At VyStar Credit Union, we’re proud to foster a workplace culture that encourages employees to live out our purpose to Do Good in every aspect of their lives. That’s why we proudly recognized several of our employees with our first-ever Volunteer of the Year Awards, shining a spotlight on the remarkable contributions of those who go above and beyond.
These dedicated individuals not only excel in their roles within the credit union but also extend their passion for service into the communities VyStar calls home. In an inspiring collective effort, VyStar employees across the organization dedicated over 32,000 hours of volunteer work, supporting numerous causes and nonprofit organizations that make a real difference. In addition to their volunteer hours, employees contributed more than $100,000 through our innovative Pay it Forward program. This initiative is just a part of VyStar’s broader commitment to philanthropy, which amounted to total giving of $6.6 million in 2023.
The 35 employees honored during the Volunteer of the Year Awards contributed more than 4,700 hours toward that total.
“These awards highlight the extraordinary dedication to giving back through volunteerism demonstrated by our employees and their remarkable commitment to uplifting their communities,” said VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolfburg. “Their selfless dedication and collective generosity ensure VyStar's positive impact is both substantial and enduring.” As part of VyStar’s commitment to Do Good in the communities it serves, employees were provided a paid day off to volunteer during VyStar’s Good is everywhere volunteer outreach initiative last September.
We recognized the top 25 employees based on overall volunteer hours across the organization, eight employees for the most volunteer hours in their region and two employees as the VyStar Volunteers of the Year. The VyStar Volunteer of the Year award recognizes employees who were selected through nominations from their colleagues, honoring those who have passionately championed charitable causes and inspired others to support local nonprofit organizations in addition to volunteer hours. The regional award recipients and the Volunteer of the Year Winners were given the opportunity to designate a nonprofit of their choice to receive a monetary donation from VyStar.
VyStar Volunteer of the Year Recipients
Andrea Roberts, Operations Support Specialist (137 Volunteer Hours)
Designated Charity for $2,500 donation: Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs
Andrea was selected as a VyStar Volunteer of the Year because she embodies the spirit of doing good in all aspects of her life, whether she is rallying colleagues to volunteer alongside her or providing support to them at work. Andrea’s leadership shines through her ability to inspire and empower others to get involved in community projects, fostering a culture of social responsibility within the workplace.
Andrea’s commitment to helping others stems from a personal experience of receiving help when she needed it most. Her home was damaged in a hurricane, and she became inspired by the people who gave of their time, money, and heart to help her and her family. Her personal story underscores the transformative power of selfless giving, motivating others to follow in her footsteps.
Stephanie Holbrook, Senior Digital Product Manager (50 Volunteer Hours)
Designated Charity for $2,500 donation: Hubbard House
Stephanie has had a profound impact on our community and on her VyStar team. Her proactive approach to scheduling and coordinating team events, making volunteering both fun and easy, has been instrumental in building a positive team culture. She takes on the role of a true advocate, encouraging and motivating her colleagues to embrace volunteerism as a core value.
Her commitment extends beyond the VyStar organization. From spending weekends at local shelters to dedicating time to community events, Stephanie goes beyond supporting causes that matter. Last year, Stephanie coordinated a program with the Carpenter’s Shop Center, where she brought in more than 50 high school students to learn from digital leaders and receive career advice. She has also led initiatives to support Rethreaded, Feeding Northeast Florida and the Jacksonville Humane Society.
Regional Volunteers of the Year
This award recognizes employees who have volunteered the most hours in each region we serve:
Northeast Florida
Dawn Miller, Contact Center Member Relationship Specialist (362 Volunteer Hours). Designated Charity for $1,000 donation: Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches
Lori Brandel, Branch Vice President (214 Volunteer Hours). Designated Charity for $1,000 donation: Betty Griffin Center
Central Florida
Kourtney See, Relationship Specialist (176 Volunteer Hours). Designated Charity for $1,000 donation: Rescue Outreach Mission
Ashley Bigg, Regional Vice President – Region 4 (152 Volunteer Hours). Designated Charity for $1,000 donation: Volusia Recovery Alliance
Northwest Florida
Billie Murray, Relationship Specialist (67 Volunteer Hours). Designated Charity for $1,000 donation: Baker County YMCA
Ivy Salters, Branch Vice President (97 Volunteer Hours). Designated Charity for $1,000 donation: Fit PALS Foundation
Georgia
Matthew Kamlot, Relationship Specialist (38 Volunteer Hours). Designated Charity for $1,000 donation: Junior Achievement of Georgia
Jessica Hurlock, Assistant Branch Manager (58 Volunteer Hours). Designated Charity for $1,000 donation: Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia
Top 25 Volunteers (with their Volunteer Hours Noted)
This award recognizes employees who have volunteered the most hours across the communities we serve:
Matthew Duffy, Azure Data Engineer (262 Hours)
Mark Lamensdorf, Financial Advisor (250 Hours)
Michael Rathjen, VP, High School Program (203 Hours)
David Frost, EMPO Administrator (197 Hours)
Andy Matthews, Contact Center Member Relationship Specialist II (197 Hours)
Dawnmarie Scofield, Relationship Specialist II (147 Hours)
Andrea Young, Enterprise Risk Management Analyst (146 Hours)
Blake Massey, Financial Advisor (139 Hours)
Maryanne Kolisnyk, AVP, Military & Equitable Housing (135 Hours)
Camille Leake, Fraud Investigator (134 Hours)
Heather Johnson, Mortgage Loan Underwriting Supervisor (123 Hours)
Jim Kersten, Construction Project Manager (120 Hours)
Ceci Andreu, Human Resources Business Partner (110 Hours)
Kimberly Moore, Training Specialist (108 Hours)
Juliana Keaton, VP, Corporate Insurance & Associate General Counsel (102 Hours)
Charlotte Johnson, Retail Operations Specialist (100 Hours)
Ehab Basilious, Senior Relationship Specialist (99 Hours)
Jeanette Eason, Contact Center Assistant Manager (97 Hours)
JoJo Sumlin, Member Service Specialist (97 Hours)
Karen Starling, Senior Indirect Lender (94 Hours)
Charlie Plaza, Branch Vice President (93 Hours)
Minette Torres, Consumer Lending Closing-Funding Manager (89 Hours)
Sara Warner, Assistant Branch Manager (86 Hours)
Jenine Pigati, AVP, Operations Support (82 Hours)
Pam Haddox, Senior Systems Analyst (80 Hours)