people on the move

Northwestern Financial Review, Feb 1-Feb 14, 2004

Long-time SBA official retires, after 15 years in Iowa

James N. Thomson, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Des Moines district office and manager of the branch office in Cedar Rapids Iowa, retired Jan. 2. Thomson has been with the Small Business Administration in a variety of capacities since 1982.

Thomson came to Iowa in 1988 as district director in Cedar Rapids. When the districts in Iowa were merged in 2003, Thomson served as head of both offices. Thomson also served as SBA's associate administrator for management assistance in Washington DC, regional administrator of SBA Region V in Chicago, district director in Minneapolis, and branch manager in Springfield Ill.

"Jim has been a strong supporter of the SBA and will be greatly missed," said John Langin, SBA deputy district director in Des Moines.

Thomson's career has spanned 47 years with 25 years in government and 22 years in private industry.

When asked to comment on his career, Thomson said he appreciated the opportunity to work with a great staff, lenders, SCORE, SBDCs, chambers, trade associations, and state officials for economic development in Iowa. At an SBA 50th anniversary event in Davenport, Thomson and the SBA showcased many of the Iowa and nationwide businesses SBA has helped along the way.

"These have been exciting times, and I know the next 50 years will be even better than the last. Please continue to work with our SBA offices and provide the quality and delivery of service to the economic backbone in our country - our nation's small businesses," Thomson said.

* Clay Boatman has been promoted to vice president / correspondent officer at Midwest Independent Bank, Jefferson City, Mo., Boatman is responsible for development of new business in Iowa. Boatman is a graduate of Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa and also attended the University of Iowa.

* William J. Kroll has been named president of America's Community Bankers for-profit subsidiary, ACB Business Partners, Inc. Kroll has nearly 30 years of hands-on experience at major commercial banks, where he built strong relationships with community banks. Kroll has been first vice president of MBNA America Bank, Wilmington, Del., since 1996. Kroll managed the bank's community bank business development area, which included negotiating partnerships with community banks in the areas of co-branded credit cards, consumer finance sales, and marketing and mortgage banking operations. Kroll began his banking career in 1975 in the management training program of Maryland National Bank. When the bank was acquired in 1991 by NationsBank, now Bank of America, Kroll was senior vice president and division head for financial institutions, where he directed 350 respondent bank relationships. After leaving the bank in 1995, Kroll did consulting work for Legg Mason Wood Walker and PNC Bank. After conducting a capital markets study and survey for community banks, he recommended a business plan for PNC. Kroll has a bachelor of science degree in business and economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, Md.

* Parnell J. Thorson has joined First National Bank of Waseca, Minn. as a vice president of commercial and ag lending. Thorson comes to the bank with more than 20 years of lending experience throughout the Midwest.

* Daniel C. Lodahl has been appointed to the position of senior vice president and chief sales officer of First National Bank of Chaska, Minn. Lodahl will be responsible for managing the sales activity of the bank. Lodahl is a member of the bank's senior management team and will participate in establishing corporate goals and objectives. Lodahl has more than 20 years of senior executive experience. Lodahl formerly held positions in sales and marketing management for Malt-O-Meal Company, Minneapolis. Lodahl is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, with a masters of business administration degree. Lodahl also has a bachelor of arts degree in marketing communications from Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul, Minn.

* Keith Veir recently joined the Kirk Gross Company as the new vice president of operations. Veir will work in the company's Waterloo, Iowa headquarters, with the responsibilities of directing business operations, design/ construction project coordination and oversight, maintaining project budgets and contract documents, and participating in cooperative, ongoing business strategic planning. Veir has a management degree from Maryville University, St. Louis and an engineering degree from Meramec College, St. Louis. Veir was the executive vice president of JFK Construction, St. Louis and president of AEMS Business Associates, St. Louis.