Rich LeComte, 34

ich LeComte has built his business by overcoming the fear of asking questions and asking for favors. When you’re targeting any kind of business, the first steps should be finding the people you need to connect with, and the people you know who can connect you, he says.

After working in finance at PwC in California and completing the banking training program at SunTrust Bank in Atlanta, LeComte somewhat fell into specializing in health care banking. He realized that while the economy tanked, there were still health care deals to be made. “I shifted into health care as a reaction, and I became very good at it,” he says. “In this industry, you can’t just go to the library. You have to learn by doing and be upfront and honest when you don’t understand.”

LeComte learned quickly by joining industry groups and immersing himself in the intricacies of health care reform and how it will impact businesses — especially those involved in long-term care. “I can come up with strategies to position them to help them deal with what’s coming down the pipe,” he says.

That’s why LeComte was recruited to join USAmeriBank to start its health care division from his previous post as vice president of Fifth Third Bank last year. Though he’s only working as a team of one right now, he expects to hire at least one more individual in the next year. “We’ve doubled the size of the portfolio this year, and anticipate 50% growth in the portfolio next year.” It’s growth that the bank has become accustomed to, growing assets from nothing to $3.5 billion since its inception in 2007.

LeComte’s success has come through making connections and keeping them. “In the banking world you have to be an advocate for your client,” he says. “The closing is just the beginning of the relationship.”

— Traci Beach

Q&A

Name: Rich LeComte

Age: 34

City of residence: Tampa

Twitter handle: N/A

Employer: USAmeriBank

Title: Senior Vice President – Specialty Lending Manager

Birthplace: San Clemente, Calif.

Years on the Gulf Coast: 33

Marital status/children: Married, two children (eight-year-old boy and two-year-old girl.)

Alma mater: Undergraduate and M.B.A. from The University of Florida

Best place to network: Industry association events, such as the Healthcare Financial Managers Association and the Suncoast Healthcare Executives

Coolest business experience: The white coat mini internship at Tampa General Hospital. I was able to shadow an orthopedic surgeon and go into the OR to observe surgeries. It was an incredible experience to see how they work as a team to give the absolute best quality care to patients. 

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: The more of yourself you put into something — the more you’ll get out of it. 

One website that makes your job easier: LinkedIn Shared Connections. 

One community group you’re most involved with: Metropolitan Ministries, through donations outreach and volunteering. 

Favorite off-hours activity: Sailing and spending time with the family

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Walt Disney and Mark Twain 

What you would be doing if you could pick another career: Commercial airline pilot

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: In the Boy Scouts we went to Philmont Ranch and hiked 120 miles through the New Mexico mountains.         

What’s at the top of your bucket list:  Travel, visit Europe.

What new skill would you like to learn: Play the guitar. 

Who would play you in a movie about your life: Vince Vaughn.

If I had a magic wand I’d:  Cure cancer. It affects everyone, one way or another. Most of us have a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with cancer.