“People are our most important asset.”

In this episode, Jeff Hammes and Dr. Jeff Williamson discuss the importance of maintaining servant minded leadership as individuals and in managing a business. President and CEO of People’s Bank in Kankakee, Jeff Hammes is open about how striking the balance between managing people while maintaining consistent customer satisfaction requires constant input from other leaders around him. 

One of Jeff Hammes’s direct mentors is his father, Jerry Hammes, who has served as board chairman for the bank for more than the duration of Jeff’s career. Jeff discusses how relationships such as this are everything while in a leadership position – both close, familial relationships and those within the larger community keep you on track with your mission as a leader. 

Tune in to hear more about the Hammes’s generational leadership of People’s Bank as Jeff Hammes and Dr. Jeff Williams discuss what it means to serve the community well.

Things you do to continue growing as a leader?

• Peer groups
• Intentional self-reflection
• Podcasts
• Reading is very important (the same content repackaged a different way, but they frame things in a way that is more digestible and hits home better)

Meet Your Guest

Jeff Hammes

Jeff Hammes has served as President and CEO of People’s Bank of Kankakee since 2000, following the lead of his father and grandfather who started and managed the business since 1962. Jeff Hammes’s grandfather and People’s Bank founder, Romy Hammes, instilled a deep value of being community involved and service minded in all business practices.  

Through maintaining People’s Bank of Kankakee’s mission to be service minded, Jeff Hammes recognizes the importance of this mission personally as well. To grow in leadership qualities, Hammes emphasizes the Importance of having closely connected family and community mentors, dependable, lifelong relationships, seeking volunteering within community, and setting aside time for intentional self-reflection to grow in leadership qualities.

About the Leadership LevelUp Podcast

Being a boss and a leader are very different. A boss tells you what to do and a leader partners with you in the process. Jeff, being a leader of leaders, has a vast knowledge of best practices and exercises to discover leadership traits. Brian shares stories with Jeff about the ups and downs of his leadership quest while talking to business and community leaders to discuss their personal leadership journey. Who influenced them? What do they do when they have a bad day? What gives them inspiration? Do french fries or tacos or ice cream make them feel better after a bad day? Through laughter and casual conversation, Brian and Jeff explore all aspects of good leadership.

Meet Your Hosts

Jeff Williamson

Brian Prairie

Show Sponsor

Pathfinder: A full-service creative & marketing agency with a mission to provide strategic storytelling to our clients. There is no greater impact in this world than a story. Storytelling is how we learn, remember, and feel. The world has used storytelling since the beginning of time to entertain, teach, inspire, and innovate. Pathfinder’s mission is to provide strategic storytelling for our clients. How? Through inventive business services and pioneering campaigns that help organizations find their own path and carry out their vision.