Printed in the Missourian on October 4, 2023Robert Vossbrink, III, 28, of Washington, is a commercial lender with the Bank of Washington. Robert is a 2013 graduate of St. Francis Borgia High School. He went on to earn both a Bachelor of Science in accounting and Master of Accountancy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Outside of work, he is involved in many organizations including St. Francis Borgia Parish, the Knights of Columbus, and the Men's Golf Tournament Fundraising Committee for the SFBHS Athletic Association. He is a board member for Downtown Washington, Inc. He is also a member of the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business Recent Alumni Advisory Board and a member of the Young Bankers with Missouri Bankers Association.
What does it mean to you to be named one of this year's Outstanding Young Professionals?
- It's an honor to have been selected as an Outstanding Young Professional among a pool of qualified candidates. I am grateful to Bank of Washington for providing a culture of customer service, volunteerism, and flexibility which provides employees the opportunity to make an impact on the community.
What's been your biggest accomplishment at your current job?
- My biggest accomplishment in my current job has been helping improve efficiencies though data utilization. There is a lot of publicly available information on various industries that I have focused on utilizing in preparing loan presentations.
Best advice for a young professional?
- Don't be afraid to ask questions and make yourself uncomfortable trying to learn new things.
Who's the mentor who's made the biggest impact on you?
- I have been fortunate enough to have several great mentors in my personal and professional life. On a personal basis, my parents, Rob & Moira Vossbrink, have shown true selflessness in volunteerism and support for their children. I can count on one hand the number of sporting events or activities that I did not have a parent at growing up. On a professional basis, Chris Eckelkamp has worked to coach and empower me to continually seek knowledge and make decisions on my own. Chris has a focus on customer service, accountability, and quick decision making and has worked to pass down those experiences to me. Chris is always available to talk through complex issues and is a leader in the workplace and community.
What's been the best lesson you've learned while at work?
- The best lesson I've learned at work is how critical it is for teams to maintain communication. I have tried to focus a lot of time on building relationships across various departments to better try to understand how different people communicate and work together.
Most rewarding volunteer experience?
- The most rewarding volunteering experiences I've had have come from working with the Board of Directors of Downtown Washington, Inc. It's amazing to see all of the work that gets put in behind the scenes to make successful events for community members and visitors to enjoy, and knowing that the proceeds go to projects that promote Downtown Washington and the City as a whole. Each event has it's own committee of dedicated community members who spend countless volunteer hours preparing for the different events including Art Fair & Winefest, BBQ & BluesFest, Sunset on the River, and Farm to Table, to name a few.
Tell us something that you hope to accomplish in your career?
- In general, I want to be able to look back on my career with no regrets, especially when dealing with coworkers and customers. A family value passed down by my grandfather is to "kill 'em with kindness" and I hope to look back on my career as someone who was always rational, knowledgeable, and approachable.
What's one thing that you will always keep on your desk or work area?
- A family tradition that started decades ago is an annual calendar with photos of immediate and extended family, as well as birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It's always fun to turn the month and see how my family has grown each year.
How do you want to make your mark in Washington?
- I want to make my mark in Washington by helping the next generation of professionals engage in civic development, whether that be charitable organizations or public service. The Washington community is built on the backs of those who gave their time and money to benefit future generations, and it's important to me that the next generation continues that mission.
"Robbie joined the Bank of Washington in 2021 as a credit analyst and was most recently promoted to Commercial Lender this year. Since day one, he has fully embraced the culture of the Bank, anticipating the needs of others, consistently showing kindness, genuinely caring about co-workers' and customers' best interests, and always maintaining a positive, encouraging, and respectful attitude. As he continues to grow with the Bank, he takes pride in his work and holds himself to a very high standard of performance, while always lending a helping hand even beyond his own team." said Louis B. "Buzz" Eckelkamp, III, Bank of Washington President.