Spotlight on Success: Jack Flemming, Virginia National Bank
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Banking Major, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Jack graduated from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine at 20 years old, two and a half years after enrolling. Of the 120 credit hours required for his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Banking Major, 51 came from CFTEA courses he completed through Virginia National Bank‘s CFTEA college program.
That’s the headline. The story behind it is worth knowing.
Jack’s journey with Virginia National Bank began at age 17, when he was accepted into VNB’s Finance Career and Leadership Academy during his senior year of high school. Under the guidance of Meghan Crider, the program helped him build the career-readiness and financial skills that would prepare him for success beyond the classroom, including professional communication, financial literacy, workplace etiquette, budgeting, and investing. From there, he advanced into VNB’s College Program, created through a partnership with CFTEA and structured in two parts: a certificate portion and a degree portion.
In his own words:
“I had an extremely positive experience working with the CFTEA. The learning management system was very intuitive, and the structure of each course was highly consistent, so the more courses I completed, the more comfortable and efficient I became navigating them. The courses also served as an excellent steppingstone into the rigor and expectations of SJCME coursework by helping me develop the discipline, time management, and study habits necessary to succeed in a college environment.”
“The process of transferring credits to SJCME was very straightforward and easy to complete. Tammy Perkins at CFTEA and the admissions team at SJCME were both excellent to work with throughout the process.”
During the eight-month certificate portion, Jack was employed full time by the bank with full benefits, allowing him to focus entirely on the program’s requirements. The first four months were devoted to CFTEA coursework, followed by four months spent completing a mergers and acquisitions project with a fellow college trainee under the direction of Virginia National Bank CEO Glenn Rust. After completing the certificate portion, Jack moved into the credit department as a Credit Administrative Assistant and continued with the degree portion of the program, balancing his work responsibilities with his college coursework, all funded by the bank. His dedication and growth have since led to his promotion to Commercial Lending Assistant, where he now supports the bank’s commercial lending team in Charlottesville, Virginia.
On what shaped his drive, Jack shared something personal. From the age of three to ten, he watched his older sister, Reagan Elizabeth Flemming, live with Ewing sarcoma. She passed away at 18. Her example, Jack said, motivates him “to live intentionally, appreciate each moment, and make full use of the gifts God has blessed me with.”
That perspective shows up in everything he says about the work:
“Accounting, Analyzing Financial Statements, and Written Communication were probably the most impactful on my career as they helped me to further understand the importance of attention to detail. This skill is arguably the most important skill within the financial services industry.”
When asked what he would tell another young person feeling intimidated about getting started, Jack quoted Andreas Widmer: “Start today.” “Too many people wait until they feel fully prepared before pursuing opportunities, often becoming passengers in their own lives. Growth comes from being willing to take the first step. Starting early can be intimidating, but initiative, hard work, and a willingness to learn will open doors and create opportunities you never could have imagined.”
Asked what he is most proud of, Jack did not pick the degree or the promotion. He picked the decision to forgo other college opportunities and pursue an unconventional path: “It was not an easy decision to forgo other great opportunities from colleges in order to pursue an uncharted path for myself, but it was ultimately the right decision and one that I believe I was called to pursue. I would not trade these experiences for anything.”
The path Jack took wasn’t traditional. The fact that it worked is a testament to him, to Virginia National Bank’s investment in their younger people, and to the CFTEA and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine partnership that turns affordable, self-paced learning into a meaningful pathway toward a bachelor’s degree.
Congratulations, Jack, on the work you’ve already done and the work that’s still ahead.