Carlissa Wright
This guest grew up outside of New York City and was a child model, appearing in ads and commercials. After college, she traveled 3,000 miles to Arizona to join the sales team at the Phoenix Suns, then as Senior Director at the American Heart Association, and she is now the vice president and executive director of the Desert Financial Foundation. She is married and the proud parent to her boxer, Lola! Please welcome Carlissa Wright!
Episode Transcription
Guiding Growth. Conversations with Community Leaders. In this podcast, we'll explore the human journey of leaders. There are stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned. Come join us as we journey together and uncover the questions you've always wanted to know. This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, providing resources, connections and belonging for business professionals and modern moments, an event and meeting venue in the heart of Gilbert Sarah. Today is the day. Yes, very excited to have a special guest with us today.
This guest grew up outside of New York City and was a child model appearing in ads and commercials. After college. She traveled 3000 miles to Arizona to join the sales team at the Phoenix Suns. Ben as senior director at the American Heart Association and she is now the vice president and executive director of the Desert Financial Foundation. She is married and the proud parents to her boxer Lola. Please welcome Car Lisa Wright. Welcome, welcome. Thank you so much, Ben and Sarah. Appreciate it. We got a lot of talk about it.
I can just sell it just in the introduction. There's so much there but we're going to start with what we call rapid fire. All right, Sarah, you go first. Where is the most beautiful place you have ever been? Oh, I am going to go with cures. So unbelievably beautiful. And I would go back there any moment. Ok. That's intriguing spender or saver. Oh, now that I work for a credit union there, there's only one answer saver, but I'm a spender and I do always tell my husband you can't take it with you.
I like that logic. Describe yourself in three words, passionate, driven, loyal, beautiful, best room in your house is the best room. Most certainly is outside the pool, the patio, al Fresco dining. I'm all about the outdoors date night or night in. Oh, man, after COVID, I feel like it's night in. Ok. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Oh, I wish you did not ask me that question. I didn't, did I have super curly hair that I straighten and then curl, which is just quite interesting.
So I would say like an hour and a half, that's an investment. But you look good. You own it. Thanks, Sara. I appreciate it. Beach or mountains beach. Name. One thing you cannot live without, oh, I can't live without my blow dryer. Uh, a favorite sports team. Oh, well, I'm going to go with the suns because I worked there for 15 years and I grew up at the Phoenix Suns and I really hope they win tonight and I hope that Al mccoy gets a ring because he deserves it.
Ok. Last question. Glass, half full or half empty, half full positivity breeds success. You know, there's a trend going on with that question. This podcast is brought to you by Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, recognized as one of the top 100 best hospitals by health grades. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is a full service acute care not for profit community Hospital providing exceptional health care to the East Valley with a staff of 215 employees and 2000 volunteers. Patients can expect the expertise of more than 215 physicians representing all major specialties. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is proud to be part of the local community and an award winning employer, learn more at dignity health dot org forward slash Arizona.
All right. I am very intrigued by growing up outside of New York City and growing up as a child model. Tell us about this. What does this look like for you? Well, you're making it sound very illustrious, but yes, grew up 212 minutes from New York City in a small town called Poughkeepsie, New York. I went to school. So I graduated high school from Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School. And it's quite interesting because when you're in high school and you're going to the Vanderbilt Mansion and the Eleanor Roosevelt library, it's kind of, oh my gosh.
Another field trip. Um But then as you get older and you realize, wow, I grew up and went to school where our 2000nd president of the United States was born and raised and made such an impact on our country. It's kind of like, man, you're not as bright as you should be as a, as a child. So um from the, from the modeling days, my mom would always say I would talk to anybody. She literally had to have me on a leash when we would go to the grocery store and when we go shopping because I would talk to anybody.
She said I would go with anybody. And so I was just outgoing as, as a child opportunity presented itself to go to the city for commercials. So I was in an ABC 284 com Well, ABC 15 here in New York, it's different ABC commercial. Hands across America commercial. But then one day I said, I'm tired and don't want to go to school. And I am also a first generation college graduate. So my parents said absolute, absolutely not. Your education is the most important. And so it was about a year stint and that was that.
So my modeling career was from about 227 to 210 years old, but it exists. It existed and it left a mark on you. Oh, it certainly did. I wanted to be so many different things growing up. I wanted to be an adult model. I wanted to be an anesthesiologist. I wanted to be a meteorologist and um I think if you put hard work and dedication into whatever you're passionate about, you can be successful. That's awesome. So, siblings, yes, I have a younger sister. She lives in Florida and I am elated and could jump through the microphone in this chair.
