GSBC, CU Boulder Partner to Introduce Students to Community Banking
GSBC and the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business are collaborating to provide undergraduate students with direct exposure to community banking through GSBC’s financial management curriculum.
The initiative, developed through a partnership between GSBC President and CEO Michael Stevens and Brian Lewandowski, executive director of the Business Research Division at the Leeds School of Business, is designed to help cultivate the next generation of banking and financial services leaders by connecting students with advanced banking education and industry mentorship.
As part of the program, Leeds School of Business students, Toren Knepper and Zachary Kladko, will participate in select GSBC financial management courses at no cost this summer. The students will engage in coursework covering asset liability management, strategic planning, financial performance and other topics of importance for community banks.
“One of the most important investments we can make as an industry is creating opportunities for talented students to learn about community banking and the critical role it plays in local economies,” said Michael Stevens. “This partnership allows students to gain exposure to the financial management concepts and leadership principles that are essential to the future of banking.”
“Mentorships and experiential learning are deeply embedded in the Leeds culture, and Finance is the largest program in Leeds by enrollment,” added Brian Lewandowski. “By providing students with a connection to community banking, the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado exposes students to a rich network of community bankers that combines their finance training with community impact.”
In addition to participating in the curriculum, the students will be mentored by Kent Jones, President and CEO of Flatirons Bank and a 2008 GSBC graduate. Jones will help connect classroom concepts to real-world banking practices while providing insight into careers in community banking.
“GSBC was an outstanding educational experience for me, and I’m excited to help introduce Toren and Zachary to the banking industry,” said Jones. “One of the most rewarding aspects of community banking is the opportunity to work closely with businesses, families and organizations to help them succeed. I look forward to supporting Toren and Zachary as they explore the industry and discover the impact a local bank can make.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment by GSBC and the Leeds School of Business to strengthen the talent pipeline for the banking industry by providing students with meaningful exposure to financial institutions, banking strategy and executive decision-making.
By combining advanced banking education with mentorship from industry leaders, the initiative offers students a unique opportunity to explore career pathways in community banking while gaining practical insight into the financial management challenges facing today’s institutions.