Celebrating our military

Veterans Day: Honoring and advocating for military veterans

As a salute to Veterans Day Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking and Commercial Banking hosted an event on November 12th, 2024, to celebrate the day with clients and colleagues. The evening which honored veteran-owned and veteran-led clients and organization culminated in a fireside chat with General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., USMC (Ret.). During the General’s segment the audience learned about his time in the military, career evolution, leadership style, and challenges of serving at the senior-most levels of the Pentagon. Those in attendance, including Wells Fargo executives and bankers dedicated to serving the military veteran segment reflected together on the outstanding value veterans can bring to an organization and echoed a call to action for veterans with means to support veterans in need.

Celebrate the accomplishments of military service members (video)

Open with music, audience at event, speaker approaching podium.

Chanda Mofu speaking: In the army, I knew everybody had my back.

TITLE CARD: Victor Perez, Head of the Veterans Segment, Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking

VICTOR: So, this is our third annual Veterans Day celebration in partnership with the Commercial Bank and the Corporate and Investment Bank. We've touched over 750 clients and have really highlighted the focus and support that Wells Fargo and our Corporate and Investment Bank and Commercial Bank have for the veterans segment.

TITLE CARD: Giselle Valdez, Executive Director, Wells Fargo Commercial Banking

GISELLE: We continue to do more every year that I've been here. I really enjoy coming and reconnecting with all the veterans that I consider kind of like my brothers and sisters within Wells Fargo. 

TITLE CARD: Danielle Squires, Head of Diverse Segments, Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking

DANIELLE: Veterans are the heart of our country and really one of the biggest growing sectors within our business community. 

TITLE CARD:  Justin Treml, Head of Military and Employee Banking, Consumer and Small Business Banking

JUSTIN: First off, Wells Fargo has a community, and I think that's really where it starts as a veteran, to have some place where you can call your own, you can call your home. 

TITLE CARD: Andy Barnes, Head of the Veterans Segment, Wells Fargo Commercial Banking

ANDY: I've seen it start from the very beginning and excel to where we're supporting multiple nonprofits, multiple hiring initiatives. And then our ERN has expanded tremendously over the years. 

TITLE CARD: Mike Riley, Co-head of Markets, Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking

MIKE: We're starting to understand some of the hardships that people have coming out of the military, which is a very structured environment. 

ANDY: I appreciate the support of the veteran community at Wells Fargo, because it's just like the military where you always had your back. We always call it you got your six. 

VICTOR: And I think our clients feel special knowing that they have a bank that acknowledges them and acknowledges their service and thanks them for that. 

TITLE CARD: Anna Bard, Head of Employee Volunteerism, Disaster & Global Philanthropy

ANNA:  Wells Fargo Foundation has decided to make a two year, $2 million donation to Team Rubicon to support the Ready Reserve fund.

TITLE CARD: Art delaCruz, Team Rubicon CEO

ART: Our job and my job as the CEO of Team Rubicon is to ensure that the impacts this incredible $2 million gift generates can be felt for years and years to come both in our volunteers and the survivors that we help. 

JUSTIN: If we consistently stay and build relationships and show that we are in it for their win as well, we'll continue to grow. 

Close with music

Wells Fargo Copyright 2024, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.

General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., USMC (Ret.) and Phil Smith, Vice Chair of Specialized Industries, Wells Fargo Commercial Banking
Mike Riley, Co-Head of Markets, Wells Fargo
Anna Bard, Wells Fargo, Global Head of Employee Volunteerism
Ryan Bassett, Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Mid-cap
Chanda Mofu, CIB Fixed Income Sales Associate
Victor Perez, Diverse Segments, CIB Head of Veterans Segment
Giselle Valdez, Executive Director, Commercial Banking Technology Group
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Military Appreciation Month Event

Wells Fargo and Bloomberg celebrated Military Appreciation Month with a multi-panel event showcasing themes across Veteran innovation, geopolitical updates within businesses, supporting veteran businesses in capital markets, and reflecting on Veteran experiences. Above (left to right) Danielle Squires, Head of Diverse Segments, Corporate & Investment Banking, Wells Fargo, Phil McConkey, President, Academy Securities, Melissa Fay, Head of Capital Markets, Drexel Hamilton, Frank Perez, Head of Investor Relations, Ponce Bank, Ivan Samstein, CFO, University of Chicago and UC Med Center, Ronal Simon, Asst. Treasurer, Verizon.

Wells Fargo has a long history of supporting military service members, veterans, and their families through initiatives to hire and retain veterans and spouses, through foundation donations, financial health resources, and this event celebrates the accomplishments of our valued Military servicemembers.

Wells Fargo and Bloomberg logos behind panelists with Military Appreciation signage in front of speaker

Mike Riley, Co-Head of Markets, Wells Fargo

Hear Mike's interview on Bloomberg Radio – replay.

Wells Fargo and Bloomberg logos behind panelists with Military Appreciation signage in front of speaker

Jon Weiss, Co-CEO, Corporate & Investment Banking, Wells Fargo

Hear Jon's interview on Bloomberg Radio – replay.

Wells Fargo and Bloomberg logos behind panelists
  • Suzanne Vautrinot, Major General - USAF, Retired
  • Matt Kuta, Co-Founder, President and COO, Voyager Space
Wells Fargo and Bloomberg logos behind panelists
  • Brandon Tseng, Co-Founder and President, Shield AI
  • Ling Shao, Founder and CEO, SpectrumAI
Wells Fargo and Bloomberg logos behind panelists
  • Daniel Flatley, Bloomberg National Security Reporter
  • Admiral Bill Moran, US Navy, Retired, 39th Vice Chief of Naval Operations

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