Shaneè Kimber shares how her role at UMB allows her to build on her passion for the Kansas City community and bring resources to the ones that need it most.
As a mother of a growing tween, an active member in the Kansas City community and a community business banker officer at UMB Bank, my life is constantly on the go, but I would not have it any other way. I am incredibly lucky to serve the Kansas City community day in and day out through my role at UMB Bank.
Find your dream role
I have been in the banking industry for 17 years and have worked for some great leaders, but I’ve never had the chance to fully expand on my passion for community banking – until 18 months ago when I came to UMB. UMB gave me the opportunity to fulfill my commitment to the community through my dream role as community business banker officer. It’s been really fun to continue to evolve my role, while teaching financial literacy classes for entrepreneurs and focusing on how UMB relates to low-to-moderate income communities on an entrepreneurship and small business scale.
I also maintain all of UMB’s small business partnerships and serve as one of the primary nonprofit bankers with a focus on low-to-moderate income individuals. I wear many hats in my role, but I feel lucky to have the opportunity to carve out a job I love in banking. UMB’s dedication to community members is what allows me to create change, work alongside a great community banking team and shows me my role is here to stay.
A passion brought to life
When it comes to positively impacting the community, UMB is in it for the long haul. This coupled with the heart UMB has for the communities it serves is what initially drew me in. After a few months in my role, I had the chance to bring to life a series for acknowledging and addressing the different struggles of minority and women-owned businesses. Last year, my team and I created the Undivided Attention series in partnership with the Kansas City minority chambers to bring together diverse Kansas City small business owners in a variety of industries and give them our full attention, insight and resources.
This series has allowed us to take what we learn from the community leaders who attend these events and implement their feedback into new product offers and solutions. I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish with this series and am excited to continue providing a safe and helpful space for diverse business owners.
Leave a legacy of community involvement
My personal mission is to provide help to the communities that need it the most and I am grateful to share this passion with my daughter, S’Yarre. I love volunteering with her on the weekends and getting to know the members behind this great community. She comes along with me to each volunteer opportunity and the financial education classes that I teach. I believe it is valuable to instill in her volunteerism and the power of working alongside others to better the community.
I am currently a part of nine boards, five committees and a variety of organizations that I serve in a personal and professional capacity. A few of the ones I am involved with include: the Women’s Employment Network‡, Money Smart Kansas City‡, Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce‡, Black Family Technology Awareness Association‡, Urban Financial Services Coalition‡ and the Kansas Bankers Association‡. My volunteer work is not just because of my job but rather is a part of who I am as a person. No matter my job title, I will always remain dedicated to the members of the Kansas City community.
It takes all of us
Kansas City has a rich history and much of its growth is thanks to entrepreneurs, minorities and women who have given their all to move this city forward. It is our duty to acknowledge this and continue to take leaps and bounds for the generations to come. At UMB, we are continuing to invest in minority- and women-owned businesses, as well as low-income communities through our partnership with The Porter House KC and other impactful organizations. I am proud to work at a company like UMB, where community development has and remains at the forefront of everything they do. We continue to lead the charge for young entrepreneurs and positively influence the Kansas City ecosystem.
I cannot wait to see all the ways UMB will serve the community this year and expand upon our commitment to provide resources and assistance to anyone who needs it. I hope you feel empowered to start getting involved in your community, if you have not already, because it is a great way to connect and leave a legacy in the place you call home.
To learn more about UMB and our connections to the communities we serve, visit our community involvement page and follow us on Facebook‡ and LinkedIn‡.
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