Alejandra Berra Named to St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2022
St. Louis, MO – Alejandra (Ally) Berra, lead strategic planning analyst, digital assets and cryptocurrencies, has been named to St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class of 2022. This award celebrates young professionals who have made a difference in the St. Louis region by displaying high levels of leadership in their organization and giving back to the community.
Berra leads the bank’s effort to understand the role of cryptocurrency and its impact on traditional finance to ultimately ensure the bank is helping customers focus on what matters most. By monitoring the execution of the bank’s enterprise-wide business priorities known as Blue Chips, she is able to regularly conduct competitive scans to uncover growth opportunities and monitor signals within the banking industry. Berra plays an active role in developing strategic relationships with fintechs to drive growth and innovation across multiple areas of the bank.
“We were very fortunate to have Ally join our team,” said Jennifer Upton, manager, Corporate Strategy and Innovation. “She has continuously excelled, starting with our training program, and growing to reach her current position with Strategic Planning and Innovation. Ally is a role model in the positions she holds inside Commerce as well as those she fills to give back to the community.”
In addition to her corporate strategy responsibilities, Berra helped improve sense of belonging at Commerce by being one of the founding members of RISE, the bank’s employee resource group (ERG) designed to empower women as leaders, mentors, coaches and role models. Since her instrumental role in launching the ERG’s mentoring circles, the ERG has grown to 1,234 members.
“I’m thrilled that Ally’s determination and hard work is being honored with this award,” said Kim Jakovich, senior vice president and executive director, Talent Management. “She is a great example of how our team members are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to not only propel their own career path and accomplishments but to serve the surrounding community at the same time.”
Berra connects Commerce and the community by serving as a liaison between the bank and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for eight years, including four years as co-chair of the golf committee that raised $160,000 for scholarships under her leadership. She is a proud graduate of the fourth cohort of the Hispanic Leadership Institute.
Berra is actively involved in the Regional Business Council as a member of Leadership 100, YPN Steering Committee and mentor in the Mentor Network Program where she shares career advice with college students and drives talent development and retention in the St. Louis region. She is also an advisor to Folds of Honor St. Louis Chapter and a long-time volunteer on the Marian Middle School’s Girls Night Out committee that has raised more than half a million dollars to provide transformational education for Marian girls — 90% of whom face poverty.
About Commerce Bank
With $33.4 billion in assets1, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH) is a registered bank holding company offering a full line of banking services through its subsidiaries, including payment solutions, investment management and securities brokerage. One of its subsidiaries, Commerce Bank, leverages more than 155 years of proven strength and experience to help individuals and businesses solve financial challenges. In addition to offering payment solutions across the U.S., Commerce Bank currently operates full-service banking facilities across the Midwest including the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas, Springfield, Central Missouri, Central Illinois, Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Denver. It also maintains commercial offices in Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Nashville, Des Moines, Indianapolis and Grand Rapids. Commerce delivers high-touch service and sophisticated financial solutions at regional branches, commercial offices, ATMs, online, mobile and through a 24/7 customer service line. Learn more at www.commercebank.com.
Disclosures:
1. As of June 30, 2022
