Premier Bank has awarded Ashley Roberts, AVP, Commercial Construction Draw Supervisor, the eighth annual Jeff Vereecke Community Impact Award. The award recognizes an associate who shares in the Bank’s dedication and passion for spreading kindness, doing good deeds and making our communities stronger by demonstrating superior service to the community in which they work and/or live.
Roberts was selected as the recipient of the award by Premier Bank’s executive management team and by Karen Vereecke, widow of Jeff Vereecke, former Executive Vice President and Northern Market Area President for Premier Bank, who lost his battle with cancer in 2014. “Receiving this award means so much to me because at Premier there are so many people who are out in the community doing wonderful things. To be recognized for my contributions lets me know my colleagues are paying attention and hopefully getting inspired,” said Roberts.
“My mom, who was adopted, always gave back to the community by being a foster parent and providing a clean, safe environment for many children who were not in a good environment. My dad volunteered at Youngstown City schools as Santa Claus to put a smile on kids’ faces who may not have had Santa visit their homes. My parents always took care of people in need and provided shelter for so many. Helping others comes very naturally to me because of the example that was set, and the least I can do is donate my skills, time and resources to a community I love so much!”
Roberts’ nomination highlighted her community involvement throughout the Mahoning Valley, which includes Alta Head Start Pre-School Program, American Cancer Society, Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio, Mahoning County Saint Vincent de Paul Society, the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Youngstown City School District and the Youngstown Community Garden Association. As a proud Premier person, she actively volunteers for and participates in many Bank sponsored events such as the collection efforts for Animal Charity of Ohio’s Grand Opening event, Downtown Youngstown Partnership’s First Fridays Downtown Youngstown Chalk the Walk event, the annual Panerathon, Youngstown CityScape’s Annual Streetscape Event and Youngstown CityScape’s Youngstown Holiday Parade & Light-Up Night. She also serves on the board of directors for the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley and as Treasurer of The Woodland Trail Condo Association’s board of directors.
Roberts received four nominations for this year’s Jeff Vereecke Community Impact Award. “Premier Bank’s OWN IT core values encourage associates to genuinely be a good person, inside and out, always put others best interests/needs before themselves and to be a mentor and a leader. That is truly the accurate definition of Ashley Roberts. She is a natural born leader personally as well as professionally as she leads the successful, Commercial Construction Draw Team, is a part of Premier Bank’s Mentor Program and is continuously spreading positivity and encouragement to everyone around her,” said Ashley Douglas, Commercial Loan Closer, in her nomination. “Ashley is an amazing leader/mentor/coworker who always makes sure to lend a helping hand to whomever and wherever needs it and it is shown in all that she accomplishes,” and “Ashley devotes so much of her time to the community around us, and continuously encourages us to get involved too, whether it be with her and the organizations she supports or just something we support personally. I think she’s a great example of what it means to be involved in your community,” are a few additional noteworthy statements from her nominators.
As part of the award, Roberts received $2,500 to donate to non-profit organizations of her choice. She chose to donate $2,000 to the Autism Society Mahoning Valley and $500 to Common Wealth, Inc. to benefit The Baldwin Community Garden.
