Emma Garcia
About Emma Garcia
Emma Garcia serves as the Vice President of Community Relations & Engagement at Desert Financial Credit Union, where she has implemented impactful programs that enhance employee engagement and community support. Her extensive background includes leadership roles in community development and corporate philanthropy, with a focus on financial wellness and emergency assistance initiatives.
Current Role at Desert Financial Credit Union
Emma Garcia currently serves as the Vice President of Community Relations & Engagement at Desert Financial Credit Union. In this role, she has led the development and implementation of a corporate volunteer program that generated over 75,000 service hours. This initiative has significantly boosted employee engagement and job satisfaction. Additionally, she has developed an emergency hardship assistance program for employees, successfully raising over $150,000 to support staff in need.
Previous Experience at Desert Financial Credit Union
Emma Garcia has held multiple positions at Desert Financial Credit Union. She worked as the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Community Development from 2012 to 2014, and as the Director of Community Development from 2004 to 2012. She also served as the AVP Community Development from 2017 to 2021, where she was the Executive Director of the Desert Financial Foundation. During her tenure, she created a COVID-19 crisis response initiative that provided over $1 million in in-kind and financial assistance, and led the creation of financial wellness programs that reached over 100,000 individuals.
Education and Professional Development
Emma Garcia studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where she achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on Political Science and Economics. She furthered her education at Harvard Business School Online, completing a course in Sustainable Business Strategy. This educational background supports her expertise in community relations and engagement.
Career Background
Emma Garcia's career includes various roles in community development and engagement. Before her time at Desert Financial Credit Union, she worked as a Development Associate at Destiny Arts Center from 2001 to 2002 and as the 21st Century Center Director at Quilombo from 1999 to 2000. She also gained experience as a Business Development Representative at Desert Financial Credit Union from 2002 to 2004 and as a Recruiter at INROADS from 1996 to 1997. Her early career included an internship at Phh Homequity from 1991 to 1995.
Achievements in Community Engagement
Emma Garcia has demonstrated a commitment to community engagement through various initiatives. She developed a Give Dashboard to track social impact on stakeholders, enhancing transparency and accountability in community initiatives. Her leadership in creating financial wellness programs has improved financial literacy and increased market share for Desert Financial Credit Union. These efforts reflect her dedication to fostering community relationships and enhancing corporate philanthropy.