Suzzanne Salsbury has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry. She feels strongly that each position she has held throughout her career has contributed to her preparedness for her current role as vice president, Salesforce product development manager of Arvest Equipment Finance.
Prior to joining Arvest, Salsbury worked as regional sales manager for the bank’s commercial card division. During her time in the credit card division, she was responsible for the roll out of the ePayables product, a virtual payable solution for commercial customers. This experience gave her insight into how technology is impacting the financial sector and how information shared business-to-business through web-based applications is paramount to staying relative in the industry.
Working with the bank’s commercial customers led her to forming a strategic partnership with the equipment finance division. Salsbury joined the division in 2020, now serving as its Salesforce product development manager. The job requires a perfect marriage of analytics and creativity and offers Salsbury the freedom to explore ideas to create efficiencies for both associates and customers.
Throughout the past year, Salsbury has created numerous advancements in the operational workflow of the division. Most notably, she integrated DocuSign with Salesforce, which has enabled an almost immediate turnaround for receiving contracts and has substantially expedited the funding process. Salsbury has also been actively involved in Arvest IT projects, including booking deals from Salesforce into Arvest’s new core system as well as the development of a vendor portal solution.
Salsbury has pioneered improvements and efficiencies for the company, customers and associates she serves through her inherent desire for success. These initiatives have created a legacy, and the lessons she learned along the way will make the path easier for those who follow behind her.
“It is a privilege to work alongside an associate as dedicated and hard-working as Suzzanne,” John Bradford, director of sales at Arvest Equipment Finance, says. “Her ability to resolve issues and collaborate with others have been essential components of the success she has had in her current role. Suzzanne consistently pushes herself beyond what is asked and continues to exceed expectations. The projects and improvements she has accomplished up to this point have well positioned AEF for our next phase of growth and our continued success into the future.”
Salsbury received the Arvest Equipment Finance Operations Associate of the Year award in 2021. She was honored by this recognition, but her proudest moment was the standing ovation received from her peers. To her, the appreciation shown by her teammates outweighed any material award and signified the positive impact advancements in technology has made to the division.
Throughout her career at Arvest, Salsbury has served as an officer for non-profit organizations in her community such as Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, Lincoln Childcare Center and Keep Fort Smith Beautiful. She recently participated in the 2023 Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Capitol Connections, advocating for the industry on the issues of Section 1071.
“Even though you may not realize it, you are gaining knowledge, experience and making connections today that will impact your future success. The cornerstones of your career are built with the work you do and the relationships you develop, so it is important to do both with humility and integrity.”