Celebrating Women Trailblazers at First South Financial

At First South Financial Credit Union, we are proud to celebrate the remarkable women who are driving innovation, shaping our future, and inspiring the next generation of leaders. In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting three extraordinary women on our leadership team—Summers Townsend, Maria McLendon, and Tammy Craig—who are making a lasting impact in the financial industry.

From leading major initiatives to breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields, these women embody the spirit of resilience, dedication, and vision. In this special feature, we explore their career journeys, leadership philosophies, and the advice they have for aspiring professionals.

Summers Townsend, Chief Operating Officer

Guiding First South Financial with Strategic Leadership

As Chief Operating Officer, Summers Townsend plays a vital role in overseeing operations and ensuring First South Financial delivers exceptional service to its members. With a deep commitment to innovation and efficiency, Summers has been instrumental in enhancing operational strategies and fostering a culture of excellence.

Q&A with Summers Townsend

What inspired you to pursue a career in the financial industry?

I have always had a deep love for learning and a passion for serving others. The financial services industry provides the perfect intersection of both. While pursuing my Master’s degree at the University of Memphis, I came across a job opening at First South Financial. Initially, I saw it as an opportunity to gain experience and get my start in the business world. However, I quickly realized that this industry aligned perfectly with my personal values and aspirations.

What truly solidified my passion for financial services was the credit union philosophy of "people helping people." This guiding principle resonated with me, as it reinforces the idea that financial institutions can do more than just manage money—they can empower individuals, strengthen communities, and create lasting positive change. Seeing firsthand how financial education and support can transform lives has been incredibly rewarding and continues to inspire me in my career.

How has your leadership style evolved over the years?

Early in my career, I was highly focused on results and efficiency, but I quickly came to understand that true leadership is about empowering others, fostering collaboration, and creating an environment where teams can thrive. Over time, my leadership style has evolved from being primarily task-driven to a more people-centered approach. I have been fortunate to learn from remarkable mentors, including our CEO, Craig Esrael, who has exemplified the power of servant leadership. His leadership has reinforced the importance of active listening, mentorship, and equipping our team with the resources and support they need to succeed. In financial services—and likely in many industries—I have found that continuous learning and adapting to change are essential to effective leadership and long-term success. Embracing change, staying informed, and evolving with industry trends not only strengthen leadership capabilities but also ensure we can better serve our teams, our members, and our communities.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in leadership, and how did you overcome them?

I have been incredibly fortunate to work for a company where opportunities are based on merit rather than tenure, connections, or background. At First South Financial, opportunities are centered on ability, dedication, and a commitment to growth. From the very beginning, I was encouraged to share my thoughts and goals, take on new challenges, and most importantly, given the space to learn and grow from my mistakes. This kind of support has been instrumental in my development as a leader.

While many women in leadership face barriers related to recognition and advancement, I have been privileged to work in an environment that values contributions based on performance and potential. Finding a company that supports your growth, values your voice, and fosters a culture of continuous learning makes all the difference.

What initiatives or achievements at First South Financial are you most proud of?

Without a doubt—our team! At First South Financial, our staff wholeheartedly embraces the philosophy of ”Banking with Friends”. At First South Financial what we do isn’t just about transactions—it’s about building relationships, earning trust, and genuinely caring for members’ financial well-being.

In recent years, our teams have actively listened to our members, introducing new and innovative services, expanding our reach, and deepening our involvement in the communities we serve. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the tangible impact we make every day—whether it’s enhancing the member experience, strengthening financial literacy and community involvement, or simply providing the personalized support our members need.

It’s also incredible witnessing the growth of our team. Seeing individuals take on new challenges, develop their skills, and step into leadership roles is truly inspiring. Knowing that we are building not just a great financial institution, but also a culture of professional development and opportunity, makes us incredibly proud.

What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership roles?

My greatest advice is to stay curious—keep learning and embracing new challenges. Believe in your abilities and never hesitate to pursue opportunities that come your way. Seek out mentors who can offer guidance and advocate for your growth. Continuously invest in yourself and your teammates, whether through education, networking, or leadership development programs. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about staying open to learning, adapting to change, and uplifting others as you grow.

Maria McLendon, Chief Marketing Officer

Leading First South Financial’s Brand Evolution

Maria McLendon stepped into her role as Chief Marketing Officer with a vision—to modernize and refresh the First South Financial brand while staying true to its core values. Her expertise and strategic insight have been crucial in revitalizing the credit union’s marketing efforts, strengthening its connection with members, and driving growth.

Q&A with Maria McLendon

What was your vision for First South Financial’s brand refresh, and what inspired the changes?

The inspiration for First South’s brand refresh sprang from our organization’s growth trajectory. My teammate Summers has a favorite phrase “We are not yet who we aspire to be” and using that phrase as a rallying cry, First South has been building an infrastructure to support significant growth over the past few years. We have added technology to offer a seamless digital experience from the member perspective, we have added a branch network that gives us nationwide access, we expanded our call center to reduce wait times and improve service, and we have doubled down on our cybersecurity and fraud protection efforts. We needed a brand refresh to aesthetically reflect all of those experiential enhancements, while staying true to who we are and have always been.

How do you balance innovation with maintaining the credit union’s long-standing values?

A commitment to innovation is a component of our long-standing values. We cannot deliver on our promise of strength and stability without continuous investment in technology, innovation, and improvement. We can’t deliver on our promises of finding a path to yes and making lives better without evolving our processes and tools to find new methods of serving our members’ needs. And, we can’t deliver on our promise of banking with friends if we are not staying ahead of financial services delivery trends, so innovation and upholding our core values really go hand-in-hand.

