Missouri Banker Named SBA National Small Business
Financial Services Champion

Kansas City, Mo., April 1, 2008 — The U. S. Small Business Administration has selected W. "Keith" McLaughlin, an officer of The Bank of Missouri in Columbia, as its 2008 National Small Business Financial Services Champion. Independent judges scored McLaughlin highest at the SBA St. Louis District level and the Kansas City Regional level, which led him to competition against nine other regional financial services champions to win the 2008 national title.

McLaughlin manages The Bank of Missouri's SBA-dedicated lending program as its senior vice president of the SBA lending division. His responsibilities include training and managing SBA loan originators, portfolio management, loan servicing, collection, liquidation, and secondary market sales.

In 1982, McLaughlin founded America's Business Brokers, an organization to help small business entrepreneurs buy and sell their businesses. He also assisted business borrowers in securing SBA financing. In 1993, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce recognized McLaughlin and his business with its distinguished "Small Business of the Year Award." From 1997 to 2004 he managed the Mid-Missouri SBA lending program for Union Planters Bank leading to his recognition in 2005 by the Columbia Business Times as "Someone You Should Know."

In 2006, McLaughlin was named by the SBA Administrator to SBA's National Advisory Council Executive Committee, comprised of small business owners and leaders who serve as a key private sector advisory group to SBA, Congress, and the president of the United States on small business issues. Currently, McLaughlin chairs the 32-member statewide Missouri Small Business Development Centers advisory board.

McLaughlin helped the Columbia-based SBDC at the MU College of Engineering lead the "Entrepreneurship and Home Ownership Boot Camp for Our Veterans" seminar, where he presented "Financing Your Business: How, When, and Where to Borrower," and introduced the new SBA Patriot Express loan program for veteran-owned businesses. Last year, The Bank of Missouri and McLaughlin funded the first SBA Patriot Express loan in the nation to help a Columbia electrical contractor expand his business.

"Keith McLaughlin champions the cause of small business every day. He may be arranging financing for a budding entrepreneur or advising the SBA or the Missouri Small Business Development Center network on how to better service small business. At SBA, we are thrilled to recognize his selfless service," said Sam Jones, SBA Region 7 administrator.

McLaughlin will attend ceremonies for the nation's 45th annual 2008 National Small Business Week April 21-25, in Washington, D.C and New York City. Small business owners and others interested in attending the events may log on to www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com for a full schedule.

In addition, McLaughlin will be honored at the Eastern Missouri Small Business Week Annual SBA Awards Dinner May 8, at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel as the St. Louis District SBA winner of the title and at events across the four-state region of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa as the SBA Region 7 winner.

Contact: June Teasley (816) 426-4845
Region 7 SBA Office, 100 Walnut, Ste 530
Kansas City, MO 64106

This story was featured in the April 2008 newsletter