Chris Boland

As we noted last month, vice president and consumer lending manager Chris Boland was recently appointed to leadership positions for two organizations he’s involved with, NeighborWorks Green Bay and the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association. He talked to Shorelines about how volunteering has helped his professional life and how to balance the commitments involved. “I am fortunate to have the opportunities that I do,” Chris says.

How and why did you get involved with NeighborWorks? What drew you to it?
I originally became involved to grow my career and network outside of my current circles. The committee I was invited to was the Community Reinvestment Committee, comprised of other local mortgage lenders and brokers. I found it to be a phenomenal networking opportunity and also a great way to learn more about what other lenders could offer. And as I learned more about what the organization did, my interest grew. The rest is kind of history.

You’ve held other roles on the NeighborWorks board, but this is your first time chairing it, right?
Yes. The executive team’s terms are voted on yearly, and historically the chairperson is in the role for multiple terms. However, one of the projects I will be working on is setting term limits and establishing a progression of leadership, so we are able to continually grow board members into leadership positions. Tenure on the board is great, and we are fortunate to have it. But there is also a benefit to change at the executive level — new people bring new ideas. We are excited to give more people the opportunity to lead.

Is this your first time on the WMBA state board? What are your responsibilities?
Yes, this is my first time. I believe it is a three-year term. My responsibility will include attending all events and board meetings, as well as participating in a minimum of one committee.

So how has your time with these and other groups helped you professionally? Personally?
I have always believed in service to the community and started volunteering at a young age — I am not sure if it was in middle or high school that I would go and read with younger kids, and then I worked with school police officers to educate kids on making good choices. Early in my career I helped with a foundation my parents had started to pay for uninsured and underinsured women’s mammograms, and I met a lot of great people through that.

I was asked to join a local Optimist Club as well, and that is where I really came to understand how things you are passionate about — for instance, your career and your community service — can come together and produce great results both professionally and for the organizations. As you get more involved, you build strong relationships that often lead to business and many times lead to other opportunities to do really exciting things that help other people and you.

How did you manage your time with these groups earlier in your career? Did you have an idea that you’d like to take on leadership roles with them? How have you laid that groundwork over the years?
Managing time is always a great question. However, I feel if you are passionate about what you do in life, you find the time to do things that help others. I am fortunate to be involved with great organizations such as Optimist, NWGB, and WMBA, and in addition, I coach my son’s basketball team. I find that there is always time to help someone, and there are many ways to impact people throughout your life. Giving back and being involved helps me grow and learn more. I do not see a time now or in the future when I will not be involved or look for ways to help others grow and succeed as well.