Ozarks Profile: Grady H. Sanford

|tab|

Grady H. Sanford|ret||ret||tab|

Executive vice president and chief investment officer, Trust Company of the Ozarks, 3828 S. Fremont. Trust Company of the Ozarks is an independent trust company that provides trust and investment services throughout the Ozarks and is owned by a group of local banks, bank holding companies and individual investors. It was chartered by the Missouri Division of Finance in April 1998 to provide quality trust and investment service on the local level. Trust Company of the Ozarks reported 140 accounts with an average size of $715,000 each and more than $100 million in assets under management in December 1999. Sanford began with Trust Company of the Ozarks in March 1998 during its organization. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Age: 49|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|No. of years in Springfield: Sanford was born in Springfield and lives in the house he grew up in. " ... haven't gone far," he said. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Education: Sanford attended Phelps Elementary School, Jarrett Junior High and Parkview High School. He received his bachelor of business administration degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1972 and his master of business administration degree from SMU the next year. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Early career: Sanford's first job was as a camp counselor in 1967. He worked various jobs during college ranging from being a research assistant during graduate school to selling flea collars one summer for a pet products company. After grad school, Sanford worked for a year in south Texas for a family-owned lumber company, then returned to the Ozarks. He worked for a small company that reviewed health care services, then went to work for Merrill Lynch in 1980. Sanford stayed at Merrill Lynch until 1998, when he joined Trust Company of the Ozarks. "Merrill was a great opportunity, and the experience gained there allows me to do what I do now. My current position at Trust Company of the Ozarks allows me to tap my experience and have the opportunity to participate in a growing and dynamic local company."|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Current projects: "Current projects at work revolve around growing the business. Organizing and implementing, having direct contact with people, trying to make efficient use of time and assets."|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Management philosophy: "Efficient and effective managers are no different than people you liked and respected in high school ... they have the ability to listen to everyone, make decisions that are fair, timely and well-thought-out, accept blame and distribute rewards, all the while not taking themselves too seriously. Listening is the toughest communication skill to master."|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Spare-time pursuits: Sanford said he enjoys most outdoor activities such as skiing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and boating at the lake. He also enjoys reading. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Family data: Sanford has been married to Carol Webb Sanford for 27 years. |ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]