Personal Bankers of Little Rock: Janice Breece
June 22, 2018
Janice Breece says she always wanted to be a banker. But her life path followed many twists and turns before banking became her career.
Born in North Little Rock, Janice graduated from NLR High and went on to earn a Business Degree from the U of A in Fayetteville, having pledged with the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She proudly remembers attending the Cotton Bowl game on January 1, 1965, where the Razorbacks defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers to become the national championship team. Also, while attending the U. of A., Janice met and became friends with a couple of Sigma Chi members, Biff Morgan and Pete Maris. These young men would later become important in Janice’s life.
Janice subsequently earned a degree in Business Communications, followed by a 2 ½ year stint at Memphis State University where she studied Psychology and Speech Pathology. But she knew that her heart simply wasn’t in pursuing these areas as a career.
She was approached by American Airlines and was offered a job as a flight attendant. This sounded like a grand adventure to Janice so she agreed and spent the next several years working for American, and living in Dallas, Boston, and New York City.
In those days, Kodak sponsored an All-American College Football Team; American Airlines flew all of those named to the team to New York City. Janice wondered if any Arkansans were on the team and, sure enough, there was two-time All American Chuck Dicus. They met and became friends, they dated and, in 1970, they married. Chuck played pro ball for a few years and Janice gave birth to a healthy boy whom they named Neal.
While living in Memphis, Janice and Chuck divorced, and Janice went to work for William B. Tanner advertising in Memphis and later moved to Atlanta to further her career with the J. Walter Thompson Ad Agency. But Janice missed Arkansas, her friends, and her family.
In 1979, she and Neal moved to Little Rock where she became the first female ad executive at the Arkansas Gazette. She married Randy Breece and Janice soon gave birth to their daughter, Jamie.
Entering the World of Banking
Janice always dreamed about becoming a banker. In 1988, she finally found her chance. Janice took a job with First Commercial Bank (now Regions) and began learning the business under the watchful eye of the legendary Bill Bowen. Janice always loved the back room operations side of the business and agreed to join the Account Services area of the bank.
Regions purchased First Commercial in 1998 and, over the following months, the Account Services area grew from three to 25 people. Later, Regions merged with AmSouth Bank and Janice was hired as General Manager of Public Funds for the Bank by her old Sigma Chi friend Biff Morgan.
In 2008, Janice received a call from Bank of Little Rock officer Kim Markland. The two got together for an interview and Janice became a member of the Bank of Little Rock family! Janice was hired to be a Loan Administration Specialist and Kim taught her the ins and outs of her new job.
Within the Bank, Janice is responsible for entering all new loans and loan renewals to the loan system; filing UCC applications for all applicable assets, and procuring insurance for all loan collateral. Plus, she works to support Bank of Little Rock Mortgage Company (among other jobs!).
According to Janice, multi-tasking between all of her responsibilities represents her biggest professional challenge. But she receives great rewards knowing that she’s doing her job well and learning from all the people she respects so much, including that other Sigma Chi and her current boss, Pete Maris.
Today, Janice’s son Neal is a computer specialist for the City of North Little Rock. Four months ago, he and his wife brought home a brand new grand baby, Everlee Ann, for Janice to dote on. Janice's daughter, Jamie, is a medical technician with Little Rock Family Practice West, and has given Janice both a granddaughter, McKinzie, and a grandson, Gunner.
When asked about all those twists and turns, Janice says, “I don’t know how I would’ve made it without my faith -- and my family.” She continues by saying, “During my 30 years of banking, I’ve come home and Bank of Little Rock has become my second family.”
When you’re in our downtown branch, be sure to introduce yourself to Janice if you don’t already know her. She loves to make new friends!