Page 15 - December 31 2017 Reporter

2018 League Chairman Travis Schroll

decided we should keep it,” exclaimed Travis. To counter the intrusion, they instated a method to
better monitor suspect activities because they agreed “that this kind of banking is a prerequisite
to the future of banking.” The bank decided on tighter limits. For us, says Travis, “we don’t want
to operate in the mode of fear, rather be proactive because it’s good for our clients and it’s good
for our business.” Collectively, they agreed that by setting expectations about the possibility of
being hacked is a crucial step toward consumer awareness and the minimization of these
unwelcomed outcomes. As part of the solution, Travis would like to see banking trade groups
work with the U.S. Congress to move away from a Social Security based ID system. He believes
there are more secure ways to safeguard these systems. “That’s the direction we need to go,” he
suggests. He reports that it’s being discussed, but it would be a big move since so much is tied
to that number.

Q: You’re one of the youngest, if not the youngest Chairman the League has had. Is that going
to influence how you lead the organization?

Travis responds stating how much he loves the tradition and history of The League. He’ll engage
in a way that uses a little more progressive approach of doing things to coincide with the new
direction in leadership at The League. “I think we’ve got to keep the momentum going and keep
things exciting. The League has a lot to offer,” he says. He expressed that a year is not a lot of
time to get things done and he’s excited about working with Chairman Elect Tyler Rouse (First
Federal Savings Bank of Champaign-Urbana) and others to establish goals so when his tenure
is over, the next chairperson can build on the previous term. He hopes this approach will lead to
the fruition of goals.

Q: And what kind of goals do you have in mind for the League?
Not entirely coy, yet he would only divulge that “there are a couple things I have in mind and as
a strategic player, I won’t be showing the cards quite yet.” One thing he did share was a push to
develop a strategic plan for the organization. Travis is a guy that is okay with gazing out toward
the long road ahead. Long does not hold negative connotations for him. It’s a genuine part of his
nature as evident in his passion for endurance sports. I asked if he was into any of the extreme
sports and I got a definitive no. Travis is an endurance athlete. He runs almost daily and has
participated in the Hawaiian Ironman and Boston marathon. He ran Boston the year following the
bombing. Although he appreciates the appeal of
extreme sports, it’s running that helps keep him
centered.
Travis’ story is what some may view as quintessential
small town. Just out of college, he married a girl he first
met in high school. They returned to their hometown to Andrea, Kobi &
Travis during the
settle in and become part of the community that 2017 Convention in
shaped their ideas and attitudes. He and Andrea have Charleston, SC
been married twenty years and are the adoring parents
of a seven-year-old son, Kobi. He was nine months old
when Travis and Andrea traveled to Taiwan to meet
their baby boy and bring him home. The experience of holding their baby for the first time was no
different for these first-time parents. Travis expressed how “amazing it was to instantly fall in love”
with their son, knowing he was undeniably theirs. Again, he went the distance.

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December 2017 IllInoIs RepoRteR