In brief summary, what do you do? AT: As the SVP of Culture, I oversee and develop team member engagement, culture initiatives, social media strategies, philanthropic giving, volunteerism, internal communication and training. HR: As the SVP of HR and Development, I oversee the functions of human resources including recruitment, benefits, compensation, employee relations and organizational development.
Heather Rye and Amanda Torok
What is your favorite part of what you do? AT: I enjoy being able to connect with our community members and charity partners. Whether it’s through philanthropic giving, volunteerism or our acts of kindness, it’s a wonderful feeling to give back to our community in such a big way and make an impact that can truly touch the lives of our community members. HR: My favorite part of what I do is interacting with team members. I enjoy learning and understanding their professional goals and passions. I take joy in finding ways I can support them and provide resources for them to be successful. What does “organizational culture” mean to you? AT: Your culture is your brand. It consists of the unwritten thoughts, feelings, actions, and behaviors that team members feel and enact daily. It’s what people say about your company behind your back. What sets Gate City Bank’s culture apart? AT: As a local, community bank, Gate City Bank’s culture is unique as we are truly committed to living out our mission and our purpose to create a better way of life in the communities we serve. After 96 years of serving our community, we are stable with a strong foundation and a legacy that is built to last. Our investment in building leaders based on their abilities provides many opportunities for women. 70 percent of our leadership roles are held by women and 64 percent of our team members bank-wide across North Dakota and western Minnesota are women.
BY KATIE BEEDY, LADYBOSS AND WRITER AT TELLWELL HILLARY EHLEN
eather Rye (left) and Amanda Torok (right) are two of the women driving the Gate City Bank’s culture of empowerment. In an industry where women are underrepresented at every level—on average accounting for just 40 percent of bank depositors and borrowers and less than 20 percent of executive board members, according to the World Economic Forum—Gate City Bank stands out from the crowd.
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Our unique culture doesn’t stop there. Team members are given an unlimited amount of volunteer hours on paid company time in addition to our volunteer time match program, mission and outreach program, and matching gifts program. Gate City Bank has a strong culture of celebration, appreciation and recognition. We celebrate big moments, anniversaries, awards and more with fun days, treats, gifts of apparel, gift cards and more! Generally speaking, what are today’s applicants looking for in a potential employer? HR: I think today’s applicants are looking for organizations that invest in their team members, that are passionate about their same values and provide opportunities for growth and development. I believe applicants don’t want to invest their time in an organization if the organization doesn’t invest in them.