He is currently in the process of making furniture from logs cut right off the farm. and developing strategies for the bank, but also for my employees who can learn from the various educational classes that the MIBA sponsors. I went tomy first MIBA conference this past September at the Lake of the Ozarks. I hadmany good conversations with bankers who had the same concerns I had on particular banking issues. Some had good ideas on how they handled their issue and I was able to incorporate those ideas into my solutions. The speakers were also very informative.” An important element of any person’s professional career is the mentor or mentors who help them along the way. Doug was enthusiastic when telling us about his. “The most influential person inmy banking career has to be Ed Buscher. Ed was the President and CEO of The Missouri Bank from 1986 to 2021. He hiredme back in 1995. I’ll never forget the interview. He askedme, ‘Do you like to drink? Do you like to play golf?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘We’ll get along just fine.’ He saw things inme that I never knew I had. He polished those qualities and brought them out of me.” He paused. “As Teddy Roosevelt once said,” he continued, “‘The best executive is one who has enough sense to pick good people to do what he wants done, and selfrestraint enough to keep frommeddling with themwhile they do it.’ Ed created an environment that was comfortable and fun. He not only cultivatedme as a banker but he helped developme as a person. Thanks, Ed.” We asked Doug what three recommendations he would have for someone he was mentoring. He said, “One, listen. Truly comprehend what the person is asking or telling you. Two, keep an open mind. There have beenmany times I’ve changedmy position on an issue after hearing another point of view. And three, be honest, with the people you deal with as well as with yourself.” When we asked himhis opinion of the most important challenges facing the community banking industry, he stated, “Inflation and retaining and hiring employees.” Simple and to the point. We then asked how bankers can successfully deal with those particular challenges. He said, “Inflation affects all institutions, big and small. We have laddered our security portfolio in a way to take advantage of the higher interest rates that are coming, and we have also kept our loan maturities relatively short. “With regard to retaining and hiring employees, we realize we have to be competitive when considering pay. We have also created a workplace that is comfortable and fun and have become flexible in allowing some employees to work remotely.” We asked Doug to provide us with any final thoughts for those reading this article. He said, “When I startedmy banking career I made many mistakes. Everyone does. I learned from them and took the criticism in stride. Everyone is different and everyone interprets critique differently. I have learned as an executive to know your audience. Give advice when solicited, but most importantly, give praise. It breeds confidence.” Good advice. It was interesting and informative to learn about Doug and how he thinks and feels about his work in the banking industry. But we also know he has other outside interests that round himout as a person, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a friend. He told us he likes to hunt and play golf, and that over the past two years, he and his brothers have been building their farmhouse, doing most of the work themselves. He is currently in the process of making furniture from logs cut right off the farm (see picture). And finally, he enjoys the simple things, like spending time with his family and friends, and especially capturing the joys of his three-year-old grandson. ■ Douglas J. Luetkemeyer has been a Bank Examiner with the Missouri Division of Finance from 1992 to 1995; in 1995, he moved to The Missouri Bank and worked as a Commercial Lender, was promoted to Senior VP in 1999 and became CLO in 2010. He was elected President in 2021 and then became President and CEO in 2022. April 2022 | 13
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