AAPI Heritage Month spotlight: Finding belonging and building community.
For Vinika McIntosh, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is deeply personal.
McIntosh, a small business banking account manager at Commerce Bank in Kansas City, has a heritage that spans four cultures — she is Laotian, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese. Born in the United States and adopted at a young age, she has spent much of her life intentionally seeking out and learning about where she comes from — including learning the basic foundations of the Laotian language.
“This month is important to me,” McIntosh says. “It’s dedicated to honoring where I came from and discovering who I am — it’s a time to reflect and celebrate.”
Her family’s history has played a significant role in shaping who she is today. McIntosh’s uncle, the youngest of nine siblings, left Laos by boat in 1983 as the region was recovering from the aftermath of the Vietnam War. He and the family settled in Kansas City, where multiple family members shared a three-bedroom home. McIntosh spent part of her early childhood living in that house, and she has maintained a relationship with her uncle and his family to this day.
She sees AAPI Heritage Month as a reminder that it’s important to acknowledge and value different backgrounds. “There are so many complex stories in our community that aren’t always seen or understood,” she says. “This month creates awareness and a real sense of belonging.”
That sense of belonging, McIntosh says, is something she appreciates in part because it’s present in her work at Commerce. “Commerce creates that feeling of family,” she says. “You spend eight hours a day with your work family. That inclusiveness means a lot.”
Leading with relationships.
McIntosh joined Commerce in 2022, bringing nearly a decade of banking experience with her. She started her career as a bank teller at a small community bank and later worked at a large national institution before finding her footing at Commerce, which she describes as “the best of both worlds.”
“What drew me to Commerce was the balance of relationship focus and strong resources,” she says. “That combination is exactly what I love.”
In her current role, she focuses on maintaining and growing Commerce’s top small business relationships in the Kansas City region. Her approach centers on trust, communication and follow-through — qualities her colleagues are quick to praise.
Suman Reddy, a fellow small business banking account manager who has worked alongside McIntosh for more than three years, says her impact is hard to miss.
“Vinika is great at building strong relationships and quickly establishing trust with her clients,” Reddy says. “She advocates for her clients while thoughtfully balancing the bank’s priorities, and she always brings positive energy and a big smile to everything she does.”
That dedication extends beyond McIntosh’s day-to-day work. She serves on the board of Show Me KC Schools, a Kansas City nonprofit that helps families find the right school for their children.
A connector inside and outside the office.
Reddy, who first crossed paths with McIntosh at a previous financial institution, recalls being struck by her from the start.
“She stood out as someone who was easy to connect with, always positive and very driven,” Reddy says. “She’s the kind of colleague who makes a lasting impression right from the get-go.”
Inside Commerce, McIntosh recently stepped into the Kansas City Community Connector role, where she organizes volunteer events for the group and connects team members with nonprofit opportunities.
Felecia Hogan, senior vice president and director of inclusion at Commerce, has seen that connector spirit firsthand. The two entered a mentoring relationship after McIntosh proactively reached out to learn more about Hogan’s work.
“Vinika has a genuine passion for building relationships,” Hogan says. “She loves to learn about other people’s journeys, and that helps them feel valued, seen and heard. Her energy and passion for her customers and community is truly contagious.”
Outside of work, McIntosh enjoys activities focused on togetherness and camaraderie. She hosts gatherings, plays pickleball and volleyball, belongs to both a book club and a cooking club, and happily describes herself as a foodie. She also recently got engaged, adding wedding planning to what is already a full schedule.
“Quality time is huge for me,” she says. “I love bringing people together.”
It’s an instinct that traces back, in part, to her heritage and the journey she has taken to understand it. Her background, McIntosh says, has influenced the way she listens, connects and shows up for others.
“I try to lead with an open mind, empathy and respect anywhere I go,” she says. “Everyone carries parts of their story that deserve to be heard. Even saying hello to someone for a minute can make a huge difference. You never know what anyone is going through, so if I can brighten their day just a little, I’ll do it.”
