Longwood's Executive-in-Residence series kicked off its first event Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Blackwell Hall with Chairman of NBC Oklahoma Bank, Ken Fergeson. The "remarkable business leader in every sense of the word," as Dean Barrett called him, spoke about "Arts-Business-Creativity," and how they all relate.
Stephanie Roddenberry, president of Lancer Student Investment Fund, briefly introduced Fergeson while giving a bit of background on the Altus, Okla. resident. Roddenberry also serves as vice president of finance for Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity.
As someone who grew up on a farm, Fergeson explained how exactly he got involved in the business of banking. He stated, "I got into banking to save agriculture." During his master's thesis, he studied the amount of capital flowing into the agriculture industry and found that it was inefficient. He wanted to "single-handedly save agriculture."
After visiting 300 banks for a job, he was finally hired. Working for a bank in Oklahoma City, he was able "to work for a bank that really believed in giving back." Fergeson joked that growing up on the farm is one of the best reasons to go to college.
Fergeson described his bank as a country bank; one that loans money and "expects you to pay it back." The bank is represented in five different communities. "Close to my heart is community banking because we're actually close to people," shared Fergeson. The bank's theme is "Banking is a Ministry." He said, "If you look in the dictionary, a ministry is to serve others, and I think that's what banks do. That's what we do every day, all day long."
The bank has 140 employees which gave back 4,500 hours to 114 non-profit organizations in Oklahoma. "You don't have to have a lot of money. You just have to have a willingness to serve and to give," said Fergeson.
In regard to art, the bank has commissioned six public art pieces from the state. They also raised $500,000 for non-profits by selling replicas of the art. Nine years ago, he decided to commission an artist to do a piece of art. All the customers of the bank received a piece of art, whether it was in the form of a post card or in a framed piece. Fergeson said, "By commissioning a piece of art, our customers think of us as unique, as original and that we're giving back to the community." He said customers are already asking him who the artist for this year will be and what the art will look like.
He said he noticed towns that had art activities were booming and towns without them were failing. He also said art is important in education. He stated, "We have a crisis in America right now in education where one out of three high school students doesn't finish high school." He spoke about a recent 11-year study that looked at a low-income high school. Students who participated in the arts were more likely to succeed in creative aspects of student life such as science fair projects as well as exceed in overall academics and become involved in student organizations.
Ferguson chaired the Oklahoma Creative Ink, a creative district of which 13 exist throughout the world. The Oklahoma branch is the only one in North America. It focuses on culture from the viewpoint of commerce. "What I am most proud of is the results of this. We are now starting a creative network," said Fergeson. Ok., Wisconsin and New Jersey are all teaming up to bring a spotlight to creativity and share ideas.
He spoke greatly about creative means of nanotubes to deliver drugs in the body and to make more bullet-proof clothing. Additionally, an Italian company is using wool to soak up oil since wool is able to absorb 10 times its weight in liquid. Artificial muscle creation is another project being used to create energy and will eventually be placed in vehicular motors.
"I think higher education provides that safe place. A place where we can cross-pollinate ideas." Ferguson said the field of education is one where ideas do not get shot down and they can actually foster. "I don't know what the future holds, but someone in this room will make a difference."
The Executive-in-Residence program began in the early 1990s. This year's theme is "Leadership and Innovation." The Oct. 5 event was sponsored by Barrett Capital Management and SunTrust Bank.
