The late Robert “Bob” Wieand to be honored for community service by QNB Bank

BY MELINDA RIZZO

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.