The majority of my life has been spent growing up in the greater Richmond Area. A place where access to anything and everything you could want is pretty much at the tip of your finger. It is also a place that can offer a vast array of living situations that include anything from the hustle and bustle of downtown Richmond to the quaint and farm living that the areas of Sandston and Varina have to offer. I had grown up knowing the latter option, and I believe that is one of the many reasons I was drawn to Chesapeake Bank.
Coming out of high school, I had the opportunity to complete an internship with a local credit union in the area. It just so happened that I had also been a member of this credit union since I was born, so I had a certain level of comfort around the organization. Throughout my time with the Credit Union, I learned extensively about the mantra of "people helping people," and it became something that I wanted to live by in my work life.
During my college term, I would come back and work for the credit union during my summer and winter breaks. Doing this helped me fall in love with banking, and I knew that was the career I wanted to pursue post-graduation.
When looking at the banking world, I knew I wanted to be at a place that cared about their customers as much as I had grown accustomed to and would always put their needs first. This led me to be first introduced to Chesapeake Bank via a college fair at Christopher Newport University. After talking to Pat Lewis and Amy Mitchem, my first thought was that Chesapeake Bank was definitely a place I could see myself.
Knowing very little about the town of Kilmarnock or the Northern Neck in general, it was a bit of a shell shock for me when I came for my interview. Coming from Richmond, I did not know how someone could be okay with living 45 minutes from the nearest Chick-Fil-A! But once the initial shock wore off, I realized how similar the small town living was to my current home in Sandston, which provided me with a good level of comfort throughout my time. After my interviews with Pat and Amy and then another one with Jeff, I knew Chesapeake Bank was the place I wanted to be, so I quickly accepted the Management Trainee position when offered.
My time during the Management Trainee program has been one of great learning and growth. Having the ability to spend time in each of the bank departments and our specialty lines of business (affectionately called SLOB's) was a tremendous opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the bank and see how every department worked and functioned together.
I did not know what I wanted to do when I joined the bank, which is why the Management Trainee Position was so perfect for me. I was able to do everything from work on the teller line to sitting with the Senior Credit Officer and heads of various departments to learn their job role and about the team.
Most importantly, I was able to get into the weeds of many of these departments to see what it was like day-to-day and see if it piqued my interest as a possible career path. An opportunity like this is so great to have, not only because of the learning that goes on with it but also because it gives you the ability to meet so many of the bank's employees. You feel like you know everyone by the end of it. (Even if I do not know everyone's name like our CEO Jeff).
Chesapeake Bank invests in their employees and wants them to succeed. Through my time in the Management Trainee Program, I was able to complete the Management Development Program that is offered through the VBA to better help me understand the various qualities needed to be a successful leader and manager. The bank fully supported any opportunity that I wanted to take to further my knowledge. They provide so many tools and opportunities for you to grow and learn, not only as an employee but also as a person. Becoming part of the Management Trainee Program was one of the best decisions I could have made for myself, and I am so happy that I was a part of it and apart of this great bank!
Through my time in the program, I found a desire to be in the mortgage lending world. It was something that appealed to me from day one. Even through the craziness of the COVID-19 Pandemic with mortgage rates hitting record lows, and our mortgage team trying to keep up with the ever-increasing demand, I still found an attraction to that area of the bank. I am happy to announce that I have accepted a position as the Mortgage Process Analyst here in the bank.
This role will allow me to continue to be exposed to the mortgage area of the bank and allow me to help increase efficiencies in our mortgage process. Chesapeake Bank truly stands by their motto of being a Great Place to Work. I could not have imagined starting my banking career anywhere else, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead with this great organization! — Peter Hoffman
Interested in being the next Management Trainee? One new candidate is recruited each spring, intentionally timed with college graduations. Ideal candidates for this position are considering the business field but may not have decided yet which industry. Qualified applicants can be internal or external. They must be a college graduate and a good cultural fit. Look for more details this spring!