Tell us about your background and how you came to join UMB?
I graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree and earned my master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. After my undergrad, I joined a local bank as a business development officer. Following that, I joined UMB Bank in 2006 as part of the Management Rotation Program and became president of the St. Louis region in 2014. In those few short years, we have doubled our book of business year-over-year and became one of UMB’s fastest-growing markets during the past decade. During my tenure as president, St. Louis has grown from under $1 billion in assets to over $2 billion today.
And, how has your role evolved since joining UMB?
Through the Management Rotation Program, I had exposure to credit/loan review which was very helpful in preparing me for my current role. In addition to those rotations, I was also able to build relationships with the bank’s senior leadership team, which has been crucial to my success at UMB. Today, I am responsible for the overall earning asset growth in the market, cross-collaboration with other lines of business leaders and elevating UMB’s brand in the St. Louis region. I’m also responsible for leading the commercial team and supporting new business development which involves growing the bank’s loan portfolio, deposits and outreach initiatives.
Why are relationships and company culture so important for the bank’s success?
I have always believed relationships are key to any company’s success and an important factor in helping to recruit and retain top talent in the area—especially during the pandemic. With the use of technology, we have been able to stay connected with our clients and potential clients through video calls and virtual meetings while continuing to hire outstanding banking professionals in the area. I continue to work to create an environment where everyone on my team feels comfortable working together to achieve the best results for our clients and the bank and believe this is one of the main reasons we have seen so much success and growth in recent years.
What philanthropic activities are you most passionate about?
I currently serve as a member of the St. Louis Regional Business Council, where we work to unite area business leaders to act on high-impact business and help transform and better the St. Louis community through philanthropic and civic endeavors.
I’m also a member of CEOs against Cancer, a group within the American Cancer Society where I help lead the Fit2BeCancerFree challenge in St. Louis where I work with other area CEOs to raise money to find a cure for cancer. The one-day fitness challenge encourages people to get active and promote cancer prevention by organizing “walking breaks” and sharing them on social media.
Additionally, I sit on the board for The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum which allows children to have hands-on learning experiences and I’m involved with Brace for Impact 46, an organization started by former MLB pitcher Kyle McClellan aimed to support youth community development in St. Louis.
Tell us about your family.
I have been married for over 10 years and we have three children: Cullen, 9, Teddy, 7 and Heidi, 5. Fun fact is that I met my wife on a blind date. We were set up by her sister who worked with me at UMB at the time.
What is something you find unique about living in St. Louis?
St. Louis may be known as the gateway to the west but we have a diverse community. From the amazing food you can eat in the Italian neighborhood known as “The Hill”, to having one of the largest Bosnian communities in the country, there are so many different cultures to experience and enjoy in St. Louis!
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