BANKING
BANKING
Spencer Savings Bank Executive Formed by Hispanic Heritage
By Diane C . Walsh Editor , COMMERCE
As part of COMMERCE Magazine ’ s celebration of Hispanic Heritage , we wanted to share stories from leading Hispanics from throughout the state , including Marizel Collazo , Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources at Spencer Savings Bank . Here is the conversation we had with her .
Q .: Why did you choose a career in banking ? A .: Banking is a multifaceted industry that can provide rewarding careers . It is an industry that offers a wide range of job roles and a large variety of opportunities , including career progression . A career in banking offers both a competitive salary and excellent benefits . It also offers an opportunity to make a real difference in people ’ s lives in so many ways – with employees , customers and larger community . I found all of this very appealing in choosing a career .
Q .: How long have you been with the bank ? A .: 16 years
Q .: Did you have other positions with Spencer Savings Bank previously , what were they ? A .: I was hired as the AVP of Human Resources and held that position for about a year and a half and then promoted to Director of HR .
Q .: What is your education background ? A .: I attended Rutgers University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree , with a major concentration in psychology .
Q .: Where did you grow up ? A .: I grew up in Newark , New Jersey and later moved to the Hudson County area .
Q .: From where did you and / or your family immigrate ? A .: My parents migrated from Puerto Rico . I was born in New Jersey .
Q .: Is your Hispanic heritage important to you ? A .: My Hispanic heritage is very important to me and has strongly shaped the person I am today . I treasure the culture and values passed on by my parents and take great pride in being able to pass them on to my own children . They are rooted in family , community and service . My Hispanic heritage taught me the true meaning of community and service .
Q .: Does your heritage help you in your position at Spencer ? A .: Spencer is a community bank located throughout the state of New Jersey , one of the nation ' s most diverse states and home to people from many cultures , races and ethnic groups . My heritage has helped me at work because it allows me to connect more with others and understand many different groups of people . People , culture and business success go handin-hand . The more you understand people , the better you will be at your job – especially in a field like human resources . I ’ m proud of my Hispanic heritage and feel like it truly provides me with great insights into many cultures , not only my own .
Q .: What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you ? A .: Hispanic heritage month is a time to celebrate our roots , history , culture and vision for the future . From our independence to the accomplishments we have made as Latinos , it ’ s a time of celebration and of great pride . As a unified group , from different Latin- American countries , our collective culture is celebrated , contributions and accomplishments recognized and shared values reinforced and championed . It ’ s also a time to look ahead for continued growth opportunities and success .
Q .: What do you enjoy most about your position at Spencer Savings Bank ? A .: Spencer is one of New Jersey ’ s strongest community banks . As part of the bank ’ s senior management team , I truly enjoy playing a significant role in the bank ’ s continued success . I have a great partnership with our CEO and Executive Management team . Together , we take great pride in growing the bank and serving the business community exceptionally well – including the small business community . I enjoy working with people here and encouraging their professional growth and development . I take great satisfaction in hiring the right people and then helping them fulfill their potential and thrive in their jobs at Spencer .
Q .: What are the biggest challenges for human resources at the bank ? A .: Unemployment is at historical lows and many companies struggle to fill open positions on a timely basis . The biggest challenge for our team is the same faced by many companies , their ability to attract and retain top talent .
Marizal Collazo , Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources at Spencer Savings Bank
Q .: What changes do you see coming in HR in the next few years ? A .: Employees are the core of every organization . In continuing to build a strong company , leaders must attract the best talent and build an outstanding workforce . The HR industry will continue to focus on this and continue to see change .
The future of HR has completely transformed post-pandemic and the standard work environment will continue to change as we have seen a rise in remote / hybrid working . Evolving technology trends such as Artificial Intelligence ( AI ), Virtual Reality ( VR ) and Augmented Reality ( AR ) will also continue to play a big role impacting talent acquisition and employee management processes . We will also continue to see more purposeful creation of a diverse workforce to shape best practices .
The industry will continue to focus on developing employee health and well-being programs , improving remote policies / procedures , maintaining strong company cultures , etc . Overall , there will be more demand for strong leadership , strategically implemented technology and employee development opportunities .
14 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com