I started my career at UMB Bank right after graduating from the University of Missouri and have been with the bank ever since. I’ve always considered myself a team player and throughout my career have focused on having a positive impact on those around me.

Being a team player is one of the things I enjoy most about my current position and role within the bank. The lessons and values you derive from working closely with a team for years are so impactful. I am so proud of my teams’ accomplishments and don’t think I would be where I am without the strong relationships I have made and the opportunities that UMB has given me.

Surround yourself with different points of view

I enjoy working on a diverse team of personalities and being surrounded by different viewpoints. Personal achievements are not nearly as important to me as what my team has accomplished together. During my first year as a manager of the business banking team, my team was responsible for more than $125 million in new loans, the most that team had ever produced. This will always be a very proud moment for me and speaks to the shared success our team has had. Internally at UMB, I won the Kansas City Rookie of the Year award, which is given to a sales associate with less than 2 years of sales experience who produces the most new business, and for the past two years I have been the top deposit producer in business banking. I don’t think I could have accomplished this without having a strong team supporting and working with me.

Finding a balance is key

I believe it’s important to have balance. I spend a good portion of my life with my co-workers, and I want to share life’s joys and struggles with them. My wife and I recently welcomed a beautiful baby boy after struggling with infertility. It is not always easy to share personal struggles at work, but I see it as my place to set the example and create a safe place for my team. This open communication allows us to better set expectations and succeed together. I always believe it’s more meaningful to accomplish something together than alone. That is why I spend much of my time out in the community giving back as well as making my family a top priority.

Become engaged in your community

UMB encourages its associates to go out and get involved in the community and giving back is something I’m extremely passionate about.  My wife and I regularly volunteer together and are passionate about helping people around us. Together, we strive to do our best to help others reach their full potential in the community we love to call home.

Recently, I graduated from the Centurions leadership program where I got to learn and work alongside other leaders in our community. This gave me great insight into team building and exposure to additional areas to provide impact in our community.

I actively volunteer with the Rainbow Center, which helps support children with developmental disabilities. During my two terms on the board of directors, we created a trivia night fundraiser. At the first event, we had 60 people and by the time my board term was up, we were having to turn people away as we had reached capacity at our venue of 450 people. I’m am honored to be a part of this grassroots effort that really made a change for the better and raised approximately $140,000 for the center and increased awareness for the organization across the entire Kansas City metro. It really shows you the success you can have when everyone comes together.

My passion for early childhood education also led me to volunteer to read and teach children from the inner city who are behind in school through Phoenix Family’s Help Instill the Key to Education (HIKE) program. It’s extremely rewarding to see the impact that you have in a kid’s life and see them start to read on their own. As reading coaches, we act as tutors but also as role models. The one-on-one attention is critical to their success and after volunteering here for a while, it’s great to see the impact you are having.

I’m honored and humbled to be recognized by Ingram’s Magazine‡ as a 40 under 40 winner and look forward to many more years of making a difference in Kansas City.

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