Edward Jones’ director of human resources in
the branch development division is a man who not only is
responsible for training tomorrow’s leaders at his firm, but he
also makes it his duty to help the community’s next business
leaders.
Rodney Gee
sits on the advisory board for Florida A&M University’s
business school and is also the president-elect for the Foundation
Board of St. Louis Community College. He has been on the SLCC board
for seven years and will serve as president beginning in June
2012.
Working in
branch development, Gee has a critical role in the continuation and
growth of the firm. He develops leaders who sustain Edward Jones.
Gee is responsible for training those at the associate level, but
he also works with other leaders in the firm.
Gee has worked
in several business roles and has been focused on reaching his
goals from an early age.
“Certainly
starting out of college, the ability to go to work and support
myself motivated me to do well,” Gee said.
Gee has been
able to share the lessons he has learned from his time working in
business with the people he helps train in and out of the office.
There are two principles Gee gives.
“Critically
look at yourself first. Find where you need to get better,” Gee
said.
Gee’s second
principle builds on his first principle.
“You have to
be able to build on your competency to take on more
responsibilities,” Gee said. “It’s one thing to want more, but
unless you’re dealing with what things you can do better, it’s hard
for you to take on more because you’re not going to be open to the
feedback.”
Gee grew up in
St. Louis. He attended Central Missouri State University for his
undergraduate education receiving a bachelor’s degree in business
with an emphasis on marketing. After getting his bachelor’s degree,
he worked in sales at Southwestern Bell. He then moved to Chicago
and worked for Motorola for 15 years. Gee was recruited by Monsanto
and returned back to St. Louis. While at Monsanto he obtained the
added responsibility of being the director of human resources for
several units.
Gee received
his master’s of human resource development from Webster University
and earned his Security Industry Institute certification from the
Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania for
business.
Gee joined
Edward Jones in 2000 as the director of human Resources in the
information system’s division and has been taking on more
responsibilities. In 2004 Gee worked as the director of human
resources in the service division, and from 2007 to 2009 he was
responsible for human resources at the firm’s Canadian affiliate
and offices in Arizona.
Gee strongly
believes businesses should help the community, and Gee takes a
special interest in the growth of St. Louis.
“I think St.
Louis is fantastic community, and I think we have the potential of
moving our community forward,” Gee said. “We need diverse and
talented folks in our business. We can’t do that unless our school
systems are sound and not unless our businesses are contributing to
our community.”
Along with the
school boards that Gee sits on, he is also on the board for
Employment Connections, which helps people that do not have many
other alternatives.
“Employment
Connection focuses on those who have been incarcerated and helping
them gain meaningful employment, especially those without homes or
a way or means to get back into the community,” Gee said, “I get
self-satisfaction in seeing people grow in our
community.”
