Seemingly everything in Derek Ohme’s life ties back to sports.

He was on the high school basketball court the first time his wife saw him.

In college, he developed leadership skills as a two-year captain for the Augustana baseball team.

His 23 years of refereeing high school and college football have brought close friendships, lasting memories, and skills that he translates to his banking career.

“The most rewarding part of my job is leading others to success,” said Derek, a Business Banking Team Lead, “and then also having the opportunity to work with customers at the same time.”

Derek Ohme (front right) and the Business Banking leaders at First National Bank.

This marks the 25^th year of Derek’s banking career, fueled by his love for being a trusted advisor and blended with his passion for sports.

‘That’s where I needed to be’

After growing up in Luverne, Minnesota, Derek crossed the state border to attend his family’s alma mater on a baseball scholarship.

His parents and grandparents also went to Augie, “so it was a pretty easy decision for me, obviously.”

He studied business with an economics minor but, with no future baseball prospects, wasn’t sure what came next.

“I went into banking because my grandpa wore a suit and tie every day, and I thought that would be cool, and I liked to count money,” Derek said. “Well, fast forward 25 years: I don’t like putting the suit and tie on anymore, and I never got to count the money.”

A year-long banking internship took him to Fargo, then to Iowa. When a job opened up in Worthington, Minnesota, he took it to be close to home and his girlfriend (now wife) who lived near Marshall.

“I made the mistake of living in Luverne, because I just wasn’t in the Worthington community,” Derek said. “It wasn’t for me. I wanted to be in Sioux Falls.”

He interviewed at four banks in Sioux Falls and received offers from three.

It was Orrin Anderson — a well-known figure in First National Bank’s history, remembered for his strong values and lasting relationships — who ultimately swayed Derek’s decision.

“I heard that Derek was moving to Sioux Falls and interested in continuing with banking,” Orrin said. “The job interview revealed a mature young man with professional and friendly qualities; he also had the tools we were looking for. The rest is history.”

“Orrin is a mentor of mine and one of the best bankers I’ve ever met,” Derek said. “He called me, and he said, ‘We got you a job,’ and it didn’t take me long to realize that’s where I needed to be.”

Even the best athletes have to practice

From the jump, Derek found success by leading with his instincts.

“I learned very early to trust my gut more than anything I saw on paper,” he said, offering Sioux Falls bridal shop Marie and Marie Bridal as an example.

“They were new to the bridal business,” Derek said of owners Erin Rallis and Kayla Thompson. “They’re awesome people, and you just learn that those are the people you want to do business with.”

“He was so supportive from day one and helped us make our dream a reality,” Erin said in a previous feature about Marie and Marie Bridal.

In any sport, the best athletes often have natural instincts for the game. Yet, they still have to practice and refine their skills throughout their career.

Business banking, at least through Derek’s eyes, is no different.

“You have to want to learn to do this job because every business is so different,” he said. “And that’s one of the most rewarding parts. If you look at my portfolio, I have manufacturing, medical, all these different industries. You have to learn a lot, and you have to be confident in what you do.”

Blending sports with business

Interwoven with the story of Derek’s banking career, there’s another story about football.

It’s not movie-worthy like Remember the Titans or The Blindside, but it has shaped how Derek approaches his roles as a banker and leader.

For more than 40 years, Derek’s dad refereed football as a high school and college official.

“When I was in Worthington, he said to me, ‘Hey, do you want to make some money on Fridays?’” Derek recalled. “So, I worked my first football game with my father. I had no idea what I was doing, by the way.”

The game moved fast, but he made it through.

“I got to work my first full season, obviously under his wing,” Derek said. “He was a great teacher.”

After moving to Sioux Falls, he still drove back into Minnesota to referee for a short while.

But just as Orrin influenced Derek to work at First National Bank, he also brought Derek onto a refereeing crew in South Dakota.

After 25 years of banking and 23 of refereeing, there’s been a natural overlap with how Derek operates on the football field and in the office.

“Here’s where they cross: the refereeing word that I use is ‘swag,’” Derek said. “You need to be confident. It’s walking down the field, without being cocky or arrogant, and communicating well with the sidelines, the coaches, the team captains. That’s what I instill in my team at the bank.”

At FNB, Derek leads Business Bankers Nick Bentele, Scott Speer, and Blake Chesley in addition to managing his own portfolio of business customers.

He tells them to “teach others around you that you have the ‘it’ factor. And when your customers come to you, be the confident person that I would tell you to create on the football field.”

Mind yourself, he cautions that it’s a delicate balance between confidence and cockiness.

“I’ve watched officials that think they’re bigger than the game when they’re not,” Derek said. “No. You’re confident, and you’re going to be the person that everyone wants to gravitate to with questions. Communicate with your customers, be the sounding board for them, and make sure you’re going to get it right together.”

Family, community, sports — in that order

At Augustana, Derek started dating a four-time All-American runner who “cared about running a lot more than I cared about baseball.”

He and his now wife, Leah, have passed on their love for sports to daughters Julia, who does dance and track, and Hadley, who plays basketball and soccer.

They also have a miniature Italian greyhound aptly named Augie.

“I can tell you already, I’m very proud of our parenting,” Derek said. “Obviously, family is number one for me.”

Sports take up most of his free time, whether it’s the girls’ activities or watching the Vikings, Twins, and Timberwolves, plus Kansas Jayhawks basketball.

Meanwhile, their family spends a lot of weekends at the lake.

“A vacation to me is warm weather and maybe some golf, beach, and sun,” Derek said. “I love being outside.”

But he also remains passionate about serving his community, having previously served as board chair for Downtown Sioux Falls and remaining active with the organization still today.

He also serves on the board of directors and executive team for Ronald McDonald House Charities in South Dakota.

“I care about Sioux Falls,” Derek said, “and I wear my heart on my sleeve.”

In order to build a winning team, you need to surround your business with top talent. If Derek Ohme sounds like the right fit for you, reach out about adding him to your roster!