Impacting Positive Change at Every Turn
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Ghandi said it. Jamie Ashley is one who lives by it.
A branch administration team member in Canton, NY, Ashley is a 15-year veteran with Community Bank. This December, she was recognized for her ability to consistently make change for the better over that time as she was named a member of the Northern New York Business Magazine’s 20 Under 40 list.
“For me personally, I am very honored to receive this on behalf of my family; we are an amazing team working together, learning together, striving always to help where and when we can,” Ashley said. “There are so many hard-working and dedicated people of the North Country—over 80 nominations for 2018! That speaks volumes of the community in which we live and work.”
She began with the bank as a teller in the Black River branch. After three years, she was promoted to head teller in the Black River Branch. A short time later Jamie accepted the position of customer service representative at the Watertown Washington Street Office where she worked for five years. From there, Jamie received a few more promotions—branch assistant and loan officer to branch administration, her current position.
“Jamie’s long career with us and her rise up the ladder is due to her work ethic, positive attitude and ability to connect with customers,” said Pam Smith, a Branch Services Representative in Canton, who nominated Ashley for the honor. “She’s a dependable employee who has proven time and time again that she can take on any task asked of her.”
But her work is—at most—only half the reason Ashley was deemed worthy of this recognition. She volunteers with the Indian River Strategic Planning Committee, Indian River Pop Warner as a cheer mom (2016), head coach of the Junior Pee Wee team (2016 & 2017) and treasurer for the board (2018) and Evans Mills PTO as treasurer, where she helps coordinate fundraising, Flag Day events, cookies with Santa, concerts and food drives.
Jamie doesn’t stop her involvement there. Not only is she personally involved in all these organizations, but she pushes her Community Bank coworkers to be just as involved in the community. Jamie served as co-captain of Community Bank’s Jefferson County Relay for Life team from 2013 to 2016. As co-captain, she led the six-branch team to raise more than $8,000 for the American Cancer Society and helped design the bank’s float. Although she no longer serves as a team captain, Jamie and her family still participate in the event annually.
This work ethic and sense of civic duty is something she’s passing on to her children. When her daughter was just 4 years old, she was moved when she saw a girl with Leukemia on TV. Ashley seized the moment as the two held a “get swabbed” event at Salmon Run Mall in Watertown where they swabbed 90-plus people for a bank of potential donor matches for Leukemia patients.
“I believe we are the difference and it takes each one of us caring, helping, loving, sharing and embracing our communities,” Ashley said. “I am lucky enough to work for a company that also embraces the communities we are in. Live inspired. Love each other. Make a difference. Hold your hand out and help someone when they are down, and the feeling you will get in your heart is infectious… you will want to share it!”
Ashley was actually one of two CBNA team members to be named to such a list. Ali Zurawski, a Community Relations Manager in Shavertown, PA, was named to the local 20 Under 40 list by the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal. Congratulations to both for this well-deserved recognition!
