Michael Gandy wanted a job he loves, and he found it.
The Arvest Bank marketing officer is responsible for branch marketing, public relations and strategic planning, and he is active with the companyís community involvement while also pursuing personal volunteer interests.
"The fact I can do this - I am afforded the ability to do this - makes my job beyond special," he says. "I just do my best to keep it that way on a daily basis."
Gandy started as a financial sales representative, rising to assistant branch manager before taking his current position. He came to Arvestís Springfield region from Joplin, where he had worked for several years and was familiar with the company. As such, he temporarily took on roles outside marketing to help Arvest when it entered the Springfield market in 2007.
"I was responsible for sharing our Arvest culture, teaching associates about current and new product lines, and running some operation systems while also creating a successful marketing plan," Gandy says. "I was able to successfully guide the Springfield region through a multitude of new products, new government regulations, increasing cultural awareness around our region and much more."
One of the most important aspects of Gandy’s job is creating and implementing the marketing budget, and he has the discretion to spend local marketing dollars in a way that best benefits the Springfield market.
“Our marketing budget has helped raise brand awareness, brand preference (and) household and loan growth at a tremendous amount,” he says. “Our region has one of the most aggressive marketing plans in Arvest and in Springfield banking. I am proud to work with all of the partners in Springfield and lead this marketing plan.”
Gandy also is proud of the work he did as leader of the committee charged with crafting Arvest’s 50th anniversary celebration, which included a 50-day daily trivia worth cash and a larger grand prize at the end of the contest, 50 stories of 50 associates highlighting each one daily and an apparel gift for all associates.
“At the end of the Fifty Year Celebration, we had over 90 percent participation in the trivia contest, 50 fantastic interviews that spanned the entire organization, a great gift for associates and 6,000 very proud individuals of what we accomplished over 50 years,” Gandy says.
He also was part of a small committee that helped develop Arvest’s branding campaign called “Our Customers Say It Best.”
“I am so proud to have been an influential voice in what now has tremendously affected out entire bank group,” Gandy says.
He is a member of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, for which he is an ambassador, volunteers for the American Red Cross, was a corporate chairperson for the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball and is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Joplin.[[In-content Ad]]
Moseley’s Discount Office Products was purchased; Side Chick opened in Branson; and the Springfield franchise store of NoBaked Cookie Dough changed ownership.
