Page 18

19050BM

ccoovveerr ssttoorryy He has especially made a name for himself through his generosity, donating large contributions to community organizations and charitable causes. And now a second generation of McDonalds has entered the banking profession with Alden’s youngest son, Todd, assuming key roles in the Liberty Bank corporate structure. Todd officially started in the bank’s Mortgage Department in 2003. “Ever since I was a kid my dad exposed me to business leaders from around the country,” Todd began. “I’ve shadowed extremely wealthy persons and even interned with Maynard Jackson, a civil rights leader and first Black mayor of Atlanta. I learned business was limitless and that’s what attracted me to it.” This attraction led Todd to graduate from both Morehouse College and the Executive MBA Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in Chicago. “Early on I learned the importance of home-owning and managing credit. From there I went to consumer lending and marketing. Prior to that, I had interned in the accounting department,” Todd shared. Todd, much like his father, was dedicated to making a positive impact. Not only was he rapidly learning the functions of multiple departments, he was also making it his mission to ensure the bank stayed up-to-date with the latest technology; an effort his Dad genuinely appreciated. “My son has assisted us with continued transition,” Alden noted with pride. “We have quite a few young people working here purposely to continue our growth and development. Likewise, we want to extend our services to young people in efforts to help them achieve a better quality of life.” Liberty Bank was growing and expanding its range of services until the catastrophe that struck New Orleans in 2005. Hurricane Katrina’s after-effects were devastating. Liberty Bank lost its facilities, its files and its customer base. Alden and Todd were faced with a critical decision: would they answer the challenge that the storm created for the community? The answer was “Yes.” They would. “Wherever there is pain, there is some growth in it,” Alden acknowledged, and his son agreed. “After Katrina, I received a greater appreciation of what this institution does for the community,” Todd added. Father and son, along with the rest of the Liberty Bank family, worked diligently to rebuild bigger and better and their efforts have borne fruit. Over the past ten years, Liberty Bank has closed over one billion dollars in loans. Additionally, it was granted FDIC approval to acquire failing banks in Kansas City, Detroit, Chicago and in Montgomery and Tuskegee, Alabama. "From the rebuild to the tremendous growth, none of it would have been possible without our team." Alden expressed with sincere appreciation. "The dedication, support and passion that the employees have at the bank has made it what it is today," Todd completed with a matched tone of appreciation. Today, with 13 years of banking experience, Todd has risen to Vice President of Strategy. He is also a successful businessman with ownership of several businesses involving real estate, fast food and technology. Most importantly of all, Todd is a loving father to his son, Justice. Soon the family of three will be adding one more as he and his wife Crystal are excitedly anticipating the arrival of their new baby girl. Alden, meanwhile, is celebrating 50 years in banking this year, 44 of which have been as CEO and President of Liberty Bank. He is believed to be the longest-tenured African-American financial executive in the country and he continues to be a passionate advocate and dynamic catalyst for the entire New Orleans community. In his spare time Alden enjoys playing golf and socializing with friends. Family, especially, is key to his happiness and well-being. He and wife, Rhesa, a retired public school teacher, made everything a family affair. “All of my kids grew up in the banking space because we did everything as a family,” Alden said. Although only Todd followed him into the banking profession, the family patriarch is equally proud of his two oldest children who pursued other professions. “My daughter Heidi is Chief of Staff at Texas Southern University and my oldest son Chip (Alden III) is a cardiologist in the San Francisco Bay Area,” he said proudly. Returning to the subject of business, Alden stated, “It’s very important to pass the knowledge on to someone younger. Advantageously, Todd’s office is next door to mine. He has to learn the business for it to survive for the next generation. That’s how we continue to build our community.” To which his son added the final word: “The goal of this institution is bigger than us. Beyond the paper, these are people, these are lives, and these are children.” With these goals and the track record to back them, Alden and Todd McDonald will continue to be history-makers who continue to shape the future of the city and the business they love. �� PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIONCA FLOT SYKES 18 | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | breakthrumediamagazine.com S E P T E M B E R / O C TOB E R 2 0 1 6


19050BM
To see the actual publication please follow the link above