Bravera Bank
Bailey Erickson & Lora Smith
Business and Ag Banking Officer Bailey Erickson and Insurance Advisor Lora Smith are the "meat and potatoes" of a team. Despite only working together for about a year, this classic duo makes a great combination.
Why did you choose this pairing?
Bailey: We chose this because what’s more Midwestern than meat and potatoes? We also care about getting to the bottom (meat & potatoes) of our customers' needs. We work great alone much like steak and potatoes, but we get more done together.
Lora: Like steak and potatoes, farmers and ranchers are the fundamental, most interesting and unpretentious part of our American life.
How long have you worked together?
Bailey: Almost a year.
Lora: Only about 11 months, but it seems much longer because we just “click”.
What is the best part about working with each other?
Bailey: From day one at Bravera, Lora has been very welcoming. She’s always upbeat and looking for the good in each day. There’s also no one who cares about their customers more than Lora. She’s always there for me to bounce ideas off of and always willing to get out of the office and attend events together. We’ve been to the sales ring, ag shows, and farm visits together.
Lora: Bailey and I have become a cohesive team who identify each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Our farm visits allow us to get out in the country and meet farmers and ranchers on their ground. We are able to collaborate in welcoming new or potential customers to the Bravera family and showcase all of the services we have to offer.
What makes Bravera a great partner for customers?
Bailey: We’re really a one stop shop. We can service your deposit account, ag loan, and crop insurance all in one location. Our team is full of experts that are ready to help current and future customers.
Lora: Our Bravera culture fosters us as a complex team working together on a single outcome. We all have a common goal of supporting our local farmers and ranchers.
What is your favorite thing about your community?
Bailey: Though I don’t actually live in Glendive, I have loved how welcoming the community and surrounding communities have been since I joined the Bravera team.
Lora: Glendive is a small town with a big heart. We, as a community, support and depend on each other in times of crisis.
What have you learned from each other?
Bailey: Lora has really helped me understand the basics of ag insurance. I feel it’s important for me to know the insurance deadlines and challenges the farmers and ranchers are facing when we are working on their renewal. She’s also helped me understand the importance of always learning and how it is beneficial when building relationships with our customers.
Lora: Perspective! Farming and ranching are not just a businesses, they're family. Bailey is an ag lender and I am an insurance advisor so we sometimes look at things differently. We have learned to exchange ideas and get new perspectives, which in turn leads to having a greater understanding of the farming and ranching operations.