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The Review Appeal
November 12, 2000
FNB
employees learn a little Spanish
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| Karen Emerson-McPeak
/ Staff Writer |
November
12, 2000 |
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The
growing Hispanic community in Williamson County as well as in Middle
Tennessee has created a need for more Spanish-speaking employees.
Franklin National Bank recently provided a six-week Spanish class that
would touch on the basic words that could be used in the banking
industry.
Mary Jo Kiker, vice president and director of human resources,
recognized the need for Spanish-speaking employees and researched ways
this could be accomplished. |
The
growing Hispanic community in Williamson County as well as in Middle
Tennessee has created a need for more Spanish-speaking employees.
Franklin National Bank recently provided a six-week Spanish class that
would touch on the basic words that could be used in the banking
industry.
Mary Jo Kiker, vice president and director of human resources,
recognized the need for Spanish-speaking employees and researched ways
this could be accomplished. She found
Hablemos, a business from Smyrna
that specializes in teaching employees Spanish customized for their
workplace.
According to Hablemos, the Hispanic consumer is a very loyal customer
and businesses with the ability to communicate to this sector could
increase their customer base. It is estimated that there are 35 million
Hispanics in the United States and more than 300 million worldwide.
The class was offered to the employees at Franklin National Bank with
a goal of 10 students. Kiker reported that 11 actually signed up.
Richard Herrington, president of Franklin Financial Corp., said,
"This was an issue that we needed to address." John Scoble,
also of FNB, added, "This also gives the employees something they
can take with them."
Ed Gumucio, owner of Hablemos and instructor for the class, used a
textbook in addition to focusing on banking terms. The two-hour-a-week
class held for six weeks gave FNB employees a chance to learn basic
terms that included telephone number, time, day, age of customer and
where they lived. They also learned how to count money and to offer
assistance to Spanish-speaking customers.
The class will have graduation ceremonies during lunch at a
"really" Mexican restaurant complete with the menu in Spanish.
Graduation will also include a brief ceremony for all the participants.
A statement during the last class and after the written test sums up
the feelings of most of the class.
"This was a lot more fun that my eighth-grade Spanish
class."
Franklin National Bank has seven banking offices, including four in
Franklin: the main office on the Town Square, Williamson Square,
Fieldstone Farms and Cool Springs. The bank's other locations are in
Brentwood, Spring Hill and Fairview. Other companies in the Franklin
Financial family include Franklin Financial Mortgage, Franklin Financial
Insurance and Franklin Financial Securities.
PHOTO CUTLINE:
The graduating class of the Franklin National Bank Spanish Class
includes (front row, from left) Barry Fly, Sandi Lanier , Filiz Boxkurt
and Mary Jo Kiker; (back row, from left) Joanne Kloby, Jessica Anderson,
Bandaline Wood, Marcella Baker, Michael Lindseth and instructor Ed
Gumucio. Not shown are Lisa Toy and Charlie Anderson.
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| ŠThe
Review Appeal & Brentwood Journal 2000 |
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