Meet Christine Wilcox, the vice president of human resources of Union Bank & Trust (UBT, ubt.com).
Tell us a little about your business. – Union Bank & Trust is a privately owned Nebraska bank that offers complete banking, lending, investment and trust services. The bank has 38 full-service and loan production offices in Nebraska and Kansas.
How did you get started in the business? – I am an attorney by training. I started at UBT in 2010 as the in-house attorney during the height of the financial crisis. I worked on large commercial loan workouts and day-to-day legal issues. Prior to coming to UBT, I worked at a law firm in Kansas City where I focused on employment law and have always had an interest in people issues. So, when the opportunity came to serve in HR, I took it.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Being VP of HR during COVID provided a whole host of challenges. From getting people home, creating COVID protocols and having people return to the office, every day brought forth new obstacles. Luckily, I enjoy learning and coming up with new solutions. Did we do everything perfectly? No, but we did the best with the information we had at the time, and I will forever be proud of how we handled unchartered territory with our associates’ best interests in mind.
Tell us a little about your family. – I have an eight-year-old son named Levi who is into soccer, baseball (especially the San Diego Padres) and tennis. My husband, Andy, can oftentimes be found on the golf course and can always make me laugh.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Becoming a parent. There is nothing else that comes close.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Go on a long walk or run, go to coffee or lunch with friends, read and do something outside with Levi and Andy (lately that has been family golf).
Who inspires you? – My group of friends. They are always there for each other. They are phenomenal mothers, wives and businesspeople, and I learn from them every day. They inspire me to be a better person.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? – “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift. Haters gonna hate.
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – I have an eye for design. I love interiors and fashion and am quite good at it. In my next life, maybe I will be a stylist or an interior designer.
Which talent would you most like to have? – I wish I could play the guitar like my husband. Andy has the ability to play about any sing-along song, which makes him popular at parties.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – I read and listen to audiobooks every spare moment, so this is a tough one for me. As far as non-fiction, The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr. As far as fiction, my favorite book of 2022 was Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
What is your favorite TV show? – I enjoy Ted Lasso. It is funny, has great characters and addresses hard issues in an approachable manner.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Momo’s. I enjoy the food and the atmosphere.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – christine.wilcox@ubt.com; ubt.com.