Kerie Sekal, MBA

My first "real" job was as a dishwasher in a local restaurant in my hometown. I was 14 years old. Over the five years I was there, I worked my way through the ranks as a prep cook, busser, and hostess. It was a well established place to dine, with a catalog of "regulars", who I came to know well and truly enjoyed serving. I also developed lifelong relationships with both the clientele and fellow employees. The experience was worth its weight in gold. I include this here because I learned a TON working there; skills transferrable to other roles throughout my career journey... Trust, teamwork, patience, multitasking, assimilation. The list goes on, and I highly recommend the adventure to anyone. Several other restaurant jobs followed. The experiences were similar. It was hard work, and hard to give up. I also worked in a factory... On the shop floor... For six years. It was demanding, dirty work, but a good opportunity to make more money and have good benefits; and he only way I survived it was by learning every job in the plant. Assembly line, forklift driver, press operator, welder, etc. … in hindsight, that experience also added to my repertoire of know-how, and influenced me more than I could ever have known at the time. As Vice President of Marketing and Member Engagement with INOVA my "job" is to create lift in our brand awareness and utilization of our services and products in order that our strategic goals and organizational objectives are met, and that is extremely important. My passion, however, is to ensure we are upholding our mission of improving our member's financial well being. Without the success of those we are dedicated to serve, there is no success for us. Remember what I shared about the skills needed to work in the restaurant when I was 14? Trust, teamwork, patience, multitasking, assimilation... That ALL still matters. It's completely necessary, and has become a part of my being - not a list of credentials. I discover new things daily, and I'm grateful. My favorite kind of people are those who treat others they way they want to be treated (thanks, Mom!). I know I am here to make an impact; not on others but for others. I take pride in working in a cooperative nature with my peers and being depended upon as a leader among the organization. I enjoy working with local businesses and helping foster prosperity in the community. Volunteerism and fundraising - it makes this world go 'round - and I'm blessed to work with many who have inspired me to DO! "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." Maxwell