Az Business and AZRE magazines announced the publications’ lists of the Most Influential Women in Arizona for 2019 in the July issues of the magazines. Each day, azbigmedia.com is profiling one of the Most Influential Women of 2019.
The Most Influential Women for 2019 will be honored at a dinner and reception that begins at 5:30 p.m. on August 22, 2019 at the Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. For tickets or for sponsorship information, email Josh Schimmels or click here for more details.
To buy copies of the Most Influential Women in Arizona issue, click here.
Today’s spotlight: Marisa Felker
Title: Franchise finance division leader, Washington Federal
Felker joined Washington Federal in March of 2018 with over 25 years of experience in the banking industry. Felker is launching a franchise lending unit in Wa-Fed’s Commercial Banking division based in the Scottsdale office. Felker has extensive experience in the franchise finance industry since 2000, having worked at GE Capital and CitiCapital. Felker also has expertise in private banking and middle market from positions at Citi, BofA and Wells Fargo.
Source of pride: “Having been selected by Washington Federal to launch their franchise finance specialty lending group is the career accomplishment that I am most proud of. It’s as if all of my prior experience in franchise was preparing me for this exact role.”
The personality trait that helped you succeed: “Tenacity, self-confidence and a desire to always keep learning are the principal traits that have helped me succeed over the course of my career. These traits demonstrated that I was ambitious and willing to take a risk.”
The personality trait that got you into trouble: “I am cursed with a night person’s bioclock. The business world, unfortunately for me, favors the morning people. I always wonder what I might have accomplished if I could get up at 4:30 am. It’s my personal challenge.”
Best childhood memory: “When I was nine years old my parents put a name tag on me, put me on a plane to Mexico City and sent me to spend the summer with my grandparents. It was my first experience away from my small hometown and I literally cried for two days, overcome with homesickness. Then suddenly I was over it. After that I was the happiest kid in the world. I loved every new experience and couldn’t wait for more. It was a very special summer.”
