Pacific Continental Bank Blog More Than Loaning Money, Loaning Talent

As a bank, the concept of loaning money is woven into our DNA. We make loans to businesses and entrepreneurs all over the Pacific Northwest.In this post, however, I want to talk about another type of loan that is just as critical, but also relevant to any business - not just banks. I'm talking about the Loaned Executive program organized by the United Way. As a board member for the United Way of Lane County, I have seen first-hand how this program not only benefits the community and local organizations, it also tremendously benefits the United Way and the companies that "loan" their employees. Here is a brief synopsis of the Loaned Executive program:Employers lend employees from their organization to their local United Way chapter to serve as full-time employees during the annual fundraising campaign.These loaned executives provide a host of support and leadership functions for the United Way including: managing workplace campaigns, speaking to groups about fundraising and what the United Way does in their community as well as coordinating logistics.For the loaned executives, they are able to build a growing list of contacts as well as gain leadership and organizational training, all of which benefit both the employee and the employer through continued career development. Many companies that participate in the program choose new employees or those being grooming for management positions because of the skills training and the community networking opportunities provided by the program.This year, our bank and Columbia Bank are actively participating in the Loaned Executive program in Greater Eugene. We are also running an employee campaign as part of United Way's annual fundraising event in all of our markets.Will you join with us in this important and exciting opportunity? Right now, United Way chapters in all markets are looking for loaned executives as well as workplace campaign participants.If you and your organization are interested, go to United Way's website for more information.It just might be the best loan you and your organization will ever make.Denise Ghazal is president of the Greater Eugene market at Pacific Continental Bank.