Dawn Hugo began her career at Metropolitan National Bank with two goals: improve the retail delivery process and develop a culture where employees focus on common goals.
“I take great pride in the success of my team,” says Hugo, senior vice president of retail banking and administration officer at Metropolitan. My goal is to provide a good balance between giving associates the freedom to make educated decisions and coaching through adversity.”
With a background in finance and sales, Hugo moved to banking in 2006, beginning at Regions Bank. Two years later, she moved to Metropolitan, where she leads more than 70 percent of the bank’s employee base, managing all aspects of Metropolitan’s retail operations across 12 banking centers in nine communities as well as a virtual banking center.
“My passion is to use my abilities to empower and enable others to assist in building a team culture that produces excellent results, attracts and retains passionate associates and assists in driving others to succeed in our ever-changing environment,” Hugo says.
Hugo says she has been given the opportunity to shape Metropolitan’s corporate culture, and seeks to collapse walls between departments.
“Through development of consistent coaching, I’ve been able to create an environment that not only thrives through the empowerment of our associates but also (is) one that is full of out-of-the-box ideas and activities that encourage cohesiveness through multiple departments, team building and customer engagement,” Hugo says.
When she joined Metropolitan, most decisions were made from the top down, and recruiting top talent was a challenge.
“Today, the majority of our frontline team plays a key role in the development of our products, and potential associates are seeking employment opportunities with us,” Hugo says. “Our frontline team … now has a voice.”
Outside of work, Hugo stays busy as a member of the Springfield Sunrise Rotary Club and volunteers for Relay For Life, among other nonprofit endeavors. Her main focus, however, is Ashley House, formerly the Regional Girls’ Shelter, a transitional home for girls 15 and older. Hugo has served on the Ashley House advisory board for more than four years.
“Our main goal is to provide a home to many girls who otherwise would age out of foster care at 18 and have no place to go,” she says. “We have a few major events this year, including Fright Night, our Halloween event. I’ve assisted in guaranteeing that Metropolitan is a sponsor.”[[In-content Ad]]
