott Mountain Music Festival. The venue has enormous potential, said Geitz, who sits on its board, which has worked to increase programming and plan future phases to make it year-round, "which would be great for Simsbury, great for the Farmington Valley and Greater Hartford." Geitz and bank staff also work with Junior Achievement, among oth- ers. Geitz was inducted into Junior Achievement of Southwest New Eng- land's Business Hall of Fame in 2017. Similar philosophy Geitz expects continued community support when Liberty Bank completes its acquisition of SBT this fall. "They have the same philosophy and they recognize how important both individual participation as well as financial support are for all those smaller organizations that make the community strong," Geitz said. Simsbury wasn't looking to sell, but was the last shareholder-owned bank Thank you, Hartford Business Journal As employees at Simsbury Bank, we see our President, Martin Geitz, demonstrate his passion for people, communities, quality and fairness with everything he does. We're honored by Martin's Lifetime Achievement award – it's gratifying to see him recognized for the passion and compassion we see every day. Congratulations, Martin. We knew it all along. CONGRATULATIONS, MARTIN Martin Geitz | President, CEO SB_Half_Horiz_HBJ_JUNE2019.indd 1 5/14/19 4:10 PM ON THE JOB Guiding business principle: Trust is the best foundation for long-lasting business and personal relationships. It is built by being fair and truthful and having a little humility. Best way to keep your competitive edge: Listen to customers and employees; keep up with business news and, especially, macro trends in demographics and technology. Proudest accomplishments: Shared with my wife of 37 years, our three wonderful children; shared with the Simsbury Bank management team, six consecutive years as a Top Workplace. Goal yet to be achieved: Convincing the other six members of our Congressional delegation to join Rep. Jim Himes in supporting legislation to ease the unnecessary regulatory burden on community banks. Favorite part of the job: Interacting with people — customers, employees and community — and doing things that result in the kind of organizational culture that cause people to want to work here and do business with us. Least favorite part of the job: Dealing with the regulatory overreach and compliance burdens designed for the nation's largest banks yet applied to community banks. Personal touch in your office: Family photos JUDGMENT CALLS Best business decision: Avoiding risky commercial real estate loans before the 2008 financial crisis that caused significant distress to many Connecticut community banks during the Great Recession. Simsbury Bank had almost no loan problems Continued on page 20 >> Continued on page 20 >>

• Cover