Pennsylvania’s largest credit union, PSECU, is proud to announce that its Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Karen Roland, has been chosen as one of the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg’s 2019 Women of Excellence. Roland will be among 29 women honored at the organization’s 30th annual Tribute to Women of Excellence (TWE) award ceremony on March 21.
“The naming of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s Women of Excellence is a tradition that I look forward to each year,” said Roland. “Without fail, the annual list includes a selection of local female leaders who serve as role models for us all to follow while striving to strengthen our community. I am truly honored, and very humbled to join such an admirable group as part of the YWCA’s class of 2019.”
According to the TWE event website, over the past 29 years, the YWCA has honored more than 640 extraordinary women for their professional and philanthropical contributions to the Central Pennsylvania region with the Women of Excellence Awards. Those recipients – including several PSECU employees throughout the years – participate actively in the community as a mentor, volunteer, or role model; demonstrate integrity, strength of character, and leadership; and embrace the vision and mission of the YWCA.
“Karen’s life is filled with many roles – she’s a business leader, a wife and mother, a community volunteer, and a teacher-mentor, just to name a few - and she does it all with great poise, humility, and desire to help others,” said Barb Bowker, PSECU Vice President of Marketing and Membership Development, a 2014 Women of Excellence recipient who nominated Roland for the award. “She really goes above and beyond to make a positive difference in all she does, and I couldn’t be more pleased that she is part of the PSECU team.”
Roland joined PSECU as Director of Marketing and Communications in 2008. In her current Assistant Vice President role, she leads PSECU’s branding and marketing strategy, with oversight of the credit union’s creative services, digital marketing, social media, advertising, public relations, corporate communications, and marketing project management areas. She is also a part of the credit union’s senior leadership team. As such, she participates in strategic planning that allows her to influence the positioning of marketing efforts for long-term success. Roland has also been an adjunct faculty member at Penn State Harrisburg.
Roland has a diverse range of professional experience spanning marketing, human resources, and operations, and she has worked in the automotive, consumer goods, and financial services industries. Most recently, she was employed by The Hershey Company where her 13-year career was marked by multiple progressive promotions based on the consistent results she achieved.
A longstanding history and passion for community service underline Roland’s professional career, with efforts focused strongly on promoting a better future for others – particularly those with disadvantaged backgrounds. She has lent her community leadership to several local nonprofit boards, including those of United Cerebral Palsy of Central PA, St. Theresa School, Penn State Hershey Medical Center’s Family Advisory board, and the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance. Her field expertise has been an asset to many nonprofits’ and start-up companies’ branding and marketing strategy efforts. Also, she frequently volunteers her time to mentor students, sharing with them her knowledge of business and insights on success while encouraging their continued development.
Roland holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA from Penn State. She is also a graduate of Leadership Harrisburg Area.
PSECU AVP Karen Roland named part of YWCA of Greater
Harrisburg’s Tribute to Women of Excellence Class of 2019.