Robert “Bob” Wieand loved life.  He saw every movie, ate at every restaurant, and played every golf course, said David W. Freeman, QNB Bank president and CEO.

If you knew Bob Wieand you knew this “people person” made a big impact on the lives of others.

Whether he was arranging a loan package, or getting to know his customers’ goals and dreams, Wieand was instrumental to many successful businesses in Upper Bucks County, and beyond.

The long-time resident and commercial lender gave a lifetime of service to the community and will be honored on March 3.

“We refer to our commercial lenders as relationship managers. Bob epitomized this title. His customers never left [him] and always gave him referrals. Even with a large portfolio under his management, Bob consistently brought in the most new business every year,” said QNB Bank President and CEO David W. Freeman.

Wieand passed away in 2017, shortly after retiring from QNB Bank at the age of 70.

He began a career in banking as a teller at the former Bucks County Bank Quakertown location, and he retired from QNB Bank as its senior vice president of commercial lending.

For the first time in its more than 140-year history, QNB Bank is naming a conference room in honor of someone who never served as bank president.

QNB Bank opened its doors in 1877, and during that time has had only seven bank presidents...“which is amazing,” said Scott G. Orzehoski, QNB Bank executive vice president and chief lending officer.

With the addition of two new conference rooms at its Quakertown Towne Bank Center, Orzehoski said naming one of them the Wieand Conference Room was a unanimous decision. The new multipurpose rooms will be used for training, customer meetings and visual presentations.

Brian Rocca, owner and president of Eastern Surfaces, Inc. in Allentown, Lehigh County, was a long-time client of Wieand’s. Rocca said after their first meeting, he knew he’d found a banker for his team, who was as excited about his success as Rocca was. “Bob shared an entrepreneur’s spirit and really took pleasure in helping businesses grow. Bob was always there whenever I needed [him], offering advice and always encouraging and helpful,” Rocca said.
 
Orzehoski said when Wieand first joined QNB Bank “it was a very small community bank, and he was the catalyst that started a culture of commercial and industrial lending.” And Wieand took a holistic approach to business and commercial lending. He realized business owners had personal loan needs, too. “[From] the personal side of a business owner to home, car or college loans, he developed a complete relationship. He was the quintessential community banker,” Orzehoski explained.

Anthony Cilio grew up knowing Wieand because Cilio’s father was a long-time client. Today Cilio is executive vice president of Alfresco Home in Pottstown. The company provides design services, imports and distributes outdoor living products. During the 1970s, “I was a youngster and then became more involved in the businesses. Wieand initially worked with my father. I remember him coming by often, checking in, and that he was approachable. He took an interest in the business and was always willing to help, and I think that was one of his greatest qualities,” Cilio explained.

Orzehoski said Wieand was more than a salesman or problem solver – he instinctively knew how to help clients grow their businesses because he was creative, collaborative, visionary and an “outside of the box” thinker. His understanding of credit and borrowing, and the vital impact those tools provided to his clients, made Wieand’s work “consultative.” “He recommended loans for a type of business structure clients needed. He’d meet with customers and remind them to think about and plan for their business needs and expansion,” Orzehoski said.

Helping clients feel heard and understood were qualities Wieand possessed, too, and his clients knew he was on their side. “You always came away from meetings feeling he was your partner in structuring and coordinating loans with QNB Bank. You always felt … that he cared…and wanted to see you succeed in business,” said Terry L. Sands, president of Sands Auto Group.
 
Rocky Wright, founder and president of Wright Flooring Company Inc. in Silverdale, said his relationship with Wieand stretched back to the Bucks County Bank years, and it continued when Wieand moved to QNB Bank. “I was brand new in business with a mortgage and three little kids to feed. I think Bob took a look at me and saw more positive than other bankers would have seen. Bob had the foresight to see what my potential of growth was. He dealt with the person, not the entity,” Wright said.

James Loew, controller of Wehrung’s Lumber & Home Center, Inc., and M&W Precast, LLC, both in Ottsville, said Wieand viewed customers as friends, for whom he genuinely cared for. “Bob was the most generous and kind-hearted person I knew. People, they weren’t just customers to him,” Loew said.
 
