Financial Services >> CEO Interviews >> January 6, 2003
RAYMOND H. MELCHER JR. is Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Leesport Financial Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary,
Leesport Bank. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Leesport
Wealth Management LLC and Essick and Barr LLC, affiliate companies of
Leesport Financial Corp. Mr. Melcher joined Leesport in June 1998 as
President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Leesport, Mr.
Melcher was President and Chief Executive Officer of Security National
Bank. Mr. Melcher earned his MBA from Saint Joseph's University,
Philadelphia, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Kutztown State
College (now Kutztown University), and a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Banking and Finance from Alvernia College, Reading. He has also attended
numerous banking, financial management and leadership development
programs. Active in many civic, community, charitable, and professional
organizations, Mr. Melcher currently serves as President of the Kutztown
University Foundation Board of Trustees, is a Trustee with the Berks
County Conservancy, and is a member of the Executive Board and is
Executive Vice President of the Boy Scouts of America ' Hawk Mountain
Council. Mr. Melcher also serves on the Board of Directors and
Executive Committee for the Pennsylvania Bankers Association and is
Chairman of the PBA's Member Services Council. He also serves on the
Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Berks County, Manufacturers
Association of Eastern Pennsylvania, Berks Economic Partnership, Berks
Arts Council, and the Berks Enterprises for Regional Comprehensive
Services, Inc. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Association of
Certified Public Accountants Advisory Board, the Business Executives
Forum and the Berks County Economic Development Strategy Board. He has
also been active with the Berks County Chamber of Commerce, Police
Athletic League (PAL), YMCA of Reading and Berks County, West Reading
Main Street Foundation, Berks County Senior Citizens Council, West
Reading ' Wyomissing Rotary Club, United Way of Berks County, as well as
numerous other community and professional organizations. The recipient
of numerous professional and community awards, Mr. Melcher was honored
as the 2000 Business Leader of the Year in the large business category
by the Berks County Chamber of Commerce, was the Eastern Pennsylvania
Business Journal Spotlight Executive Award recipient in 2001, received
the 2002 Leadership by Example Award given by the Berks County Senior
Citizens Council, and in 2003 was named the Distinguished Alumni of
Alvernia College. He enjoys reading, golfing and traveling. He is the
father of two sons, Patrick and Timothy. Profile
Financial since we spoke last year?
Mr. Melcher: In 2002 we took our company to another level with
regard to the execution of our
