Adam joined the Northwest Bank team in 2019 and is responsible for developing and servicing the banking needs of commercial businesses. He works with businesses of all sizes and has a passion for helping businesses meet their growth and development goals. Adam has volunteered with the United Way of Siouxland for many years and has been an Ambassador for the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce since 2014. He and his wife are small business owners themselves and he is passionate about seeing Siouxland grow.
Brenda brings over 50 years of experience in banking and more than 40 years in financial services. She is responsible for the production of all business banking products, including business operating lines of credit, business equipment loans, small business loans, and commercial real estate in the Omaha market. Additionally, Brenda manages commercial deposit accounts and electronic banking services. Brenda is actively involved in the community and regularly attends Westside Community Church.
Brett began his banking career in 2020 after graduating from Wartburg College with bachelor’s degrees in finance and economics. He joined Northwest Bank in February 2022 and has since been dedicated to building strong, long-term relationships with his clients. As a Commercial Banker, Brett provides a full range of business lending solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of clients across various industries and business sizes. He takes pride in exceeding expectations and demonstrating that banking with Northwest Bank means having a trusted partner you can count on. Brett is active in the community through his involvement in several professional and industry organizations, including Ankeny Young Professionals, West Des Moines Young Professionals, and the Des Moines Home Builders Association (DSM HBA).
Cara graduated from Iowa State University and is responsible for developing and managing commercial businesses to help meet their banking needs. She currently serves on the board of Central Iowa RMA, is Chair for the RMA Young Professional Committee and is actively involved in Teach Children to Save. Cara enjoys volunteering in the Des Moines community including coaching youth athletics and Habitat for Humanity.
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Carson Farmer specializes in Commercial and Agricultural banking. He has been with Northwest Bank since graduating from the University of Iowa in 2017. Since then, he has grown his career through underwriting and risk management roles, assisting lenders with commercial relationships and interpreting the numbers behind major loan decisions.
Carson enjoys building and developing relationships with business owners as well as assisting entrepreneurs pursuing business ownership. His background in credit, risk management, and finance allows him to have valuable conversations with borrowers about their current business needs and identify new opportunities to help them reach their financial goals.
In his free time, Carson enjoys coaching soccer, playing golf, and spending time with his wife and daughters. He is active in the community through volunteering as a coach with Northwest Iowa Soccer Club and as an assistant coach for Spencer High School.
Curt is a dedicated community banker currently serving as Ag and Commercial Banker at Northwest Bank. He continues to play an integral role in the bank’s growth and community engagement. Curt also serves as a Dickinson County Soil and Water Commissioner and formerly contributed to the Dickinson County Extension Council. He was a 4-H leader for 13 years and was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame in 2002. He and his family reside on a third-generation farm outside of Superior and are active members of St. Mary’s Parish in Spirit Lake, where he is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.
DJ Wingert joined the Northwest Bank team in 2021, bringing a strong background in retail management and sales, along with a bachelor’s degree from Morningside University. She is passionate about building relationships and providing personalized financial solutions to help individuals and businesses reach their goals. DJ specializes in business development and enjoys promoting Northwest Bank’s diverse products and services. She is a graduate of the Iowa Bankers Association’s Leadership Institute and Leadership Siouxland, an active member of the IBA Emerging Leaders group, and proudly serves on the board of Center for Siouxland. Outside the office, DJ loves supporting local businesses, attending high school sporting events—especially Friday night football—and spending time with friends, family, and her energetic dog.
With a career that spans over 25 years, Doug has wide range of banking and management experience that includes retail, business banking, agricultural and commercial lending, and treasury management. Doug is an Iowa native and was raised on a west central Iowa farm. He resides in Ames with his wife, Tina and their twin sons, Carson, and Caleb. He is a 1995 graduate of Iowa State University and a three-year football letter winner and member of the 1994 Academic All-Big 8 team. He is also a 2008 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking. Doug is active in and dedicated to the Ames and Story County community. He has served on the United Way of Story County Board of Directors, Gilbert Education Foundation board, Cyclone Gridiron Club board and was treasurer of ASSET. Many hours have also been spent coaching youth sports teams over the years. He also was an appointed commissioner for the Ames Planning and Zoning Commission. Currently, Doug is on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Story County, Ames Economic Development Commission, and Ames Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Ames Noon Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow.
