What’s With Those Shoes?!

It’s been a long day of traveling. You have checked into your hotel room, hit up the registration desk for your conference badge and are getting ready to attend the first workshop of the event…and your feet are already killing you. Unless, of course, you are Betsy Bohlen.

Even if you have not met Betsy, senior vice president of Pueblo Bank & Trust, you have likely seen her at  various industry conferences such as ATMIA. She’ll be the one be-bopping around in a business suit and brightly colored, completely coordinated tennis shoes. That’s right – tennis shoes.

“It is hard to talk about your business and maintain a good conversation when your feet are hurting in terrible shoes,” said Betsy when asked about her penchant for fancy, if unconventional, footwear.

It all started years ago when she worked for 1st Interstate Bank in downtown Denver where heels could easily get caught in sidewalk crevices…or simply walked out of, as once happened when she was entering the light rail – only to discover one shoe still sitting on the platform. The perils were so high Betsy began to opt for tennis shoes anytime she left the office.

Eventually, this preference for more practical footwear extended to travel. On a business trip to Santa Fe, NM, Betsy and her coworkers were photographed by a local newspaper while traversing some of the cobblestone streets. While two of the three women were sporting high heels, Betsy’s feet were far sportier – and featured on the front page.

“About four or five years ago I decided it was my mission to change the world,” said Betsy. “People need to start wearing more comfortable shoes, especially at conferences!”

Betsy says there are benefits to wearing better shoes including:

• More Opportunities to Be Unique. Betsy’s tennis shoes always match her outfit. In fact, she brings upwards of ten pairs with her to any given event. But people remember the shoes.

• Better Business. It is hard to stand on concrete floors for 10-12 hours in loafers, Birkenstocks, heels and other “conventional” business footwear. When you are thinking about your feet, you are not thinking about your business.

• Safer. Business footwear has a tendency to be slick, squeaky, shiny and/or pointy. All of which can lead to accidents.

• More Comfortable. Your feet don’t have to hurt after a hard day’s work.

Betsy and the Pueblo Bank & Trust team will be continuing the good work – of ATM Bank Sponsorship and promoting reasonable footwear – at the 2017 ATMIA U.S. Conference in Orlando, FL.

“We have some big plans for this year’s event,” said Betsy. “It’s going to be fun!”