January Member Spotlight
Shannon Lewis, Branch Manager, Taylor Bank - Onley; Adam James, Loan and Business Development Officer, Taylor Bank - Onley
Company: Taylor Bank
Location: 25090 Shore Parkway,
Onley, VA 23418
Member Since: 2015
Shannon Lewis
Family and Background
I moved to the Shore as a teenager and decided this was where I wanted to live after moving away for a few years as a young adult. I currently live in Bloxom with my husband, Wayne. We have a blended family of five children, with just one left at home, currently attending college virtually. I have several grandchildren that I thoroughly enjoy spoiling.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
I honestly came into banking by happenstance; I took a job as a teller at Farmers & Merchants Bank in Onley in 1994 and hoped to work my way through college to a teaching degree, and found that I loved banking. I worked my way from the entry-level position of teller to Assistant Head Teller, to Head Teller, then into management. I was blessed with several great mentors and continue to learn more every day.
How do you define success?
I define success as the ability to look back on your life and be proud of the things you have accomplished. Not necessarily the financial gains and things you have accumulated, but the people you have influenced, touched, or helped.
What is the best piece of professional advice you've received?
To treat others as you would want to be treated. The Golden Rule applies in every facet of life, but especially when you live and breathe customer service. I often try to put myself in someone’s shoes in a difficult situation, which puts things in perspective pretty quickly. Everyone wants to be treated with respect and courtesy. A pretty basic principle, but fundamental to success.
What's your favorite feature of the Eastern Shore?
Definitely the people and the way of life here. Having lived in several other places, I truly appreciate the warm, close-knit, friendly, always-there-to-lend-a-hand people of the Shore.
Just for fun, what's one personal goal you've set for 2021?
Ha! The same as everyone else, I imagine! Try to eat better, try to stay healthy, maybe lose a few pounds!!
But also to keep up the momentum the new branch has seen so far since opening in July. I have a fantastic staff and work for an incredibly supportive company so I should have everything I need to make that happen.
Adam James
Family and Background
I currently reside in Onancock with my fiancé, Tyler Fincen, and daughters Kennedy (age 6) and Parker (6 months old). I was born and raised in Onancock, and after attending college at the University of Virginia, I wanted to return to the Shore to raise a family.
What inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
I always wanted to be a business professional, but I wasn’t sure in which realm. While in college, former bankers Gene Crockett and Brenda Payne encouraged me to meet with some local banks on the Shore and see if it was a fit. I joined Shore Bank as a Management Trainee, and after spending time in each department of the Bank, I knew this was going to be a career. Fourteen years later, and I am working for Taylor Bank bringing the traditional community bank feel back to the Eastern Shore.
How do you define success?
I correlate success with accomplishment. That may be a tangible accomplishment such as receiving a promotion at your job or winning a baseball game, or that success may simply be completing a task before its deadline, helping a teammate accomplish their goal, or simply making myself a better man today than I was yesterday.
What is the best piece of professional advice you've received?
Never judge a book by its cover. In my world, there is always a story, and those with the deepest stories or greatest successes may not appear that way at a quick glance. Take the time to understand the story, and help accomplish their goal any way you can.
What's your favorite feature of the Eastern Shore?
The Fishing. The answer I should probably give is the people of the Eastern Shore. I call them “characters,” and with Kitty James and Wilson James in your family, I’ve certainly met plenty of characters, but it’s hard to beat the fishing!
Just for fun, what's one personal goal you've set for 2021?
My personal goal for 2021 is to spend more time on the boat. It’s my escape. Whether it’s Weir Point on Sundays, or drum fishing in the evenings on the flats, I love being on the boat, and this year, my goal is to spend more time out there enjoying life with Tyler, Kennedy, and Parker.