MBA Honors Buhr As Young Banker of the Year

The Missouri Bankers Association honored Becky Buhr, senior vice president of finance and retail operations for Bank of Franklin County in Washington, with the 2022 Young Bankers Leadership Award. This award from MBA recognizes the outstanding achievement of a banker, age 45 or younger, employed by an MBA-member bank. Buhr, who was chosen by a selection committee of bank leaders, was recognized Oct. 6 during the 2022 Young Bankers Leadership Conference in Kansas City.

“With her relentless dedication, determination and knowledge, Becky exemplifies true leadership,” said Bob Dobsch, president and CEO of Bank of Franklin County. “The bank has been innovating its way under Becky’s leadership.”

Buhr led the bank through a branch transformation project that included updates in staffing, service standards, technology and physical space, most notably the construction of a new flagship location. In addition, her guidance was instrumental in the bank’s implementation of a universal banker staffing model and interactive teller machines across all branches.

“These changes allowed Bank of Franklin County to more efficiently and effectively serve its customers and provide more opportunities and flexibility to meet customer’s future needs,” Dobsch said.

Buhr has spent her entire career with Bank of Franklin County. She started working at the bank part-time while earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance. Throughout her 21-year career with the bank, Buhr has held many key positions, including vice president and asset/liability risk manager. Since becoming senior vice president, the bank has experienced increases in retail deposits, total assets and net income. Buhr chairs the bank’s recently created Community Council, which serves as a means for the bank to engage community members in building new relationships and growing the bank’s footprint.

A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Buhr earned a master’s from Webster University in Webster Groves. She completed the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in Boulder where she served as class president and then served as Missouri’s representative on the Alumni Advisory Board. In 2014, she joined GSBC as a Bank Management Simulation faculty member. She is currently the chair of MBA’s Board of Trustees for Banker Education.

Buhr volunteers with several organizations, including Mercy Health Foundation and the Franklin County Area United Way. She was instrumental in Franklin County Area United Way reaching $1 million in 2012. Buhr was named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women for 2022.

MBA congratulates the finalists for the 2022 Young Bankers Leadership Award.

Brittney Lee Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer First Missouri State Bank of Cape County, Cape Girardeau Brittney Lee’s career represents the attributes of a dedicated community banker — determination, inspiration and a deeply rooted desire to help her community. Since the opening of First Missouri State Bank of Cape County in November 2002, Lee has been part of the bank’s success from day one. Her first role was personal banker, and leaders quickly recognized Lee’s drive and enthusiasm to learn. Additional responsibilities and promotions in management followed in retail banking, business development, sales and marketing. In 2016, Lee was promoted to her current position of senior vice president and chief financial officer. As chair of the bank’s internship program, Lee works with students from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau to highlight career opportunities in banking. The bank’s internship program showcases all areas of banking — operations, lending and treasury. Lee earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southeast Missouri State University. She is a graduate of the Paul W. Barret Jr. Graduate School of Banking at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. Active in the Cape Girardeau community, Lee is treasurer of the Rotary Club and board member of the Chamber of Commerce. She volunteers with Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, which is currently building a crisis maternity home to help pregnant homeless women.

Ben Tipton President and Chief Lending Officer Phelps County Bank, Rolla The path that Ben Tipton has followed throughout his career for the past 20 years has prepared him for where he is today — leading a community bank. Since joining Phelps County Bank as a senior vice president in 2009, Tipton hit the ground running and has never stopped. His focus in managing commercial and residential loan portfolios and his contributions as a member of the executive management team led to various promotions. In January 2021, Tipton was named bank president and chief lending officer. The knowledge Tipton has gained throughout his banking career is used daily in his interactions with employees, customers and community leaders. He shares with his team to retain those lessons because those experiences will be beneficial later in their careers. A graduate of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Tipton completed the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in Boulder. Tipton volunteers in various capacities for community organizations and businesses. He serves on the advisory council for Rolla Technical Institute, on the board for the department of business and information technology at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla and on the patient advisory council and finance committee for Phelps Health. He is active with Phelps for the Fort/Sustainable Ozarks Partnership, Rolla Regional Economic Commission/Geared for Phelps and Rolla Lions Club.