I have lived and worked in the Twin Cities for over 35 years, all of that time in commercial banking. This segment of banking involves working with businesses of all sizes to find appropriate banking solutions to help the companies grow and expand. I have worked with thousands of companies in my career of all sizes--from start ups to businesses with billions in sales--and in all sorts of industries--manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, internet retailers, road builders, farms--you name it, and I have seen it. This has provided me with a tremendous opportunity to work with companies going through all phases of growth and development. It has also allowed me to gain some knowledge about how to anticipate and avoid pitfalls and potholes before it is too late.