By Debra Solomon Baker
Commerce Bank is thinking green and not just when it comes to money.
Jack Schreiber
president & chief operating officer,
Commerce Bank, St. Louis Region
Later this year, the bank will open its first "green" branch, in O'Fallon, Mo. This decision embodies the bank's strong commitment to the community, says Jack Schreiber, president and chief operating officer for the St. Louis Region of Commerce Bank.
"We are quite conscious of the environment and of what we need to be doing," says Schreiber.
Schreiber is intent on focusing on all that is positive about Commerce, despite the current challenges in our economy.
"We are working with our customers who have been adversely affected by the downturn," he says. "We are helping them through the tough times and doing a good job with it."
Meanwhile, earlier this spring, Moody's Investors Service gave Commerce Bankshares Inc. a composite financial strength rating of B+, indicating a stable outlook. Commerce is the only bank
company to receive a B+ or higher overall financial rating among
the 37 regional banks with
assets between $10 billion and $100 billion.
Schreiber expects Commerce to continue to have strong organic growth. In an industry filled with mergers, Jack Schreiber is proud that Commerce Bank has had the same name on its door for more than 140 years.
And inside those doors, Schreiber says, is an extremely collegial atmosphere, a place with an open-door policy, where careers are advanced.
Schreiber, who has more than 32 years of corporate banking experience, finds his own career quite rewarding, particularly because it enables him to be exposed to a myriad of companies and to meet lots of people.
"Day in and day out, I find this job engaging and so interesting," he says.
A St. Louis native, Schreiber is deeply involved in the community. He currently serves on the board of directors of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association and this summer became the chairman of the board of St. Louis' Public Broadcasting Station KETC-TV. He also serves
on the Property and Finance Committee and the Investment Committee of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and on the board of FOCUS St. Louis.
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE INSIGHTS
What is the best advice that you would
give to someone who was interested
in entering your profession?
"The best advice I would give to someone who is interested in entering our profession is to determine what function or industry they are most interested in and become as knowledgeable as possible. The executive search business has become extremely specialized."
David H. Hoffmann
Chairman & CEO,
DHR International
 "Construction is a team sport. People who get into the business of construction should encourage clients to build their team during the design phase of the project. Assemble a strong project team early in the process based on accountability, consistency, honesty, trust and integrity. Your client deserves and needs to be cared for with the highest ethical standards. As a construction expert you should become a trusted advisor."
Bill Croghan
president,
Boa Construction Company
 "In taking your personal inventory, in addition to the requisite technical skills, you should ensure that you measure up as an effective communicator and possess a passion for responsive and personalized customer service."
Gary Douglass
President & CEO,
Pulaski Bank
For more information on the Leadership Circle, please contact John Diefenbach, vice president-membership, (314) 444-1184 or jdief@stlrcga.org.
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