Sandra Saulsbery, 39

Since 1994, Sandra Saulsbery has worked in banking. Fresh out of high school, she started a part-time job as a teller at Roosevelt Bank in Malden. She was soon hired on as a full-time employee and has over the last 21 years, worked her way up to Branch Manager at First State Community Bank in Malden and Retail Regional Manager over the Kennett, Malden, Hayti, Portageville, and Risco facilities.

As Sandra was working her way up "from the bottom", she made it a practice to learn as much as she could and be prepared for when opportunities would arise.

"I don't wait on a job position," she explained. "I'm taking extra steps to learn as much as I can so I am ready for an opportunity when it does happen."

Sandra also explained that she enjoys the challenge of banking and also enjoys people.

Meeting new people has also been part of the civic service activities which she volunteers for.

Along with her husband, Billy, and Jenni Bristow, the three run the Malden Girls Softball League.

She is also active on the bank's Relay for Life team assisting with fundraisers and the actual relay event.

Sandra has twice been a member of the Malden Chamber of Commerce Board and has served as their vice president.

Sandra says that her mom, Pat Rawlings, has always been a hard worker, honest, and encouraging. She has been part of Sandra's inspiration for working hard in all she does- at her job or when she does volunteer work.

Sandra realizes that she is fortunate to have worked under the guidance of her boss, Keith Grantham.

"He cares about his employees and customers," she explained, continuing that he has created a positive work environment and leads by example.

She tries to continue that same positive work experience at the Malden Branch and encourages the employees she manages to continuously focus on customers and consider their position as more than a job, but as a career.

Between working as a teller and her current management positions, Sandra worked as a customer service representative for new accounts at both Hayti and Malden's Roosevelt Banks.

Roosevelt Bank was eventually bought out by Mercantile Bank and then First State Community Bank. All the while, she remained working for the organization.

She helps with training and is part of the conversion team as part of the support staff helping set up new branches or transition as technology advances.

Sandra will soon begin a four year program with First State Community Bank University in which she will undergo further training to assist in her position with the bank and will also include time attending banking school.

She explained that this will help her grow in her position and to continue to focus on the needs of the customers and the organization.

Sandra was born into a family of five. She is the baby of the family and the only girl. Because of the influence of brothers, Sandra says she was a bit of a tom-boy as a child and really still is.

Because of the older brothers, her parents just expected their fifth child to also be a boy and did not have a girl's name prepared. So for a couple of days, young Sandra was without a name.

The Rawlings spent much time camping with their extended family at Lost Creek Lodge on the banks of Wapappello Lake outside of Greenville, Missouri where they enjoyed swimming and fishing. She also enjoyed some hunting trips.

While a student, Sandra played tennis, softball, and was part of the cheerleading squad. She was a majorette from kindergarten until her senior year of high school- which she completed all in the Malden School District.

Beginning in sixth grade, she played the clarinet in the school band and in high school, she enjoyed competing in beauty pageants and her favorite subject was math. She worked at Hardees until she took her job with the bank.

In 1996, she married her husband Billy and in 2002, they had their daughter Madison.

Together the family enjoys sports, movies, hunting, camping, taking trips to Current River, four-wheeling, and doing anything outdoors.

Sandra explained that they do most things together and still regularly celebrate holidays and birthdays with her mom and three brothers that still live in the area.

Twelve year old Madison keeps them busy with her many activities such as softball, volleyball, basketball, and pitching lessons while still remaining a straight A student.

Sandra, too, enjoys staying busy and believes her daughter inherited that trait from her.