Capturing a Story That Didn’t Exist on Paper

When we first sat down with the Heartland team, one thing became clear: their history lived in memories, not documents. It lived in Steve selling a ’63 silver Corvette (“I’m surprised he didn’t chase after it,” Brian laughed) just to raise the seed money. It lived in Saturday mornings at the office with their kids. In Sheryl hauling water for coffee because the building didn’t even have a kitchen yet. In the long-term clients who still call from warmer states just to hear a familiar voice.

To make a film worthy of that legacy, we needed to go all the way back with them.

So we gathered everyone: founders, long-time staff, clients, and the next generation of leaders. We created space for the kind of conversations that rarely happen in everyday work. Fireside chats. Shared memories. Quiet moments in the places that shaped them.

This wasn’t just a standard video shoot. It was a series of reverent sit-downs across the history, present, and future of the company.

Steve told us, “You can have a bad day in a good atmosphere, but you can’t have a bad atmosphere and a good day.”

Gary shared, “I’ve never had a job at Heartland. I’ve had a career..”

And Brian, now carrying the responsibility of the next 35 years, said, “Serving relationships is at the heart of what we do. We’re in the relationship business.”

Those words became the emotional spine of the film.

Filming the Heart of Heartland

Over multiple days, the Tellwell team captured the textures that make Heartland who they are. The Thanksgiving meal the entire team shares together. The familiar hum of phones answered by real people, not machines. Clients who’ve stayed for decades because they feel truly known. The quiet corridors of history paired with the energy of a new generation stepping into leadership.

Each interview added a different layer. Steve’s humility. Gary’s devotion. Sheryl’s steadiness. Jill’s pride. Jana’s compassion. Brian’s forward-looking hope. Long-time clients shared their stories too, describing Heartland not as a vendor but as part of their business family.

One of the most powerful threads came from the theme they all returned to, unprompted: legacy.

Not the kind you measure in numbers. The kind you feel.

“We’re living the legacy just like our clients are,” Brian reflected.

“You can never outgrow us,” Jon told us, “because we’re there through every season of life.”

“Most of our employees become lifers,” Sheryl said with a smile. “That should tell you something.”

This wasn’t going to be a hype film. This was going to be a human one.

A Film That Let the World See What Clients Have Always Known

The finished six-minute documentary premiered internally first. A quiet launch that moved the Heartland team deeply. The emotions were exactly what they hoped for: a mix of nostalgia, pride, laughter, and a few tears. It felt effortless, honest, and true to them.

And then something beautiful happened.

A prospective client, someone comparing Heartland against other local and national firms, visited their website. She watched the film on the About page. She saw the faces. Heard the voices. Felt the values.

And she knew where she wanted to move her accounts to.

The 35 years of reputation and relationship did the real work. The film made it visible. It helped her understand, in minutes, what it takes decades to fully build.

That’s the power of capturing the heart behind a company like this.

Looking Ahead: A Story That Will Keep Growing

Today, Heartland is entering its next chapter with confidence. The film preserves their history and strengthens their future. It helps new clients understand who they’re trusting. It helps long-time families see themselves honored. And it gives the Heartland team a renewed sense of pride in the legacy they’re carrying.

Brian said it best at the end of his interview:

“I’m proud to be part of Heartland Trust Company.”

The film simply lets the world feel why.

For the next 35 years, the story continues. More relationships, more generations, more lives impacted. And Tellwell is grateful to have helped capture the stories that started it all.