Agribusiness BankingAgribusiness Bankers

Tom Jensen, Senior Vice President and Division Manager

As a team member of one of the top 15 agricultural lenders in the nation, Sr. Vice President Tom Jensen is committed to helping agribusinesses and community banks reach their goals. In banking since 1978, he joined First National Bank in 1984 as a Senior Administrative Representative. Tom was promoted to Senior Agricultural Lender in 1993 and Department Manager in 2002. He has played an instrumental part in increasing the department's portfolio from $55 million in 1987 to $1 billion today. Tom holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He currently serves as a member of the Nebraska Cattleman and National Cattleman's Beef Association and as a board member of Nebraska Independent Community Bankers. Contact Tom Jensen at 402-602-3522.

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Ginny Stichternath, Vice President

Ginny just recently joined the First National Agribusiness team in June 2008 and offices in Denver, Colorado. Born and raised on a farm/ranch in northeast Kansas, Ginny brings over 15 years of lending experience in commercial agribusiness throughout the United States. In addition to lending to traditional Midwest agricultural industry segments, Ginny has experience in lending to other industry segments including vegetable production, tree fruit and nut grower/processor operations, vineyards and wineries, cotton, and rice. Ginny received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics and a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis in finance from Kansas State University. Contact Ginny Stichternath at 303-241-8051.

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Ken Feaster, Vice President

Ken Feaster joined the First National Agribusiness team in September 2007 and offices in St. Louis, Missouri. Ken brings over 27 years of lending experience in commercial agribusiness. Ken specializes in fertilizer and chemical wholesale, retail and distribution, grain merchandising and processing, meat processing, and large-scale hog production industries primarily in the Midwest, east of Nebraska. Ken received a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with a finance concentration from the University of Iowa in 1978 and received a Master's of Business Administration, with a finance concentration, from the University of Iowa in 1980. Contact Ken Feaster at 314-317-1603.

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Chris Kalkowski, Vice President

Chris Kalkowski is a Vice President in the Agribusiness Department of First National Bank of Omaha. Chris joined the First National Team in 1998 in the Technology Services Division after leaving the United States Air Force. He transitioned to Agribusiness Banking in 2003 to utilize his agricultural background. Chris earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Creighton University and a Masters of Business Administration from Bellevue University. Chris grew up in Rock County, Nebraska, and continues to help manage his family ranch in Boyd County. Chris is a Nebraska LEAD Fellow and lifetime member of the National FFA Alumni. He currently is a member of the Nebraska Cattlemen and National Cattlemen's Beef Associations, serves on the executive board of Ag Builders of Nebraska, serves on the Nebraska FFA Foundation Board of Directors, and is active in his local church. Contact Chris Kalkowski at 402-602-3526.

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John Norwood, Vice President

A longtime agribusiness professional, John is an integral part of the Agribusiness Banking team. As Vice President for the Colorado Loan Production Office, he provides agricultural loan products to customers throughout Colorado, Western Kansas, and Nebraska. John joined First National Bank in August of 1993. His career includes 30 years in agribusiness lending and working for well-respected financial institutions across the Midwest. John is a graduate of Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado, and the Colorado School of Banking, Boulder, CO. He is a member of Colorado Cattle Feeders, Kansas Livestock Association, and T-Bone Club of Greeley, Colorado. Contact John Norwood at 800-574-4095.

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Donn Patience, Vice President

Donn is headquartered in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Loan Production Office. He is engaged in providing custom Agribusiness credit solutions for clients throughout the Midwest. Donn has 23 years of professional Agribusiness lending experience and has a broad range of knowledge that includes developing financing arrangements for the following: grain elevators, agricultural supply companies, agricultural manufacturing, meatpacking, poultry, food processing and distribution, swine and beef genetics, specialty grains, warehousing, and large scale grain, livestock and dairy production. Donn is a graduate of Iowa State University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Business. Donn worked his way through school by operating a Custom Farming business. Contact Donn Patience at 319-364-1090.

