U.S. Army veteran Joseph Chinnici, who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and is a past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars group in Allendale, brings those leadership skills to his role as banking center manager of the Wyckoff branch of Provident Bank.
The same goes for Rebeca Merendino, an information security analyst with Provident, an Army veteran who served in Operation Spartan Shield.
Provident Bank, eager to recognize Chinnici and Merendino for the service – and all they bring to the bank – announced this week that it is launching Provident Salutes as its newest employee resource group.
The announcement came in conjunction with Veterans Day.
Provident executive chairman Chris Martin said the ERG will support and celebrate the bank’s employee veterans, their families and military advocates while providing a platform for education and support for veterans in the workplace.
The ERG also will develop and recommend programs to enrich veteran’s experiences, increase awareness of veteran’s contributions, expand the bank’s reach with veteran and military organizations in the community, and provide networking opportunities with veterans across the organization.
Chinnici will serve as president of the new group; Merendino will serve as vice president.
Vice President Xavia Mitchell, a senior human resources and diversity business partner, said the ERG is consistent with the bank’s commitment to enhancing the employee experience at Provident Bank.
“The members of Provident Salutes will work together to identify topics, content, and initiatives that will support veterans and active service members throughout the organization,” she said.
