2010 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Karen Taylor
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce announced the 2010 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award at the 105th Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet held June 2 at the Hilton Garden Inn – Columbia. Karen Taylor, executive vice president of consumer banking with Boone County National Bank, was honored with the distinguished award.
“Karen is all about change for the better. She is a visionary whose leadership skills in the end create a better community for all who live, work and play in Columbia,” reads the nomination letter written by Lynda Baumgartner, study abroad coordinator for Stephens College.
Taylor’s involvement and leadership with local organizations, in particular the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Women’s Network, is extensive. She served on the Chamber Board of Directors from 1995-1999 and again from 2002-2005, where she served as Board treasurer from 1997-1998 and Chair of the Board from 2003-2004. While on the Board, Taylor was instrumental in helping to implement the Total Resource Campaign, the annual fundraising campaign for the Chamber. She also took on the roles of Junior Leadership and Education Committee Chairs and has been an Ambassador since 1995. Taylor was Women’s Network president from 1995-1996 and served on the Steering Committee as well as in two Women’s Network Committee Chair positions. She earned the prestigious Women’s Network ATHENA Award in 2004.
Outside of the Chamber, Taylor has organized three impressive local initiatives: MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Keep Columbia Safe. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library was founded by Taylor in partnership with the Heart of Missouri United Way in 2008. The program provides newborn babies in Columbia with a free book every month until age 5. The program currently reaches 80% of all newborns in Columbia, far surpassing the national average. Taylor also is involved with the Regional Hospital Advisory Board and Columbia Metro Rotary. In the past, she has been active with the Central Missouri Food Bank, Columbia College Community Campaign, ARC (Activity Recreation Center) fundraising, Advent Enterprises, Adult Business Advisory Council, Governor’s Missouri Training & Employment Council board, Governor’s Partnership on the Transition from School-To-Work, Missouri Foundation for Women’s Resources Board and Columbia Youth Basketball Association.
Fellow nominator Greg Steinhoff, executive vice president and director of sales at Boone County National Bank, explains how Karen takes initiative when so many people do not. “When she recognizes an opportunity to make something right, to help somebody reach their potential or to make something better, she doesn’t turn her head and walk away; she seizes the moment. She is inspired, then she inspires. Time after time, the results are extraordinary.”
Taylor worked for Toastmaster Inc. and Ameritech Cellular before joining Boone County National Bank in 1997. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbia College and a master’s degree in business from Stephens College, which she earned in May 2010. Karen is married to Lonnie Taylor and together they have two children.
Taylor was nominated jointly by Lynda Baumgartner and Greg Steinhoff. In addition, the following individuals recommended her for this award: Linda Arnold, Landmark Bank; Gerald Brouder, Columbia College; Steve Erdel, Boone County National Bank; Bo Fraser, Boone County National Bank; Robert Gerding, Gerding, Korte & Chitwood, CPAs; Sabrina McDonnell, Landmark Bank; Timothy Rich, United Way and Michael Vangel, VANGEL.
The Outstanding Citizen Award winners are nominated by their peers and selected by a special committee of the Chamber of Commerce. This distinguished award has been presented for the past 30 years and is designed to recognize a resident of Columbia who has made a significant contribution to the community.
