Before Penn Community Bank’s Assistant Treasurer and Investment Officer Sam Weller was searching for investment opportunities for the bank, says he made the investment of his life by joining the military.
Following Sam’s graduation from West Point in 1996, he was commissioned as Field Artillery Officer and spent five years on active duty – from Texas to Bosnia. During this time, Sam climbed the ranks and eventually left the Army as a Captain.
Looking back on his time at West Point and in the Army, Sam says it provided lessons that he knew would benefit him in the civilian world.
“It taught me how to operate in an organization, whether it be the military or a business. It also gave me a really deep appreciation for how important culture is and I learned that I really enjoy working for organizations with a great culture – and that’s a big reason why I’m at Penn Community Bank today.”
Considering everything he learned during these years of service, Sam knew his next mission was business school. While serving in the Army Reserves, Sam was enrolled full-time at the University of Texas to pursue his MBA.
“While I was in those classes,” he remembers, “I really enjoyed learning about banking as an industry, what commercial bankers do, and how to manage risk.”
Fast-forward to present day, he gets to do what he found a passion for everyday. In his position, Sam uses his experience and background as an asset in his relationships with customers and co-workers. He knows not only how to work as a team, but how to really be effective in a team environment and how to continuously find places where he can add value.
It’s safe to say that Sam’s investment in the military is something he’ll never take for granted.
