People You Should Know: Karin Bell

Karin Bell

Assistant Vice President, SBA Lending Division,
The Bank of Missouri
AGE: 52 | YEARS LIVED IN MID-MISSOURI: 19 years | ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Smithfield, R.I.
JOB DESCRIPTION: I am responsible for underwriting Small Business Administration loans for the Columbia market. I work with business owners to explore financing options to start new businesses or to expand existing business. I handle the submission of liquidation claims to the SBA and work directly with them through the claim process. I also coordinate the U.S. Department of Transportation Short Term Lending Program that provides working capital loans to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.
EDUCATION: Certificate of information management systems from Bryant College in Rhode Island;  A.S. in business administration with an emphasis in management from Columbia College; licensed nursing home administrator; diploma from National Association of Government Lenders
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: I am a member of the Downtown Rotary Club and will serve as the treasurer starting in July. I am the secretary/treasurer and co-founder of the Missouri Revolution Girls Softball Organization.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: I began my career in banking in 1977 in Providence, R.I., at the Telephone Credit Union. During the next nine years, I worked in every department except lending. When I left, I was managing the data processing department and working in accounting. In 1986, I was married and moved to Virginia Beach, Va., and worked for Operation Smile as the controller. While in Virginia, I also started a bookkeeping business and continued to serve my clients after moving to Columbia in 1992. In February 1993 I was hired as the comptroller for the Columbia Housing Authority. In December 2000, I began working as the controller for the Masonic Home of Missouri, and in January 2002 I became the executive director. I enjoyed that position for eight years until I started my own accounting and consulting company. In July 2009, David Keller hired my company to work on a few projects and six months later offered me a full-time position with the SBA Lending Division.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE AND WHY: There are two people whom I truly admire. First is David Keller, president of The Bank of Missouri. He started the bank from the ground up, with a foundation of talented individuals. His vision and entrepreneurial spirit are amazing, and he does what it takes to help others reach the same success. The second person I admire was part of David’s foundation when he started the bank, Keith McLaughlin. Keith’s name is synonymous with SBA lending in Columbia, but many people might not know he is nationally acknowledged as being an expert in his field.
WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB: I love helping people be successful. When you meet with someone and hear the enthusiasm in his or her voice telling you about his or her dream of being a business owner, it is exciting. It goes deeper than just reading a business plan, asking questions and approving a loan. I have the privilege to meet with potential new business owners who are looking for advice and reassurance that they are doing the right thing. And even though I might not be able to help them right now, I have the chance to give them some guidance and advice through my personal experience as a business owner, and that may help them further down the road. For those whom I can help, I have the opportunity to work with them after they have their loans. You become their consultant,
confidant and their trusted advisor and build a long-term relationship that is very rewarding.
IF I WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, I WOULD BE: Running my own business.
A FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: Getting flood insurance on the right buildings to satisfy FEMA, SBA and, of course, our compliance officer. It was a challenge, but we got it done!
FAMILY: I have been married for 23 years to my husband, Scott. We met when he was in the Navy while stationed in Newport, R.I. We have four great kids and one great son-in-law: Alexandria, 23, and her husband, Ryan Keating; Courtney, 21; Sammi, 16; and Kyle, 14.
WHAT I DO FOR FUN: If there were time, I enjoy golfing. For now, most of my fun is spent with my family. Whether it is traveling to sporting events or everyone coming home for a family dinner and reminiscing about all of the crazy things they did when they were little and thought we never knew (boy were they wrong), it is truly the best fun you could have.
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA: Stephens Lake. It is a beautiful park with great sunsets.
ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M MOST PROUD OF: One of my biggest regrets was not finishing college. I set a goal that I wanted my degree by the time I was 50. I went back to school at night while working and raising my family and received my degree — at 50.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT I: In 1991, I spent two weeks on a medical mission in China doing medical records. v