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The Cornerstone Bank
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Leadership

Meet The Cornerstone Bank LEADERSHIP Team




Mike Meek

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mike has lived in the Gravette Arkansas area his entire life. He graduated Gravette High School in 1979 and began working for the bank in June of the same year. He has served the bank as a loan officer since 1991. He has been involved in coaching youth sports in Gravette since 1989. He has served on the Gravette City Council, is a member of the Gravette Athletic Booster Club and many other local committees. He is married with three children and is a member of the Gravette Church of Christ.


Jeff Cooper

Chief Financial Officer

Jeff was born in Wichita, Kansas and raised in Southwest City, Missouri. He is a graduate of McDonald County High School, Crowder College and received a BSBA in Accounting from Missouri Southern State University. He and his wife Ginger, reside in Southwest City. They have four children and two grandchildren. He and Ginger are active members of the Full Gospel Church in Southwest City.

Jeff began working at The Cornerstone Bank in 1992 as Internal Auditor, with Network Administrator duties being added later. In 2011, he was named Chief Financial Officer of the bank. He also serves on the Audit Committee and Information Technology Committee.

He is a community volunteer, and has served as a member of several community organizations. Jeff has also served as a member of the Industrial Development Authority of Southwest City, McDonald County Bright Futures Advisory Board and the McDonald County School Board.


Dr. Robert Blankenship

Chairman

Dr. Blankenship grew up in McDonald and Newton Counties. He attended the University of Missouri and then did his continuing education at Tulane Medical School. He now has an active practice in cardiovascular surgery at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Cornerstone Bank was founded by his Great-grandfather G. W. Smith in 1898, with his father Dr. G.W. Blankenship serving as chairman for several years. Dr. Robert Blankenship currently serves as Chairman of the Board and has been a dedicated director since 2005.


Darrell Spillers

Director

Darrell Spillers completed his 50th year at The Cornerstone Bank in 2008. He began his employment in 1958 and retired in 2009 as President. He is a lifelong resident of Southwest City and graduated from Southwest City High School. Darrell serves as Treasurer for the Southwest City Library Foundation, is a board member of the Southwest City Industrial Development Authority. He is a lifelong Cardinals fan and a member of the Full Gospel Church of Southwest City.


Jim Edmondson

Director

Jim is a lifelong resident of Delaware County Oklahoma, and currently lives outside of Maysville, Arkansas. He is the owner/operator of a cattle ranch and farming operation in Delaware County. Jim attended four years at Oklahoma State University majoring in Agriculture. He also served six years in the Army Reserve. Jim has served as a member of the FHA Committee, ASC Committee and numerous other committees and boards. Jim has been a devoted Cornerstone Bank Director since 1982.


David Collingsworth

Director

David is a lifelong resident of Southwest City and a 1979 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BS Degree in Poultry Science and Business. He has owned and operated Dave's Supermarket and Clothing in Southwest City for 37 years and also runs a cow/calf operation. David is very community minded, having served on several community boards in the past and most currently as a Director or PWSD #3, board member of Harris Banking Company, the McDonald County Republican Central Committee and the Southwest City Commercial Club. David attends Mill Creek Baptist Church.

Mike Thompson

Director

Mike was born and raised in Southwest City, Mo. and has owned and operated Grove Insurance Associates of Grove, Oklahoma for 19 years. He attended NEO A&M College and Oklahoma State University, majoring in Agri Economics. He has served as past Vice President of Bank of Oklahoma Grove, past President of Grand Federal Savings Bank, Integris Grove General Hospital board member, Grove Industrial Development Authority board secretary, board Chairman for Grand Lake Mental Health Center, Executive Committee and board member for Grove Chamber of Commerce, past chairman/board member of Grove Municipal Airport Management Authority, past board member Grand Lake Association, Board member Grove Educational Foundation for Excellence and a member of Grove FFA Support Group. Mike's wife Ann, a native of Anderson, Mo, is retired from Southwest City Elementary Schools where she was a reading specialist.


Ross Babbitt

Director

Ross moved to Pineville from Kansas City, Missouri upon retiring from Ford Motor Company after 30 years in 1990. He has been the President of the McDonald County Telephone Company since 1990. Mr. Babbitt is actively involved in the community both through his business and personally supporting local schools, sponsoring ball teams, and local and county police and fire departments. Ross currently serves as a board member of the Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association, is an active member of the McDonald County Chamber of Commerce, and is a deacon at the Pineville Christian Church.


Jim Armstrong

DIRECTOR

Jim is a native of McDonald County. He knows and understands the financial environment in this market based on experience. The majority of his 50 1/2 years of banking experience has been obtained in this market.

He has served in senior management positions in both highly successful community oriented banking institutions and well respected regional and national banks. He is a graduate of Crowder College and The University of Arkansas with a degree in Accounting. He also has the experience of many financial industry oriented courses and seminars including a degree for the Graduate school of Banking of the South at LSU.

Jim has been active on numerous community organizations, committees and boards, including currently serving on the Freeman Health System Board, Pineville Volunteer Department Board, Tri-City Community Church Board, Crowder College Foundation, and the City of Pineville Planning Commission. He has served as the President of the Anderson Chamber of Commerce Board, past board member of the Sugar Creek Betterment Association, Anderson Lions Club and a host of other organizations.

Jim and his wife Faith reside in Pineville. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. They are active in the Tri-City Community Church in Pineville.


Larry Vancuren

director

After graduating High School in Harrison, Arkansas in 1963 and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 1967, Larry and his wife Jamie moved to Southwest City, where he coached and taught school for three years. After moving to Russellville, Arkansas and teaching Junior High science for two years, he accepted an offer in 1972 to move back to Southwest City and go to work for the bank.

During his years at the bank, Larry has worked as a teller, loan officer, member of the Board of Directors, and was named President/CEO in January 2009.

Larry has been active in numerous community organizations, committees, and boards, including the Crowder College Foundation, where he has been a member for more than 20 years and has served as both Treasurer and President. Larry is currently serving as a member of the Crowder College Board of Trustees.

Larry's interests outside the bank include his beef cow herd, southern gospel music, riding ATVs in the Colorado mountains, and spending time with family, especially the four grandchildren.