BABE #373: AMANDA CRAWFORD - VP, Community Engagement & Sponsorships, VyStar Credit Union
It’s up to Amanda and her team to ensure that VyStar Credit Union is involved, engaged and integrated into the communities it serves. As the VP of Community Engagement & Sponsorships, she connects sponsorship dollars with local nonprofits and coordinates VyStar’s employee volunteer efforts; her team works with over 250 organizations and handles roughly $2 million. With additional oversight of several large fundraising campaigns, Amanda’s passion for helping others and desire to build genuine connections make her the perfect fit for a role that’s rooted in actively supporting her community.
The Basics:
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Current city: Jacksonville, FL
Alma mater: University of North Florida
Degree: B.S., Business Management
Very first job: Arby’s—they have the meats!
Hustle: VP, Community Engagement & Sponsorships, VyStar Credit Union
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
A babe in my personal life that I admire is my best friend, Heather. She is a strong, beautiful mother/wife/student/manager/diabetic/badass and my hero. In my professional world, I admire Sara McMillan with the ARC Jacksonville, Ann-Marie Knight with UF Health Jacksonville, Cyndy Trimmer with Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow, PLLC, and Michelle McGriff, formerly with Feeding Northeast Florida—to name just a few. These women have all touched my life and driven me to succeed.
Favorite way to unplug?
I love to watch senseless comedies and read fantastical fiction—especially FBI and supernatural thrillers. No self help reads here, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be reading them.
What’s the best way to start (or end) the day?
Start: Coffee! End: Reading a book.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle, and walk us through your typical day.
VyStar Credit Union (formerly Jax Navy Federal Credit Union) was founded in 1952 here in Jacksonville, FL at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Fast forward 68 years, VyStar is the 4th largest financial institution in Northeast Florida, 16th largest credit union in the COUNTRY with 9 billion in assets and over 700,000 members. As the VP of Community Engagement & Sponsorship, it’s up to my team and I to not only connect sponsorship dollars with local nonprofits but to also manage our employees’ volunteer efforts. My team works with more than 250 organizations and $2 million dollars. In addition to company sponsorships, I oversee the planning and execution of three fundraising campaigns; last year our employees and members raised over $60,000 for the American Cancer Society, Jacksonville Humane Society, March of Dimes and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
Have you always been passionate about the business world, particularly in finance and banking? What led you to pursue work in the industry?
No! In fact I had very little exposure to finances growing up—outside of knowing that my single mother struggled to make ends meet. After high school, I worked in retail management while putting myself through college. As the first in my family to attend college, I had no direction for a degree (and I am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up). I loved school and enjoyed taking a wide range of classes until I entered my third year, when a counselor told me I had to declare a major. I took every job placement/career assessment and still didn’t have a clue, but ended up going with Business! After graduating with my shiny degree, I stumbled into banking, seeking better hours than retail had to offer. I have always had a passion for helping people—I actually enjoyed retail and helping customers find that amazing look for their date night, job interview or perfect gift for a loved one—and banking/finance helped me take my passion of helping people to a life changing level! It’s amazing to help make members' dreams come true: owning their first car, buying their first home, repairing their credit and retiring, etc.
How have your job and roles differed from what they looked like before the pandemic?
Honestly, the main function of my role has been consistent. What has changed is the way I communicate with my partners—Zoom meetings have become the new normal.
What are some of the COVID-19 related decisions that you’ve had to make recently in your job?
I began to reach out to our nonprofit partners in early March to understand what their plans were, and figure out how we could help them pivot their operations. In one instance, I visited multiple stores to procure visual art supplies for local charity, Jacksonville Art & Music School (JAMS): an after-hours program for inner city youth. With our donated art supplies, JAMS was able to assemble take-home bags of art supplies and hold online classes. Many of our local nonprofits have had to cancel their annual events, which are a direct hit to their bottom lines. While they feared they would lose their sponsorships, thankfully, I could assure them we would support their cause with or without events. While it’s nice to get exposure and media with sponsored events, the real reason we contribute is because we believe in their cause and the impact that their work has on our community.
What are some ways that we can support those in your job/industry right now?
Donate and volunteer your time where you have a passion! Be an advocate for who you support philanthropically. Join the board of a local nonprofit—they are always looking for engaging board members who can serve as ambassadors.
What’s one thing you wish the general public knew (or put into action) re: this pandemic?
Be kind, don’t be a jerk, and tip well. We have all been cooped up and want to get back out into the world.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Often, women will read a job description and not apply because they don't meet all the requirements, while men will read the same job description and apply—even though they know they don’t meet all of the requirements. In essence, we take ourselves out of the running before we even begin. I know this isn’t true for all ladies, but I can confirm that I have fallen victim to it. My new mantra is “it doesn’t hurt to try!” Support your fellow women, encourage them to go for it, and share opportunities when you see them. Also, be yourself! The world really has become a much more accepting place of uniqueness—I am OK with people remembering me because of my white glasses and tattoos.
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