Question: What is your professional background?
Lee grew up in La Jolla and received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Colorado State University. He worked for World Savings for five years before receiving his master's in business administration from the university of Southern Calfiornia. Lee started with Wells Fargo following graduation from USC in 1988.
"I went in to their real estate lending group," Lee said of his first position with Wells Fargo.
Lee quickly moved up within the company, becoming branch mangaer, district manager and now community bank president.
Q: What is your job as community bank president and senior vice president?
"I have four district managers that report directly to me," said Brian Lee. "I've got a sales development consultant that also reports directly to me that helps on the business side."
Lee oversees 35 branches of Wells Fargo. His territory covers North County, and includes Solana Beach, Fallbrook, San Marcos and Escondido. In Lee's coverage area, the community bank deposits are about $2 billion and loans are about $1.1 billion.
Q: What kept you with the same company for so many years?
"I really think its been the people, and I think it's been the opportunities," Lee said. "I worked with a lot of great people over the years; I've been challenged with this company."
Additionally, when opportunities have arisen in the past, a decision is not made based on tenure with the company, but instead on an individual's performance, Lee said.
"I did not guess that in 1988 that in 2006 I'd still be with Wells (Fargo)," Lee said.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your position?
"What I like about my job is the ability to interact with the people I do everyday," Lee said.
One of his philosophies is the importance of helping people get better at their job every day, Lee said.
"Anyone that I come in contact with, if I can help them get a little bit better every day at what they do is what I love about my job. That is what charges my batteries," Lee said.
Additionally, the diversity in his every day work keeps Lee on his toes.
"Anywhere from looking at future sites for branches to analyzing financial reports (and) putting together budget, I do a lot of different activities which I think keeps the job very interesting," Lee said.
Q: What is the difference between Wells Fargo and other bank in the area?
"One of the sayings that we have … is we 'out-local' the nationals and 'out-national' the locals," Lee said
Because of their local bank representatives in 23 states, Wells Fargo can give customers personal service; however, it is such a large company that it can offer competitive rates at the local level, Lee said.
"We should be able to have loans that should be priced at lower than what a community bank can price at," Lee said.
Q: In addition to banking, what does Wells Fargo do for communities?
"We are … connected to the community," Lee said. "We are on boards of nonprofits in the community. I think (that) distinguishes us from some of the national banks."
Q: In your time away from the bank, what do you enjoy doing?
"I enjoy running (and) playing golf; I enjoy spending a lot of time with my children and what they do around sports," Lee said.
Lee and his wife, Melanie, have three children, Colter, 13, Slater, 11, and Shelby, 10.
"I really enjoy watching the kids play," Lee said.
Q: Why did you choose to live in Carlsbad?
"The reason that (my family) came to Carlsbad was for the schools; and also just the atmosphere and the city," Lee said. "(We Like) like the balance between work and play."
Lee was attracted to the family-friendly environment of Carlsbad and the
Lee grew up in La Jolla and received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Colorado State University. He worked for World Savings for five years before receiving his master's in business administration from the university of Southern Calfiornia. Lee started with Wells Fargo following graduation from USC in 1988.
"I went in to their real estate lending group," Lee said of his first position with Wells Fargo.
Lee quickly moved up within the company, becoming branch mangaer, district manager and now community bank president.
Q: What is your job as community bank president and senior vice president?
"I have four district managers that report directly to me," said Brian Lee. "I've got a sales development consultant that also reports directly to me that helps on the business side."
Lee oversees 35 branches of Wells Fargo. His territory covers North County, and includes Solana Beach, Fallbrook, San Marcos and Escondido. In Lee's coverage area, the community bank deposits are about $2 billion and loans are about $1.1 billion.
Q: What kept you with the same company for so many years?
"I really think its been the people, and I think it's been the opportunities," Lee said. "I worked with a lot of great people over the years; I've been challenged with this company."
Additionally, when opportunities have arisen in the past, a decision is not made based on tenure with the company, but instead on an individual's performance, Lee said.
"I did not guess that in 1988 that in 2006 I'd still be with Wells (Fargo)," Lee said.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your position?
"What I like about my job is the ability to interact with the people I do everyday," Lee said.
One of his philosophies is the importance of helping people get better at their job every day, Lee said.
"Anyone that I come in contact with, if I can help them get a little bit better every day at what they do is what I love about my job. That is what charges my batteries," Lee said.
Additionally, the diversity in his every day work keeps Lee on his toes.
"Anywhere from looking at future sites for branches to analyzing financial reports (and) putting together budget, I do a lot of different activities which I think keeps the job very interesting," Lee said.
Q: What is the difference between Wells Fargo and other bank in the area?
"One of the sayings that we have … is we 'out-local' the nationals and 'out-national' the locals," Lee said
Because of their local bank representatives in 23 states, Wells Fargo can give customers personal service; however, it is such a large company that it can offer competitive rates at the local level, Lee said.
"We should be able to have loans that should be priced at lower than what a community bank can price at," Lee said.
Q: In addition to banking, what does Wells Fargo do for communities?
"We are … connected to the community," Lee said. "We are on boards of nonprofits in the community. I think (that) distinguishes us from some of the national banks."
Q: In your time away from the bank, what do you enjoy doing?
"I enjoy running (and) playing golf; I enjoy spending a lot of time with my children and what they do around sports," Lee said.
Lee and his wife, Melanie, have three children, Colter, 13, Slater, 11, and Shelby, 10.
"I really enjoy watching the kids play," Lee said.
Q: Why did you choose to live in Carlsbad?
"The reason that (my family) came to Carlsbad was for the schools; and also just the atmosphere and the city," Lee said. "(We Like) like the balance between work and play."
Lee was attracted to the family-friendly environment of Carlsbad and the