by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
According to dictionary.com, the “glass ceiling” is a barrier to career advancement; an unofficial but real impediment to someone’s advancement into upper-level management positions because of discrimination based on the person’s gender, age, race, ethnicity or sexual preference.
And who would want to hear something about it more than the Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville?
Cindy Deleparte, president and CEO of the First Bank of Jacksonville, was the guest speaker at last month’s CREW meeting at San Jose Country Club and gave steps to breaking the glass ceiling in the workplace.
“Stretch and reach for the stars,” said Deleparte. “Go get a little more education. You want to do (something), what’s holding you back? Usually it’s your own self. Put your mind to it and you can accomplish it.”
From the sounds of Deleparte’s presentation, she has fought the glass ceiling fervently and often successfully.
Deleparte said the smartest thing she has done is surround herself with smart people.
“I hang out with people who are brighter than I am and there are plenty of them in Jacksonville,” said Deleparte, who suggested CREW members sit with some of the old families of the city and listen to them. “Always continue to seek advice.”
Deleparte gave seven ideas for professionals to continue on a path of success:
• Have sheer attitude: “That’s what it takes to be at the top of our game,” she said.
• Keep your eye on the tiger: “Don’t take your focus off for anything in the world.”
• Know the place and products: “Keep up on the statistics.”
• Practice: “Meet with people and continue networking.”
• Plan your game plays.
• Execute.
• Take time to celebrate.
Deleparte ended her list by adding, “Always have a drive and passion for what you do.”
She has been at the top of First Bank of Jacksonville for almost three years. Before moving to Jacksonville, Deleparte, a Tampa native, was the senior vice president and CFO for Millennium Bank in Gainesville. Millennium Bank was sold to Alabama National Bank Corporation in 2003.
“Return to shareholders is the name of the game, no matter what the business,” she said of the buy out. “Privately or publicly traded, it doesn’t matter.”
The mother of two older children, Deleparte said she wanted a new challenge after Millennium was sold, a job that brought in people and management skills as well as reaching out to the community.
“When the call came from First Bank of Jacksonville, I was so excited,” she said. “I was able to take that bank and reinvigorate it with energy and passion. It was difficult to ask my family to move, but they know how to reinvent themselves.”
Deleparte’s daughter was a junior in high school at the time and her husband had an insurance agency in Gainesville he sold.
“I’ve been blessed with a tough and unselfish family,” said Deleparte.
Since 2004, she said, the First Bank of Jacksonville has grown tremendously. The bank recently hit a landmark with more than $100 million in total assets; 15 years ago the bank had only $20 million. Deleparte hopes the bank will grow to $300 million in the next four years and have a total of four branches. Now, there are two.
Deleparte said she constantly is facing the issues revolving around banking, but that in the industry you have to keep your ground.
“The Fed is always fighting us,” she said. “There’s always something to worry about as far as the regulatory aspect of banking. The fact is we have to be champions. We have got to be at the top of our game and we’ve got to remold and remake ourselves.”
Deleparte continued to mention the teamwork involved in creating a productive business.
“Our owners are the booster. Our staff is the talent, the players. Management equals the coaches and the customers are your fans. You need to create great fans,” she said, adding that one of her biggest aspiration is to continue to have an workplace atmosphere where people love to come to work and people have great attitudes about what they want to accomplish for themselves.