Exactly 43 years after he started his banking career, Gord Paulley - whom his boss calls 'Mr. CIBC in Carlyle' - will retire from his position at the bank on July 2, 2018.
Paulley's career accomplishments include multiple CIBC Quarterly Achiever Awards. He was named the bank's Annual Achiever twice and in 1997 was recognized for his “outstanding contribution to the organization” with the Chairman's Award.
The CIBC's Eric Gavie of Estevan - Paulley's boss - says: “Gord has contributed tremendously to the SouthSask Distrct and CIBC as a whole and will be greatly missed.”
“I will miss my clients every day,” says Paulley. “But it's time.”
Paulley - who grew up in Yorkton - started his career with CIBC in Fort Qu' Appelle as a trainee rep, the day after he graduated from high school.
“I was strong in math,” he says. “So I thought banking might be a good fit for me. I was so thrilled with my first paycheque that I secretly vowed to continue my career with the bank.”
A series of quick promotions followed. In 1976, Paulley became a discount clerk in Norquay and became the branch accountant in Bengough a year later.
Paulley's boss Gavie says: “This young man's energy and passion couldn't keep him at one branch for long, so he was ready to relocate again by 1978 and this posting took him to the Redvers Branch as a credit officer.”
In 1981, Paulley secured his first branch manager role in Rouleau, followed by a posting in Kincaid.
In 1986, Paulley came to Carlyle as branch manager and in 2001, he was promoted to financial advisor at the branch, a role in which he takes great pride.
“The (financial) advisor role is a very heavy post,” says Paulley. “I'm confident CIBC will find a good replacement for our clients and with the bank's approval, I'd really like to stay on to help train the next person for about 10 hours a week on a contract basis.”
“I will miss my clients, but I'm also really proud of the relationships we've formed - and I've made our clients a lot of money,” he says with a smile. “But each client's investment is directly tied to their risk tolerance. And in the last 10 years, I've been doing a lot of estate planning, which is the result of a sad event. But I look at it this way: I try to help my clients during a tough time like that by working with them, their lawyers and their accountants and I try to clean up the estate as soon as possible.”
“Something like that is sad,” says Paulley. “But it's satisfying for me to help my clients.”
“ Getting to really know people has meant that I'm now starting to have third- and fourth-generations of families placing their trust in me,” he adds.
“I'm really proud of that.”
Paulley plans to stay in Carlyle and will “travel more and golf more.”
“Last fall, I went to Iceland and Ireland and in 2019, I'm going with the same group to Peru and Ecuador.”
“I'm a Lions member and a three-time president of that organization,” he says. “I was secretary of the Carlyle Golf Club for 15 years and I was a Cougars board member for 25 years, so Carlyle is definitely home.”
“Gord's retirement is our loss but is well-deserved,” says Gavie. “I invite you all to join me in showing 'Mr. CIBC in Carlyle' our tremendous appreciation for 43 years of service at CIBC.”
