Tell us about your career at Bank of America
I joined Bank of America in summer of 2005 and spent 12 terrific years with the company. And my hiring experience was exceptional.
Prior to joining the bank, I was working at a multi-national tech services company and traveling frequently to Europe and Asia, and I was ready to spend more time in Charlotte with my young daughter and military husband.
I emailed Barbara Desoer, head of Global Technology & Operations at the time and shared my interest in working for the company. She forwarded my resume to Christy Ervin in Executive Talent & Staffing, who set up a full day of “informational interviews” across marketing and tech. I was hired by Fran Miller to take a role, as the Tech Service Delivery Executive for Cathy Bessant who, at the time, was Chief Marketing Officer, that truly leveraged my best self. The role felt as if it were designed for me and tailored for my experiences and skills. It helped that Fran reported to Cheryl Keller, who reported to Barbara, and partnered with Cathy — all tremendous women leaders and role models. I was able to “sit at the table” when key decisions about branding, marketing, promotion and technology were being discussed.
Over the years, my roles included Chief Operating Officer positions within the Enterprise CIO and Enterprise Shared Services organizations, and head of Vendor Sourcing, Risk & Controls for Global Tech & Ops. One of my favorite experiences was leading transition execution for the LaSalle Bank merger - integrating its retail businesses to Bank of America. There is no one better at integrating acquired capabilities and technologies than Bank of America. I had the opportunity to learn the transition approach and methodology firsthand, from an incredibly talented group of people across technology, operations, business and support functions. During the time, the entire team was co-located for the 12-month assignment — there’s magic that comes from working elbow to elbow on tight deadlines and addressing challenges as a team.
Why did you leave the bank, and how does your bank experience tie in with being a small business owner now?
In my final role at Bank of America, I worked for Tony Meola, a great ops leader. Tony asked me a key question. After a particularly challenging year facing off to the regulators, he wanted to know if I was “still all in.” Tony knew me well enough to sense I may need a break and he was right! His question opened up a dialog that was critical for me and for our team. Shortly thereafter, I made the decision to retire. We spent several months working together on a collective plan that was a win-win. After retiring, I took some time off and later created a business with my husband.
Although my corporate career spanned 30 years, in my down time, I often tapped into my creative talents and interests by painting and decorating our homes. My husband and I collected midcentury modern furniture, often refinishing pieces that needed some extra love. From that passion, we built a vision and plan for the business that is now Charlotte Vintage. We scour estate sales, auctions, and online marketplaces for authentic, high-quality pieces from the Mid-20th Century. We started selling exclusively online and soon expanded to a warehouse. Our clients encouraged us to move to retail and we are now operating six days a week in Charlotte’s North Davidson (NoDa) Optimist neighborhood.
Making the transition to entrepreneurship really aligned with my experience at the bank. In most of my roles at Bank of America, I felt as if I was running a business within a business. So, today I leverage everything I honed to help run my company today – from hiring top talent and treating everyone who comes into our store with respect to focusing on creating a great client experience and strong brand.
What are your thoughts about being a part of the Alumni Network or message to fellow alum?
I love Bank of America. I had an exceptional experience as a teammate, client, and now small business owner. I have had a seamless experience with Merrill and Bank of America while doing business both professionally and personally. Recently, after losing my dad, my mom moved in with Stan (my husband) and me. Thanks to Joel Bunkley, our Merrill Lynch advisor extraordinaire, we integrated her accounts so we can collectively manage the household (including our graduate school daughter’s 529 Plan). We’re a Bank of America family.
What advice would you give former teammates?
The Alumni Network is a natural extension of my experience with Bank of America. I love being able to stay in touch, receive updates, and provide feedback. Kudos Bank of America — you’re creating connections for life!