Q: I’d like to make a careerchange, but the weak econo-my and my practical concernsdon’t make that feasible. Doyou have ideas on how I canget fired up about what I’mdoing so I have more fun inmy current role?

A: Tap into your vision foryourself, know what gives yousatisfaction, and bring that intoyour current job.

The inner gameRecognize what makes you

happy. Setting aside what you‘‘should’’ like, think about whatyou do like. Everyone is differ-ent in what kind of tasks theylike to do, how much structurethey prefer, and how much theywant to interact with others.Think about the type of companyyou’d like to work in — its size,culture and mission.

Assess your current situation.Review the amount of structureyou have, the tasks you do, thepeople you work with and theorganization you work for. Howwell does it fit with your ideal?Think about what you’d want tochange in a new position. Look atyour career progression, focus-ing on aspects that brought youenjoyment along the way. Consid-er ways in which your job haschanged or you’ve grown that putyou out of sync. Be clear aboutthe parts that fit, too; it’s impor-tant to focus on the positives.

Look at the big picture. Areyou satisfied with your life?Don’t leave anything out — con-sider family, friends, health,spirituality and hobbies. If youaren’t happy in the rest of yourlife, it’ll be harder to boost yourenergy at work.

The outer gameBuild on the positives. Con-

sciously savor the aspects ofwork you like. Look for ways tobring back parts of your pastjobs that were engaging. Forexample, you may miss doinghands-on analysis now thatyou’re in a management role.Without overdoing it, get a littlecloser to the work your teamdoes.

Match your preferences. Ifyou prefer individual work butspend a lot of time in teams,negotiate ways to have moreindependent work time. Youmay have more options than youfirst perceive, but you’ll need toask for what you want.

Stretch. Once you’ve mas-tered your job, it can feel stag-nant. Find ways to grow. Takeon special projects, or get toknow people in other parts of theorganization. Steps like thesecould lead to a new role. Thinkabout your ideal job, and inte-grate aspects of that into the jobyou have now.

Focus on relationships.Research has shown that peoplewho have close friends at workhave higher job satisfaction. Ifyou’re a loner, make an effort tofind common ground with someco-workers. Build genuinefriendships; you’ll have more tolook forward to when you walkin the door each day.

Get ready. Prepare for a newcareer by educating yourselfthrough classes, books or con-versations with others in yournew field. You’ll be more readyto move if you want a changelater.

The last wordThink positive, look for new

things to do, and build deeperrelationships. You’ll feel betterabout the time you spend atwork.

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009 1-G

LIZREYER

LIZ REYER is a credentialed coach withmore than 20 years of business experience.Contact her at liz@deliverchange.com.

Reignite your passion for work BY TYLER BLANKENSHIP

For The Dominion Post

Clear Mountain Bank, basedin Bruceton Mills, has prosperedby making sure that the commu-nities it serves come first.

“Our number one strategicobjective is to remain an indepen-dent community bank,” saidBrian Thomas, the bank’s presi-dent and CEO. “We are not out tobe sold or acquired. Here at ClearMountain, there is no desire to bethe biggest or fastest-growingbank out there — we want to helpthe community grow and thrive.”

The name Clear MountainBank emerged from a consolida-tion of two banks in 1987 — TheTerra Alta Bank and BrucetonBank.

Thomas has been with theinstitutions which became ClearMountain Bank since 1988, work-ing for Bruceton Bank during hissenior year at WVU. He’s seensome major organizationalchanges in his 20-plus years.

“Until 2005, The Terra AltaBank and Bruceton Bank operat-ed as independent banks,”Thomas said. “We looked at theoperations of the bank and real-ized that we were spendingmoney and doing things twice.Software, examinations, market-ing strategies, everything wasbeing done twice and we nolonger were serving just theTerra Alta and Bruceton commu-nities. We were stretching ourservices into a three-countyregion, so we needed a name thatwould better represent our bank.

“When we became ClearMountain, nothing in ownership,management or policy changed.We just wanted to focus all ourenergy on making one great com-munity bank.”

Roger Metheny, the chieffinancial officer and executivevice president of Clear MountainBank, echoed Thomas’ main goalfor the bank: to prosper alongwith the community.

“We go beyond just numbersand paperwork at this bank,”Metheny said. “We have a historyof giving loans to people in thecommunity that other largerbanks wouldn’t because theyaren’t familiar with the cus-tomer. They don’t know some ofthe intangibles about the prospec-tive customer that we might.”

While staying local, the bankhas increased the amount of ser-vices it offers, Thomas said. Thebank’s mortgage department hasexpanded, once including justone loan originator and a smallstaff. Now, Clear Mountain Bankhas five loan originators, eachwith their own staff.

