The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University announced the awarding of graduation diplomas to Dwayne Rocker, CFO, Farmers & Merchants Bank and Bill Doxey, executive vice president, Farmers & Merchants Bank. They were among 188 bankers to receive graduate level diplomas at a ceremony on the LSU campus earlier this year.
The school is a major provider of advanced financial education in the United States. More than 14,561 executives have successfully completed the graduate level program since its inception more than 50 years ago.
The school's purpose is to fill the need for a higher level of study by bank officers and others meeting admission requirements leading toward a broader knowledge and understanding of major banking functions.
The banking school requires attendance on campus for three years. During the three years, students receive 180 hours of classroom instruction, thirty hours of reviews, planned evening study and written final examinations at the end of each session.
"We are proud of Dwayne and Bill," said Ricky Nessmith, president of FMB. "The dedication needed to earn this graduate level diploma is an indication of their desire to provide the highest level of banking services to our clients."
Rocker, who has a 23-year banking career, has been with FMB since January 2002. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Management Science and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Georgia Southern University. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Downtown Statesboro Rotary Club. Rocker is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Statesboro serving as a deacon, a member of their finance committee, a volunteer in the video ministry and has participated in church mission trips.
The school is a major provider of advanced financial education in the United States. More than 14,561 executives have successfully completed the graduate level program since its inception more than 50 years ago.
The school's purpose is to fill the need for a higher level of study by bank officers and others meeting admission requirements leading toward a broader knowledge and understanding of major banking functions.
The banking school requires attendance on campus for three years. During the three years, students receive 180 hours of classroom instruction, thirty hours of reviews, planned evening study and written final examinations at the end of each session.
"We are proud of Dwayne and Bill," said Ricky Nessmith, president of FMB. "The dedication needed to earn this graduate level diploma is an indication of their desire to provide the highest level of banking services to our clients."
Rocker, who has a 23-year banking career, has been with FMB since January 2002. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Management Science and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Georgia Southern University. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Downtown Statesboro Rotary Club. Rocker is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Statesboro serving as a deacon, a member of their finance committee, a volunteer in the video ministry and has participated in church mission trips.
Doxey, who joined the bank in March 2004, is a graduate of Brenau University. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club and serves as treasurer of the local United Way. He and wife Catherine have three children, William, Abbigail and Anna.
Completion of the program has become a requisite to professional advancement in many banks. Executives at multi-billion dollar financial institutions as well as community banks find that the school's curriculum addresses their educational needs.
Presented by the Southern States Conference at Louisiana State University, the banking school is sponsored by 15 southern state bankers associations in cooperation with the Division of Continuing Education at LSU.