Three Questions with a Business Leader:

James Klein (R91), President of Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust

James Klein (R91) is a volunteer leader at Xavier High School and serves the greater business community as President of Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust. He teaches Finance at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, Financial Accounting at Mount Mercy University, the Iowa School of Banking, Iowa Banker’s Consumer Credit School, and Iowa Commercial Banking School. James also serves on many area nonprofit boards.

James and his wife, Barbara, met in the first grade at St. Pius X Elementary. James has served on the Xavier Board of Education, Xavier Finance Committee, St. Pius Board of Education, Regis Board of Education, and Xavier Finance Committee. Most memorable for many was James starring as Prince during Xavier’s Dancing with the Saints – Season 3.

We asked James three questions…

1. WHY DO YOU GIVE OF YOUR TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE TO XAVIER?   

I attended Regis High School and our children attended Pius, Regis, and Xavier.  My wife, Barb, and I both wanted to get involved and help our schools in any way that we could.  We have had positive experiences and I feel like the time and financial gifts I give have been well taken care of and used to better our community.

2. WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP POSITION IN YOUR COMPANY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY, HOW DOES A SCHOOL LIKE XAVIER HELP GROW/CONTRIBUTE TO THE GREATER BUSINESS COMMUNITY?  

Our community is growing and we all need children graduating that are well-prepared and able to help us continue to thrive. Supporting and offering area students opportunities to learn and grow in our community is a win-win.

3. FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHY SHOULD A BUSINESS BE INVOLVED IN GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY?  

Our businesses are only as good as our community as a whole.  And we owe it to this generation of students to help support them in any way that we can.  That can be a wide range of ways depending on the student and situation.  At CRBT we reference the saying “Do the Right Thing” a lot and helping students learn, grow, and develop is definitely the right thing.