Leadership
Andy Ellison, President and CEO
What kind of person opens a new bank in 2008 as the American economy was descending into the Great Recession?
Answer: A person not afraid of hard work, who believes deeply in the community and building a strong team; a leader with a vision to create more than a bank for clients and those who choose to be part of this new venture of Mountain View Bank of Commerce.
So the story begins… Colorado native and CU-Boulder graduate, Andy Ellison – along with Stephen Faillaci-- teamed up in 2006 to embrace a dream in spite of many challenges raising $8-million dollars in initial capital to launch Mountain View Bank of Commerce.
“I knew early on that we could serve our clients in many ways in addition to banking,” Andy says. “We’re able to give advice and direction on a number of topics, especially financial guidance. Mountain View is here to do more, to be more – that’s our responsibility as a community bank.”
With hard work and quality service has come reward; Mountain View grew through the Great Recession, doubled in size over the past five years, and looks to double again in the next five. To accommodate this growth, Mountain View moved to a new home at 120th Avenue and Pecos in Westminster with more space in a great location to provide our individualized service to even more clients.
Mountain View’s community service has also flourished over the years. Andy speaks with pride about the bank’s Make A Difference (MAD) days where the staff, divided into three teams, donates half-a-day, twice a year – while on the clock – to give back, “We’ve worked on behalf of kids, the elderly, animal causes – you name it, our people have lent a helping hand to non-profits region-wide.”
In 2018, An opportunity arose that is especially close to Andy’s heart. “We worked with CU-Boulder and Realities for Children Boulder County to provide a full-ride scholarship for a young woman living in foster care who otherwise would not even be considering college. I’m so proud that the bank can help change the future for this young lady and her family for generations to come. I want to do more of that, where Mountain View can make a true difference in peoples’ lives.”
Andy and Mountain View have both grown in the last 10 years, and his current focus is how best to help his team members become better leaders. “I want to build something that will outlast me, that everyone can be proud of for decades to come. My passion is to develop team members’ leadership skills to provide the best service possible to our clients . . . to always be looking for ways to make real contributions.”
Throughout this journey, Andy’s anchor is his family. He married his junior high school sweetheart over 20 years ago and has two teenage daughters. Andy is also a workout enthusiast who enjoys the “endorphin rush.” It’s a rush that’s served the region well as Mountain View continues to grow its legacy of being more than a bank . . .
Stephen Faillaci, Market President
As co-founder of Mountain View Bank of Commerce, Stephen knows all-too-well what complex, hard work is all about.
He embraced that challenge in 2006 when he and partner, Andy Ellison, made the decision to start a new community bank. It motivated him then and it’s the juice that drives him today to take care of clients.
Stephen’s specialty is the tough loans . . . the more complex the better.
“I really love putting the pieces of the loan puzzle together. Where I excel is when it’s hard. Let’s be unique and creative and find a solution that brings the puzzle together for a successful outcome. It may be tough, but together we’ll figure it out. That’s when it’s fun. That’s why clients come to me.”
Stephen runs MVBoC’s Boulder office. 95% of his business is on the commercial side but also does some residential and other consumer lending. He’s built his reputation “one relationship at a time,” a formula that’s worked well: “70% of my business comes from existing clients or their referrals.”
As part of a community bank without the big name or the big brand, Stephen knows that being more than a banker is much more than a value statement. “We go out and earn each relationship we have. We put the miles in; we take care of our clients. I’ll battle for them, and they know we’ll hit the closing date. So when we do the job well, they come back and also tell their friends.”
Making the complex come together for you. That’s the hard work that inspires Stephen and works for you.
When he’s not solving loan puzzles, Stephen spends his time with his wife, two children, and their two bulldogs. A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with an MBA from the University of Denver, he’s into Crossfit and the mountains of Estes Park.