When she’s not in the kitchen testing out a new recipe or writing her latest Yelp! review on one of Indianapolis’ newest restaurants, Patricia (Pat) Gamble-Moore is working to change her community and the lives of those within it for the better. “I’ve always had the desire to give back and have been passionate about the underserved communities. I come from a small town (Peru) and grew up in a family where all were welcome at the table, regardless of who you were, your background, etc.,” she says.
This upbringing led Pat to where she is today, serving as PNC Bank’s senior vice president and Community Development Banking market manager for Indiana. She has over 30 years of service in banking, affordable housing, community economic development, non-profit consulting and philanthropy. She is an active member of the community, serving – or having served – on numerous boards and committees that allow her to continue her love and dedication to giving back, including Second Helpings, New Hope of Indiana, the Indianapolis Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board, and she is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Some of her awards include the 2023 Ball State University Miller College of Business Alumni Award of Achievement, the 2021 Hamilton County Leadership Academy Impact Award, and in 2020 she was named an Indianapolis Business Journal Woman of Influence. In 2018, she also received Prosperity Indiana’s Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award.
Despite her, influence, career journey,, and numerous recognitions, Pat is down-to-earth, humble and full of wisdom. She takes pride in being a servant at heart, someone who believes that by investing in the local community and helping them achieve their goals, they will, in turn, invest in themselves and become positive, productive members of the community.
Read on to learn more about Pat and PNC and how both are making a difference in the lives of the Indianapolis community.
Tell us a bit about your position as a banking market manager. What is that like? What was your journey to get to this place?
“I am a banker at heart. I was previously a branch manager, which allowed me to develop my love for banking. This position is responsible for developing relationships and growing community development loans, investments and services that meet the needs of our low- and moderate-income communities. I have a lot of experience in selling, management, community, customer service, consulting, organizational development and building a network. This is the big issue for me. I said that running a branch was like running my own company. Can we just delete?
My position covers the entire state of Indiana, helping to ensure that the community positively moves forward financially. A lot of it is understanding community needs, knowing the market, and community outreach, and establishing those relationships and partnerships. This position allows me to utilize the previous experience and skills I’ve acquired and developed through the years. I am a master of none, but I know enough about a lot.”
I came across your interview on the Being at Work podcast, “Having the Courage to Do Hard Work,” with Andrea Butcher. Can we talk about that?
“Yes, absolutely!”
From your interview, I understand that while the Market Manager role is not new to PNC, it is the first position for the state of Indiana. What is it like being the first Market Manager, especially as a woman?
“It’s not uncommon to be the only woman in the room. Early in my career, I struggled with being a woman, especially a Black woman, but I had a great boss and mentor who encouraged me, and there are many women in this industry to look up to. I am proud to work for an organization that acknowledges women in the workplace and is more intentional about creating a workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued and respected..”
For decades, you’ve committed your time to helping advance the quality of life for Hoosiers across the state through your various roles and work with organizations such as Horizon House, New Hope of Indiana, the Indianapolis Housing Trust Fund, Volunteers of America, and Second Helpings. Can you share how you do that and talk a bit about your work with each organization?
“PNC gives me a platform to work with communities and to make them better. My previous positions allowed me to better understand the social issues and how they impact a person’s quality of life, to see firsthand what we’re doing and why it is so badly needed.”
Circling back to the podcast, you and Andrea discussed creating sustainable change and uplifting communities. How does someone go about doing that? How do we make that change or add value?
“I believe the best way to add value and create change is to use the gifts and talents we’ve been given.”
What are some of the most impactful projects you’ve worked on thus far?
“There are so many! But the ones that come to mind are Latinas Welding Guild with Consuela Poland. This organization focuses on creating and meeting a need for more women in the workforce, the Gang-Gang project with Malina Simone-Bacon and her husband Alan Bacon, which focuses on providing equity for black and brown artists within the community, as well as the Englewood Development project, and Providence Place project which provides permanent, supportive housing for individuals exiting homelessness. PNC helped provide support to these organizations using philanthropic funds to build collaboration between themselves and the community. We believe that making local decisions and keeping it local is crucial and what sets us apart from other banks.”
I was unaware of the Community Reinvestment Act until after listening to the podcast. Could you please share what it is?
“In layman’s terms, the Community Reinvestment Act is a federal law requiring all commercial banks and savings associations to help meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including low-and-moderate-income households. In simpler terms, the CRA means that we (banks) invest, lend, and support our communities, and we are especially focused on the lower to moderate-income population.”
PNC just received a positive Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)rating – and has every year since the CRA was created! What does that mean for you and your work?
“The rating is great, and we are extremely proud of it. It means we are doing the right thing. But it’s also showing that PNC is very intentional in the way that we do business. We see the benefits of investing in others, providing financial education, and having our employees out in the community to see and experience things firsthand. We’re required to understand community needs.”
PNC also just issued its latest Corporate Social Responsibility report. What does that mean for some of the local organizations PNC supports, particularly those that address affordable housing and workforce development?
“PNC is the sixth largest bank by deposits in the United States. What sets us apart and has allowed us to grow and excel is that we are all about making local decisions, investing in local individuals and communities, and working with those communities and organizations and individuals, building them up, helping them to grow and succeed.”
What’s your advice for other women to move forward with courage and do hard things?
“Do not be afraid of failure. Walk with one foot in front of the other. Lead by example. I would never ask my employees or colleagues to do something I wouldn’t do. And love with integrity and be authentic.”
How do you take care of yourself? What does your self-care routine look like?
“Going to the gym is a big one for me, while loving and spending time with my family. I am also a big foodie; I love to cook and explore new restaurants.”
Who is a good Maven to know?
“There are so many women who come to mind right now! My top three, though, would have to be Rhiannon Edwards, Consuela Poland and Kia Wright.
Rhiannon Edwards currently serves as the Executive Director of PACE (Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry), which focuses on providing services to incarcerated or previously incarcerated individuals and their families, including education, employment, and financial coaching, peer recovery, counseling, and more.
Consuela Poland-Lockhart, a Guatemalan-born artist and welder, is the creator and founder of the Latinas Welding Guild. This non-profit seeks to empower women and others in the BIPOC community by teaching them necessary welding and manufacturing skills and providing job placement for underserved and marginalized groups through partnerships with local community organizations.
Kia Wright is the founder and Executive Director of the VOICES organization in Indianapolis, which provides relationships, resources and opportunities for youth to heal, grow and further their path towards economic self-sufficiency and lead civically engaged lives, with the long-term goal of bringing about the day when every Indianapolis child, family and community has the tools, resources and collective capacity they need to lead self-determined lives.”
What’s next for you? What other initiatives or projects are you working on to help advance opportunities in the workforce, particularly for women?
“I want to continue to be a viable contributor to the community, and I want to continue to form and support more intentional partnership. I love working with a company that prides itself on being the bank for women.”
Listen to Pat’s incredible interview with Andrea Butcher on the Being At Work podcast here or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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