Marla Zuch, project manager for Wells Fargo’s Technology and Operations group in Denver, was the recipient of a Volunteer Leave, which let her begin a month-long sabbatical as a Company Advisor at JA Business Week, while still receiving her regular Wells Fargo pay and benefits. Zuch is one of 30 Wells Fargo team members across the company to receive the award this year.
Zuch first learned about JA, nearly three years ago, through a seminar held at Wells Fargo. She was inspired by the idea of working with and sharing ideas and values with children. Soon after the seminar, she contacted JA and was paired with a school and a teacher. Since her first session with second graders in Ms. Nelson’s class at Stuckey Elementary in Northglenn, she has expanded her JA program to three other schools, four additional teachers and first-grade students. During her Volunteer Leave, Zuch used the skills she has developed through an MBA education and 33 years of banking and project management experience to help JA Business Week students develop a marketing plan. Zuch was a Company Advisor at JA Business Week, and spent the week working with first-year students as they developed a new smoothie flavor for Jamba Juice.
“It is a strength of Wells Fargo that so many of our team members serve as leaders in their communities and are willing share their time and talent to help the communities where we live and work succeed,” said Don Marshall, Wells Fargo’s regional president for Denver Metro. “As one of the few companies in America to offer fully-paid sabbaticals for community service, we believe it’s important to give team members an opportunity to act on their passion for making an impact with a nonprofit of their choice. Marla has shown incredible dedication to Junior Achievement and we’re pleased that she can devote more of her time and talent to this organization.”