Who's your Banker? In 1970 I was a young kid in Miami. I already had some mileage pro- moting rock and roll concerts, still taking college courses and was work- ing in subsidiary operations at the Miami Herald , when I was approached by some quasi friends (acquaintances) that said, "A guy in Fort Lauderdale wants to meet you." That was about it. So? We soon met, and they drove me up to Fort Lauderdale to meet this "guy." I was intrigued. That guy was Jack Hunt . We talked about con- certs, music, publications, clubs and radio. The meeting went on for hours, and I remember laughing a lot. We met again the next day at his office on Oakland Park Boulevard, and we talked business – he wanted to do something together that would be fun. I told him I was in a two- year executive trainee program at the Herald , but frankly I didn't know why. It seemed lame. I had to wear white shirts and a tie, and we had meetings EVERY morning at 7 a.m. I laughed. He laughed. Jack Hunt then told me that he wanted to do something that was fun... I got that impression from the day before, duh. I vaguely knew that Hunt was for real – I could tell. Jack was my senior by about 30 years, and he shared he was a bit at the crossroads in their family business; he, his father and brother just sold their Coral Ridge Properties to Westinghouse including the real estate development called Coral Springs, Florida, "The city of the future." He had my attention. Fast forward, we agreed to become partners, and we would each put in money and capitalize the company. I would be president. We talked about concerts, clubs, radio stations. Wow! I said we would need offices. He said, "Here, I own this building (the largest multi-story building on Oakland Park Blvd). Take a floor." Then I said, what you have in mind was gonna take more than $100,000; he put in $80K and I put in $20K – a lot of mula in 1970. WE NEED A BANKER We need a BANKER, I said. My dad is a builder-developer, and he's always said, "You need a banker who knows you if you want to make it in business; to be there for you." ...Jack had this slow-building laugh that starts out with a soft chuckle like a stalled engine, then gets louder in a rumble and then a full avalanche roar, and he said we OWN the banks. He was right. They owned Bank of Commerce on the corner of Oakland and Federal, and two other banks. This story could go on forever, but... This month on the cover of the Good News is Ginger Martin , our Banker and the banker you will read about in our feature story by GN Editor Shelly Pond . Ginger Martin was there for our tribe, our village, our constituent group of charities and business leaders that make up the fabric in our Christian Leadership here in Broward County. I know first-hand the days and hours and weekends that she and her multi-talented team at American National Bank put in for their client family during this pandemic shut down. Ginger was the first meeting that I scheduled when I took leadership of the Good News over three years ago; she is a dynamic buzz saw and strong believer. I encourage anyone who needs a banker in your corner – they don't make many or any like the women we call "Ginger." Les PUBLISHER 4 AUGUST 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition South Florida Edition • Good News •August 2020 • Volume 22, Issue 5 - Leslie J. Feldman - On The Cover Ginger Martin and her team are pictured in the lobby at American National Bank, South Florida's community bank. From left to right: Daniel Korolev, Senior Vice President, Lending; Ginger Martin, President and CEO; and Amy Mahaney, Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer. Photo by Justus Martin www.justusmartinphoto.com PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Lurk – by Stephan Tchividjian CHURCH UNITED . . . . . . . 8 Is This The Way It's Supposed To Be? - Dr. Isaac Petit Frere INSIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 On Passion And Purpose – by Rob Hoskins VILLAGE HYMNS . . . . . . 12 In Spirit And In Truth – by Amber Grete PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Our Father Is Still In Control – by Dr. Bob Barnes & Torrey Roberts YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . 16 Surprised By Jesus – by Tommy Boland LIVE THE LIFE . . . . . . . . . 18 The Tale of Two Families – by Lisa May GOOD NEWS WANTSTOKNOW . . . 20 - 22 Who is the cook in your family and what's your favorite dish? COVER STORY . . . . . . . . 24 Ginger Martin & American National Bank Strengthen Community During Pandemic - by Shelly Pond CALENDAR . . . . . . . 34 – 35 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . 36 – 39 Publisher: Leslie J. Feldman
[email protected] Editor: Shelly Pond
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