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President, Liberty Bank and Trust
It takes drive and determination to make it to the NBA, but for former Houston Rocket Joe Stephens, those two qualities helped him raise his game even higher once he hung up his high tops. Stephens founded SDI, a wholesale mortgage company. After finding initial success, Stephens teamed with Alden McDonald to help launch a Houston-based branch of Liberty Bank and Trust. “We try to be innovative and stay ahead of the curve in terms of helping people through these times and a lot of it is just through education,” says Stephens.
Liberty Bank CEO Alden McDonald recruited Stephens and SDI, and the partnership couldn’t have been more fitting. Stephens shares Liberty Bank’s commitment to growing a stronger community. “One thing that gives me the most gratification is educating people about the home buying process,” continues Stephens. “I always say that when someone buys a home, whether I’m building it or we’re financing [it], at the end of the process, I want them to almost know as much as me.”
Stephens’ decision to run for school board Position 1, much like his merger with Liberty Bank, was born out of his devotion to improving the lives of young people. “Kids [should be] able to look at somebody they can relate to, that came from their same neighborhood and [is] accomplished,” explains Stephens. “I want them to be able to see that you can accomplish these things. I just did it through hard work; the blueprint is there, you’ve just got to follow it.” –todd williams
