Alex Norcross, Assistant Vice President at Mid Penn Bank, spoke with VISTA Today about growing up in South Jersey, the lessons he learned from playing sports, and why he is excited about his role at Mid Penn.

Norcross was an ambitious and hardworking teenager whose first job was as a page in the U.S. Senate when he was 16. He attended Drexel University because of its co-op program, which allowed him to spend three half-years working at different internships while earning his bachelor’s degree.

After completing his MBA at Drexel, he joined Mid Penn Bank thanks to the influence of Mid Penn President and CEO Rory Ritrievi. Now, Norcross is helping lead Mid Penn’s expansion into South Jersey and Philadelphia.

Where were you born, and where did you grow up?

I was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. I loved it. I had a great childhood; South Jersey is a great place to grow up.

What did your father and mother do?

My mom was home taking care of my older sister and me. My sister is nine years older than I am, so we have a decent age gap.

My dad founded a company called Conner Strong & Buckelew, one of the nation’s largest insurance, risk management, and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. He is also the Chairman of the Cooper University Health Care system in Camden, N.J.

What do you remember about growing up in Cherry Hill that still influences you today?

I grew up playing baseball. That was my first love when it came to sports. I’m a huge Philadelphia sports fan, but my life revolved around baseball growing up.

What drew you to baseball?

I don’t remember exactly what it was. My parents got me involved in team sports from a young age, and I gravitated toward baseball and playing first base. It got to the point where I was playing baseball in other towns and on AAU travel teams as well.

What about jobs? Did you have any part-time jobs growing up?

My first job was as a Senate Page in Washington when I was 16.  I was there for about a month. It was the first time I thought, “Wow, this is pretty serious.” It was not a place with a lot of, let’s say, flexibility in your job.

Being on the Senate floor was special. We had to memorize all the Senators, and if you got one wrong, you weren’t allowed on the Senate floor. So I made sure I didn’t miss any. It was intimidating, but it was a really special experience.

What single experience stands out from that month that you were there?

All the Senators were so friendly to us, which I didn’t expect. They would make it a point to come up and introduce themselves, which they didn’t have to do. I think some of the politicians who had been there a long time enjoyed meeting new kids, because one of those kids could end up being involved in politics. The experience gave me a foundation for going into other jobs and taking things seriously.

You don’t get that job unless you’re bringing something to the table. You were quite young. What do you think they saw in you?

Growing up, I was instilled with the mindset that you have to work hard, and if you want something, you have to put time into it. It’s not going to happen overnight, but it’s going to happen over time.

When I was a Senate page, they had a position called a head page, and that was the role I ended up getting. I managed the other pages in my group, and I think there were 15 of us. I was given the responsibility to take care of the other kids and make sure that what they were doing was correct.

It’s funny — some of the roles you get when you’re a 16-year-old are pretty elementary, like “go get a Senator water” or something, but it doesn’t matter what it is. You have to make sure you’re doing your job.

I met a lot of kids from all over the country, and it was cool to meet kids you normally wouldn’t meet. I could tell that these kids were special in their own way, and wouldn’t be surprised if one day they were running a very successful company or even became politicians. One of them is running for a state Senate position right now.

What music floated your boat as a teenager?

I love all types of music, but I definitely love older music like the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. To me, there was so much more talent in that musical era than we have today, where everything seems to be engineered.

Do you have a favorite concert experience that stands out?

We went to see The Lumineers, which was really cool. There are certain people who are great in concert and some who aren’t. The Lumineers were excellent in person.

You were a pretty good student; you could have gone to college anywhere. How did you end up at Drexel, and why there?

I was looking at a few colleges. I went to a very demanding high school, The Lawrenceville School.

I stayed in the area because Drexel has a co-op program where you work half the year and go to school for the other half. It’s a five-year program, and in your freshman year, you attend from September to late May or early June.

The first summer is the only summer you have off. When you get back to school, from September to March, you’re working, and the following March to September, you’re in school.

What were you majoring in at Drexel?

I was in the business school, more specifically, the Sport Management major. I really wanted to work in sports initially, but after a few co-ops, I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing.

When you look back at your experience at Drexel, was it the right school for you?

Yes, I would do it all over again if I could. I met my wife there within the first six months. She and I started dating our freshman year, and we’ve been together ever since. We got married a year and a half ago and just welcomed our first baby.

Wow. Did you do an MBA?

I did. I graduated from undergrad in the middle of COVID, in June 2020. Drexel did a very smart thing where they offered half-off tuition to students who wanted to come back and get a graduate degree. So I went for my MBA.

When you look back over your career, Alex, who were the other people who saw promise in you?

