2022 Men of the Year: Jay Titus

Whether he’s working or lending his expertise to local organizations, Jay Titus leads by example.

“It’s easy to say someone is a leader and harder to live up to it,” says community colleague Lisa Alexander, president of the CoxHealth Foundation. “Jay excels as a leader, investing in his career by serving on boards related to his profession in banking as well as putting his time and talents into areas that will grow and promote our community.”

Titus is president of the Missouri division of BancorpSouth Bank, managing operations in Springfield and St. Louis. The bank completed a merger last year with Cadence Bank and will complete a name change to Cadence this fall.

“I have had the honor to serve as a trusted adviser to business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the Springfield area,” says the nearly 30-year banking veteran. “I have had the privilege to work with some of the largest, most influential business owners in the area, with my services to them crossing over several different local business industries. My work with these individuals and business partners has allowed me to provide suggestions and solutions that have helped them strategically expand their businesses during good economic times and successfully navigate through downturns in the economy.”

Titus is appreciative of the consistent feedback he’s received about how he has helped clients.

“I work hard to look for ways to help customers and small businesses find solutions,” he says. “I have worked hard over the years to learn about our business community and the financial needs of this area.”

When those needs emerged during COVID-19, Titus led the bank in implementing the Paycheck Protection Program that provided forgivable U.S. Small Business Administration loans to help businesses pay employees during the height of the pandemic.  “Helping business owners keep their businesses open and pay their employees has directly helped our community economically,” he says.

Titus’ volunteer hours have spanned a dozen organizations. He is the former board president of the Springfield Business Development Corp. and has served the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Springfield and United Way of the Ozarks. He’s on the board for Ozarks Technical Community College’s Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing and is a member of the City Utilities Citizens’ Advisory Council.

Titus is also a board member for the Springfield-Branson National Airport, where he chairs the economic committee, a position that allowed him to help the facility navigate COVID-related travel challenges as well as secure the new American Airlines maintenance hangar that opened in December 2021, retaining dozens of jobs.

“Jay is concerned with the future of our region and has given his time to help expand business,” says CoxHealth’s Alexander. “Jay has helped to impact the patients we serve and we are incredibly grateful for all he does to ensure good health and wellness.”