David Connell is a retired bank executive with approximately 40 years of experience in the banking and financial services industry. David’s father, Dr Joseph D. Connell, served as a U.S. Air Force Medical Corp officer, with David being born at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. After his service, Dr. Connell relocated his family to the northwest Tennessee town of Dyersburg to begin both a successful pediatric medical practice and a farming operation. It was in Dyersburg that David was raised and spent much of his time working alongside his father on the family farm. He attended the University of Tennessee-Martin and graduated from the Memphis State University Mid-South School of Banking. His first banking position was with First Citizens National Bank, headquartered in Dyersburg.

The majority of David’s professional life was spent with Phelps County Bank (PCB), a community bank located in south-central Missouri. PCB is one of only a few fully employee-owned banks in the country and is nationally recognized as a leader in this institutional category. In over 30 years with PCB, David served in multiple managerial positions including Senior Lender and Head of Lending. Ultimately, David was the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board from 2010 until his retirement in 2019. He continues to serve on the PCB Board of Directors. David and his wife, Candace, retired to Columbia to be close to their four adult children and their families.

David has a rich history of community involvement and leadership spanning decades. His service has included: the Rolla Community Development Corporation, both the Rolla and St. James Chambers of Commerce, The Board of Trustees Boys and Girls Towns of Missouri, Phelps County Leadership, Board of Directors St. James Golf Club, Sheshnoff Management Affiliation Group, Co-Chairman of the St. James Chamber Grape and Fall Festival, Chairman St. James Golf Tournament, President of the Tri-County Bank Association, Kiwanis Basketball and Baseball Coach and Chairman of the Bank Leadership Committee-Missouri Bankers’ Association. For many organizations, as with Guardian Hills, he has served in the role of Treasurer.

David is honored to have been given the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors of Guardian Hills Veterans Healing Center and does so in part to honor the memory of his own father and his military service.