Broker Supervisor,
Stearns Bank
For more than 10 years, Ariel Stich has developed her skillset and involvement in equipment finance at Stearns Bank, utilizing her own knowledge and leadership skills to serve as a mentor and thought leader within the company and throughout the industry.
Stich began her professional journey on the Stearns Bank reception team, serving as the first point of contact for customers and brokers and responding to their inquiries with care. As her career advanced, she held several roles, including positions in client relations and account management, where she worked closely with vendors and brokers. Currently, she occupies the role of broker supervisor.
Stich’s dedication to comprehending every aspect of the business has enabled her to acquire knowledge and expertise in the equipment finance industry, all cultivated during her time at Stearns Bank.
Beyond her day-to-day work, Stich is committed to sharing her time and financial insight as a volunteer with multiple financial education programs, including 180 Degrees (a Minnesota-based youth shelter) and the Arizona Council on Economic Education. She also impacts her community through volunteerism at her church and local schools.
This past year, Stich earned her Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) designation, thus fulfilling a longtime goal. Earning her CLFP has helped Stich solidify her expertise and impact in equipment financing. Rather than keeping this accomplishment a personal one, Stich further dedicated her time to sharing knowledge and insights by participating in advisory boards and mentorship initiatives. Within Stearns Bank, she assumed leadership positions to explore emerging business opportunities that are currently underway.
Named a Stearns Bank Outstanding Performer, Stich’s influence as a leader is felt across the organization as she continues to guide and support her team to reach collective goals, as well as supporting them individually to accomplish career initiatives. Stich is actively spearheading efforts to cultivate relationships and establish new pathways, collaborating with referral partners to create innovative programs designed to shape and align with industry trends.
Stich is a strong proponent of job shadowing and a dedicated champion of professional growth. She is known for her valued ability to work right alongside her team. Drawing on her extensive experience in the industry and her tenure at Stearns Bank, she possesses a wealth of knowledge that she willingly conveys to her colleagues both within and beyond her immediate circle.
Not only does Stich exemplify the characteristics of success, she is also dedicated to embracing fresh perspectives, learning from her peers and championing innovative approaches. With every challenge and opportunity she encounters, Stich consistently demonstrates a positive, solutions-oriented mindset that inspires those around her.
“Ariel is a dedicated supervisor who works diligently to support the goals of Stearns Bank,” Michelle Fuchs, vice president of business development for Stearns Bank, says. “With our broker partners, she goes out of her way to foster relationships by building trust and showing appreciation. She values consistent and transparent communication and is always mindful of others’ perspectives, providing support and understanding to those around her.”
Stich thrives in the ever-changing equipment finance world and is driven to consistently seek to understand what’s happening in the industry, have insightful conversations, make new connections and nurture industry relationships.
As Stich advances in her professional journey, she aspires to create a lasting legacy marked by success — one that intertwines service, efficiency, meaningful connections and teamwork •