She's pregnant with her first child. So she's due in September and I could almost get a little emotional too because um my grandmother was the matriarch of our family and her name is Beatrice. And so my dog's name is Lola Beatrice and my sister, of course, now that she's bringing a human being into the world, she had to one up, me and she and her husband are naming her daughter Beatrice. Beautiful. Yes. And so it lives on, she lives on. That's cool. So let's talk about after this modeling career then where did it go from there as far as their education?
Yeah. So graduated from Franklin Delano Roosevelt high school at the time, didn't know what I wanted to do. New college was a must um come from very humble beginnings. So there wasn't a lot of money to waste. So I went to community college. I got my liberal arts degree and then I said, I've got to get out of New York, got to get out of the cold. Didn't really see a future there. My grandmother lived in Florida, so I began applying to schools in Florida and was accepted to the University of Tampa.
So transferred as a 2000 year old to live in a state that you'd never been in. So that was a really difficult time because you knew all the answers to everything in life then too. Right? Because you were, yeah, you kind of do. And I can remember calling my mom and saying, I absolutely hate it here and I want to come home and I remember she sent me a card and it had a road in the middle of it and she had two arrows and she put, going back to Poughkeepsie, you will go nowhere.
Definitely harsh. A little harsh. She's from New York too. And then she had staying at the University of Tampa, your opportunities are endless, but I still love you no matter what path you choose. So that's a nice way of saying you can come home. But yes, I think she might have had me living outside. Ok. So how long were you in Florida? So I was in Florida for two years when I graduated. This is dating me. So it was oh four. So, and this is full circle.
I just had a aha moment. It was all the financial industry, it was banking, it was lending, it was insurance companies. I have friends who went to work for Liberty Mutual Bank of America. And I can remember saying good thing. I've never told my current employers this I don't think I can be behind glass as a teller. Like I just don't think I can do that. So I'm very fortunate in that I had a family member, a cousin who worked for the NBA for 30 years. As a matter of fact, he just retired and I called him and I said, Kenny, I need your help.
I need you to get me a job with the NBA. So at this point, I'm thinking, I'll go back to New York and he literally laughs me off the phone. And he said, Car Lisa, do you know that we have interns who work here that don't get paid anything. And then we have full time folks who work here that also don't get paid anything. There's, there's just, I can't help you. And I said, ok, there's got to be something that you can do. And so he said, well, there's this job fair that the NBA has every year.
It's in Indianapolis. So I'll need your resume. You'll have to buy a suit. I'll see if I can push it through. But considering that you have no sports experience, it's probably not going to happen. So I said, ok, anything that you can do. So I bought like a, I don't know, 45 $50 suit from Charlotte Roof, which I don't even think exists and I get my plane ticket to Indianapolis. And I can remember, uh I, I'm still connected with him to this day, a gentleman who was there and looked a little bit older and I just said, hey, what are they looking for?
And he said, really good sales people. I said, really? And he goes yes. And I said, well, I don't have a sports background. He goes even better. They don't necessarily want people who have a sports background because you can be obsessed with who's on your team and what are the trades and not necessarily understanding that there's a business side to sports. So I said great. So they bring you through these rapid fire interviews. Sell me this pencil. Tell me, you know about you. And I end up and I say this because it's not even that cool, but I got eight job offers and I will say there's eight job offers for $30,000 a year, which is like a highway crime.
So you're really not feeling that good about yourself, but I made they wanted you. So that's an ego. They wanted you. And I had some options. And my very first boss, Mike Toman, he had notes underneath my door. He had swag bags and it's kind of weird because they're like leaving voice mails on your phone and you're like, am I like, I'm a kid, right? And so I made the decision to join uh the Sun. So that was the summer before we got Steve Nash, we hardly won any games, I think 39 games.
The year before. And so I drove out to Arizona with my dad. My car broke down on the way in Katie Texas, which was pretty unbelievable experience. I'm like, I'm gonna have to call my boss and say I'm going to be late for my first day because my car broke down, bought a new car, took everything from my Honda put it in my new ultima. I selected an ultima because when I was in college, you had to do an internship for the business management program that I was working in.
And I'm a really hard worker, I was like, I'm not working for free. I'm just not, I'm not doing it. So I had a paid internship at Enterprise Rent a car. So when finally we got to the dealership, I said, give me that one. They're like, do you want to drive it? I said I've driven it. I don't know how many times because back then I think they still do it. Enterprise will pick you up. So when car preps were on the road, I got to pick up folks from their homes or their place of business.
And so um once I was here, I never looked back, I, I honestly don't think that I'll live anywhere else but Arizona, I love it here. But why the Phoenix Suns? Why take that one? Oh, yes, it was all about the leader. Um He was just so passionate. He was so positive. Inspiring said Carly. So you're going to be a star, I'm going to make you a star, hard work, dedication, commitment. You can do whatever you want and be whoever you want in this industry. And now he is the co president for Legends, which is a large conglomerate, hospitality.
