NSB Appoints Retail Operations Officer
“I feel valued, supported and genuinely cared for when I come to work every day.”
NORWAY—Norway Savings Bank is pleased to announce that Janel Danforth has been appointed Retail Operations Officer VP. Danforth most recently served as Retail Strategies Analyst. Danforth arrived at NSB in 2007, starting as a Customer Relations Representative in her native South Paris.
“About 18 years ago, I went in to my local branch to do some banking, and there were two signs in the lobby,” said Danforth, who had no banking or business background at the time. “One said ‘We’re hiring!’ and the other said “Voted by Employees, Best Place to Work in Maine.’ At the time, I was a young single mom working long days and nights for a company that did not appreciate its employees. I thought, ‘I could tuck my kids in bed every night, AND employees like working here!’ I applied, interviewed, and was hired, and I have never looked back.”
Danforth was soon promoted to an IT position in 2009 and, in 2011, was promoted again, this time to Retail Systems Support Specialist. In 2015, she was named Retail Strategies Analyst.
“Over the years, the bank trusted me and supported my desire to learn more and take on more,” she said. “NSB invested in me by sending me to classes and conferences. It also allowed me to shadow other departments and participate in various leadership opportunities, like the GROW mentorship program. Working at the bank has been transformational.”
The relationship has been just as rewarding for NSB, which named Danforth as “Employee of the Year” in 2017.
“It was incredibly rewarding to pour my heart and soul into a project, have it be successful, and then be recognized in this way for my efforts,” she said. “I remember going to my first employee banquet and seeing people receive awards for their 25 or 30-plus years of service. At the time, I was thinking ‘Wow…these people have been working at the bank since before I was born!’ And then, I thought, ‘I want to be one of them!’”
“Her commitment to high achievement and support as well as having a significant positive impact on her fellow team members and the bank as a whole have made Janel an invaluable piece of NSB for nearly two decades,” said Debbie Ward, Regional Retail Banking Manager RVP. “Over the years, she has built strong relationships with team members and customers alike and, not surprisingly, is highly regarded among her peers and known for her thoughtful approach to solving problems. We are so grateful she took the first step and a chance 18 years ago.”
Danforth received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. She actually served as a Sexual Assault Response Team coordinator and wrote protocol and procedures for area law enforcement and hospital personnel for responding to victims of sexual violence. In her free time, she is a committed volunteer to the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris, where her work led to the organization receiving the $10,000 Patricia Weigel Pay It Forward Award, given annually by NSB.
Danforth says it continues to be a fulfilling journey at NSB, a place she is proud to call home.
“What has kept me at NSB for 18 years is the culture, the challenge, and the people I work with. I feel valued, supported and genuinely cared for when I come to work every day. I love knowing that when I go to work, I will be met not only with pressure to achieve, but also with the necessary tools to make me successful. Throw in some laughter and kindness along the way, and you have a recipe for how to have a fulfilling and fun career.”
