Come and discover more about Luis Flores, our senior commercial analyst and aspiring commercial lender, as he takes the seat for this month's Associate Spotlight. Luis is one of our talented members of the Commercial Real Estate team who has been recently appointed as co-chair of our employee resource group, HOLA. In this feature, you'll learn about how each of his roles positively impacts the communities we serve.
How long have you worked at Fremont Bank, and what do you do here?
I have worked at Fremont Bank for almost 3 years now — I started in July 2020. Currently, I am working as a senior commercial analyst, supporting the Commercial Sales Team with CRE/MF transactions.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I aspire to become a commercial lender, and this role allows me to gain experience to achieve that goal by taking the lead on structuring, pricing, and negotiating the many deals that come into our pipeline. I really enjoy working with the knowledgeable lenders on our team who share advice on business development.
What’s your greatest strength as a business professional?
I take pride in serving the same community that I grew up and currently live in. When my grandfather became a client of the bank in 1964, purchasing his home in the heart of Fremont (in Niles), he began a rich legacy that I plan to continue throughout my career here at Fremont Bank. I also believe that creating relationships through community service is the most organic approach to building your business. As a member of Niles Rotary, I have created lifelong relationships with Fremont business owners who share the same common goal of making Fremont a better place through volunteer and performing good works.
You recently became the new co-chair of HOLA — what is HOLA, and what can you expect in your new role?
HOLA stands for “Hispanic Origin and Latin American.” HOLA@FB is an employee resource group that recruits associates from all backgrounds who aspire to help underserved neighborhoods through various community service opportunities, with an emphasis on Latino neighborhoods. As a group, we plan to host bank-wide events during prominent holidays in Mexico and Central & South America, where we will discuss ongoing projects and future service opportunities.
If you could snap your fingers and end a world problem, which would you choose?
I would ensure everyone had access to clean drinking water and food. Over 700 children die each day from illnesses caused by dirty water and unhygienic living conditions.
