Some people seem to be born to a profession; others work their way into it. Wells Fargo Branch Manager Ryan Haacke is among the latter. When he graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, a career in sales seemed his destiny.

It wasn’t until six years ago, when a job opened up at Wells Fargo corporate offices in Des Moines, Iowa, that the world of finance captured his interest. Since last October, Haacke has managed Wells Fargo’s Albert Lea operations.

As manager, Haacke emphasizes a team approach, promoting a “customer first” experience for everyone who walks in the door, whether they are a prominent local business leader, a student or a retiree. “If we focus on the people instead of the transaction, we’ll never have to worry about business. It will come to us,” he said.

What he’s already discovered he likes best about his Albert Lea experience is the people. “It’s not just the great support staff at the bank; it’s also the opportunity to meet all these great people from Albert Lea and the surrounding communities,” he said.

“The corporate office experience is good, but it can feel more like you’re working on an island, less in touch with the business. I’m looking forward to leading my team and managing a branch,” he said. Compared to his previous work in Des Moines, every day here is different, he said. “I get to see immediately the impact of work our team is doing.”

His excitement about the job and community does not mask the challenges he knows both the bank and the community face, especially the current economic collapse. Haacke has a lot of confidence in Wells Fargo to weather the crisis, supported by its more conservative investment strategies.

“I want people to know their bank is secure and won’t evaporate,” he said. He remembers something that a mentor once told him: Even the darkest hour is only 60 minutes long. “Things will rebound,” he said, still hopeful about what the future will bring.

So how exactly did he end up as a community banker? After college, Haacke worked as a college recruiter for business schools, ending up in the Twin Cities, working for Minnesota Business College, when he switched to sales for a medical devices company. When a friend contacted him about an open position in sales and marketing at Wells Fargo’s corporate office in Des Moines, he took his first step into a career in finance. The decision to hire came quickly, with an interview on Monday and an offer on the Friday of that same week. As assistant vice president for sales development, he worked out of an office in Des Moines, making an average of 24 business-related trips all over the country each year.

It was the constant traveling, along with his growing family, that started him thinking about finding something within Wells Fargo. Haacke also remembered growing up in Riceville, a smaller community, and wanted to raise his children in a similar environment.

“About 1 1/2 years ago I started thinking about getting back to a smaller, deep rooted community,” he said. “I wanted to slow down the pace of life.” Taking the position in Albert Lea allows him to be home more and — eventually — will lead to raising his family here.

Haacke says eventually because residency will have to wait awhile. He commutes to Albert Lea from Riceville, Iowa, until a house in Des Moines sells; he’s caught in the same bind as many others trying to sell homes in the current economy. He and his wife, Michelle, and two boys, 3-year-old Nolan and 1-year-old Peyton, live with his parents in the community where he grew up.

It will be important to have his family closer to him, because family comes first for Haacke. “Without a good support system at home, work life sinks,” he said.

When at home (and at work), Haacke is a huge Iowa Hawkeye’s fan, though he’s learned to root for Minnesota “whenever they’re not playing Iowa,” he said. When working in the Twin Cities he’d been a member of Toastmasters, and thinks about joining the local group once his life settles down.

Learning how to network and finding good mentors are both things Haacke thinks will help those looking to careers in financial services. Even with so much uncertainty in the economy, those kinds of jobs will always be needed, he said. Math skills are good, so those in school now need to take as much math as they can if they want to end up in position like his, he said, but people skills are better.