My great-grandfather, Herman, traveled from southern Germany to
Ellis Island in 1904, with the steely determination to succeed
— a quality that has descended through my family. Trained
as a machinist, he made his living in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
working in the steel mills that helped to provide the metal that
strengthened America’s manufacturing backbone. Herman
labored long and hard, and in 1915 started a new business with
his brothers in support of the war effort. His sacrifice and
perseverance made it possible for his son, my grandfather Carl,
to become his high school’s valedictorian, graduate college
and later build a 44-year career as a banking executive. I honor
my family’s story… from working-class to Wall Street
in one generation, a legacy that truly personifies the American
dream.