Stephen Tigh believes in showing up.
On any given week, you may find him participating in Junior Achievement (JA) of Dallas career fairs, working with students at JA Biztown, leading meetings in his newly appointed board chair role with the nonprofit – or all three.
“I’m volunteering more than ever,” said the Regions Commercial Banking leader.
He wouldn’t have it any other way. And neither would JA of Dallas.
“I was recently looking at photos and there was Stephen in every one,” said Lauren Vaughan, JA of Dallas Development manager. “And he doesn’t just show up physically; Stephen is what I call a servant-leader. He’s reliable, he’s participatory, he’s passionate about what we do; he’s delivering ideas, he’s listening to others’ ideas. He’s that guy.”
Tigh’s interest in JA stems from his childhood.
“My dad was laid off a couple times in his career,” he explained. “I observed him always have enough of a cushion to see it through. It instilled in me the need for financial wellness and being prepared for those rainy days.”
That message was delivered once again following his parents’ divorce.
“My mom stayed home raising us, so we learned a lot of lessons the hard way when she re-entered the workforce,” Tigh said. “It reinforced the importance of financial wellness with life’s twists and turns and seeing those challenges through.”
It reinforced the importance of financial wellness with life’s twists and turns and seeing those challenges through.
Stephen Tigh, Regions Commercial Banking leader
Tigh first began teaching monthly entrepreneurship classes back in 2010. He next volunteered with the career speaker series, JA in a Day and JA Biztown before becoming a board member in 2020, where he led the Development Action Committee and was nominated as chair-elect in 2021.
“How could I say no?” Tigh asked.
He’s been in the chair role only one month, but Tigh already has big goals for his two-year term.
“I’m really focused on board engagement,” he said. “Having an engaged board, top to bottom, making sure our members have a voice in the organization’s direction by soliciting feedback and committee engagement is my primary goal.”
JA of Dallas president Chris LaTurno has seen those connections flourish firsthand.
“Stephen, no matter who he is talking with, is engaged and interested in what that person has to say,” said LaTurno. “He makes them feel valued.”
Tigh’s second goal? Growth – of the students served and JA of Dallas’s operating budget to then serve even more.
“Last year, we served 105,000 students,” said Tigh. “We’d love to grow that number to 150,000, 160,000, and beyond.”
It’s what drives him to continue reaching, teaching and mentoring JA participants – and encouraging his Regions Dallas teammates to join him.
“By just showing up and talking about how you got into your role and what you do, you realize how appreciated you are by the students,” Tigh said. “It’s eye opening. You’re piquing some interest; you’re providing some hope. You never know what’s going to stick. You can look back in 20 years and it may be one thing you said that resonated with that student. That’s the magical part.”
Last year, we served 105,000 students. We’d love to grow that number to 150,000, 160,000, and beyond.
Stephen Tigh, Regions Commercial Banking leader
LaTurno confirms how transformational that support is to JA’s work and mission.
“Students are seeking adults who care outside of school staff,” he said. “Volunteers who walk in and let it be known they are there for the students and their future, it’s a big deal; it has value. For a child to hear from a banker they have the skills to be in the financial industry sets them on a course that allows them to dream and plan.”
Vaughan added, “JA is using experiential learning to provide students with knowledge. They already have the tools inside them. We don’t tell them they can be a CEO; we show them they already are one.”
But the students aren’t the only ones learning new lessons thanks to JA. Tigh has gained lasting insights from his involvement, too.
“I’ve discovered the value I can bring by being present, by having an opinion, by not being afraid to speak up,” he said. “How you deliver the message you’re trying to deliver is important. If you do it the right way, you’ll find yourself being asked a lot more.”
Tigh’s thoughtful approach isn’t just inspiring his fellow board members, he’s also inspiring the JA team.
“Some leaders want to be the best so they are the best, but Stephen wants as many students and their futures to be impacted and changed, not so that he can receive the credit,” said LaTurno.
“It’s nice to feel great about a company you’re doing this kind of work with,” added Vaughan. “Regions is a phenomenal community partner, and Stephen and Kay (Carroll) make such a difference. I tell them if I could clone them, I would.”
While Tigh has 23 more months to complete his term, he already knows what success resembles when it’s time to pass the baton.
“Leaving this organization better than when I stepped into this role is the ultimate goal.”
Matt Henderson’s Full Circle to JA of the Chisholm Trail:
Fort Worth, Texas, Regions Commercial Banking relationship manager Matthew Henderson was introduced to Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail back in 2014.
“I was invited to be on a JA Bowl-a-Thon team,” he said. “It’s where I really learned what JA does.”
When Henderson moved to Denver, he went from JA bowler to leading the bowling team at the bank where he worked at the time.
“I then got plugged in with JA Engage, the Rocky Mountain Chapter’s young professionals’ group,” he said.
Henderson joined Regions’ Commercial Banking team in Fort Worth in 2021 and, this June, he joined the JA of the Chisholm Trail board, a nonprofit serving more than 42,000 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade across 16 school districts this year alone.
“It’s something I feel passionate about and that fits my skillset, so I reached out to Kay Carroll,” he said. “Kay helped get me plugged in with Cindy and the team. If I can use my skillset to help students through organizations like JA, it’s important to do that.”
Cindy is Cindy Hames, president of JA of the Chisholm Trail.
Volunteers like Matt add the real magic to the JA experience; they’re the secret ingredient who make JA learning experiences come alive for our students.
Cindy Hames, president of JA of the Chisholm Trail
“Whether it’s differentiating needs versus wants in kindergarten, helping fourth graders calculate profit and loss in fourth grade or developing a budget in middle school, Matt believes JA’s vast, age-appropriate learning experiences provide a solid foundation for today’s youth,” said Hames. “Volunteers like Matt add the real magic to the JA experience; they’re the secret ingredient who make JA learning experiences come alive for our students.”