Romero Encourages Students to Develop Character, Generosity During Business Forum March 29

OBU alumnus Mike Romero, JD, vice president and relationship manager at Heritage Trust Company, delivered the lecture during OBU’s Business Forum Monday, March 29. His lecture was titled “What to do When You Don’t Know What You Will Do.” The event was hosted by the Paul Dickinson College of Business and took place in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium.

Romero offered advice to students gleaned from his career, both as a student in high school and in college, and also at various points during his professional life.

He detailed his path from arriving on campus at OBU as a freshman youth ministry major, to then graduating with a business degree with a double emphasis in banking and finance as well as management, to then deciding to go to law school. He encouraged students to be open to new things as they might expand their career opportunities in the future.

He then talked about a crisis moment he experienced in his life, where after completing his law degree and becoming licensed to practice, he lost his job.

“At that particular time, I was reminded about God almighty and Jesus Christ and his love,” he said. “And when you have those doubts about, ‘why am I here, how has this happened, I’ve done all of this stuff…have I not glorified you, Lord?’ And yet, I find myself in this particular circumstance, it is honest to cry out, ‘Lord, I believe but help my unbelief. I want to trust you. Help me to trust you.’”

He offered some critical advice to all in attendance, not only for students.

“For the business leaders,” he said, “what I would tell you is invest in your people. Your people aren’t your greatest asset in the company. They are the company. Don’t treat them like an asset. Treat them like a person and invest and develop [in them].”

He encouraged students to learn to take personal responsibility now while they are in school and talked about the importance of character and work ethic.

“Most importantly it comes down to character. What kind of character do you have? In fact, it’s the thing that God has singularly focused on in your life. He’s not really concerned about your circumstances, the stuff that goes on. He wants to know what kind of character you’re going to have when it really, really counts.”

He also advised students to turn off the distractions, notifications and interruptions they experience in order to focus, concentrate and perform at their full potential. He concluded by encouraging students to cultivate a spirit of generosity in six ways: with their thoughts, words, money, influence, time and attention.

Romero earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from OBU and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar and an adjunct professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he teaches courses in estate planning and administration, as well as business law.

Romero previously served at the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma as vice president, trust counsel, from 2001 to 2016, when he was promoted to senior vice president and chief development officer. In his current role as vice president and relationship manager at Heritage, he assists clients in a variety of areas, including trust administration, probate and estate planning, along with serving several nonprofit clients.