In this Article
Mike Barnett has spent much of his career building a community-focused bank — and much of his life giving back to the community that helped make that success possible.
In this Article
A Dallas native and longtime civic leader, Mike serves as chairman of Benchmark Bank, a family-based financial institution with eight locations across Texas. He first joined the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation Board at the encouragement of former Foundation President Rowland K. Robinson. Since then, his admiration for Baylor Scott & White has grown through board service, his own experiences as a patient and the care his family has received.
Mike shares the lessons that shaped his career, what keeps drawing him back to the Foundation and the people who matter most to him.
How did you become involved with Baylor Scott & White?
Robin Robinson and I had served together on another local board. He asked whether I had any interest in Baylor Scott & White, and I said I’d love to learn more.
At the time, my family had received care at another health system. But as I started using Baylor Scott & White, every experience changed my view. Everybody was so nice, from registration all the way through. You don’t always think of healthcare as a service business, though it is, and the people at Baylor Scott & White genuinely seem to like what they do.
I decided, “I think I’m going to be a Baylor Scott & White guy.”
You served on the BSW Dallas Foundation board for several terms. What keeps you coming back?
I enjoy the people, but I also learn something at every meeting. The innovation happening at Baylor Scott & White every day is incredible. When I hear about medical breakthroughs, Baylor Scott & White is on the leading edge of many of them.
The uterine transplant program particularly stayed with me. Helping women have children when that once wasn’t possible is life-changing. I’m proud to be associated with an organization doing work like this.
Has your experience as a patient shaped that connection?
Last November, I was hospitalized with COVID and a high fever that wouldn’t break. An infectious disease physician carefully adjusted my treatment as my care team worked to understand what my body would respond to. By the next morning, my fever had finally broken.
What stayed with me was the physician’s honesty, persistence and focus on getting me better. Everyone who cared for me was kind and attentive. They did an unbelievable job.
What has your career taught you?
I had a good amount of success at a very early age and probably thought I was the smartest guy in the world. Then the real estate market went south in Houston in the late 1980s, and I was humbled. I needed it.
The best lesson I learned through this was that God is in control. That experience drove me closer to God and Christ and helped me understand what is important.
What has brought you the greatest joy outside of work?
Going to the University of Texas was the best decision I ever made because that’s where I met my wife, Susie. We’ve now been married 50 years.
Our family — especially our five grandchildren — brings us tremendous joy. They keep us busy with golf, dance competitions, swimming and family time, and we feel very blessed whenever everyone is together.
