#2BFayetteville

Kirby Jett VP Business Development Officer, Signature Bank Kirby graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Hospitality, General Foods + Nutrition. She found her passion for banking, and after many roles she is happy to be back to the banking side of the financial industry at Signature Bank where she is continuing to learn a new side of Business Development every day. Signature Bank is a local bank that started in Fayetteville and focuses on the small businesses that make this community thrive. Kirby works hard to bring in new business accounts and tag team these new customers with our Treasury Management Department to really ensure we can take the best care of our business customers. She also works very closely with our customers to be their go-to, always on call, banker and a one-stop shop for all their banking needs. She says, "We're a community bank who loves supporting our community and I'm lucky I get to be a part of the fun!" " " Leadership Fayetteville experience I heard about Leadership Fayetteville through friends who told me all about their experience. At the time I was a Diplomat for the Fayette- ville Chamber but knew I wanted to increase my network even more by being in one of the Leadership classes that I had heard so many great things about. I was so lucky to be accepted into the very next class, Class 28 (Best Class Ever!). Attending my first Social Services Day I realized words don't do most of the days justice and I was so excited to be able to be there experiencing it all myself. There are just too many things that happen in one day to remember it all. You HAVE to have the experience for it to make an impact on your life. Benefits and connections The program puts you in certain positions to step up and be a leader when you normally might not. You might not typically be the person to just walk up to a group and introduce yourself or be the only one to step up and ask a tough question to one of the speakers but this program encourages you to do so. The program also gives you around 30 people to connect with on so many different levels and its up to a good leader to truly connect with each one. I wouldn't be here at Signature today if it wasn't for one of the great connections I made with a fellow classmate, Crandall Streett, who recruited me to join the Signature Family. This program is designed to show you all the ways you can be more involved in the commu- nity from being active politically to helping out in a charitable way. If you've lived here all your life you STILL learn new ways to get involved and if you're brand new to town it shows you all the opportunities that are right here in our community to get involved with. You also meet so many great people within your class and the LINK alumni program who also lead to great involvement opportunities. Between the class days informing you of opportunities and your classmates connecting you with opportunities, you have to actually put forth effort to NOT have a list of things to volunteer for or become involved with. I gained so much from the program – a long list of great friends and contacts, my current best friend and my current job. The program does give you the opportunity to network more and it also helps develop or improve your network- ing skills. I grew as a public speaker with my involvement, which helped me become a better presenter when I would put on lunch and learn events. If you're open to growing and learn- ing you will get just what you need out of this program. Project One of our group projects was for the Glass Slipper Project. A small group of us collected formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, etc. to donate to the Glass Slipper Project which donates these items to young ladies attending prom who might not be able to afford those items otherwise. It was very rewarding knowing that with our dona- tion, along with the donated time of the hair and make-up crew, there were girls who were going to feel like absolute princesses the night of their event without a care in the world. Favorite program aspect I love the endless connections and opportuni- ties, the ripple effect, that continues to come out of my involvement with Leadership Fayetteville. It's exciting knowing that when you're going through the class you have 30 different people you can call on for whatever you need. You have that connection with them and in some cases one of your classmates just might be the contact you need. And not only do you have this con- nection with your own classmates but when you become involved in LINK you have access and connections with everyone from Class 1 to Class 36. If you think about all the people who have ever gone through the Leadership Fayetteville Program that's an awesome and powerful list of connections to have on your side. Recommendation Ask me to coffee and you won't be contem- plating participating in the program anymore! Best things about Fayetteville Fayetteville encompasses all things quality of life – that's actually one of my favorite days of the program, Quality of Life Day. That day is always so packed but with so many fun things that our community has to offer and I know every time I help plan that day we're leaving so many great things out – you just can't get them all in one day. The Razorbacks and the excitement and buzz around town you can feel when there is a home game, for any sport, is one of my favorite things about Fayetteville. The Farmer's Market and the Lights of the Ozarks on the square are two of my classic Fayetteville favorites. Our community is constantly growing but it still has the same small town community feel it did when I moved here in 2004. I want our community to stay a secret and not change but we just can't stop progress. The continued growth opens doors for you to become your best "Fayetteville Funky" self whether it be personally or profes- sionally...or both! 21 Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce

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