Who:
Martha Burkett
Vice President/Branch Manager, St. Ann, Missouri
What:
You’ll find Martha Burkett squarely on the forefront of Regions’ efforts in both inclusion and financial education.
March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day, an opportunity to honor associates who work for a better, more inclusive world. Fueled by her experiences parenting a son with Down syndrome, Martha and her St. Louis colleagues work tirelessly to promote the values of inclusion and belonging. In addition, she supports non-profits in the region that help those with intellectual disabilities.
Martha also energetically promotes financial education in schools and non-profits, offering both classes and person-to-person counseling. As she sees it, by teaching the principles of money management, Regions creates a hopeful future for so many.
Why:
It is a core principle of Regions to put people first. Take Martha Burkett, for instance.
To Martha, raising a son with Down syndrome has done more than underscore the importance of inclusion. It inspires her keen sense of purpose, one that resonates in all she does.
As former co-chair of our Impact Network in St. Louis, Martha and her team contribute to building a strong culture of awareness, understanding and helping.
At the same time, this sense of mission motivates Martha’s passion for financial education. While it’s easy to take even fundamental knowledge for granted, there are many who lack this basic understanding or confidence. And the less someone understands the principles of managing money, the easier it becomes to fall farther and farther behind in life.
This is why Martha leads an array of Next Step efforts in the St. Louis region, with a special emphasis on helping individuals with intellectual disabilities. As a result, she has held numerous board roles with non-profit organizations.
As one example, Martha has worked extensively with the Pujols Family Foundation in St. Louis. Founded by famed All-Star Cardinal player Albert Pujols, this organization seeks to provide support for families and individuals facing the challenges of Down syndrome.
Thanks, Martha, for all you do. For fully living the values of Regions – and for making St. Louis a place where hope calls home.
[Inclusion] allows my team members to feel they can be themselves, produce better results, and enjoy better conversations with customers.Martha Burkett
In Her Own Words:
“My son, DJ, has Down syndrome. So, it seemed natural to join a group designed to build a culture of inclusion at work. It’s an issue about which I’m super excited. After all, these efforts allow my team members to be themselves. In turn that produces better results that come from better conversations with customers.
“Regions from the top down has proved incredibly supportive of these efforts. When we have courageous conversations with our employees, it’s not just supported but encouraged.
“Plenty of Regions associates in the Saint Louis community wanted to get involved. And the more people got involved, the more ways our outreach efforts began to grow.
“As a result, we were able to tie our efforts with Next Step financial education programs. I love going out into the community and teaching people. Whether it’s working with schools, churches, or people getting released from prison, there’s an unmet need for financial education.
“This is especially true with the younger generation. So many don’t have an understanding of how to manage money, which ultimately sets them up for failure in the future. They don’t know how to budget, invest, or save for a purchase such as a car. Yet, if your finances aren’t in order, it costs you more in interest, insurance, check fees, or cash advance fees.
“While these efforts are good for the community, it has proved good for Regions, too. If you’re doing what’s right for others, the community recognizes us as more than a bank. Instead, they see us as deeply involved in making St. Louis a better place to live for everyone.”
