Griffons Invest
When starting out in the Missouri Western Business Department, Brendon Clark ’05 did not anticipate entering the banking industry. He initially chose Missouri Western because “it was a great opportunity for me to stay close to home, get a quality education and also be connected with my career interests that I had at the time.”
Missouri Western gave him opportunities to connect with business professionals in the area and expand his horizons until he discovered what a career in finance could really be about. “Missouri Western exposed me to all sorts of different business connections around town.” He eventually began his career at Commerce Bank. He began as a commercial lender and now serves as St. Joseph market president for Commerce Bank.
Clark appreciates the opportunities that he received while he was a student at Missouri Western and believes that the university provides these opportunities for all students. “The opportunities to get involved and participate in the community are second-to-none here in St. Joseph,” Clark said. “I think the university really helps propel that and puts students in a position where they can meet people and they can network with people.”
Clark believes that it is vitally important to give back to the community, and is grateful his employer, Commerce Bank, supports his efforts. He utilizes the skills he gained as a student at Missouri Western as a member of four different community organizations – Family Guidance Center, Allied Arts Council, Pony Express Museum Board of Trustees and East Side Rotary Club. “The more that we, especially alumni, can advocate for our story and leverage our education really helps support the university, which in turn supports the community.”