Colleen Matteson

President, Rochester NY, Bank of America

Years in current role: 10

What was your biggest success in 2021?

As the President in Rochester, one of my key priorities is to drive Bank of America foundation dollars to local nonprofits to address social and economic concerns and to build a stronger community. These actions are a key focus for Bank of America and personally rewarding for me. In addition to my role as president, stepping into my new role as Market Executive for Bank of America Private Bank was a career milestone. In this role, I work alongside a team of wealth management specialists dedicated to providing strategic advice to high-net worth families managing wealth across multiple generations and to business owners, corporate executives, entrepreneurs and other creators of first-generation wealth assisting with liquidity management and business succession planning.

What are your expectations for 2022?

I look forward to continuing to collaborate with key stakeholders in the community to build upon the tremendous work started to create cohesion and resilience as well as real and lasting change in Rochester. People who were part of a community during the pandemic realized the importance of human connection and the value of services provided by local nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations are critical in creating economically and socially vibrant communities. Bank of America is proud to continue our work with Rochester nonprofits to help to address important community needs through grant funding, volunteerism, and employee matching gifts.

What is your biggest takeaway from dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic?

There were several key takeaways from the COVID-19 pandemic. First was to take mental health seriously. Mental health includes your emotional, psychological and social well-being, and it helps determine how you think, feel and act. Positive mental health is essential to an individual’s overall wellness — it can strengthen your relationships, make it easier to handle everyday stressors and even help you make healthy choices. Mental health issues that were already on the rise were exacerbated by COVID-19, with implications for juggling work, childcare, isolation and job loss. I am extremely proud to work for a company that believes the mental health of employees and their families is critical and offers benefits and resources to support their emotional wellness.

What is your favorite thing about the Rochester community?

I am proud to be a Rochesterian and feel fortunate to have this opportunity to work and raise a family in such a special city. It would be difficult to name just one favorite thing! Highlights range from our world renowned attractions, historic museums, arts and culture, to our internationally recognized festivals and cuisine. Rochester is home to America’s most iconic companies and trailblazers, and YES I enjoy our four seasons! Most of all what makes our city extraordinary is the people. Our community is made up of families, friends, neighbors, educators, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and small to mid- sized companies all of whom make up the fabric of our beautiful city.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 100 list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.