Janie Ginocchio to lead organization’s policy agenda and advocacy efforts
LITTLE ROCK– Southern Bancorp today announced the hiring of Janie Ginocchio as the new Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. In this role, Ginocchio will advocate for public policies in Arkansas, Mississippi, and at the federal level that create economic opportunity in underserved communities and empower individuals to save, reduce debt, and increase their net worth. She will also lead research and publication initiatives around these issues.
The new position, as well as the public policy program as a whole, is administered and guided by Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP), the financial development nonprofit and loan fund partner to Southern Bancorp which shares the overall mission of creating economic opportunity in rural and financially underserved communities.
“Southern has a long history of being active in the public policy arena, from supporting policies that encourage economic mobility in rural and underserved communities to opposing measures that would hinder economic growth and strip wealth from those same places,” said Darrin Williams, Southern Bancorp, Inc. CEO. “Janie’s wealth of experience is perfect for helping lead and grow our efforts as well as our impact.”
“Her extensive policy analysis background also provides us with a strong foundation for bringing evidence-based research and writing on our issues to bear in the public policy sphere,” added Karama Neal, Southern Bancorp Community Partners President. “This type of research will be extremely valuable as we advocate for policies that help families build wealth and increase economic mobility.”
An Arkansas native, Ginocchio championed systems and policy change for vulnerable populations during her tenure as lead policy and program analyst for the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) and as the coordinator for the Arkansas Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Workgroup. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas – Little Rock.
“Southern Bancorp’s mission to create economic opportunity in rural and underserved areas guides our efforts to create policy environments where everyone has the tools to achieve financial security,” Ginocchio said. “Individuals and families with strong economic foundations are the key to vibrant communities, and it is an honor to support this mission by leading Southern’s thought leadership and advocacy efforts in markets throughout Arkansas, Mississippi, and beyond.”
Prior to joining AFMC, Ginocchio was an award-winning reporter and editor for the Arkansas Times, The Courier in Russellville and the Paragould Daily Press. She is the 2011 recipient of the Arkansas Press Association’s I.F. Stone Award for investigative journalism.
About Southern Bancorp
Southern Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company; Southern Bancorp Community Partners, a 501(c)(3) development finance and lending organization; and Southern Bancorp Bank, one of America’s largest rural development banks; were founded in 1986 by a group of business, political and philanthropic leaders who were concerned about the economic decline of rural Arkansas. All three entities are U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) collectively known as “Southern.” With $1.3 billion in assets, 65,000 customers and 46 locations in Arkansas and Mississippi, Southern invests in people and businesses in rural communities; empowers them to improve their lives; and helps them transform their communities. Learn more about Southern on the web at www.banksouthern.com & www.southernpartners.org.