Dana Litman
Executive Vice President and CFO
Quantum National Bank, Suwanee
Group 9 Rep., 2021-2022 GBA Asset/Liability Management Committee
Q: What was your first job, and was there a lesson you learned there that you still use today?
A: From age 14 until I graduated college, I worked in the family pizza and sandwich shop, which taught me the importance of customer service and working hard (and not to rub your eyes when you are chopping onions). When I graduated from college, I worked at an insurance company that went through a lot of adversity during the recession of the ‘80s, and this taught me that change and chaos bring opportunity and education.
Q: What led you to a career in banking?
A: A call from a recruiter looking for someone with accounting and systems skills plus an ability to guide change. The industry may have been new to me, but the drivers of business are similar: understanding the products, channels to sell through, regulations involved, importance of customer service and the ability to change and adapt.
Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing professionally?
A: Working for a bank that has been involved in two PPP programs that helped so many new and existing customers. Working at Quantum National Bank has been great. The Quantum team has successfully navigated PPP and the great recession of 2007-2009. Change and chaos have brought opportunity and education.
Q: If you could thank someone for becoming the professional you are today, who would it be and why?
A: My mom and my grandfathers. My mom loved numbers and was always helping local organizations. I followed in her footsteps and got my degree in accounting. My grandfathers emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, started with nothing, worked hard with one owning shoe stores in Maine and the other running the shoe department of a department store for over 55 years. They taught me to work hard, be nice to people and do the right thing when no one is watching. The other strong influence has been our CEO, Bryan Cohen, who has taught us all to “Compel Events To Occur To Plan.” If you want something done, then make it happen.
Q: What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
A: My hobbies include yoga, body surfing and using my standup paddle board. Both my wife and I love the beach and most of our vacations are spent someplace on the gulf coast. Plus, I have lived in ME, RI, AK, CT, MA, TX and GA.