Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly UpdatesBetsy Lawer learned the banking business in the "trenches." As a girl. she often accompanied her father, Daniel Cuddy, on Saturday morning calls to First National Bank of Anchorage customers. (The bank is now called First National Bank Alaska.) There were always interesting stories and bits of news to hear. "We generally ended up at Peggy's Cafe out near the airport," she fondly recalled.
Years later, Lawer worked her first job in the family business: a secretarial position for her father. But when she graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in economics in 1971, there were very few management-training programs for women, Lower said. So she learned the banking business by working in various departments throughout the organization. "Getting a hands-on education working in any business is an invaluable experience," she explained.
Today, Lawer has 35 years of banking experience and expertise spanning a wide variety of areas, including commercial lending, investor loan production, bank operations, electronic data processing, marketing and loan documentation. As vice chair and chief operating officer of First National, she helps oversee the state's largest Alaskan-owned and -operated bank Established in 1922, First National operates 29 branches in 17 communities. The bank employs more than 800 people and donates more than $1 million annually to sports, nonprofits and such in the state.
AN HONOR HIGHLY VALUED AND DESERVED
Being named as a laureate to the Junior Achievement Alaska Business Hall of Fame is a great honor for the successful third-generation banker. "I'm just blown away," Lawer said. "It was not something I anticipated, and I'm very humbled by the past recipients and other folks who do good things for our community."
The upcoming induction in the JA Alaska Business Hall of Fame will follow a number of impressive awards Lawer has garnered over the years. She has been honored as a U.S. Banker 25 Women to Watch, 2003; named in the Top 25 Most Powerful People in Alaska, 1999-2003; and served as director and audit committee member of the Seattle Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
Lawer is also a 2001 Athena Award recipient who has been named a Soroptimist International, Women Helping Women Award, 1998; Outstanding Young Woman of America, 1982; and BP/YWCA Women of Achievement Finalist, 1991.
In addition, she has been named the Marquis Who's Who in the World, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in Finance and Business, and Who's Who in America.
On a personal note, Lawer was born in Anchorage in 1949. She has been married for 34 years to David A. Lawer, First National senior vice president and counsel of 24 years. They have one daughter, Sarah.
Lawer enjoys spending time with her family at their beach house in Homer. Interestingly, her boat in Homer is named Elvis because it "rocks and rolls." She also relishes working in her 106-acre California winery, Lawer Family Winery Inc. She is particularly pleased with its first label: Hooker Wines--whose name alludes to the former rugby playing days of both her husband and father. "You've got to do some thing different from your day job," Lawer explained. "Some people play golf; I make wine."
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH
Just as the banking business is an integral part of Lawer's life, so is community service. Community service is actually an important family tradition. "My grandmother chaired the first United Way campaign," Lawer said. (Back then, the organization was called United Good Neighbors.) "I have participated for a number of years at different levels, culminating with being a co-chair of the 2000 campaign with Roy Huhndorf. (Huhndorf is a former president and chief executive officer of Cook Inlet Region Inc., and retired from the CIRI board as chairman in 1998.)
Although Lawer supports a variety of worthy causes, she finds working with human services organizations particularly rewarding. In addition to her past affiliation with the United Way, Lawer has also devoted her time to addressing health care issues in the community. She has served on the Providence Health Care Foundation board of directors from 1983 to 2000 and the Providence Hospital advisory board from 1986 to 1999. "Health care is something we all take for granted, but it is so important," she said.
Over the years, a large part of Lawer's community service also has involved supporting organizations aimed at helping young people succeed. For example, First National has supported Junior Achievement of Alaska for decades, forming a bridge between the education system and business. The bank also has consistently contributed to the Alaska School Activities Association, serving as a title sponsor of a number of ASAA state championships. In fact, when the state pulled its funding to this 50-year-old nonprofit, First National became the major sponsor in 1990 of all high school championship activities and contests. The bank's support includes sponsorship of the First National Bowl football championships and the First National Cup hockey championships. Additionally, First National encourages its employees to serve on the boards of organizations like Junior Achievement, the Boys and Girls Club, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Lawer and her family are also the proud contributors of the Cuddy Family Midtown Park. "As Alaska and Anchorage grows, it's so nice to have this wonderful park for families to use," Lawer said.
The Cuddy family-particularly her mother, Betti--has always been very focused on creating opportunities for the next generation, Lawer said. It is a critically important mission. "They're going to be the next key people in their families ... the next leaders of our state," she said.
And what advice does Lawer extend to today's youth? Simply this: Get the best education you can. And do what interests you, or you won't be any good at it. She adds: "When one door appears to close, don't focus on the fact that it's closed because there are many doors open to you. Try them all. Be curious."
FEED