Title: Vice President, Middle Market Relationship Manager
Company: Fifth Third Bank
Length of FEI sponsorship: 11 years
FEI leadership involvement (past and present): Volunteer on the membership committee
Work email: [email protected]
Work phone number: 813-306-2540
Tell us a little bit about your career, educational/professional background and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve spent my entire career in banking. I was fortunate enough to get an internship with Wells Fargo during a summer while in college, which led to a fulltime position once I graduated. Thankfully, my career took off from there.
I received my bachelor’s degree in finance from Texas A&M University. Out of college, I participated in a banker training program for Wells Fargo that included on-the-job experience as well as a 6-month rigorous classroom credit training at their headquarters in San Francisco.
After completing my training program, I had an opportunity to move to Florida to grow Wells Fargo’s Middle Market Banking presence on the east coast. I did that for several years and also helped with the integration of the Wells Fargo/Wachovia merger. I then left Wells and joined Fifth Third Bank to pursue a new opportunity that presented greater challenges and rewards.
I have been with Fifth Third here in Tampa Bay for over 8 years. I owe a lot of my success to the many different relationships I formed over the years. A number of people took a genuine interest in me and they played a critical role to my development. I have worked to follow suit and help younger professionals through training and mentorship programs through my organizations.
What is one piece of information you wish someone had told you when you first started your career?
Be prepared for just about anything. A banker’s job is not just about building relationships, or sales, or analyzing risk or any of the other many countless things we do each day. It is a combination of all these things. To be successful, you need to stay organized, communicate effectively, and be ready to face obstacles that get thrown your way.
What do you love most about working in the finance profession?
As a commercial banker, I get to be somewhat of a generalist, so I get exposed to all different types of companies and industries. I really enjoy learning about a business, trying to understand where I can add value to help them achieve their goals and seeing if I can be the right partner.
Why does your company sponsor FEI Tampa Bay Chapter?
Fifth Third Bank has seen the value in the networking and programming offered by the FEI Tampa Bay Chapter. FEI helps our team stay informed of the key issues and opportunities that financial professionals face. We are proud to be part of an organization that keeps its members current and engaged in the local community while also providing the opportunity to share our experiences and ideas.
What are some of your personal hobbies outside of work?
I have two young children (4 and 7), so my time outside of work is committed mostly to family activities. Whether it’s helping coach one of my sons’ sports teams, taking a family trip to the beach, or spending time reading together, it has been extremely rewarding to watch them grow up. I do try to travel at least once a year with some friends to visit different MLB stadiums and take in a game or two.