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What we are most grateful for in our careers

“When I reflect on my career at Commerce, I’m most grateful for the people who have been part of the journey. The mentors, leaders, and teammates who believed in me, encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, and trusted me with new opportunities have played a significant role in helping me get to where I am today. From new positions to stretch assignments, each opportunity has helped me grow both professionally and personally. What means the most is that many of those people believed in me even during moments when I may have doubted myself. Their guidance, support, and encouragement have made a lasting impact, and the relationships I’ve built along the way continue to challenge me, inspire me, and help me grow every day.”

Ann Fazzino - Senior Project Manager - Retail Strategy

“Throughout my years at Commerce, I’ve been most grateful for the extraordinary people I get to work with every day and the many opportunities I’ve had to keep learning and growing. Whether through challenging projects, our ERGs and culture initiatives, or opportunities to give back in the community, I’ve been able to build meaningful connections while stretching myself in novel ways. I’m especially thankful to work somewhere that encourages us to invest not solely in our careers, but also in one another and the communities we serve.”

John Coler - Digital Product Manager III

“When I think about what I’m most grateful for in my career at Commerce, it really comes down to people, growth, and opportunity.
I came to Commerce almost ten years ago to lead one of our Commercial teams, with a focus on developing new business. On paper, the role wasn’t all that different from leadership roles I’d had at other banks. But it didn’t take me long to realize that Commerce was different. The depth of what we could offer our clients was incredible, but even more than that, it was the culture and the people that really stood out to me.

I’ve always loved bringing people together, building strong teams, and getting results through collaboration. At Commerce, I had the opportunity to lean into that even more. I became immersed in our culture, first as a Super Champ, then a Master Champ, and eventually as a facilitator for EDGE Unfreezing. Along the way, I built relationships and friendships with some truly amazing people, and those relationships are honestly one of the greatest gifts Commerce has given me.

But I think what I’m most grateful for is that Commerce gave me the space to grow and figure out what I wanted the next chapter of my career to look like.

A few years ago, after completing the Women in Leadership Development Program, I spent a lot of time reflecting on what energized me, where I felt I could make the biggest difference, and what I really wanted to do. What became clear was that my passion hadn’t changed. I still wanted to help create engaged, collaborative, results-oriented teams. I just realized I wanted to do it on a much broader scale.
I’m incredibly grateful for the managers and executive leaders who listened to me, encouraged me, and were willing to have those conversations about where I could go next. Those conversations ultimately opened the door for me to join the Talent Engagement & Culture team a year ago and to do work that feels incredibly personal and meaningful to me.
And that’s what I’m most grateful for. Nearly ten years later, I’m still learning. I’m still growing. I’m still surrounded by people I genuinely enjoy and respect. And I get to spend my days helping create the kind of culture where other people can grow and thrive too.

I can honestly say that Commerce is still a place where I don’t feel like I have to go to work. I get to go to work and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

Susan Kalist - Manager, Talent Enablement & Culture

“What I’m most grateful for at Commerce is the people who took the time to invest in me.
Early in my career, I wasn’t exactly sure what path I wanted to pursue. Along the way, I was fortunate to have managers who not only helped me grow in my role, but also encouraged me to build relationships, expand my network, and explore different opportunities across the bank.
Looking back, what stands out most is that I’ve had several managers across different roles and areas of the business, each with their own leadership style. Yet they all had one thing in common: they cared about my growth and invested in me as a person, not just an employee.
That support helped me discover what I’m passionate about and shaped the career I have today. It’s one of the things I value most about Commerce, and something I hope to pay forward as I work with new professionals throughout their own career journeys.”

Brian Garrison - Senior Sales Solutions & Design Training Specialist - Commercial

"What I'm most grateful for at Commerce Bank is the combination of great people and meaningful work. I've been fortunate to work with colleagues and leaders who have invested in me, encouraged my growth, and trusted me to contribute. At the same time, I've had the opportunity to help others along their own career journeys, whether that's connecting someone to a new opportunity or supporting leaders as they build strong teams. Those relationships and the ability to have a positive impact on others are what have made my time here so rewarding."

Brett Perkins - Senior Talent Management Consultant

“While there are many things I am grateful for at Commerce, including the leaders I've worked for and the teams I've had the privilege to lead, what I am most grateful for is the investment the bank has made in my personal, professional and leadership development. I've had opportunities that have challenged me, stretched me, and helped me grow. I've participated in programs such as ALDP, Women in Leadership, coaching circles, and the Elevate workshop for ERG leadership. I've been trusted with stretch assignments and special projects, given the opportunity to grow and lead teams, and had the privilege to both mentor others and be mentored myself.

In my eight years at Commerce, I have experienced more professional development opportunities here than I did in the previous 25 years of my career. That investment has had a tremendous impact on me, both personally and professionally. It motivates me to perform at a high level, contribute in meaningful ways, and ensure there is a strong return on the investment Commerce has made in me. The confidence, trust, and investment that has been shown to me shaped not only the leader I am today, but also the leader I aspire to become. For that, I am deeply grateful.”

Juli Grace - Senior Manager, Sales Training Strategy & Design - Commercial

What's something you are grateful for in your career?

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