Eric Anderson

Get to Know Eric

Piedmont Soccer Association Board Member

What makes Piedmont home for you?

I moved to Piedmont in 1989 when I was in the sixth grade, when our population was about 2,000. Everyone waved at everyone, back then, because you knew them! Being the son of the local community banker, you get to know just about everyone in town. That generational network is very special—Piedmont is a big community family to me.

What is your personal connection to soccer or youth sports?

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to raise our family in the Piedmont community. Our youngest son, Ean, loves to play soccer!

What inspired you to become part of the Piedmont Soccer Association?

Piedmont is a very special community with tremendous expansion of our local youth athletic opportunities to surrounding communities. I’d like to see us bring some of that back home to our Piedmont community, encouraging local retail sales tax growth.

What is your professional background, and what skills from this are you bringing to our team?

I’m a third-generation banker and work for F&M Bank as our Piedmont Market Manager. I began my career in banking as a drive-through teller in 1993 and currently serve as President. I have an undergraduate degree in finance (OU – 1999), a graduate degree in banking (GSBC – 2008), and a master’s degree in business administration (OC – 2013).

Serving on local non-profit boards has been a passion for many years, including the Piedmont Chamber of Commerce, Vietnam Memorial Wall in Piedmont, United Way of Canadian County, Piedmont Park Project, Integris Canadian Valley Hospital, and Piedmont Public Schools Education Foundation.

What is the most important lesson you hope young athletes learn on the field?

Youth sports provide an opportunity to be part of a team. I believe that feeling of being part of something bigger positively impacts you very deep inside—stimulating growth, confidence, and achievement. The lesson: It’s not you, it’s the team—you are not alone.

What do you hope they’ll learn off the field?

Learning to cooperate and working as a team can prepare and guide you for success in life. Put your strengths towards the greater good. There is no such thing as the perfect well-rounded individual. Allow your team, your partners, to compensate for your weaknesses, as you do theirs, creating synergy—greater effects than the sum of the separate effects.

What is your all-time favorite sports memory, either playing, watching, or coaching?

Interesting that Coach Brucker shared with me two primary components of learning soccer when Ean first started playing: Have Fun and Get Better. It has been absolutely amazing to intentionally watch Ean do just that; having so much fun playing and meeting new friends, and witnessing his consistent improvement. His passion is contagious, allowing me to enjoy and understand the sport at a much higher level.