They do naming rights uh deals. So we still keep in contact to this day. That's awesome. What a risk. Yeah, a, a big risk and I had a really big car payment and student loans and other debts. So what was unique about the program then was when you joined, you basically have this, this cohort of inspired sports professionals, but they let you know that only 103 or three of you are going to get a full time position. So it was the salary but benefits were not uh included at that at that time.
So I said to myself, I have to be the top sales woman because I've got all these bills to pay and it was not. And so happy to say nine months later that occurred and uh was promoted and had a number of promotions through my 15 years there. And when I departed the sons, I was the S V P of marketing partnerships. So I oversaw a team of about 30 individuals responsible for generating revenue through all of our media TV, signage, print promotions, digital media, community relations, public relations.
So it was a great, great ride. But when you work in sports, you, uh, you live to work? Yeah. So, I mean, at that point, what, what causes you to think maybe I need something different or to pursue a different opportunity, a whole bunch of things. I mean, I can't tell you how many Christmases, how many Thanksgivings, how many trips and things I did not do because I was focused on climbing the ladder. Um I met my husband at the Suns, which is just amazing. So we worked together for many, many years and you just kind of know, you know, when it's time, so unbelievable career.
I'm so blessed for all of the partners that I met, all of the people that I work for and what we achieved because you're talking about not making the playoffs for 89 years. And so the relationships that we had and the B to B opportunities that we were would create and just staying positive and creating positive moments and everything that we did. I could not be more proud to have been there during that time period. Obviously, we had the Steve Nash eras and the almost making um the finals, but to be there during that time and to achieve success and see so many of the team members.
Um Still there, matter of fact, I'm catching up with a couple of those young ladies next week for dinner. So hopefully we can talk about a sons win that occurs. Let's fingers crossed on that for sure fingers crossed. So it sounds like the background you had even back from when you were doing the modeling and the open kind of kindred spirit you had kind of parlayed right into the sales career that you're doing here at the Sons, right? But was there anybody in particular that came out that you think of that helped mentor you in that process?
Absolutely. So my, my first boss was a female and if I could be very transparent with you, sports was for quite some time, a male dominated industry, especially from a corporate partnerships perspective. Um So it was very rare that someone could be promoted from ticket sales to corporate partnerships, especially in a short amount of time. And so I'm very grateful to her because I really think she wanted a female on the team and I can remember her calling me and saying, hey, might you be interested? Um Absolutely, I would be interested.
And so she brought me under her wings and she was such a dynamic person. I always thought outside of the box in terms of the partnerships that we were establishing. And so she really took me under her wing. So had she not been in her leadership role? I don't think I would have been afforded the opportunity to join that, that department. And so now here you are today and you do some amazing work within the community. I would love for you to share a little bit about your role now.
Yes, I could pinch myself. So at Desert Financial, we say relationships drive success and, and I would say that that mission is in life because part of the reason why I'm, I'm with Desert Financial Credit Union and the foundation today is because of those relationships. So I worked with those leaders when I was at the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. And so I brought them on as a corporate partner. We kind of skipped over the American Heart Association, but I joined the American Heart Association because I had been personally impacted by heart disease.
My grandfather um unfortunately lost a battle to chronic heart failure uh two years ago. And so it was very personal to me and his struggles and um where research was going, especially for um as we get older, especially the African American population. So I was very passionate about the American Heart Association and, and what did you do there? Yes. So I led a team, we were really focused on fundraising to support all of the different initiatives of the American Heart Association. So primarily research. So we ran a number of campaigns, the Phoenix Heart Walk being one and then worked on major donors, corporate donors to fund and support the mission and their depth and breadth is so vast from working on initiatives to cease and hold tobacco companies accountable.
Um focus on legislative work um from the Vape industry. So really looking at the whole health, looking at health care outcomes and disparities in the medical field and mostly funded by research. So, was very passionate work. So I was able to bring Desert Financial Credit Union on as a corporate sponsor. And so I was approached almost two years ago and they said, hey, we're looking to do some different things and want to see if you might be interested in uh an opportunity with the foundation and overseeing our social responsibility efforts.
And I said, absolutely, how could I not be, be interested? So, so grateful and thankful for the opportunity that I have today, the team that I work alongside of, they are amazing individuals that truly are saving and changing people's lives. Just last year, our team members volunteered over 15,000 hours and throughout Arizona communities. So we recently have gone statewide. So we have locations in Prescott Valley and Flagstaff will be opening up in Prescott later this year. And it's just unbelievable the, the impact. And, and I always like to tell people that mission vision values with some organizations, they can be just words on a wall at Desert Financial.
