NEA Women in Business: Carla Carson

Carla Carson
Vice President Senior Trust Officer
Centennial Bank
Residence: Jonesboro
Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Arkansas State University

What was your dream job and why? I have the opportunity to go to work each day for an amazing company with the best team and I do what I Iove, which is helping people save for retirement. My motto is “save now so at retirement you can work because you want to, not because you have to.” I have been in this position for 22 years, so I consider this my dream job.

What has been the most fulfilling moment of your career so far? It is very rewarding when customers who I have helped in the past come back years later and thank me for helping them reach their goals.

What’s the next big personal or career challenge you plan to take on? I hope to train new trust officers in our department to be as passionate about helping people save money and plan for their retirement as I am.

How do you spend your time away from work? My husband and I spend most weekends at the lake. We love grilling out with our family, riding scooters, walking trails and taking long slow pontoon rides. It doesn’t get any better for us than hanging out on the deck and admiring the beauty of the water and wildlife. We are also avid sports fans and love watching college football and Cardinal baseball.

If you have a bucket list, what are the top three things on it? I would like to visit all 50 states. We tend to travel to the same spots, so I would like to branch out and see more of our country. I have never spent much time in the Northeast so that is the first place I would like to visit. I would also like to train and run in a 5K race. Lastly, I would like to attend both a Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys home football game. We have been Packers fans for a long time, and would enjoy watching them live, and I think watching the Cowboys and the cheerleaders at AT&T Stadium needs to be on every sports fan’s list.

What’s the last good book you read? My daughter gave me “The Silent Patient” to read while I was at the beach. It wasn’t my typical genre, but wow, it was a real page turner and I loved it.

What’s your favorite app at the moment? Pinterest is probably my favorite. I use it to find recipes, birthday ideas and tips for decorating for the holidays. I also love the ESPN App, I keep up with upcoming games and scores that we have missed.

Who have been mentors who’ve influenced your professional career? I have learned from many people during my career picking up “what to do” and “what not to do” along the way. I admire leaders who are strong-minded but soft-hearted, like Wallace Fowler who gave me my start in banking. I also love people who have a positive attitude and compassion for others like my parents. They were always kind and compassionate to others and wanted the best for their children, so I try to be like them and always make them proud.