In this conversation, Eric R. Alexander speaks with Scott Dueser about stewardship, fiduciary leadership, and building enduring banking institutions. They discuss stewardship, relationships, generational customers, governance, culture, performance, and the responsibilities leaders owe to customers, employees, shareholders, and communities.

• Stewardship as enhancing what has been entrusted rather than merely protecting it.
• Balancing responsibilities to customers, employees, shareholders, and communities.
• The importance of generational customer relationships and trust.
• Board governance, constructive disagreement, and consensus-based decision-making.

Scott Dueser received a BBA degree in Finance and Accounting from Texas Tech University in 1975 and graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in 1981. He started his banking career in 1971 and joined First National Bank of Abilene in 1976. He is presently Executive Chairman of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. and First Financial Bank.

Scott has demonstrated leadership throughout his career, holding prominent positions within key banking organizations. His dedication to the industry is evident through his service as Chairman of the Texas Bankers Association and President of the American Institute of Banking. In 2018, Scott further distinguished himself by serving as Chairman of the International Financial Conference (IFC). Beyond his professional achievements, Scott contributed significantly to higher education, serving on Texas Tech University’s Board of Regents from 2005 to 2009, including a term as Board Chairman during 2008 and 2009. His commitment to excellence has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Rawls College of Business in 2006, Abilene’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce in 2009, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU in 2013. In 2014, Scott was honored by the Abilene Council, Boy Scouts of America, with both the Distinguished Eagle Scout and Distinguished Citizen Award.

He also received numerous accolades in recent years, reflecting his ongoing impact on both the banking industry and his community. In 2015, he was elected to the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame. In 2019, Scott was named Distinguished Alumni by the Texas Tech Alumni Association, further celebrating his lifelong connection to his alma mater. In 2020, the Texas Tech Board of Regents announced the renaming of the Excellence in Banking Program Director Endowment to the F. Scott Dueser Chair for Excellence in Banking. The following year, he was named the F. Scott Dueser Texas Heritage Community Banker by the Texas Bankers Association. His commitment to service continued in 2022, when Scott was honored with the Make Your Mark Award from the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Association and received the Chairman’s Award from the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.

For more about Eric: ericralexander.com; stewardleaderspodcast.com; sixarrowsconsulting.com.

Leadership is temporary. Stewardship is about forever.

To learn about Eric’s new book: Stewardship Leadership for Stinkin' Accountants: Serving as the CFO

See also the LinkedIn newsletter: Musings for Steward Leaders

Intro/outro music: "Fairest" performed and arranged by Eric, based on the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus" (from a 17th century German hymn and folk tune).

In this conversation, Eric R. Alexander speaks with Jeff Mercer about leadership development in community banking, the Texas Tech School of Banking, and the stewardship mindset required for effective bankers and bank directors. The discussion explores building better bankers, developing leadership through practice, preparing future bank leaders and directors, and the importance of governance, accountability, and lifelong learning.

• How leadership is intentionally developed at the Texas Tech School of Banking.
• The role of stewardship, attitude, and practice in becoming an effective leader.
• Why bank simulations help participants develop both technical and interpersonal leadership skills.
• How bank directors can better fulfill their governance and fiduciary responsibilities.

Jeff Mercer, Ph.D., is the Centennial Bank Chair in Finance, Emeritus, Executive Director of the Texas Tech School of Banking, and Executive Director of the Williams Institute for Community Banking and Finance at Texas Tech University. Dr. Mercer is a partner and principal of McDonald Capital Management LLC, a Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Lubbock, Texas, where he helps direct the firm’s investment research and management of over $360 million in investment assets. Prior to joining Texas Tech in 2002, Dr. Mercer was Director of Investment Research at Ibbotson Associates, a Chicago-based investment consulting firm now wholly owned by Morningstar, Inc. Dr. Mercer, or press coverage of his work, has appeared on or in Forbes, ABC World News This Morning, CNN.com, BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, USAToday, SmartMoney, Financial Times, The MotleyFool, Fox Business News, and The CBS Early Show. Dr. Mercer holds a B.S. degree in Finance from the University of Wyoming, and both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Finance from Texas Tech University.

More about the Texas Tech School of Banking: School of Banking | Rawls College Home | TTU

For more about Eric: ericralexander.com; stewardleaderspodcast.com; sixarrowsconsulting.com.

Leadership is temporary. Stewardship is about forever.

To learn about Eric’s upcoming book (7/31 release date): Stewardship Leadership for Stinkin' Accountants: Serving as the CFO

See also the LinkedIn newsletter: Musings for Steward Leaders

Intro/outro music: "Fairest" performed and arranged by Eric, based on the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus" (from a 17th century German hymn and folk tune).

In this conversation, Eric R. Alexander speaks with Barry L. Rowan about stewardship of time, relationships, wealth, and about the freedom that comes from recognizing God's ownership of every aspect of life. Barry shares how surrender, open-handed living, and faithful stewardship transform leadership, work, and personal fulfillment.

• Stewardship extends far beyond money to include relationships, stories, time, talents, and opportunities.
• Viewing wealth as a gift to be managed rather than a goal to be pursued changes one's relationship with money.
• The purpose of planning is focus and discernment, not control over outcomes.
• Stewardship should be experienced as freedom and joy rather than burden and anxiety.

Barry Rowan is a Harvard Business School graduate who spent his entire career serving in C-Suite roles. He has been instrumental in building and transforming eight businesses, primarily in the technology and communication space, with one selling for $10 billion. His leadership experience spans both private and public companies, including Gogo (the inflight connectivity company), Vonage, Nextel Partners, and Fluke Corporation.

Based on his belief in giving back, Barry serves on both for-profit and non-profit boards, mentors young leaders, and leads international study trips. His non-profit boards have included InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Seattle Pacific University, Gordon College, the Gonzaga University Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and advisory boards for Harvard Business School. He also served as president of Bellevue Christian School.

Deeply immersed in Scripture and the classic spiritual writers, Barry is deeply committed to contemplation and prayer which led him to complete a month-long silent retreat immediately following his retirement from a full-time executive career. His friends have dubbed him a “corporate mystic.”

Barry is married to Linda, his wife of over forty-two years, and they have two adult sons. Together they are now engaged in multiple lines of service including walking with the poor and investing in the next generation of leaders. Their commitment to the poor has taken them to Central America over twenty times. They are members of the National Leadership Council of World Vision and support local organizations breaking the poverty cycle through sustainable programs.

The Spiritual Art of Business may be purchased at Amazon and at leading booksellers and the free downloadable Discussion Guide may be found at barrylrowan.com.

For more about Eric: ericralexander.com; stewardleaderspodcast.com; sixarrowsconsulting.com.

Leadership is temporary. Stewardship is about forever.

To learn about Eric’s upcoming book: Stewardship Leadership for Stinkin' Accountants: Serving as the CFO

See also the LinkedIn newsletter: Musings for Steward Leaders

Intro/outro music: "Fairest" performed and arranged by Eric, based on the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus" (from a 17th century German hymn and folk tune).