Pioneer Financial Services

Company: Pioneer Financial Services, Kansas City, MO
Company Description: Pioneer Financial Services, a privately held company in Kansas City, Mo., has been meeting the financial services needs of U.S. military personnel since 1986. Whether in our offices or online, our 300 associates share one vision: to improve operational readiness through education and services that enhance quality of life and financial independence for military families.
Nomination Category: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Financial Services

Nomination Title: Tom Holcom, President of Pioneer Services

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2008 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Tom Holcom often says "Together Everyone Achieves More," but it's his
leadership that guides the TEAM to such incredible success.

To foster communication, Holcom held "Brown Bag Lunches" with associates
throughout the company; they can ask him any and all questions, with nothing
off limits. He also had quarterly Webinars with leaders throughout the
organization, discussing results and goals. He often sends an all-associates
email on a specific topic called a "Friday's BEST" that covers his thoughts on
a particular topic (e.g. the business or culture), and he sends personalized
cards for associates' anniversaries (more than 300 a year).

Holcom encourages associates to take an entrepreneurial attitude: to go outside
their comfort zones and not fear failure, and carry their ideas through to
execution. Some of the associate-led initiatives of 2008 included:

** Pioneer Partners—A group of associates who support our military-families
with deployed loved ones. 
** Green Team—Associates took it upon themselves to find ways to make the
company more environmentally friendly. Recycling, reducing energy usage, and
providing car pool and mass transit information were just some of their results.
** ELITE—Our recognition program is entirely associate-ran. Themes, activities,
and quarterly meetings are all managed by a team of associates (which rotates
each fiscal year).

Pioneer Services (PS) has a unique culture of recognition, and Holcom strongly
encouraged enhancements to the anniversary program, making it easier to reward
loyalty—associates have received game systems, kitchen appliances, and even a
new deck as part of the program. He also actively participates in
numerous "work hard, play hard," events, including dodgeball in the parking
lot, to a "Dance, Dance Revolution" basketball-style tournament.

When it comes to the community, it is not hyperbole to say Holcom does too much
to mention. So the highlights include: named "Man of the Year" by Big Brothers-
Big Sisters of Kansas City as culmination of more than 20 years of service;
named a Trustee at Park University; served on the boards of Business Executives
for National Security and Athena PowerLink; President of the executive board of
the UM-KC Bloch School Alumni Board; the Greater Kansas City Chamber of
Commerce Armed Services Committee; President of the Truman Medical Center
Charitable Foundation.

Holcom also came up with the idea, and promised the only living World War I
veteran, that the company would "Save the Flame" atop Liberty Memorial at the
National WWI Museum in Kansas City. Budget cuts were to extinguish it, so
Pioneer Services gave $21,500 and led the effort to raise $21,500 more (in six
weeks) to keep the flame going for 12 months, with Holcom doing interviews and
contacting business leaders in the community. The effort raised more than
$40,000.

All of these examples of Holcom's leadership had a direct impact on Pioneer
Services' bottom line: despite a troubled economy, the company saw the best 12-
month span in its 77-year history. Compared to 2007, finance receivables
increased 14%, customers 18%, income 50%, and the company beat plan by 74%.

List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

http://www.pioneermilitaryloans.com

Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:

Thomas H. Holcom, Jr., is the president of Pioneer Services, the military
banking division of MidCountry Bank. A graduate of the Bloch School of Business
and Public Adminstration, Holcom has more than four decades of experience in
banking and finance, the past 24 years with Pioneer Services, where he has
created and developed dynamic teams that are focused on helping military
families take control of their finances. Holcom serves on numerous
philanthropic boards, Business Executives for National Security, former
president of the Command General Staff College Foundation, and current
president of the Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation.