Meet Mona Tavss, New Relationship Manager

Mona Tavss relocated from New York to join FHLBank San Francisco as Managing Director, Member Business, in May 2020, and is the newest member of our Relationship Manager team. Veteran Relationship Manager and Senior Vice President John McCormack sat down with Mona to learn more about what it’s like starting a new job during a pandemic, how she’s settling in at the Bank, and what she is enjoying most about being in San Francisco.

Photo of Mona TavssQ: Mona, what attracted you to join the Bank? 

The mission of the Bank very much resonated with me. It’s easy for someone to get lost in the near-term goals of banking, trying to close deals and meet financial goals. But the Bank’s mission is to help members succeed and to give back to our community through programs that invest a portion of our earnings in affordable housing development, and we also support economic development activities in communities that really need that support. This all aligns very closely to my core values.

The people I met during the hiring process and would work with daily was equally important. My interview with John Davis went very well, and knowing he would be my reporting line helped seal the deal. In our industry, we spend most of our waking hours together at work and industry events and having a mutual feeling of respect for and comfort with your team is imperative.

Q: The timing of your start at the Bank and your move to San Francisco coincided with the accelerating spread of the Coronavirus here and across the country. How have you dealt with this?

Starting a new job and moving to a new city are obviously challenging, and an accelerating pandemic at the beginning of this journey is not an ideal scenario. I traveled to San Francisco for interviews right before the COVID-19 travel restrictions were put in place, with my last interview taking place on March 6, so the timing was interesting. By staying informed and taking appropriate health safety measures, I’ve been able to adapt and navigate through this uncertain time. I learned at a very young age not to allow fear to lead me and to always approach life with compassion and kindness. Life will sometimes throw us curveballs and it's how we handle them that matters. Understanding the facts allows me to remain resilient and nimble, while maintaining my focus. I take the pandemic extremely seriously and I'm hopeful that our scientists will find a solution very soon. We will come out of this stronger and more resilient. I'm sure of it!

Photo of John McCormick

Q: Was it intimidating to join a well-established team of RMs? John Davis, Steve Cibull, Tom Wilson, and I have worked together for so many years! 

No! Your team dynamic is very refreshing to watch, it’s special. In fact, it's one of the reasons I accepted the position. It's a testament to the team, management, and the Bank to have such a long-tenured relationship management group. I see opportunity to learn from you, as well as add value and perspective from my 18-plus years of experience working at large commercial and investment banks. It’s mutually beneficial.

Q: How’s it going so far? Any tips?  

Great! The Bank is a well-oiled machine. I believe change is important for growth, which is why I was hired, and I believe small, well thought-out changes over time have the most successful and long-lasting impact. We are in an enviable position to weather the current storm. I'm very encouraged that when the pandemic is over, the Bank will continue to be well-positioned to move forward and succeed. 

Q: Do you have a caseload of your own? How’s the transition going?  

Yes. It's transitioning very well. Meeting the members virtually has been an amazing experience. Each of them has made me excited to meet them in person when the world opens again. All the RMs and stakeholders outside of Member Business have been very supportive and generous with their time. I'm very grateful. 

Q: You have tons of personality, is it frustrating to have to confine that to virtual meetings?  

Thanks for noticing! I am known for being expressive and enthusiastic about connecting with people. Meeting in person is always ideal; however, right now, while we are all confined to our homes, I enjoy making the most of virtual meeting opportunities. In the absence of in-person interaction, a virtual meeting does still allow us to be expressive, and to empathize with one another. Human interaction is more important than ever right now. When the personal and technology connections are good, even a Zoom meeting can make someone's day.

Q: Have you been able to get out and explore San Francisco?  Any thoughts on what neighborhood you might like to live in and why?  

I have. For the first three months, I stayed in an Airbnb on Nob Hill. Very nice area. I really enjoy the Saturday farmers markets in the ferry building. Supporting our farmers and our local community brings me an abundance of joy. But carrying my local farmers market finds up the California Street hill was a killer! I haven't decided where we will end up living long term. I recently rented a place downtown, which I'm enjoying -- it's much closer to the farmers market. My husband and our furry best friend, Pirate, will join me in San Francisco later in the year and both have a vote on our final Zip code. They both enjoy open land and a place to run, so I may lose the vote on living in the city.

Q: Any surprises about your move/job so far? 

Of course the pandemic came as a surprise to all of us. I was expecting to be going to the office every day and traveling to meet clients. But it’s remarkable how supportive everyone at the Bank is of one another, and our management continues to be flexible during these unprecedented times. This is very refreshing.

Q: You moved here from New York. Are you originally from there?  

No. I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and I'm one of six children. I'm number five. My family moved to Gretna, Louisiana, when I was five years old. Gretna is about five miles outside of New Orleans. I grew up in a small town where everyone loves their community and everyone knew you, your family, and your favorite coffee shop. My parents and brother are small business owners there and all four of my sisters are educators in the local school system. I moved to New York in 1999 right after university because I wanted to experience New York City. I ended up having a nice career in New York and meeting my husband, Michael, a native East Coaster. 

Q: You're the only sibling that ventured out of Louisiana? 

A few of my siblings explored outside of Louisiana but they eventually moved back home to raise their families with my parents. My family and friends tell me they think I'm brave for moving as much as I do. It's more curiosity than bravery. I believe that expanding my horizons has helped me to gain perspective and appreciation of the world beyond my doorstep.

Q: What are your interests, outside of banking?  

I enjoy reading novels, particularly ones that are loosely autobiographical. I also enjoy Pilates, yoga, and meditation. Now that we are confined to our homes, I do a lot more of all three. I found an enjoyable YouTube yoga class that I practice before I start my day. I also enjoy taking Pirate for hikes. I love walking Pirate and watching him smell the flowers and acknowledge people. He's a very smart, curious dog and it's so much fun picturing how he views the world. I can't wait to bring him to the farmers market with me. He loves the attention and I have no doubt he will charm the farmers! I also can’t wait for California to be fully open and functioning. I have a waiting list of family and friends who want to explore the state, especially the wine country, with me.

November 12. 2020 | FHLBank San Francisco