Alisha Marie Rooks is the branch manager at First Bank’s Brentwood office. Rooks joined the First Bank organization in October 2001. Her responsibilities include supervising day to day branch operations, providing the necessary training to new and existing staff, and maintaining monthly controllable expenses to ensure that the branch stays within budget. In 2012 she received the “Branch Manager of the Year” award.
Her immediate ambition is to remain in this position of authority.
“In the near future I still see myself working for First Bank as a branch manager,” she said. “I will continue to volunteer for internal projects within the company.”
Volunteerism is important to her. Her volunteer history includes Ready Readers, a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring preschool-age children from low-income communities to love books and to prepare them for Kindergarten. She also helps out at Marion Middle School by serving as the banker for their events, especially the Annual Women’s Event – Girls Night Out. In the past she has donated her annual charitable branch contribution to assist them as well.
Another organization where she offers her time is the Little Bit Foundation. The foundation assists disadvantaged school-age children by creating a positive impact for personal growth, increasing self-esteem, and encouraging a more focused and active learning environment. She helps out with its annual Music Trivia Night. She is also involved with Community Women Against Hardship, Junior Achievement and the Youth Learning Center.
“I am a person whose grandmother, Geneva Rooks, taught me to always give back and share what God has blessed me with,” Rooks said. “She taught me the importance of giving your time to others. This is often more valuable than a cash donation. This principle of giving has always been a part of my life.”
She embraces the love and warmth that comes with being close to her family. Her parents, Farrell Rooks Sr. and Anita Rooks, live next door to her.
“I’m the happiest when I’m surrounded by my family,” she said. “I learn a lot from the elders of my family, and I enjoy hearing about their times growing up together and how close they were and still are.”
She considers her greatest achievement to be providing a positive role model for her niece, Annamarie Jones.
“I have shown her that if you stay focused on your goals and dreams you can achieve anything you desire,” Rooks said. “You don’t have to conform to your environment or peer pressure. She accomplished one goal by graduating from Anthem College in March and now she has a full-time job as a phlebotomist.” Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations.
Rooks said she most admires her mother, Anita Rooks. “Although she became a mom at a very early age, she has always stayed committed to raising her family and supporting her husband for the past 45 years,” Rooks said. “She is the true meaning of a loyal person.”
She recently enjoyed Easter with her family and her “new guy,” Chontel Stanburry and my family.
“My grandmother’s sisters, Joan Johnson and Shirley Hagens, came over and we ate dinner and watched basketball. This meant so much to me because they have interesting stories to share about their past,” she said.
“Most are hilarious and you would never think that these ladies partied the way they did and still have energy today to get out on the dance floor and have fun. I love them so much. We lost their youngest brother, William ‘Butch’ Jackson, to cancer and it has been difficult, but they remember the good times and that keeps us laughing.”
With the dancing and laughing, it comes as no surprise that listening and dancing to “old-school” music from the 1960’s and ‘70s is a passion of hers. However, one of her new pastimes comes as something as a surprise for a banker and volunteer. “My new-found hobby,” she said, “is target shooting at the shooting range.”
