Episode 25: Building a Financially Stronger Jacksonville

VyCast On Location: Building a Financially Stronger Jacksonville

Featured Guests

Donna Deegan

Mayor of Jacksonville

Mayor Deegan is the 45th mayor of Jacksonville and the ninth mayor since the City’s consolidation in 1968.  She is a fifth-generation Jacksonville native who loves the city with all her heart.  Mayor Deegan was an award-winning local television news anchor who shared the stories of people living in every corner of Jacksonville.

A three-time breast cancer survivor, she founded the DONNA Foundation and 26.2 with DONNA: The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer to support families facing the disease and fund groundbreaking research.   As mayor, she is focused on infrastructure, public health, and economic development to build a city that works for all of us.

Dana Karzan

Chief Marketing Officer, VyStar Credit Union

With a profound focus on helping organizations deepen customer relationships, Dana Karzan is an innovative leader, product marketer and brand strategist with over 20 years of experience across banking and Fintechs. Currently, Ms. Karzan is Chief Marketing Officer at VyStar Credit Union where she leads Brand, Marketing, Advertising, Social, and Community Engagement for this purpose-driven organization. Prior to VyStar, Ms. Karzan has held leadership roles across Marketing, Digital, Product Management, and Strategy for notable technology and financial services organizations including Facebook, Citibank, Wells Fargo, GE, Lloyds TSB, and US Bank.

Ms. Karzan is an active board member on Groundworks JAX and the Jacksonville Symphony.

Michael Rathjen

VP of High School Programs, VyStar Credit Union

VyStar's VP of High School Programs, Michael Rathjen, has led the Academy of Business High School Program for a decade. Early in his career he was nominated as the “Next Top Credit Union Executive” by VyStar and has also been recognized as an “Outstanding Business Individual of the Year” for Florida’s No. 1-rated school district.

Michael serves on multiple boards, including the Clay County Economic Development Corporation and is the State Delegate of Florida for the Credit Union Financial Education Network. His team has provided financial education training to 130,000+ students through VyStar’s program, which was No. 1 in the nation (per asset size) and received the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award from the Credit Union National Association in February 2020.

Highlights

  • Financial Fitness Day in Jacksonville brought residents together to access practical resources and build confidence in their financial futures.

  • Attendees—both adults and teens—participated in workshops covering budgeting, saving, fraud prevention, and other relevant financial topics.

  • Teens had the opportunity to experience a "reality fair," giving them hands-on insight into managing real-world finances, making choices about needs versus wants, and understanding deductions like taxes and insurance.

  • VyStar Credit Union awarded three participants $1,500 each to use toward rent or mortgage, providing tangible assistance to help with housing affordability.

  • Mayor Donna Deegan emphasized the link between strong financial foundations, strong families, and a strong community, and cited affordability and access to housing and healthcare as top priorities for Jacksonville.

  • VyStar’s recent study found that 40% of respondents experience high financial stress, more than stress from work, family, or health, highlighting the importance of practical financial education events.

  • Mayor Deegan shared that the city has invested in affordable housing and health initiatives, including down payment assistance and Health Link Jax, to address local affordability challenges.

  • VyStar offers ongoing financial education beyond this event, with resources available on the website, in-branch consultations, and workplace programs to help residents at every stage of their financial journey.

  • For parents seeking to prepare their children, early financial education is crucial—starting with small steps like involving kids in budgeting at the grocery store and discussing real expenses.

  • Open and encouraging conversations about money at home help break the stigma around finances, and sharing real-world examples (including mistakes) can make the lessons more meaningful.

  • VyStar University and in-branch advisors provide accessible, judgment-free guidance and learning modules for those looking to improve their financial skills at any age.

  • Participant testimonials underscored the value of financial education, with takeaways including the importance of prioritizing needs over wants, saving for emergencies, planning ahead, and staying educated about common scams.

Download the audio version of this episode on Buzzsprout.

The content provided in this podcast consists of the opinions and ideas of the creators alone and should be used for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed should not be considered legal, financial, or tax advice, and are not meant to replace such advice. VyStar Credit Union is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from decisions you make based on the information provided. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and not VyStar Credit Union or its management.