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Stacey Cole, Agribusiness Loan Officer

Stacey joined First National Bank in 2006 as a member of the Executive Development Program. Following the program, she served as a credit analyst for the First National Bank Agribusiness Banking Department. Currently, Stacey is an Agribusiness Loan Officer specializing in providing financial solutions for grain and cattle operations. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State College with a double major in finance and marketing. Stacey then attended Creighton University and received a Master’s of Business Administration degree. She is a member of the Nebraska LEAD Program, choir member and social coordinator of the Young Adults group at her local church, and a volunteer with numerous philanthropic organizations. Contact Stacey Cole at 402-602-3580.

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Mark Miles, Agribusiness Loan Officer

Mark joined First National Bank in 2008 as a member of the Management Trainee Program. Following the program he served as a Credit Analyst for the First National Bank Agribusiness Banking Department. Currently Mark is an Agribusiness Lender specializing in providing agricultural loan products for cattle, grain, and potato operations throughout the Midwest.

Mark received a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2007. He grew up in Brown County, Nebraska where he continues to help with the management of his family farm and cattle feeding operation. He is involved in the TeamMates Mentoring Program, Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the Awana Kids Club at his local church. Contact Mark Miles at 402-602-3523.

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Jennie Cormier, Division Head Assistant

Jennie joined the Agribusiness Banking Department in March of 2001 as an administrative assistant to the department. In 2006, Jennie became the Department Head Assistant. She assists Tom Jensen with communications, presentations, and reporting to executives and the department. She also coordinates meetings and events, leads the Agribusiness administrative team, and upholds First National Bank’s mission to provide superior service to customers. Jennie graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations. She is an active member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals Ak-Sar-Ben Chapter. Contact Jennie Cormier at 402-602-3184.

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Bev Tasset, Administrative Assistant

Bev originally joined First National Bank in July of 2000 providing administrative assistance to the Colorado Loan Production Office and strives to provide superior customer services to customers. Bev graduated from Parks Business College with a certificate in Travel and Transportation in 1983 and completed the Principals of Banking program in the fall of 1998. Bev is an active Notary Public for the State of Colorado. Contact Bev Tasset at 800-574-4095.

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Janie Ensor, Administrative Assistant

Janie joined the Agribusiness and Correspondent Banking Department in November of 2009 as an administrative assistant to the departments. She previously worked for two years as a Wire Transaction Processor in the Wire Operations Center. Janie brings eight years of banking experience, including teller, garnishments and wire knowledge. She is also involved as a Youth Leader and Creative Arts Coordinator at her local church. Contact Janie Ensor at 402-602-3520.

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Landon Faivre, Vice President and Senior Ag Lender

Landon Faivre began working at Castle Bank in July 2000 as a Credit Analyst and currently is the Senior Ag Lender. Landon brings a mix of real world experience and academic knowledge to his agricultural customers. He grew up on a grain and Christmas tree farm in Northern Illinois and continues to farm on the side. This helps him understand the challenges that producers face. Landon graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Agri-Business, Farm, and Financial Management and received his MBA from Northern Illinois University. Landon is an advisory member of the DeKalb County Ag Professionals Committee and involved in several local philanthropic organizations.

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Mike Morris, Senior Vice President and Ag Banker

After graduating from Western Illinois University with a BS degree in Ag Economics, Mike Morris began his banking career in 1985 in Sterling, Illinois. Having started in the business at the bottom of Agriculture's economic cycle, it gave him perspective to understand the business risks and rewards of persevering in agriculture. He began at Castle Bank in March 2010 and looks forward to continuing to serve farmers in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Mike grew up on a 240 acre and 50 sow hog farm near Prophetstown, IL. Over the last 25 years he has worked with a wide variety of farm and agri-business operations and used about every government program to help farmers meet their financing and business goals. He has served as President of the Woodstock Rotary Club and has chaired the U of I Cooperative Extension Council and taught courses on the coordinated farm financial statements.

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