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Eric Walhof, Regional President, oversees Northwest Bank locations in Sioux Center, Le Mars, Spencer, Milford, Arnolds Park, Spirit Lake, and Estherville, along with their Market Presidents. He supports the bank’s mission by delivering progressive financial services and building long-term relationships with customers and communities. With over 25 years of experience in agricultural and commercial banking, as well as team leadership, Eric brings a strong understanding of community banking and a passion for mentoring customers and employees. He is committed to developing solid loan portfolios and empowering local teams to grow and lead. Eric earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Dordt College. He previously served on the Sioux Center Health Foundation, Planning and Zoning Committee, and ATLAS of Sioux Center. He remains active in community efforts across Northwest Bank’s footprint and is a current Kiwanis member. Eric is dedicated to strengthening communities and supporting team members in their professional growth.
Jacques brings over 25 years of commercial banking experience to his role at Northwest Bank, with a focus on Middle Market and Community Businesses. He spent more than 15 years refining his expertise in the Kansas City Metro Market before returning to Nebraska in 2013 to support local businesses in achieving growth and success. A proud veteran of the Nebraska Army National Guard, Jacques served for 23 years, including a deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a trusted advisor, he is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and tailored banking solutions that align with the business development goals of Northwest Bank’s customers.
James Ramsey, Vice President and Commercial Lender brings over 25 years of financial services experience to the Northwest Bank team and specializes in growing and managing Commercial and Business banking relationships. James’ banking background includes Chief Credit Officer, Senior Lender and former bank examiner. James is a member of one of Des Moines’ oldest breakfast clubs, The Morning Club. He also serves in other community organizations such as Ankeny Rotary and the Ankeny Economic Development Committee.
Jason has been in banking for nearly 25 years, with a substantial background in mortgage and consumer lending. Jason enjoys working with local businesses to help with their lending needs and enjoys watching businesses succeed with their goals. Jason is a native of Spencer and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. He serves on multiple boards and service clubs, including Vice President of the Spencer Economic Development Corporation, Hope Church, Kiwanis, and many more. Jason is a volunteer coach for multiple youth sports.
Jill Thielen brings 26 years of financial services experience and expertise to Northwest Bank. Jill serves on the Board of the Faith Formation Council at St. Mary’s of Nazareth and is involved with the Johnston and West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.
John Ueltschy specializes in commercial and agricultural lending and has been serving the Fort Dodge area since 2005. He joined Northwest Bank in 2009 as a mortgage banker and has since expanded his expertise into commercial analysis as well as commercial and agricultural lending.
John graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in finance. He is actively involved in the community and currently serves as treasurer of Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma. He has also held leadership roles within the organization, including president and chairman. Additionally, John is an ambassador for the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.
John Taets truly believes in the mission of Northwest Bank—Building Relationships and Exceeding Expectations. With over 40 years of financial services experience, John brings deep expertise in all areas of community banking. Before joining Northwest Bank, John served as an Ag Lender with Farmers State Bank in Jesup, Iowa, Farm Credit Services in Rochester, Minnesota, and as President of Wells Fargo Bank in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
John is an active community leader. He currently serves on the board and executive committee of UnityPoint Health System, where he chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee. He is a past president of Fort Dodge Catholic Schools, the Fort Dodge & Webster County Development Corporation, and the Trinity Regional Hospital Foundation. His past service also includes roles with the Greater Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce (Ambassador), Friendship Haven Foundation, UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge (Board Chair), and the Iowa College Foundation (Webster County Co-Chair).
