Southwestern Bell veteran connects with STC

Funny thing, fate.

When he retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company after 28 years, Steve Vaught reached out to Springfield Trust Company to learn the best way to invest his retirement funds, a 401(k) and company stock.

What he found was more than sage advice on where to put his money.

"It wasn't long before I was contacted back by them about a becoming an employee there," he said.

Vaught began Feb. 1 as senior vice president of business development for Springfield Trust Company, in which capacity he will sell lines of investment and trust-management services.

"We're very excited to have someone of Steve's caliber join our company," said Troy Kennedy, chief marketing officer for STC. "He would be an asset to any organization he joined."

Springfield Trust Company celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, Since its beginning, it has grown from managing $20 million in assets to managing $500 million in assets, Kennedy said.

Among the factors that drew Vaught to his new career were the trust company's concept of fee-based, rather than commission-based, investments and the fact that it is a local operation.

"I could see what other people are going to be going through" at retirement, he said. Vaught also knew that by going to work for the trust company, "I would have a very good working knowledge of what the process is."

He said he plans to share the experience of his own investment dilemma with future clients. Vaught was impressed with the primary research resources of the company Northern Trust Company of Chicago, Ill., and Goldman, Sachs and Company of New York City.

Upon his retirement from Southwestern Bell, Vaught, 47, was regional director, the highest ranking employee in the region, a position he attained in April 2000.

In early October he was given the chance to retire early and jumped at the opportunity. Southwestern Bell was reorganizing, so if he stayed with the company he would have to move. He and his wife of 27 years, Pat, wanted to stay in Springfield.

A close friend advised him to take his time and maybe travel. But, Vaught, a self-described "24-seven" person, wasn't about to take it easy. When the trust company called, he listened. "I liked what they had to say Our client's interest comes first.'" He also liked the company's one-stop-shopping concept. "They offer investment and trust services together" and build relationships with their clients.

Relationship building is something Vaught has done for years in different positions with Southwestern Bell.

Starting when he was only 19, Vaught's first job with the company was in the summer as an occasional employee.

At the end of the summer, "they offered me full-time employment as an ... installer a generic title for whatever they needed. We actually disconnected telephones, physically taking them out."

It was a job that "a brand new person couldn't mess up."

And it was a job with a lot to offer. "I was 19 ... I could go to school, without money," or work. "(Southwestern Bell) let me go to school and paid tuition. They were very good to me." Vaught added that the company still encourages its employees to continue with education with tuition assistance. "Then I migrated to different technical positions installer to repair to combination man, a jack-of-all trades."

After seven years learning the technical hands-on side of the business, he was promoted into management in 1980 as a line foreman and went up the ranks.

Each new promotion gave him more responsibility. Before he came to Springfield, he was area manager of industry relations for all of southwest Oklahoma and had earned his bachelor of science degree in business administration.

As area manager of industry relations, "I worked with independent telephone companies negotiating contracts. I would review interconnect agreements (for long distance service) within the area code" to determine how to split the proceeds from calls. Monies were parceled out according to the investment expenses concerning long distance calls, another "very technical job."

In October 1997, Vaught came to Springfield to accept responsibility for the city and 11 surrounding communities in a 25-mile radius.

His job was "to assure that Southwestern Bell provided good customer service." He worked with local, state and federal government officials on many agreements, such as right-of-way acquisition.

As he progressed in management, Vaught saw his job as that of cheerleader, making sure that all segments of the company worked together. "I ensured they were all doing their job. The buck stopped with me."

Vaught added, "The people with (Southwestern Bell) are our biggest asset." It has been great "knowing we are providing not just good service, but excellent service."

Part of his job with Bell was community involvement, which suited him well. He plans to continue that involvement with his new job. Vaught was just sworn in as president of the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce and chairs a committee with the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership.

He serves on boards of directors for Boys and Girls Town of Missouri, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the OTC Foundation, Developmental Center of the Ozarks, the Retired Senior Volunteer Project, Safety Council of the Ozarks and on the advisory board of the Springfield Junior League.

A Leadership Springfield alumnus, Vaught also belongs to the Southeast Rotary Club, SWAT Pioneers and Second Baptist Church.

A fully bonded, state-chartered trust company, the Springfield Trust Company was founded in 1991 by John R. Courtney who remains its president.

The company is located at 1906 E. Battlefield Road. It formerly leased 1,000 square feet in the Courtney-Peebles building on East Sunshine, but moved to its present location in 1993, where it occupies two buildings at Georgetown Square and 6,000 square feet.

Springfield Trust Company serves more than 750 clients in 23 states and manages more than $500 million in assets.