What challenges did you encounter during the brand overhaul, and how did you address them?

In every industry, every business, and every project there is a fundamental challenge of balancing time, money, and resources. When embarking on the path of brand evolution we set forth a plan of who would do what by when and estimated how much it would cost. Inevitably things take a longer to develop in real life than in planned estimates, unexpected costs can arise, and human resources are both limited and stretched. One of the ways we addressed this challenge was within the planning process we tried to build in extra time for execution, and extra budget for potential overages. Additionally, we were very intentional about prioritization. We clearly identified which items needed to be tackled first and which items could be handled later – by doing this we were able to make decisions quickly when human resources became stretched.

What advice do you have for women looking to make an impact in marketing and branding?

I would advise women interested in marketing and branding to pursue it because it has been an incredibly fun and rewarding career for me. I would recommend that anyone interested in marketing and branding should seek out people who are already in the field and doing well. They should spend some time getting exposure to various roles within the marketing and branding field because there are so many different aspects to marketing.

And, I would advise people to be open and curious about what is going on in the world of communication and connection because delivering a marketing and/or branding message is all about communication and reaching the right audience at the right time with the right message.

Tammy Craig, Chief Information Officer

Breaking Barriers in IT, Risk & eServices

In an industry where IT leadership is often dominated by men, Tammy Craig has defied the norm, leading First South Financial’s IT, Risk & eServices departments with confidence and expertise. Her forward-thinking approach ensures the credit union stays ahead of technological advancements while maintaining security and efficiency.

Q&A with Tammy Craig

What motivated you to pursue a career in IT and financial services?

When I began my career at First South over 42 years ago, the concept of IT was beyond anything I could have imagined. I’ve always had a strong interest in the financial industry, which is why I started my journey at First South. Over time, my curiosity expanded into technology — I became fascinated by how systems operate, how innovation solves problems, and the vast potential that technology offers to enhance efficiency and simplify complex processes.

Over time, I realized how crucial technology is in transforming financial systems. This insight made it clear that the two fields were a perfect fit for me. In today’s digital age, financial services rely heavily on IT — from securing transactions to enabling real-time data analysis, technology is at the heart of it all. Both industries are constantly changing, with new challenges, innovations, and trends emerging regularly. This dynamic environment offers continuous opportunities for both personal and professional growth, which is something that excites me. Whether it’s working on optimizing digital services, improving cybersecurity measures, or developing financial products that leverage technology to provide better services, there’s always something new to learn and contribute to.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a woman in a male-dominated field?

As a woman in a male-dominated field, I’ve faced several challenges, but each has been an opportunity for growth. One of the biggest obstacles has been overcoming biases and stereotypes in both the IT and financial sectors, where my abilities were sometimes underestimated simply because of my gender. I had to prove myself not only through my work but also by demonstrating that I could excel in an environment where women were often underrepresented. This required me to develop strong communication skills and gain confidence in my decision-making.

Despite these challenges, I’ve had many rewarding experiences. I’ve witnessed the industry evolve with more recognition and support for women in leadership roles. At First South, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside talented colleagues who have respected and valued my contributions.

How do you foster innovation and security within First South Financial’s digital services?

Fostering innovation and security within our digital services requires a balanced approach of embracing new technologies while ensuring robust security measures are in place. To drive innovation, I focus on creating a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, where we encourage our team to explore emerging technologies and new ways of enhancing member experiences. We regularly assess the latest trends in digital banking, such as AI and machine learning, to identify opportunities for improving efficiency and delivering innovative services.

On the security front, we prioritize a proactive approach. We implement the latest cybersecurity practices and conduct regular audits to ensure our systems are secure against emerging threats. I also emphasize the importance of building security into the development process from the outset, making it a fundamental part of our digital services rather than an afterthought. This includes strong data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and real-time monitoring to detect and mitigate potential risks.

By combining a focus on innovation with a strong commitment to security, we ensure that First South Financial stays ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape while protecting our members' data and maintaining their trust.

What do you think the future holds for technology in the financial industry?

The future of technology is incredibly exciting and transformative. We’re likely to see continued advancements in AI, machine learning, and blockchain, which will further revolutionize how financial services are delivered. AI will enhance personalization, allowing for more tailored financial products and services, while blockchain could streamline transactions and improve security across the industry.

Overall, technology will play a key role in improving accessibility, enhancing customer experiences, and creating more secure and efficient financial systems. The future holds endless opportunities for innovation, and those who embrace these changes will drive the next generation of financial services.

What advice would you give to women looking to enter the IT or cybersecurity field?

My advice to women entering the IT or cybersecurity field is to stay confident and never underestimate your abilities. It’s important to embrace continuous learning, as the field is always evolving. Don’t be afraid to take on challenges, ask questions, and seek out mentors who can guide and support you. Build a strong network, both within and outside the industry, and remember that your unique perspective adds value. Lastly, stay persistent — while the road may sometimes be difficult, the opportunities for growth and success are endless. The IT and cybersecurity fields are full of opportunity, and with dedication and passion, you can thrive in them. Never doubt that you belong in this field, and always advocate for yourself. Your voice matters, and your contributions will make a difference.

Finally, don’t let setbacks or obstacles deter you. There will be challenges, but perseverance is key. Keep pushing forward and remember that there’s no one right path to success.

Closing Thoughts

These women are not just leaders within First South Financial—they are trailblazers who are paving the way for future generations of women in the financial sector. Their dedication, resilience, and passion for their work inspire us all.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we honor Summers Townsend, Maria McLendon, and Tammy Craig for their contributions and the incredible example they set.

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