After more than 30 years in banking, Teresa Chavez is proud of her growth through the industry. When she first started at Union Bank in Los Angeles in 1960, she saw a lot of men receive promotions, but not women. She was determined, however, to become a success. Through hard work and dedication, she rose through the ranks and ended up being greatly appreciated both by staff and managers. Ms. Chavez not only collaborated with colleagues, increasing and strengthening her knowledge of the banking system, but also trained them, becoming a valuable resource. In 1979, she was promoted to operations officer, a milestone she was particularly proud of. From then until her retirement in 1994, she was responsible for customizing initiatives, providing staff with ongoing training, and creating an overall positive environment in which to conduct business.
During her career, Ms. Chavez was active in the Union Bank Bowling Team, serving several terms as secretary and treasurer. She was also secretary to the Union Bank Toastmasters International. From 1983 to 1985, Ms. Chavez served as president of the Sacred Heart Alumnae Association, and in 2007, she worked on the 100th Anniversary Committee.
Although she is now retired, Ms. Chavez continues to be active in her community. She is a member of the Bassett Council PTA, serving as parliamentarian and secretary, and a member of the California State University-LA Alumni Association, California Retired Teachers Association, and the Glassel Park Improvement Association. She also maintains affiliation with the Genealogical Society of America-Southern California, the Northeast Democratic Club, and Devine Saviour Elementary Alumni Association. Further, she serves on the executive board of the Sacred Heart Alumnae Association.
In recognition of her achievements in the field of banking, Ms. Chavez has been featured in Who’s Who in the West. She credits much of her success to her parents, who stressed the importance of education and sacrificed to send their daughters to Sacred Heart High School in a better part of town. Ms. Chavez took their belief to heart and furthered her education at East Los Angeles College in 1977 and at California State University in 1982. She earned an Associate of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies from the schools, respectively.
