YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
You can take Andrea Sitzes out of economic development work, but you can’t take the economic development work out of Andrea Sitzes.
Formerly president and CEO of the Show Me Christian County economic development organization and director of the Ozark Chamber of Commerce, Sitzes switched industries in 2021 when she joined Arvest Bank. Economic development, however, has been a constant theme.
“My role at Arvest Bank allows me to facilitate economic development through the lens of commercial banking,” says Sitzes, who serves in a vice president-level market executive role for Arvest Bank’s local operation. “While I’m a commercial banker by definition, I see my position as a financial concierge for commercial customers. It is my responsibility to understand every facet of their business and strategy in order to fully support their goals both personally and professionally.”
That work is paying dividends. The numbers tell the story: Sitzes has assisted clients with business acquisitions in excess of $90 million, closed more than $70 million in commercial loans and supported the creation or retention of 400 jobs since joining Arvest Bank, she says. Her work also has included assistance in helping her clients increase workforce housing in the region.
“Commercial banking has given me a true appreciation for patience and tenacity. Credit is complex, and at Arvest we have an all-encompassing loan policy that allows for many types of lending,” Sitzes says. “You can only truly master this profession through time and experience. Commercial lending is part art and science – it takes strong analytical skills, interpersonal skills, motivation, drive and a thorough understanding of your organization’s risk tolerance and portfolio management.”
Sitzes says her previous roles have influenced her work in banking.
“Serving as the president and CEO of an economic development organization gave me a unique perspective and approach,” she says, noting she hasn’t had to change how she talks to clients. “When Arvest hired me, I was told, ‘Andrea, we want you to do economic development; just fund the deals you’re working on.’ They’ve made good on that promise and empowered me to serve customers holistically.”
Sitzes says her work as a banker requires building relationships rather than focusing on single transactions.
She gives one example of finalizing the underwriting and acquisition of a complex financial deal that involved specialized back-to-back arrangements via two loans.
“The projects I excel at take months to thread together,” she says.
Civically, Sitzes serves as treasurer for the Missouri Economic Development Council and represents Christian County on the Ozarks Region Workforce Development Board. She often speaks for leadership training courses, and she serves on the worship and personnel teams at Sojourn Church in Nixa.
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