ї
tarla shared that, at the time, she didn’t
have very high aspirations for herself.
Although he eventually became a business
man, her dad had dropped out of school
back in the 60s, later earning his GED and
going on to jewelry school. He went on
“It feels good to help
(our customers), to
educate them, and to
let them know they
have options.”
to become a successful jeweler. Her mom
dropped out of school, earned her GED, and became a homemaker,
staying home with Starla, her sister, and her two brothers throughout
their youth. “We had a very laid-back family in terms of education.
I was a mediocre student. I just visualized myself picking out some- interest rates and save money. There are so many people who
thing stylish and working in an office somewhere. When I replied don’t shop around for their financing and just take the first thing
that I just wanted a job where I could dress up, Mrs. Shelton was offered to them, and there are others who go to the same lenders
shocked and said, ‘You don’t want to spend your life bringing some their parents went to for years not realizing that those lenders are
man coffee!’ I mentally pictured the ladies in the movie 9 to 5 and high-interest rate predators. It feels good to help those people, to
how miserable they were,” Starla remembers. educate them, and to let them know that they have options. I enjoy
There it was - the moment that would later inspire Starla to reach the relationships that we build with our members. We usually know
beyond what had once been her goal. As she puts it, “I began to their families and the struggles and joys that they are experiencing.”
look ahead and really started to put some thought into my future.” When Palmetto First opened a second office a few years ago,
In praise of her teacher, Starla points out that Mrs. Shelton truly went Starla recalls that she walked through the new office and directed
beyond the call of duty by prompting Starla to think of greater pos- people from various companies concerning what needed to be
sibilities and higher goals. After all, Mrs. Shelton was Starla’s biology done to allow the new branch to open. It was then that she realized
teacher. Starla adds, “I think the best teachers are the ones who how far she had come from that young, fifteen-year-old girl sitting in
care about you as a person, not only teaching you the subject at Mrs. Shelton’s tenth grade biology class. Starla shared how that day
hand but also caring about your future and what’s going on in your came back to her, along with Mrs. Shelton’s words, as if it all had just
life. I know it can be hard to do that with so many students.” happened. In that moment, Starla knew that her teacher was right in
Starla’s career in banking began as a part-time employee at that Starla had so much more potential than she had realized at the
Palmetto First Federal Credit Union, filing paperwork and answer- time. Starla is grateful for her teacher’s influence and would like Mrs.
ing the phones, while attending Florence-Darlington Technical Shelton to know the impact that she made on Starla’s young life and
College. Later, she became a full-time teller, taking a break from school also on the woman that Starla has become. “I’d like her to know that
while trying to decide on her major. Throughout the years, she went her words have remained with me all these years. I can’t tell you how
on to become a head teller, then Member Service Supervisor, and many times I’ve thought about our conversation and even laughed
eventually Vice President of Operations. at myself for being so simplistic that I just wanted a job to dress up.”
With 21 years of service to Palmetto First, Starla oversees I have a feeling Mrs. Shelton understood Starla’s feminine desire
daily operations and compliance, and it is evident that she has found to have a job where she could dress up. I am also certain that Starla’s
her calling in a career that she truly enjoys. “I love that we are in “most inspiring teacher” is very proud of her, as well as very happy
the business of helping people with their finances. I love hearing that her student has never had to “bring some man coffee” . . .
stories about members for whom we have been able to reduce at least not at work.
Starla is the Vice President of Operations of Palmetto First Federal Credit Union in Florence.
She resides in Florence with her husband, Roger and three beautiful girls: Chloe, Gracie and Sullivan.
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AUGUST 2017
115