Tell us about Arvest Bank's Springfield market operations.
Here in Springfield, we have the private banking group ... and a small full-service branch on Bradford Parkway, the Republic Road branch, and we're working on the plans for the branch at Chestnut Expressway and National Avenue. The Springfield market also includes Branson. We will have three banks in Branson. Right now, we have one at Branson Landing, a branch on Gretna Road, and this month, we'll be opening up a branch in Hollister. We offer commercial, consumer and mortgage lending, investment management and business services ... and we have 53 full-time-equivalent employees.
What brought Arvest to Springfield?
Springfield is a very attractive market for Arvest. It has a strong, diverse economy and a lot of great people. We're a strong, well-capitalized banking company, and we're always looking for expansion opportunities that make sense. We already have a strong presence in the Joplin market and the northern areas of Arkansas, so it made a lot of sense, geographically, to move to this area.
How does Arvest fit with competitors in this market?
There is a lot of competition in the Springfield market, but we see a lot of ways Arvest fits. Our competitors are very capable. They're all good banks. Some things make Arvest unique, and that plays into a new market. One of the main things is our 7 a.m.-7 p.m. banking hours. We feel that really helps the community, because a lot of folks don't have time until after 5 o'clock for banking.
What kind of growth is planned for the Springfield market?
In the future, we'll expand out into the Nixa/Ozark area. It will just be a gradual expansion. The first thing we want to do is just make sure we get enough locations in Springfield to take care of our customers. When we get done, we'll have a north, south, east and west presence, and we'll just expand from there. ... We're actively looking for more land to purchase for future expansion. By the end of 2010, I would like to see nine branches up and running in the Springfield market.
What's the timeline for the Chestnut and National location?
Right now, we're just looking at blueprints and trying to get the architectural stuff to flow. That will be a Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified (building), so it's going to be a green bank. Hopefully, we'll start construction after the first of the year ... and, by the end of 2009, have it up and running.
What's your professional history?
We moved to Arkansas from Illinois, where I was president of Union Financial Services, a financial group that consisted of a Raymond James brokerage, a trust company and an insurance company. I joined Arvest in 2003 as a trust officer and took over as president of the Arvest Bank group in Mountain Home, Ark. (that same year). In March, I moved to Springfield as the bank president for the Springfield market.
Tell us about your family and your hobbies.
My wife, Cheryl, was an interior designer for about 18 years. She had her own business, but now she's relaxing at home. We have one child, Chris, and one grandchild, Marrisa, who is 4 years old. They're in central Illinois. I like to fish a little bit ... play some golf. My real hobby is coin collecting, which I thoroughly enjoy. I've been involved in that for 40 years.
Can you tell us about some of your most unusual coins?
I've got a complete set of bust dollars, which (is) a pretty rare collection. Bust dollars started in 1794. That was the first real dollar issued. It was a hard collection to put together.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
