01 Jan 2023 Lives of Legacy: Cami Goodell
Cami Goodell has always wanted to help people and was studying to be a registered nurse when she took a part-time job as a teller at a bank in 2016. Six years later, she has found her niche and is helping people as the Business Development Officer for Chambers Bank in Conway. “I fell in love with going to work every day. I learned that I could still help people, just in a different way,” Cami said.
Chambers Bank is a family-owned, Arkansas-based bank that focuses on community, honesty, relationships, respect and trust. It was established in the River Valley in 1930 and has been operating in Conway for the past four years. Cami started out as a part-time teller and worked her way up to Assistant Financial Manager before stepping into her current business development role.
Along the way, Cami found support and inspiration from her supervisors at the bank and from her husband. “I had a supervisor who taught me that there is nothing wrong with asking questions, but if you try to find the answer yourself, most of the time you are going to remember the answer and learn something new,” Cami said. “My husband is unbiased, logical and honest with me. He motivates me to be better, and he always pushes me to push myself and never quit,” she added.
What’s the most important risk you took during your career, and what made you take it?
Accepting this role in Business Development. I was very nervous. I knew that I could do anything that I set my mind to, but I had no idea what to expect or if I would be successful, and that is an uneasy feeling. You must be willing to take the risk sometimes to see a change. I thank God for my job every day. I truly love what I do.
How have you kept yourself motivated when facing obstacles?
I find motivation in focusing on the goal at hand. If I find myself overwhelmed at work, I will make an achievable list of things I want to get done that day and complete them. To me, that is a satisfying feeling.
When you look back at your time with the bank, what accomplishment makes you most proud?
I hope I can say that I had a hand in growing Chambers Bank in Conway and in helping serve others in our community. I take a lot of pride in my customer service. I strive to give my customers the best possible experience. I believe in treating people the way you want to be treated. The most important accomplishment for me will be people remembering me for how I made them feel.