Clear Mountain Bank also hasa fully functional commercialbusiness team.

“We have developed a productthat is a scanner that can begiven to companies that operatewith us,” Thomas said. “And ifthat company has any checks tobe deposited, they can scan them,and that information will imme-diately be sent to our bank. Wealso credit all deposits given to usby 6 o’clock to that particularbusiness or individual’s accountthat very day — they receivesame-day credit.”

Thomas also sees lending tothe community as one of thebank’s strong points.

“We have a great feel for whatis going on in the communityhere at Clear Mountain,” Thomassaid. “Our employees drive byour lending projects every day towork. We see people we do busi-ness with in our communities.We have a great feel for what ishappening locally.”

Thomas also noted how hisbank handles accessibility issues,as patrons can visit Clear Moun-tain Bank branches in local gro-cery stores.

“Our branches in local grocerystores are fully functional

banks,” Thomas said. “Anythingyou can do at a brick and mortarClear Mountain you can do at asupermarket.”

Customers can also utilize thebank’s online banking system.Thomas said security was a focusof this feature.

“We have firewalls in placethat monitor our online activity24 hours a day, seven days aweek,” Thomas said.

In addition to firewalls, ClearMountain Bank does all of itsdata processing in-house, whichbrings an extra element of securi-ty, Thomas said.

“Many banks outsource theirdata processing. We do not. All ofour data is processed right herein Bruceton. When data process-ing is outsourced, that is anopportunity for your customers’information to leave your handsand be another company’sresponsibility,” he said.

The bank also offers customerscash management, credit cardissuance and financial guidancewith an investment department.

Jack Sanders, former owner ofSanders Brothers Inc., a lumbercompany in Bruceton Mills thatshut down in 2003, worked closelywith Clear Mountain Bank whileoperating his business and hascontinued to bank with them.

“My company used to put $4million to $5 million of businessthrough Clear Mountain Bankevery year,” Sanders said. “Wealways used their loan system.Clear Mountain wasn’t like deal-ing with a large company whereyou didn’t know who you were

doing business with. These peo-ple at Clear Mountain are peoplethat you see in the community,people you know.

“When you are a small busi-ness, you need people that thinkon your level. Clear Mountainextends loans to people in thecommunity that might not beable to receive loans from otherbanks.”

David Yoder, owner ofPineview Supply Corporation, aswell as several local developmentand real estate companies, alsosees Clear Mountain Bank as acommunity-oriented business.

“Clear Mountain takes a com-munity-oriented approach to itsbanking,” Yoder said. “The bankis controlled by local people —people you know. When I firstattempted to start a business, Iwent to a bank in the Morgan-town area that is no longer open.They rejected my loan applica-tion, but when I came to Bruce-ton, they knew me and werefamiliar with my business plan. Iwas able to get the loan withClear Mountain.”

John Fahey, senior vice presi-dent, founding officer andspokesman for Centra Bank —another locally based bankinginstitution — said there are par-allels between his business andClear Mountain Bank.

“Banks like Clear Mountainand Centra place character,integrity and success on loan-giv-ing, instead of financial clout,like larger institutions” he said.

And in the midst of a recessionand financial turmoil, Thomas

said his bank is proud they did nottake funds from the U.S. Treasury.

While the U.S. government didapproach Clear Mountain Bankto accept Troubled Assets ReliefProgram (TARP) funding — partof the Emergency Economic Sta-bilization Act, which allowedfinancially-sound banks to takecapital to increase lending —bank officials decided not take onthe expense, as Clear MountainBank had a low number of prob-lem loans and found the paymentof required TARP dividends andshares too expensive.

“We didn’t want the stringsthat came attached with takinggovernment money,” Thomassaid.

And although the recessionhas had its drawbacks, Thomassaid it hasn’t affected the servicesClear Mountain Bank providesits customers.

“Our loan growth has slowed abit, but our deposits are way up,”Thomas said. “People have reallybegun to save more. Althoughthe recession has slowed somebusiness down, we are continu-ing to lend.”

A community institutionClear Mountain Bank strives to serve area residents

Ron Rittenhouse/The Dominion Post photos

Jane Haines serves as Clear Mountain Bank’s vice president of mort-gage sales, while Frank Vitale holds the position of senior vice president.

Clockwise, top left: Clear Mountain Bank’s staff includes a variety of specialists covering various banking aspects. Blake Moran is a businessbanking specialist and Angie Elza serves as administrative assistant for commercial services. Brian Thomas is at the helm as president and CEO.Vicky Whetsell, branch manager, and Cindy Tehrani, executive assistant, handle behind-the-scenes matters. Tellers Lisa Schnopp Tara Harsh, WendyEverly and Carolyn Sisler assist customers with daily transactions.