SYNERGY - Regina Grimes

Regina Grimes is a fearless leader, mentor, and learner. A lifelong resident of Gainesville, she has been working to financially empower her community and facilitate growth. “I have a passion to change the financial lives of our Members and see growth in our community.”

Grimes is a mother of three and has been able to weather the challenges of business and motherhood. She says her children have had a huge impact on her success, as well as her faith in God, her mother, and other strong women that helped guide and mentor her through her life.

Grimes currently serves as an assistant manager for a Gainesville branch of Vy- Star Credit Union, a Florida-

based member-owned financial cooperative. She has been employed with VyStar for almost 15 years, and she says the work environment has been vital to her personal growth.

“[I had] leaders that believed in me and coached me through opportunities, allowing me to grow and develop my skills within VyStar.”

One of her proudest achievements is receiving her promotion to assistant branch manager, as well as having the courage to return to college and finish her degree in Business. Setting goals has been essential to her success and has given her a long-term vision with a short-term determination.

No one woman is an island, and she repeatedly reminds us of the many mentors that helped her become the woman she is now. “I would like to encourage all women to seek out a mentor that will help guide and develop them through honesty and courage to break down barriers that can hold them back.”

Grimes takes mentorship very seriously, both as a recipient as well as a mentor herself. She has developed certain leadership skills, such as coaching conflicting personalities to work towards a common goal despite their differences.

“I have a passion and enjoy coaching and developing my associates to not only be better but to ‘Do better’.”

She herself has persevered through many difficulties, both as a woman in business and as a person of color. Her faith, her family, and her belief in herself have led her through them all. This is a common refrain for Grimes:

“Be the best you, that you can be. Don’t settle for less. Believe in oneself and have these Core Values: Integrity, Courage, Honesty, Trust, Respect, Dedication, Caring and Loyalty”

More than anything, Regina Grimes is proud of herself as someone that has always held themselves to a higher standard:

“I want people to remember me as a strong woman of color that never settled for average and helped impact the lives around me.”