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The market has changed in Kansas City, and many of the players have changed, but banking still has a lot to offer.
Being named one of 40 under Forty back in 1998 meant a lot to me for several reasons. The most flattering at the time was that Anita Gorman had nominated me. I hadn’t known her long, but I had, and still have immense respect for her.
Additionally, while I had been with Commerce Bank for 14 years, much of that time had been spent working with commercial customers outside of Kansas City. Being a part of the 40 Under Forty contributed to helping me connect to many peers in the Kansas City business community.
Ingram’s was kind enough to provide me a framed copy of the original cover that still hangs in my office at home. Looking at that cover photo, I’m constantly reminded just how fast 20 years goes by—and how banking has a way of changing one’s hair color.
In the 20 years since the first class of 40 Under Forty, the banking industry has changed in many ways. Some changes have been driven by technology, while others are related to the competitive environment in this market. The volume of payments made with checks continues to decline as electronic payments increases every day. With the electronic payments come new opportunities and challenges. Commerce has invested heavily in technology to add value by helping customers improve cash flow, minimize paper handling and help mitigate the ever-increasing risk of loss from fraud.
While technology has been a major influence, one of the biggest and most beneficial changes for Commerce has been the consolidation of the industry. Many local and regional banks have been acquired by large national banks.
The national banks have taken out costs to pay for the acquisitions by reducing the number of bankers in the market. Meanwhile, we have continued to invest in talent and actively grow the size and quality of our team, helping us provide a high level of service and gain market share.
Ingram’s was kind enough to provide me a framed copy of the original cover that still hangs in my office at home. Looking at that cover photo, I’m constantly reminded just how fast 20 years goes by—and how banking has a way of changing one’s hair color.
Commercial banking can be an excellent career choice. You get to work with and learn about many different industries and business models. You are on a steep learning curve your entire career—always learning and making your-self more valuable.
It’s also a good time to consider a career in commercial banking. Many leaders in the industry are “Baby Boomers” and will be leaving the industry over the next 10 years. The commercial-banking customer is always going to want to work directly with an individual who is willing and able to learn about their business and offer solutions to address their needs. There are going to be tremendous opportunities for bankers who work at banks, like Commerce, that are investing in ways to help companies be more successful.
On a personal level, I owe much of my success to Mike Braude, my mentor who introduced me to Commerce Bank and James Kem-per’s family. James, David, Jonathan, and now John Kem-per, provided me with an opportu-nity to work in an organization with a reputation for integrity and for operating a very successful commercial bank.
The knowledge I’ve gained at Commerce and the bank’s support of my entrepreneurial drive to build and grow businesses, is a combination that would have been difficult to find anywhere else.
Ultimately, it is Commerce Bank’s reputation for integrity and suc-cess as a commercial bank that has helped me recruit and build a superior banking team that contributed the most to my success. This is a people business, and I am blessed to be surrounded by a group of associates who do an amazing job of taking care of our customers.