The Upper Bucks Chamber was no stranger to Bob’s work ethic, compassion and generosity.  Bob served on the board of directors for many years and was President of the Chamber in 1989 and a chairman for the golf committee for 25 years. The UBCC honored his volunteerism and service by presenting him with the Chamber Service Award in 2004.  The Chamber is honored to celebrate the life and the legacy of Bob Wieand.

The Wieand Conference Room naming will coincide with the Upper Bucks Chamber’s March business networking event. This event will be held on Tuesday, March 3rd from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the QNB Bank Towne Center, 320 West Broad Street, Quakertown. Click on the link to register for the ceremony and networking event -  https://web.ubcc.org/events/Business-Card-Exchange-Hosted-by-QNB-1305/details.

In the spirit of its founding in 1954 Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce welcomes three new members to its board of directors to promote the region’s economic vitality.
 
From lenders to lawyers, educators, entrepreneurs and health care professionals, business leaders volunteer their time, talent and treasure to further the region’s business, retail and commercial growth and expansion.
 
"Our region is diverse - from skilled trades, manufacturing, education, health and wellness and our hardworking agriculture roots. As we continue to strengthen our relationships with community partners, we're mindful of how these bonds are integral to everyone's success," said Danielle Bodnar, UBCC executive director.
 
UBCC welcomes Dave Ault, David Nagy and Todd R. Hurley to collaborate at the table of its 19-member board of directors.
 
Ault is owner of Ault Signature Homes in Upper Saucon Township Lehigh County.
 
He said one of UBCC’s biggest strengths is its “membership numbers” and the greater potential for adding new members to its future rolls.
 
“There are a lot of people here and at every event, I see new faces,” Ault said.
 
He considers 2020 a chance to get more involved by attending networking and mixer events and to become more involved with leadership and service opportunities.
 
Nagy is director of marketing and IT management for the Wehrung Family of Businesses in Ottsville.
 
He views chamber participation as a stewardship for the Wehrung organization.

A Wehrung employee since 2015, Nagy looks forward to getting more involved with UBCC and learning about the chamber’s outreach initiatives as a new board director.
 
Taking a seat on UBCC’s board of directors offers Nagy a chance to be part of Wehrung’s long-standing commitment to community outreach and service.
 
“Wehrung’s Lumber has long strived to be a great member of the community, and it is an honor that I was selected to represent the company moving forward,” Nagy said.
 
Wehrung’s Founder Woodrow “Woody” Wehrung along with a few small business owners formed the Quakertown Chamber of Commerce in 1954. The organization evolved and was renamed Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce in 1976.
 
Woody’s grandson Jason Wehrung is among UBCC’s past board presidents, having completed a two-year term as its board leader in 2018.
 
“I look forward to increasing my knowledge [through board membership] about everything the chamber can offer its members,” Nagy explained.
 
And he noted UBCC’s impact is a positive, driving force in the business community.
 
“I have already seen the positive impact [UBCC initiatives] can bring, and I am excited to be a part of that culture,” he explained.
 
Todd R. Hurley is Executive Vice President and Chief Relationship Officer at Penn Community Bank in Perkasie.
 
A 35-year employee with Penn Community, Hurley said meeting new people and providing opportunities through financial service offerings helps others realize their life goals and dreams. Providing financial knowledge and service to others is among Hurley’s daily motivators.
 
“UBCC [membership and participation] provides the opportunity to meet new people and through supporting each other, help our businesses thrive,” Hurley said.
 
As a new board of director, Hurley hopes to meet and get to know a larger number of UBCC members and share what he has learned through the years at Penn Community as a banking and community liaison professional “to help move UBCC into the next decade,” he said.
 
Ault and Nagy said their families are primary motivators in their daily lives and professional successes, too.

The need to provide and care for loved ones spills into a broader common goal to strive for the economic health and well-being of the UBCC business community.
 
Ault, who has owned and operated his business since 2006, said it’s important for organizations like UBCC to have a wide spectrum of working and professional backgrounds represented on its board.
 
He believes offering a “working man’s perspective on the economy and where it is going” will be a valuable tool to guide UBCC through 2020 and beyond.
 
Hurley said recruiting and keeping people engaged and actively involved in chamber committees and activities was among its biggest challenges, and a strong foundation and enthusiastic leadership were among its many strengths.
 
Ault said he wants to attend more events this year and get to know more UBCC chamber members better.
 
 Click HERE for a full list of the 2020 UBCC Board of Directors.