Josh joined the Northwest Bank team in 2024 and is responsible for developing and servicing the bank needs of commercial businesses. Josh works with businesses of all sizes and has a passion for helping businesses meet their goals. Josh has volunteered with the City of Ankeny Parks and Recreation board and has been an Ambassador with the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce. Josh and his wife have lived in Ankeny for 29 years and Josh has been in banking for over 19 years.
Kelly brings over 18 years of commercial lending and relationship management experience to Northwest Bank. He is confident that business owners will appreciate his consultative approach to commercial banking. Allow Kelly to invest time in your business and demonstrate how his resources can benefit you. His areas of specialty include working capital lines of credit, real estate loans, and equipment facilities.
Kelly is a Small Business Association Facilitator, participates in Boots to Business, and serves as a SCORE Mentor. He is also a volunteer Hastings College Alumni Mentor and a member of the Sons of the American Legion, Nebraska Bankers Association, and the Association of Corporate Growth.
Kelly is a recent graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, WI, where he earned a certificate in Executive Leadership from the Wisconsin School of Business.
Kerry McGuire brings over 25 years of banking experience in Des Moines, specializing in both commercial and real estate lending. He holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Iowa State University.
Kerry is deeply rooted in the Des Moines community. He is an active member of the Des Moines Reciprocity Breakfast Club and serves on the board of the St. Thomas More Center and Dowling Soccer Club. He also contributes his time to youth development through coaching and his involvement with the Catholic Football League.
Kerry and his wife, Renee, are proud parents of five children. His professional expertise, combined with his commitment to family and community, reflects his values of leadership, service, faith, and integrity.
Kevin is very active in the community, volunteering and serving on various non-profit boards and advisory committees. He is a past chairman of the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the board of directors for the Midlands Community Foundation, CHI Health Midlands Hospital Community Board, Papillion La Vista Schools Teammates Mentor, Youth Frontiers Business Advisory Committee, Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce Past Chairman’s Council, and is a former board member of the Papillion/La Vista Teammates.
Additionally, Kevin is involved with the University of Nebraska Alumni Foundation Champions Club and serves as an advisory board member of Sigma Chi Fraternity at the University of Nebraska.
Nathaniel, was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and eventually took a baseball scholarship at Central College in Pella, IA. He moved to Ames in 2018 and has called it home for the past six years. He brings 10 years of banking experience to the Northwest Bank team and is responsible for assisting our business customers with commercial lending, treasury management, and general banking needs. Nathaniel’s mission at Northwest Bank centers around meeting the needs of his business clients. He enjoys engaging with the community and volunteering his time with organizations across the Ames MSA. Nathaniel was the 2023 Ames Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year, is a graduate of Leadership Ames Class 36, and was a 2024, 40 Under 40 winner. Nathaniel currently serves on the Advisory Council for ChildServe as well as the Ames young professional organization, AREA YP. Nathaniel also serves on the gala committees for both Boys and Girls Club of Story County and Friendship Ark.
Nicole has 15 years of banking experience. She has worked with Northwest Bank since April of 2012, starting out as a Personal Banker. Gaining her Wealth Management license in 2013, she began adding value to her customers by offering wealth solutions as well. Since then Nicole has served as a manager in the Arnolds Park branch and is currently working as the Bank President for the Arnolds Park and Milford locations. Nicole’s role consists of developing and servicing commercial businesses with their banking needs and to support their business growth in addition to team development and coordinating bank involvement within the community.
Nicole graduated with honors from Buena Vista University in 2005 with a degree in Finance & Banking. She grew up in southwest Minnesota and has lived in Spirit Lake since 2008 with her husband Tom, their son Davis and daughter Charlee. Nicole is very dedicated to the Dickinson County’s Relay for Life organization as well as serving as President of the Spirit Lake Elementary School’s Partners in Education organization. She is very dedicated to her customers and their well-being and looks forward to seeing them succeed in both their personal and professional lives.
