When he moved back from Las Vegas, a good friend of Mike Barrett’s let him know of a position open in the Lincoln branch of the regional bank where he worked and encouraged Mike to accept the offer. Mike had always wanted to work in financial services, so he took the position where he spent eight years in mortgage lending before moving to Cornhusker Bank. As a resident of the Lincoln area for more than 100 years, Cornhusker Bank understands how to serve other Lincolnites whether for personal or business banking. No matter what your needs are, they remain a locally owned and run bank and always committed to your success. Mike’s responsibilities include managing the mortgage department.
Tell us a little about your family. – We have a very active family. My wife Kimberly is the Wellness Director at UNL and teaches morning fitness class at the Cooper YMCA. Our three children, Chloe (11), Will (9), and Lucy (4) are involved in many sports and keep us on the move. Over the last three winters all three kids have developed a passion for snow skiing.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – The birth of our first child, Chloe. There is life before children and life with children and they are completely different lives.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Spending time with my family. We’ll do something active like playing catch or go hunting or take a long bike ride.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – My first job out of college was working for The Las Vegas Sands/Venetian. Most people ask if I was a black jack dealer but I actually worked in the Government Relations Department and worked quite a bit with Sheldon Adelson, the owner of The Venetian, who is #12 on the Forbes 400.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – My father shared a quote, from Theodore Roosevelt, with me when I was younger that resonates with me: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty…. I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
What is the one goal you would most like to accomplish? – To be the best husband and father I can be and live a life that serves as an example to my children that hard work leads to success and give back to those less fortunate.
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – The athletic part of playing football and baseball in college are not utilized much at work. I don’t get many opportunities to break a tackle or hit a baseball at work.
Which talent would you most like to have? – Being able to play golf. Being fairly athletic I get completely frustrated by not being able to hit a stationary object very well.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – Anything by Nelson Demille.
What is your favorite movie? – Bull Durham
What is your favorite TV show? – Modern Family
What is your favorite Lincoln restaurant? – The Steak House
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – George Washington – I would love to ask him if the Founding Fathers envisioned America the way it is today.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Mike.barrett@cornhuskerbank.com | www.cornhuskerbank.com