Women in Business: Fabia Butler, Bank of Marin, Novato
Fabia Butler
Vice president for community, public relations manager, ?Bank of Marin
504 Redwood Blvd., Novato 94947; 415-763-4520; bankofmarin.com
Age: 54
Residence: Mill Valley
Professional background: A 30-year career that includes marketing consulting to Bay Area businesses, account management roles with leading San Francisco and Marin County advertising agencies and 15 years with Bank of Marin in marketing, advertising, PR and community relations.
Education: B.S., Hollins University
Number of staff: 270
Tell us about yourself and your company: My career has taken off alongside the evolution of Bank of Marin’s brand and business. When I started as the bank’s first in-house marketing person, we only had five branches in Marin. Over the years, the bank has expanded into four surrounding counties (Napa, Sonoma, San Francisco and Alameda), we have become a public company, and we have acquired two other local banks. During my tenure, I have helped open and brand 15 branches, and positioned the bank as a leading community and business bank. Like me, the bank has its roots in Marin and is committed to giving back to the community.
Words that best describe you: Committed, responsible, driven, energetic, empathetic.
What is a major accomplishment in the past year or so?: Successfully taking over the bank’s community relations efforts after a highly respected colleague retired has been a significant professional milestone. On a personal note, hiking Mt. Whitney in the summer of 2014 was a really fun accomplishment. The trek was 22 miles and took 13 hours with a 6,000-foot elevation gain up to 14,500 feet at the top.
What achievement are you most proud of in your career?: It sounds cliché, but balancing my career, family, and volunteer work. Hopefully, I’ve been a successful role model to my kids and maybe to their friends as well.
What is your biggest challenge today?: Staying really close to all of our customers and truly listening to their needs and goals.
How do you think your profession will change in the next five years?: The communications and community relations profession is ever evolving with more channels vying for consumer’s limited attention span. There will be many more consumer touch points, which makes it both exciting and challenging.
As a successful female professional, what have been the biggest obstacles you faced and how did you overcome them?: Definitely the dichotomy of career growth vs. family responsibilities. I feel like I’m just now hitting my stride in my early 50s.
What advice would you give to a young woman entering your profession or the work world today?: Trust yourself, network like crazy, align with a mentor in your field, and by all means love what you do.
Current reading: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and The High Speed Company by Jason Jennings, who is a wonderful Bank of Marin customer.
Stress-relievers: Cooking with my family, long hikes, throwing the ball for my dogs, and reading well written books.
Favorite hobbies: Hiking steep mountains with my husband and volunteering in my teacher/daughter’s third-grade classroom.
