I am honored to be standing here today to represent the women of Fremont Bank and the Women’s Leadership Forum that Hattie founded… I would like to start with this quote from Michelle Obama: “There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice." I believe this quote embodies Hattie’s vision for the women of Fremont Bank. Hattie’s first career was her family. She joined the bank after raising her children. In the early 90’s with the first refi boom, the bank’s growth took off quickly. Hattie was inspired to start working during that busy time — doing whatever she could to help. She wanted to carry forward her father’s vision to take care of our bank family — she always said, “The associates are the backbone of the bank’s future, survival, and success.” Caring for the employees was her passion. After that growth spurt settled down, Hattie started the Fremont Bank Foundation. When Hattie was starting the foundation, she quickly ran into a steep learning curve! She used to joke that she didn’t even know how to get the white out when she first started the foundation. She had to figure it out on her own. So she did what Hattie does — she figured it out. Hattie reached out to a small group of women to create the Women's Leadership Forum in 1998. Her goal was: To create a supportive environment to meet the unique challenges women face, To foster a safe, empowering, and productive workplace, And to promote personal and professional growth of the women of Fremont Bank. Her vision was to build a network of successful women to support one another, To ensure the voices of the women are heard,
To create opportunity for women to succeed at Fremont Bank, And to be “The Bank of Choice” for women. Hattie started with a small handful of women just getting together for lunch. She and these original ladies bonded together to help each other Navigate the workplace, Find the balance between home and career, Create visibility and encourage each other, And to create a pathway for women to develop into leadership roles throughout Fremont Bank. By the time I joined this group in 2006, there were about 15 women leaders in the group. Over time, as her vision comes to fruition and there are more women in leadership, the group has continued to grow. We are now over 45 strong. I know Hattie is smiling now to see the 3rd generation of leaders take over the reins of the Women’s Leadership Forum. They are engaged and motivated to continue her legacy. The Women’s Leadership Forum now includes both a formal mentorship program and a protégé program where we can continue to promote Hattie and her vision. Hattie, you left an indelible mark on so many of us that are here today; you have changed the culture of the bank and made each of us a better woman. I want you, Brian, your family, and the Bank Family to know that we will continue to carry your vision forward for generations to come. Jan Ford and the Women’s Leadership Group
I am honored that Hattie's family has asked me to celebrate one of Hattie's greatest strengths—her ability to create lifelong friendships. Although Hattie had friendships galore in high school, the community, and the Bank, her 13 Wah Dah sisters were the people with whom Hattie spent thousands of hours shopping, traveling, partying, dining, and just hanging out for the last 40+ years. We were her Black Belt shopping Wah Dah sisters. I have been tasked with telling you what Hattie meant to us. All 13 Wah Dah sisters wrote why they loved Hattie, and each shared a special memory. I will share several, but first, about this shopping thing! Hattie and Howard were my shopping partners in high school because Howard went most places with Hattie, so I blamed Howard for Hattie's shopping thing. Later I came to realize that it was Alan who was the real cause of her shopping problem. You see in the middle of a deep refi boom, Alan begged his then "just a housewife" sister to come in and handle the phones at the Bank. With no banking experience, no training,
and no real work experience, Hattie was not really successful at the phone job. The next day, Alan fired her and, rather than going through HR, paid her off in shoes... that's where the addiction began. That brings me to my first story from Nancy Chriest who loved Hattie’s laugh, smile, and great sense of humor. Nancy tells about eight Wah Dahs in a Palm Desert shoe store, watching Hattie try on, model, and tell wonderful stories about 20+ pairs of shoes. The Hattie Shoe Show lasted more than two hours and resulted in riotous laughter for everyone in the store, which the Wah Dahs had taken over. Hattie shipped home boxes and boxes of shoes that would not fit in her suitcase. Hattie said that buying and trying on shoes with her Wah Dah sisters was way more fun than wearing her new shoes. Hattie knew the value of friendship. Judy Shoplock was one of Hattie's most constant volunteer partners. On their first day volunteering at the Centerville Presbyterian free dining room, Armenta
8
9
FREMONT BANK
CELEBRATING HATTIE HYMAN-HUGHES
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online