Glenn thrives on building business community at Core Bank

4• JUNE 4, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

by Dwain Hebda

From an early age Melissa Glenn, SBA relationship manager for Core Bank, has held a deep curiosity for how communities come together, specifically “Main Street” businesses. It’s an interest that’s guided past career stops in the financial services industry, the Greater Omaha Chamber and now, lending.

“It’s one of those things I can’t really explain. There’s nothing that really led me directly to this path,” she said. “I always 2020 liked watching how things came together, how it happened, why does someone do what they do or how did Apple become a company.

“I have always been interested in learning how a business ticks, how it operates, how it works. I thought about a couple of other careers, but really I just kind of knew going into college I wanted to study how it all comes together.”

Glenn said while her earlier experience gave her a glimpse into the inner workings of businesses from different angles, it’s her current role that has helped combine her passion and skill set to help build and strengthen small businesses throughout the Omaha market.

“I really see myself as more of a stra-

Melissa Glenn, SBA relationship manager, views herself as a strategic partner to

businesses. (Photo by Monica Sempek) tegic partner than anything,” she said. “To me, it’s not just a transaction. I really want to see that we are looking at the opportunity from beginning to end and the value add that I can give throughout the process. I really try to bring a holistic approach to my job. “I consider a conversation I have with a business owner in which we strategically discuss the business and at the end of the conversation decide maybe it’s better to wait as just as important as the conversation where we get to the end of it and we say, ‘Yeah, we’re ready. Let’s go.’” Glenn grew up in North Platte and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she received a degree in business administration with a minor in marketing. She also has an executive MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, completed in 2016. Though she’s relatively new to Core Bank, having been in her current position just two years, she’s already a valued resource for all manner of startups thanks to her performance under the pressure of COVID-19.

“Being able to watch all of this unfold, it was long hours and I think all of us had to push ourselves to our limits,” she said. “But at the same time, it was also gratifying, motivating and humbling, all at the same time. It was motivating because you were literally impacting people and their ability to remain open as a business. The harder you worked, the more you got done, the more people you were able to help. That’s what made me keep going and kept all of us going.”

In addition to her professional duties, Glenn has also distinguished herself through community service. She serves as a board member for the UNO EMBA Alumni group as well as for HOBY Nebraska Youth Leadership where she was the State Leadership Conference Seminar chair for four years. She’s also a past board member for Friends of Nebraska Children, having helped plan many community and volunteer events.

“For me, it’s important to recognize we don’t know everything, that there’s not one group or generation that has all the answers,” she said. “But what we do have is insight and we have the ability to, not necessarily make it easier for the next generation, but give the next generation tools for doing things better than we did. If there’s any sort of legacy that we can all leave, I think it’s important to make it that.”

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