Ryan Uzzell has a staff of one: himself.
"Since beginning my career with Old Missouri Bank over 10 years ago, I have been the only (information technology) professional on staff, now serving over 60 employees at five locations throughout Springfield and Greene County," says Uzzell, vice president of IT.
He started his OMB career as a part-time computer assistant while attending Missouri State University for his degree in computer information systems. In short order, he was promoted to network administrator and then to assistant vice president. He assumed his current position in 2013 after consistently earning top scores on bank IT state and federal audits.
Uzzell's responsibilities expand when OMB makes an acquisition, as it did last year after it announced the purchase of the Bank of Ash Grove.
"As the only IT professional and technology officer for the bank, I have successfully managed the IT conversion for the bank acquisition, which includes merging technology infrastructure, bank-wide software and communication systems for the Old Missouri Bank Operations Center, two branches in Springfield and two newly acquired bank branches in Ash Grove and Walnut Grove," Uzzell says.
The conversion required countless hours of planning and coordination with staff and vendors to ensure a seamless transition as well as a better experience for customers. Uzzell led the completion of a new document imaging system that improves record keeping and customer access to technology.
"My goal has and will continue to be ensuring bank customers receive the perfect combination of a small bank atmosphere and the most current banking technology available," he says.
In 2008, Uzzell joined the Southwest Missouri chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals when it had fewer than 25 members. Two years later, he was elected treasurer and then president in 2013, during which time the chapter developed a nationally known annual conference, Tech IT Out, which has become one of the largest and most recognized tech conferences in Missouri. Proceeds go toward scholarships for local students studying technology; five have been awarded so far.
"Also, during my presidency, the Springfield chapter of AITP has significantly grown to over 230 members," Uzzell says. "Our goal continues to be promoting local opportunities and extended learning for technology professionals to keep the Springfield business community a competitive marketplace."
Other volunteer work includes Ambassadors for Children, a service agency of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks that aids abused and neglected children. Uzzell developed the group's technology and network infrastructure when it expanded to a larger office, and he is OMB's liaison for the agency's Adopt-a-Caseworker program.