I made my way to Mid Penn Bank because of our CEO, Rory Ritrievi. He’s an excellent guy, an amazing leader, and someone I aspire to be like. He has had incredible success in his career while also maintaining a great family life.

When I was finishing my MBA in the spring of 2023 and deciding where to work, I was drawn to Mid Penn. Rory invited me to meet with him in Harrisburg. I don’t think any other CEO would be interested in meeting with someone who just finished graduate school. I went out to meet with him, and after our conversation, I knew I wanted to be part of his team.  

How did you get into banking, of all things?

Honestly, it was the people I met. It was never my intention to go into the financial services industry when I graduated. I looked at some other jobs, but at the end of the day, I think it’s the people you work with that make it special.

How are you approaching the challenge of building relationships with people and building credibility?

It’s really because of Mid Penn. The Bank has, for so long, been a central Pennsylvania-based institution. Now that we’re starting to move into Philadelphia and Central and Southern New Jersey, I know I’m representing the firm as well as myself, and I want to uphold the excellent reputation we have built.

Most people in South Jersey don’t know much about Mid Penn Bank, but they will soon.

How do you want Mid Penn to be known?

I think Mid Penn serves our clients better than anyone, and that’s because of our focus on relationships. The world is now unbelievably tech-based, with fewer personal connections and more automated services, but we’re not like that. We obviously must maintain strong standards in technology, but we make sure our relationships still happen face to face.  

When someone calls me and needs something, they’re talking to me and not someone they’ve never dealt with before.

I think other banks have gotten away from having that personal interaction. That’s something I know we will never walk away from, because at Mid Penn, relationship-based banking is what we do best.

What challenges and opportunities are you focused on this year, Alex?

New business development as we grow into the Philadelphia and Central and Southern New Jersey markets. I service high-net-worth clients at Mid Penn, and a core part of my job is focusing on customer and business development.

I’ve really enjoyed the experience, and I think our Private Bank has done an excellent job expanding into this area. In 2019, I wasn’t here at the time, but Mid Penn moved into their Malvern location and then into the North Jersey area. Now we’re moving into Philadelphia and Central and Southern New Jersey. We just need to keep this momentum going, and I’m confident about the growth ahead as more people learn about the bank and its services.

What are you doing to grow your business and get those new clients?

Meeting with a ton of people every day. Leveraging relationships I’ve built in the area. A lot of this business, to me, is about connections. It’s a lot of word of mouth, which I believe is the best way to gain new relationships and customers.

People aren’t going to see us on TV ads or billboards, but I’m very proud of where we are now, and I’m excited about the future.

What do you do with all your spare time? What keeps you entertained and active?

I’m a very family-oriented guy. I spend a lot of time with my mom and dad, and with my wife and her family. We’ll have dinner together, usually every Friday or Saturday night. Since I’m a new father, my wife and I are excited to start this new chapter.

Are you a golfer?

I love golf. Now that my baseball career is done, it’s the natural trajectory. As you probably know, golf has really taken off since 2020, when there wasn’t much else to do. That’s when I started to get back into it.

It’s taught me a lot about life, because it requires so much patience. Progress isn’t going to happen overnight in golf, it’s going to take time. It’s not one of those sports where, if you play for three weeks, you’ll be able to compete. It’s a long-term game, and I have a long-term view.

Three last questions for you, Alex. What’s something big that you’ve changed your mind about over the last 10 years?

I’ve realized that nothing is black and white. That applies to family, the economy, and just about any topic. When I run into an issue, I try not to jump to conclusions too quickly. Instead, I slow down and take time to process it from both sides

I agree. Next question, what keeps you hopeful and optimistic? It’s a crazy world.

Just trying to control what I can. There are a lot of things in the world that people can’t control, and they get very angry about it.

Finally, Alex, what’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

One of the best pieces of advice came from my dad. He would always say, “Everyone needs to make a living,” and it’s always stuck with me. It’s both about a person’s responsibility to themselves and their communities; everyone needs an opportunity, and everyone needs to carry their weight to the best of their abilities. My dad has given me so much wisdom. He’s a successful person, and I look up to him so much. He’s instilled in me a mindset and a work ethic that I’d like to carry with me for the rest of my life. 

I also love quotes. I came across a quote that changed my way of thinking about a year ago that states, “Do the thing that scares you the most. If something frightens you, maybe you should do it, because each time that you do that, it gives you the opportunity to find a hero inside of yourself.”

That resonated with me. If there’s something I’m afraid of or unsure about, I’ve learned that if I lean in and adapt, I can uncover a part of myself I never knew was there.