A VISIT WITH DOUGLAS LUETKEMEYER “My favorite quote is from Abraham Lincoln: ‘Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.’” Getting to know various members of our association, it was with great pleasure we were able to spend a bit of time with our very own Douglas J. Luetkemeyer, President and CEO of The Missouri Bank inWarrenton, MO. A long-time and active member of the Missouri Independent Bankers Association, he recently shared some of his interesting history with us. You’ve probably seen him at conventions and various association functions over the past several years, and we are proud to introduce him to you in a way youmight not recognize. Born in St. Louis, MO, he grew up in Florissant with his parents, Richard J and Maryln, and his two brothers, Rick and Russ. Doug attended the University of MissouriColumbia where, after only three-and-a-half years, he was granted a bachelor's degree in Finance and Banking. He is currently married to Joanne and has three children: stepson Tim, stepdaughter Cyndi and daughter Hannah. Additionally, he has a three-year-old grandson, Aaron. According to Doug, Luetkemeyer’s have been in banking for many generations: he has uncles, many cousins and distant cousins who have banked all over Missouri and in Chicago. With this information at hand, we asked himwhy he became a banker. “By accident,” he said. “When I went to college, it was my intent to become a dentist. When I got to ‘Mizzou’ my first semester, I enrolled in organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biology and physics classes. I showed this schedule tomy dad and he said, ‘You’ll never pass these classes. Why don’t you take some general business classes and see how you like it?’ So I did. (Thanks, Dad.) When I graduated from college,” he explained, “I had a job lined up with Emerson Electric in their accounting department where I interned. However, a hiring freeze during the recession of 1991 preventedme from that. I heardmy cousin was leaving the Missouri Division of Finance so I applied. I was offered a job there and took it. Subsequently, a week later, Emerson Electric called and said the hiring freeze was over and offeredme a job. I declined.” At one point, Doug was a bank regulator with the Missouri Division of Finance, and he explained about how that experience shaped him. “I started with the Missouri Division of Finance in 1992 in the St. Louis North Office,” he stated. “We examined all state chartered banks from St. Louis – north up to the Iowa border. We went as far west as Warrenton, whereThe Missouri Bank is located. The three years I spent with the Division was a great experience. We would examine all aspects of a bank, from the deposit side, the operational side, to the loan side of the organization. Being in a different bank every week exposedme to all different types of institutions. I’ve learned how great banks are operated and have witnessed how problem banks shouldn’t be run. I worked withmany good people, most left the Division and are nowwith community banks. I am still in touch with them today.” We then asked him to tell us about two or three of his favorite work experiences, which he happily shared. First, he told of experiences as an Employee: “When I first started,” he began, “the creative mind of Charlene Twiehaus livened up our Christmas Parties by putting on skits for the employees and their spouses. She talkedme into being many different characters throughout the years. I’ve been ‘The Ladies Man’ from Saturday Night Live, The Grinch, Michael Jackson and evenMick Jagger.” Secondly, he talked about his time as a Loan Officer. “It’s rewarding to see a borrower flourish. Making them their first business loan, watching the business grow and seeing the fruits of their labors.” And thirdly, he spoke of his time as President: “Every employee is different,” he said. “They may see things different than you do. Sometimes I change my position and sometimes I don’t. It’s always an experience working through that process.” Moving on to learnmore about his career, we asked what the most rewarding part of it has been. He said, “Being a Community Banker allows you, truly, to be part of the community. Giving back your time, your talent, and even your treasure and seeing the response you get from the organizations you help. Seeing a child smile when you purchase his first steer or pig at the livestock auction is priceless.” When discussing the benefits of MIBA membership and how he has benefited from it, he explained, “I see (the) MIBA as a useful resource not only for me as a President in sharing ideas, problem solving 12 | The Show-Me Banker Magazine
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