About Frank - Frank Van Buren I Talent Development

Frank L. Van Buren

A Biographical Sketch

Frank L. Van Buren

A Biographical Sketch

Frank Van Buren is an influential leader, speaker and teacher who experienced a unique childhood living abroad, and then took a non-traditional path of success from college athlete to Army pilot to Investment Banker, and is currently a senior executive at one of the world's great institutions.

Born into a family of service in 1966, during a time of societal turmoil and division in the USA, Frank was raised in the multi-racial US military community living abroad in Europe, where common bonds, trust and camaraderie were forged across the entire spectrum of America's diverse population.

Frank earned a B.A. degree from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 1988, where he played intercollegiate football and earned All-America honors while setting five school records.

Over a successful 35+ year professional journey, he accumulated a wide variety of leadership, management, talent development and finance experiences in both the US Army and Wells Fargo.

First, Frank served the nation as a UH-60 helicopter pilot, stationed in Central America, Germany, Cyprus and the US, and these experiences are shared in his published book Life Lessons from The Cockpit, an inspiring read available online at Amazon.

Upon exiting the service, Frank attended UNC Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School, and earned an MBA before seizing an opportunity to pursue a career in Investment Banking.

Over 26 years at Wells Fargo, Frank held roles as Investment Banker, High Yield Bond Salesperson, and Development Officer. Frank is currently a Managing Director and the Wells Fargo CIB Banking Development Officer Leader. In his current role, Frank oversees the strategic initiatives and execution for all efforts related to the recruiting, staffing, coaching, training and development, and retention of approx 1,000 Banking Vice Presidents, Associates and Analysts. He is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Frank is a proud father, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Veterans Bridge Home, Graduate School at UNC Charlotte, and the Shippensburg University Foundation."

Rich Gordon

Fixed Income Strategy Executive (retired)

"Frank is a rare mix. He has a wealth of compelling and illustrative first person narratives — from his riveting experiences as a Army helicopter pilot, to his long time career in the far less dangerous world of high finance. But he is also genuine and magnetic, the kind of presenter that "sticks with you" long after he is done speaking. I had the privilege of working closely with him for almost 20 years, and was often riveted as he recounted portions of his extraordinary background, relating it to current events occurring in our office, in the country, and in the world. As with many former veterans, the ethos they followed when they served carries over to their personal and professional lives long after that service has ended. Honesty, loyalty, leadership, dedication to a purpose of far greater importance than one's own self. I have lost track of the number of people who Frank has helped guide towards better outcomes. I only know I was one of them."