20 Under 40

Chris Rosskopf

Vice President of Commercial Banking, Central Bank of Boone County

Age: 38

Job description:

I develop lending and treasury management relationships with an amazing group of local small business owners.

Hometown:

Fulton and Jefferson City.

Years lived in Columbia:

15.

Education:

BSBA in finance at MU.

Professional background:

My first four years out of college were spent with our affiliate and holding company, Central Bank and Central Bancompany, in Jefferson City. I migrated north in 2005 to work as a commercial loan officer.

Mentor:

I have two — Rick Ravenhill & Ed Scavone.

What don’t people know about your job?

Not all bankers are good golfers.

What is the best thing about your job?

I love listening to the passion that business owners have when they’re talking about why their business is successful and what they’ve learned in the process.

A favorite recent project?

Co-chairing the 2015 Chamber Total Resource Campaign with an inspiring group of people who helped exceed our fundraising goal.

What was your New Year’s resolution in 2015? Did you accomplish it?

To avoid turning 40 years old. This year was easy. Next year is looking good too. After that, it’s up in the air.

What are your specific professional goals for 2016?

Developing business relationships with at least 10 brand new clients. Co-chairing the 2016 Chamber Total Resource Campaign and exceeding the goal again.

What about your day do you look forward to most?

Listening to clients who are searching for a solution to a problem, and then helping them solve it.

What motivates you?

The knowledge that every client offers me the chance to learn something brand new, to be creative, and to be better at what I do.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?

With no physical limitations? Striker for the US Men’s National Soccer Team and calling play-by-play for the Cardinals. As is? More likely, shuttling kids to and from soccer and T-ball.

Community involvement:

Voluntary Action Center board of directors, Chamber of Commerce Total Resource Campaign co-chair, Chamber of Commerce ambassador, Columbia Housing Authority financial advisory committee, Leadership Columbia ’08.

Accomplishment you’re most proud of?

Graduating from Graduate School of Banking, in Madison, Wisconsin, last year.

What do you do for fun?

Playing softball every week at Cosmo Park with my lovely wife and the team that introduced us to each other. She is way better than I am, so I don’t lose any marriage points in the process either.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Knowing most of the songs on the Billboard Top 100.

Greatest lesson learned?

You can’t have a rational disagreement with anyone under 7 years old.

Want more of 2016’s 20 Under 40? Check out Barbara Buffaloe’s Q&A.