PUCHBAUER RECEIVES MISSOURI BANKERS ASSOCIATION 1999 BANK LEADERSHIP AWARD

Linda D. Puchbauer, a business banker and relationship manager with NationsBank, Jackson, was name recipient of the 1999 Missouri Bankers Association Bank Leadership Award. The award was presented at the Association's Convention Awards Luncheon on June 10 in Branson.

"It's really exciting," she said. "I never in a million years dreamed I would win something like that!"

The award recognizes outstanding career and community involvement achievements of Missouri bank officers from the junior or middle levels of bank management. Her award included a $500 U.S. Savings Bond from the Missouri Bankers Association and a $500 U.S. Savings Bond from the Midwest Independent Bank of Jefferson City.

Puchbauer began her banking career in August of 1978 and was promoted to business banker in July of 1997.

Since her promotion, she has been recognized on several occasions with performance awards. Her most prestigious honor was the "1998 President's Award". In addition, Puchbauer finished in the top 10% of the most productive business bankers placing 41st out of 433 business bankers in the country including all sixteen states where NationsBank has presence.

She also received the 1998 LEND Award at NationsBank. LEND is an acronym for "Leadership Excellence in Neighborhood Development." She was one of 135 award recipients selected from 3,000 nominees. The award winners traveled to Memphis, Tenn. to refurbish an orphanage that had been closed for repairs.

Puchbauer is a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, of which she serves as chairperson of the Public Relations Committee, and First Baptist Church where she is a soloist and choir member.

She is also treasurer and teacher for Jackson Project Charlie (Chemical Abuse Resolution Lies in Education). In the past, she has been involved with Easter Seals, Special Olympics, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, United Way and served as a Team Captain for the 1999 Boy Scouts of America Fund Raising Campaign.