Executive Suite: Monte Redman, Astoria Financial Corp.

Monte Redman has been with Astoria Financial Corp. through each recession since 1977, when he joined the parent of Astoria Federal Savings & Loan. He led the Lake Success-based bank through the last one as chief operating officer.

Now, as chief executive since 2011, the 62-year-old Queens native and his staff are trying to navigate through the weak recovery from the downturn that ended officially in 2009 but, for many, hasn't ended yet.

In an uncertain economy, made more so by the political impasse in Washington, Astoria is re-emphasizing what had been a core business for it -- multifamily and commercial real estate lending. It had pulled back from that business in 2009 because of the Great Recession's effects on real estate, especially in New York City.

And Astoria is trying hard to market its skills and its 85 branches to business customers, with a beefed-up staff and the pitch that a locally based bank can better serve the needs of local businesses than what Redman calls the "big box" banks, while also having the resources that smaller community banks lack.

CORPORATE SNAPSHOT