20 Under 40
Drew Smith
Senior Vice President/Commercial Team Leader, Commerce Bank
Age: 33
Job description:
I’m responsible for managing a variety of customer relationships and selling full commercial lines of business, including loan, treasury and trust products.
Hometown:
Novelty, Missouri.
Years lived in Columbia:
Since 2003.
Education:
MU, 2005 (business — finance and banking).
Professional background:
Commerce Bank for 12 Years, as a teller, personal banker, commercial loan processor, credit analyst, relationship manager and team leader.
Mentor:
Joe Miller.
What don’t people know about your job?
Most people don’t realize that we don’t just make commercial loans. My responsibilities include managing relationships by helping clients with both personal and business needs associated with loans, treasury products and trust. Some of our biggest clients don’t borrow money, but they utilize many other bank products. In my new role as a team leader, I will be responsible for coaching and supervising other relationship managers to maximize their potential.
What is the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is being around entrepreneurs and innovators. I love knowing and hearing about new businesses in the community and getting into the logistics of how they run their business and how a company makes money.
A favorite recent project?
I was recently promoted to a team leader and will be leading a group of employees. It has been fun and challenging to find ways for other employees to maximize their potential and make sure they have the tools to set them up for success.
What was your New Year’s resolution in 2015? Did you accomplish it?
I played college golf at John Wood Community College, in Illinois, for 2 years. After transferring to MU, I quit playing competitive tournament golf, and my goal for 2015 was to get back into that. I played several individual and team tournaments in 2015, and I love the feeling of being in the heat of competition.
What about your day do you look forward to most? What motivates you?
I enjoy getting “in the weeds” on a deal and understanding how a client operates their business. Winning the business is a huge motivating factor for me, especially when you are able to help a client at the same time.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
Great question…I have no idea. I had considered working in the golf business and also looked at coaching high school basketball. I love sports and always saw myself being involved with sports in some capacity. Part of the reason I chose banking initially was that it looked good on a resume and I always heard that all bankers do is play golf!
Community involvement:
I’m the vice president at Rainbow House, and I’ve been on the board of directors for more than seven years; I’ve served as president, VP and treasurer over the years. I have been involved in several organizations on a small level, but I’ve always focused my time on Rainbow House. It is such an amazing place, and the way we help kids in our community is incredible.
Accomplishment you’re most proud of?
I have a great family that is extremely supportive. My parents both went to college but moved back to the family farm, and my brother and sister are both school teachers. I am proud that I made a career and took a path that had no history within my family. I started in the banking industry as a teller and worked my way up through several positions to get where I am today.
What do you do for fun?
Golf and travel with my awesome wife!
What is your guilty pleasure?
I love watching realty TV — Sharktank, The Profit, Million Dollar Listing and even The Real Housewives.
Greatest lesson learned?
The greatest lesson that I’ve learned was from my high school basketball coach, who always told me “nothing works unless you do.”
Want more 2016 20 Under 40? Check out Lyria Bartlett’s Q&A.
