People you should know: Craig S. McGonagle
Community President, UMB Bank
AGE: 52
JOB DESCRIPTION: Responsible for establishing the direction and overseeing the overall performance of UMB-Columbia. I also act as the senior commercial lender for our local market.
YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA: Five years currently, plus nine years as in the late 1970s, when I was a student at the University of Missouri.
ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: St. Louis
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Missouri.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri Bankers Association, Christian Fellowship Church (where I’m active in the Children’s Church Ministry) and the Businessmen’s Advantage men’s fraternity. Vice president and director of coaching for the Central Missouri Eagles Youth Hockey Association. Assistant coach for Diamond Council Youth Baseball.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Worked as a senior bank examiner for the State of Missouri’s Division of Finance and spent nine years with the division. Held commercial lending positions with various St. Louis metro banks, such as Cass Commercial Bank, Enterprise Bank and Regions Bank. Also served as a correspondent banker for Regions Bank. Returned to Columbia in 2003 as senior commercial lender with Regions Bank. Joined UMB Bank in March 2007 as senior commercial lender and then was appointed community bank president in February 2008.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE: Mr. Bud Guyer of Wolcott Water Systems served as a mentor to me late in my college years at MU and in my early business life. He modeled for me what a genuine godly businessman looks like, balancing work and family life. Since I returned to Columbia in 2003, several men leading the Businessman’s Advantage have poured into my life. These gentlemen—Larry Glabe, Steve Brooks, Scott Boyd and Rich Miller, to name just a few—are doing a tremendous job at reaching local businessmen, strengthening them for the challenges of daily professional and personal life through Christ. Their efforts will have a lasting and profound impact on our community for generations to come.
WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB: I believe strongly in the principles UMB Bank was built upon and continues to uphold. Those values serve UMB, its customers and its associates very well, especially during tough times such as our current recessionary period. We look to partner with good, solid people who are building for the long-term. I get my greatest satisfaction from working closely with these folks, and I hope they consider me an important part of their success. I try hard to become part of the unofficial advisory board for each of our commercial customers.
IF I WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING: I would be driving a Zamboni or selling T-shirts on the beach in the Caribbean.
BIGGEST CAREER OBSTACLE I’VE OVERCOME: The biggest obstacle I’ve found is gaining the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to be a true professional in this business. This is an ongoing process which requires constant growth in order to meet the ever-changing challenges coming our way.
A FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: Just recently I’ve begun exploring the possibility of building an ice skating facility in Columbia. Several local businessmen I’m working with share my passion for ice skating and the sport of ice hockey. We would love to see the children of Columbia have the same opportunity we had in other parts of the country to enjoy these activities in a well-planned facility. Having helped finance several ice rinks in St. Louis, I know the significant challenges and economic realities to be faced by such an endeavor. We would certainly need strong community support, significant financial backing, and the cooperative assistance of both city and county officials.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROFESSION: It is a profession that has undergone a tremendous amount of change, with more likely to come in the future. This profession is a cornerstone to our way of life and needs people of high integrity to move it forward.
WHAT I DO FOR FUN: I spend all the time I can with my family. Coaching or watching the kids in their various activities is a big part of our lives right now. Knowing this stage of life will someday come to an end, my wife and I try to savor every moment. We are glad, however, to be well past the diaper stage.
FAMILY: Married to my wife, Deb, for 23 years. We have a daughter, Ruth, age 16, and a son, Keegan, age 12. Both of our kids were adopted as infants, and we treasure this opportunity to be their parents.
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA: The deck of our home during spring and fall.
ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M MOST PROUD OF: Becoming a husband and father.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT: I smuggled Bibles into Communist China shortly after the Tiananmen Square massacre.