It's the most humble servant leadership being founded by 15 educators. I have never seen such a commitment to lifelong learning. Um They're the leaders, there are so many that have been there for decades, but they continue to learn and continue to evolve and we're on a unbelievable digital transformation um as, as a credit union. But to have an organization that truly puts its people first, its team members and then the community first, there's no better place to work. I love that. What are some of the specific initiatives that you and your team helped to support?
Absolutely. That's a great question, Sarah. So we have a number of social responsibility programs. So we support nonprofits through charitable events and sponsorships. So recently, we supported the Boys and Girls Club of the Valley in Scottsdale for their youth of the year Gala. We also run a corporate grant making program. So we invite nonprofits um to apply uh for our, our grants. And so obviously, that's quite the the the the process in terms of reviewing those applications and following up with the metrics to ensure that those programs are successful.
One of our favorites is very, very unique. It's a Random Acts of Kindness program where we do just that team members can submit um those Arizonans members to receive a random Act of Kindness. Unique. One last year, Cory, no, who's a former firefighter who's suffering from AAA disease. And we were able to help him fund uh some of his medical expenses because unfortunately, he was no longer going to be covered by insurance. So last year we provided over 12,000 random Acts yesterday was our birthday, our 84th anniversary and our leadership.
Thank you so much was providing random acts of kindness to local schools. So they were able to um, provide items to schools that, um, they, they preselected, we, our volunteerism program I talked about and then teacher appreciation. So that is a big one being founded by a, a credit union. And then we also, which most people don't realize this. Our foundation is a five oh one C three public charity. So we actually fundraise through our golf tournament through some opportunities with members online in, in branch to fund the one darn cool school.
They're our largest nonprofit benefactor. And if you're not familiar with the one darn cool school at Phoenix Children's, it is um eight master's levels teachers K through 12 and they provide continued education sessions to Children that are hospitalized for five days or more. And it's such an important program. It was established 27 years ago, the school provided over 10,000 patient education sessions um last year. And so through the support of the foundation, the credit union and our employees, we fully fund the one darn cool school and creating that sense of normalcy for, for students, patients, having them be able to maintain their education while they're ill is so important.
And it started off as a volunteer program. There was a child who was a patient. He's, he actually said I must not be dying if you're making me do my school work. And so at that point in time, we knew that we were changing lives and helping with you know, the mental and emotional stress that you, you go through when you're hospitalized. And so we've been fully funding that program ever since. Well, I can see why you're passionate about what you do. That's incredible. Yeah. Absolutely. And, and amazing that an organization like Desert Financial can really, um, live those values.
That's incredible. Absolutely. All while making financial lives better, which is so important with where the economy is and there being so much need and it's truly about people, helping people and we do that every single day. We we live and breathe it. So what's tomorrow look like for you as we look to the future? Where are you headed? And what do you see on the horizon? I think it's a great question, Ben, I think with COVID, right? This whole concept of I get to be my full self.
I get to find joy and work and work hard. But then I also get to relax and enjoy the things that I like to do from a personal perspective. And this thing called the Mental Health Day. I mean, I could never even think of eight years ago saying, hey, calling my boss and saying I need a mental health day, right? And that's accepted now. So I think truly just enjoying all facets of life working really hard, but then actually enjoying everything that you work so hard for is what I'm really passionate about.
So honoring those boundaries and you get to be an aunt. We should probably talk about that. I know. I told my husband I'm like, oh, we might need to find a condo in Florida. I think you might, or at least get some kind of frequent flyer thing going on because it is going to happen. Very exciting time in life, for sure. It really is. I'm pumped head there in August to throw her baby shower. So can't wait. I know a little bit about that these days. You sure do.
Well, thank you so much for being with us. This has been a great conversation. I enjoyed hearing your journey. You've had quite an amazing journey so far and you've got lots to go, I can tell. So look forward to hearing more. Thank you. Thank you for your service to the community and for all you do to contribute. We appreciate it. Yep. All right. Well, if you enjoyed this show, which I know you did, please subscribe to our tribe so you can get these in your inbox and listen to them, right?
When they launch, we'll catch you next time guiding growth, conversations with community leaders. Ben, let me ask you a question. How do you see other community members being involved in this podcast? This is going to be a great opportunity for so many people in the community to have a chance to be heard if they want to tell their story or if they just want to be part of this journey with us and help sponsor it in a way that helps bring more people to the table with us.
So I think there's many opportunities at hand whether you want to again be on the show, reach out to us, let us know what your story is and how you think you could be part of it. We'd love to hear from you, reach out, let us know and we'll see if we can make that connection.
