Celebrated annually on August 26th, Women’s Equality Day honors the women’s suffrage movement in the United States and remembers the obstacles women overcame in their stride towards progress.
Although a tough part of our history, it is important to acknowledge that women have faced violence and discrimination in the past and present both in the United States and globally, and we must work towards a society free of gender discrimination.
Women’s Equality Day is an opportunity to celebrate the trailblazers who advanced that work, those in power advocating for women’s rights today, and recognizing the opportunities for growth that lie ahead.
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Even as more and more institutions are answering the call and seeking to level the playing field when, Deloitte reports that women make up just 9% of financial services industry c-suite executives. Moreover, a recent study showed just 2% of banks with $1-$5 billion in assets are led by a female CEO.
Penn Community Bank ($2.6 billion in assets) is proudly an outlier to these statistics: The bank – the largest independent mutual institution in eastern Pennsylvania – has been headed by Jeane M. Vidoni (President/CEO) for nearly 10 years and, in addition to Vidoni, its executive leadership team is 50% female.
It is no wonder than that Penn Community Bank is an industry leader in corporate social responsibility thanks to its historic and authentic cultural commitment to developing and empowering individuals and communities.
But we know we can’t stop there if we want to ensure women in our industry – and others like it- have the a brighter future.
Nearly a year ago, Penn Community Bank announced its first Employee Resource Group (ERG) for women. The goal of the group was to provide employees with the support and resources to express their needs and concerns both in their personal life and work.
The Women’s Networking Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a voluntary, employee-led group that fosters a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with organizational mission, values, goals, business practices, and objectives.
The Bank’s Women’s Networking Employee Resource Group (ERG) is just one way Penn Community Bank provides employees with the support and resources to express their needs and concerns both in their personal life and at work. The members of our ERG are more than co-workers, we’re friends, mentors, and a shoulder to lean on. We’re here for you when you encounter a hurdle, need someone to listen, or when distressing news breaks about women’s rights.
Of Women’s Equality Day, Women’s ERG leader Natalie Taptykoff (VP/Marketing Manager) says: “This is a day we can put a little extra effort into raising awareness for and gaining active supporters in the fight for equal gender rights. I’m thankful for the opportunity to do my part in advocating for gender equality and sparking the conversation about women’s issues in the workplace and beyond.”