Paul brings over 10 years of experience in commercial lending with Northwest Bank, specializing in equipment loans, lines of credit, and commercial real estate financing. He also has an extensive background in Treasury Management, giving him a well-rounded perspective to support the financial needs of local businesses.
A strong advocate for community involvement, Paul currently serves as President of the Clay County Pheasants Forever Chapter, sits on the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club Board, and is a past Board Chair of the Spencer Family YMCA.
With over 30 years of financial services experience, Ralph DiCesare specializes in construction / development lending at Northwest Bank and previously held the same position with Union Planters / Regions Bank. Ralph is involved with the Des Moines Homebuilders Association, is the Treasurer for St. Marys / Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department, and coaches high school football for Martensdale – St. Marys Community Schools.
Ross is responsible for managing and developing relationships with local businesses in the Des Moines market. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Ross is an active member in the Des Moines community and is involved with Young Variety – The Children’s Charity as VP of Philanthropy, and the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and Ankeny Chamber of Commerce.
Check Out Ross's Podcast Episode: "Road to Business Ownership"
Sara holds both an undergraduate and master’s degree from Wayne State College. She began her career at the Spencer Family YMCA before transitioning to Northwest Bank’s Human Resources team. In 2017, she moved to the Omaha area, where she served as a Treasury Management Service Representative. With 8+ years of banking experience, Sara now supports business customers in commercial lending, treasury management, and banking services.
A 2023 graduate of Leadership Sarpy, Sara is also active in the community through the Chamber of Commerce. As a Loan Portfolio Manager, her goal is to help businesses grow and thrive with the support of Northwest Bank. She values building strong relationships with clients and believes the connection to your financial institution is invaluable. Sara is committed to being a compassionate, approachable financial partner, always ready to help find answers and solutions.
Sharon Hotz brings over 25 years of experience in agricultural, commercial, and small business lending, along with expertise in commercial deposits and treasury management. She is dedicated to helping business owners and farmers achieve their financial goals and plan for future success.
A graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Sharon combines deep industry knowledge with a personal, relationship-based approach.
She currently serves as President of the Friendship Haven Foundation Board and volunteers with Saint Edmond Catholic Schools. Sharon has also held leadership roles with several local organizations, including Fort Dodge Kiwanis, the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, and Webster County 4-H.
Tim brings over 15 years of banking experience in a variety of capacities and focuses on agricultural and commercial banking. He is responsible for developing and servicing commercial businesses to help meet their banking needs while supporting their business growth and development goals. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Finance and a minor in accounting. He is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking. Tim currently serves as treasurer for the Mid-Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes board, the Ames Chamber of Commerce board, the City of Gilbert zoning board, and coaches youth football and basketball. In the past he has served on the Gilbert Education Foundation board and United Way Analysis of Social Services Team.
Travis began his career at Northwest Bank in 2007 and has served in various positions within the company. Travis served as Regional Mortgage Manger, Private Banking, EVP overseeing retail, mortgage, and Wealth Management.
Travis has played a key role in Northwest Bank’s growth and providing direction to employee’s while keeping the company values at the forefront of his leadership.
Throughout his career at Northwest Bank Travis learned the motto “Leave it better than you found it”! This motto has been passed down from ownership and continues to be a value that employees live by. Travis believes this motto has helped provide direction for his career and leading others. “Banking is a people business and when you care about doing what’s best for people, we all win”, Simpson stated.
His leadership experience has set the bank on a path for continued success, making the needs of our customers and community top priority. Travis has supported the community by serving on multiple boards; Eat Greater Des Moines, Flying Spikes Baseball Club, Beacon of Life for 7 years, where he served as President for 3 years. Currently Simpson serves as the Secretary / Treasurer for the Neighborhood Finance Corporation and as an ambassador for the Iowa chapter of Coaches vs Cancer. He is a 1992 graduate of Iowa State University.
