(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Trustmark Bank Retail Banker and Loan Officer Aaron McKenzie.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born on Dec. 22, 1995, in Hattiesburg.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I graduated from Columbia High School in 2014 and went from there to Pearl River Community College. Then I finished my bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from William Carey.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I’m a retail banker and loan officer for Trustmark Bank. My position is a little unique in that I don’t focus on consumer loans or commercial loans; I get to handle both whether it’s real estate, rental properties or somebody buying their first vehicle. I can do any loan. That’s what I enjoy the most. I started here in February.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: My grandfather, Dan McKenzie, was a banker here in Columbia for more than 30 years, and I would say banking runs in my blood. My great uncle was a banker. My mother, Donna McKenzie, works at a bank. I love the industry.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: Helping people financially and allowing people to realize their financial goals. It’s very rewarding to me because it leads into other aspects of their lives. Trustmark has a lot of good products to offer to our customers on our loan side and our deposit side. Being a larger bank, we have a lot of bells and whistles that some other banks don’t that allow you to offer more options to your customers.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: Regulations. A lot of regulations that are put into place are there for a reason, but sometimes it can be difficult to help someone truly in need nowadays.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: To treat people the way you want to be treated. Treat everybody fairly and be encouraging to all of your customers to show them that you care.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: It actually was completely different. When I was in high school, I was really into agriculture and the poultry business. I worked on a poultry farm some during high school and worked for an integrator during college as an intern. But I’ve always had banking in the back of my mind because I saw my grandfather and the relationships he’s built over the years and how he helped people.
Q: What was your first job?
A: Working on the poultry farm in high school, but my first banking job was as a part-time teller in Hattiesburg at Bancorp South.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: My parents, Buddy and Donna McKenzie. Just seeing how they’ve sacrificed a lot during my life to help my brother, Nathan, and me have a comfortable life. (I also have a stepmother, Valerie McKenzie). The most influential person in my banking career has been Scott Pickering. He is the CEO of Community Bank in Laurel. Every morning we had an officer meeting, and at the end of the meeting he would say, “Go make somebody’s dream come true.” That’s really stuck in the back of my mind. That’s what we’re here to do: make somebody’s dream come true.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: My favorite food is fried catfish from Stogner’s with some coleslaw and hushpuppies.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii and Alaska. It’s very attractive. A lot of people go and talk about the beautiful beaches in Hawaii. Then in Alaska you have the beautiful scenery up there.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I’m the pianist at Calvary Baptist Church here in Columbia, and I love playing the piano. I play some gigs here and there from time to time. That’s something I really enjoy doing. I enjoy spending time in my yard and just bought a house here.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: I’ve worked in Hattiesburg the past four years, and I’ve always wanted to work in Columbia. It’s my hometown, and Columbia is special to me. I love the Christian influence that exists here in Columbia and Marion County. I love the small-town vibe; you can pick up the phone and call anybody for anything you need because you probably know them, and if you don’t you have some sort of mutual connection.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: My grandfather because I’d want his advice on how to be a successful banker and how he was able to be a successful banker so I could translate that into my career.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: Do exactly what I’m doing now. I’d come to work as a banker and just not worry about having to depend on money. I wouldn’t change anything because I love what I’m doing now.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: Becoming a Christian. That was the biggest impact on my life because the way God transforms you into a better person with ethics, morals and how you treat people. It’s made me become a better person.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: Traveling abroad to Europe or Asia. I’m kind of a homebody so that’s something that’s never really been at the top of my mind, but it’s something I want to try someday.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Responsibility, loyalty and faith.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I would like to be remembered as an encourager and someone who is always there to provide a listening ear and be dependable for somebody to trust in.
— Joshua Campbell
