Young Professional Q&A: Jenna McManus

Jenna McManus thrives as the Assistant Vice President of Marketing at Valor Bank while actively contributing to the vibrant Edmond community. With a passion for making a difference, she embodies the spirit of success and community engagement.

Q: Do you live in Edmond, work in Edmond or both? For how long?

A: I live and work in Edmond. In my junior year of college, I moved up to Edmond to attend UCO. When I graduated I was offered a full-time position where I had been working part-time during school. I settled right in and have been here ever since. 

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school?

A: I grew up in Choctaw, Oklahoma, where I attended all years of grade school and graduated from. I then attended Rose State College and earned my associate’s degree before heading to UCO, where I earned my Bachelors’s.  

Q: What did you do prior to getting involved with your current company?

A: Out of high school and most of college, I worked with Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill in Downtown OKC for over five years. From there moved to a different local community bank, where I worked for two years. I am so grateful for my experiences in my previous roles and the amazing co-workers and leaders I met along the way. 

Q: How did you get involved with your current organization?

I had heard many great things about Valor from their culture to their leadership. So at the end of 2019 when I was approached by an old co-worker with an opportunity to join their team – I knew I had to give it a chance, and I’ve never been more thankful that I did. 

Q: What do you like most about your job?

I get to wear many hats. One thing I love is getting to work so closely with all of our local nonprofits through our Giving Vision, it is incredibly rewarding. I have also thoroughly enjoyed working closely with all the different areas of the bank. Because of this, I have learned so much about banking, finance, the economy, you name it. 

Q: What’s something you’re passionate about in your personal life?

A: I love spending as much time as possible outdoors: gardening, taking my dogs on walks in the many local Edmond parks, sitting on the patio with my fiancé, fishing with my dad, and spending time on the water at the lake. 

Q: What’s an accomplishment you’re the proudest of?

A: Being able to lay the groundwork and build Valor’s marketing department from the ground up. I am the first in-house marketing position that we have ever had. I have really enjoyed working with our bank president, perfecting every detail and setting the standard to best represent and tell Valor’s story for years to come.

Q: What is one of your big goals you’d like to accomplish in the next decade?

A: Hosting people and events has a special place in my heart. In the next 5 – 10 years I would love to open up a venue of sorts to be able to do this on a grander scale in my free time. 

Q: What do you like about Edmond?

A: Edmond is such a unique community. I have never experienced such a supportive, uplifting, tight-knit group of people on this large of scale.

Q: What is your number one tip for other young professionals, either for work or life in general?

A: Always be kind and always be yourself.  Never forget that every interaction you have of every single day has the power to positively impact someone.