Board Member, Greater Houston
A successful technology entrepreneur and current nominee to the First Financial Bankshares’ board of directors, Blake Poutra brings a unique perspective to the intersection of traditional banking and digital innovation. His experience building and scaling technology companies, particularly in the Salesforce ecosystem, offers valuable insights as the Bank continues evolving in an increasingly digital world.
"First Financial is in one of the best positions you can be in because it’s built on foundations of relationships, service, and caring,"Poutra observes. "Technology alone can’t create that foundation. The Bank has these incredible relationships, and now we have the opportunity to enhance them through technology."
Blake’s entrepreneurial spirit began when he modernized his father’s printing company. Along the way, he learned valuable lessons about small business operations and customer service. This experience led him to develop technology solutions that help organizations better serve their customers. This is highlighted in his most recent work with Coennect, a center of excellence platform for large organizations.
His approach to joining First Financial’s board was characteristically direct. "I challenged them that if I wouldn’t have an impact on the technology front, then I was wasting everyone’s time," he says. "It’s important to see how strong the Bank is but also see the changes that need to happen to meet customers’ evolving needs."
Poutra envisions a future where First Financial can provide a comprehensive "customer 360 view" across its various regions and product lines. "We need to bring a full view of the customer so we can serve them best," he explains. "It’s about meeting customers in the way they want to be met, which looks different in Texas than it does in New York City."
While he generally describes himself as risk-averse, Blake is aggressive in technology implementation, which is his area of expertise. As a self-described serial entrepreneur who has "had more failures than wins," he brings a valuable perspective on innovation: "You can lose by running out of money or by quitting, and there is no quitting."
Outside of his board responsibilities, Poutra’s focus is on family. He coaches his son’s baseball team and has created a home environment where practice and family time blend seamlessly. This commitment to family mirrors First Financial’s dedication to personal relationships in banking.
Drawing from lessons learned from his parents – his mother’s emphasis on education and his father’s strong work ethic – Blake aims to help First Financial maintain its strong foundation while embracing technological advancement. "It’s about enhancing, not replacing, the human connections that make First Financial special," he says.