Shari Snyder, 35

By Barbara Connors

Shari Snyder isn’t one to just sit back at a meeting. The 35-year-old assistant vice president of consumer lending for Belvidere National Bank is all about reaching out, not only to help her banking customers have a good experience, but also to make changes for the better in her community.

Self-described as “driven”, since 2005, Snyder has taken her involvement with RAMP’s Boone County Wheel-A-Thon—and “wheeled away”with it. In addition to securing the bank and other companies as corporate sponsors, she’s recruited community teams to participate—18 in all from the bank—even an area Cub Scouts team; earning them a patch for involvement in the annual event.

This year she’s spearheaded the “Wheelies” program,where bank tellers sell one-dollar wheels as a new fundraiser for RAMP, an organization that strives for full participation by people with disabilities.

“Shari helps spark the enthusiasm amongst the other steering committee members, and staff as well,” says Jennifer Jacky, services manager at RAMP. “She encourages us to think outside of the box and reach for new goals.”

“I don’t sit back, I’m constantly thinking of more things we can do—how we can get more people involved with Wheel-A-Thon,” Snyder says.

A boomeranger who moved back to the area from Montana after high school, Snyder says she appreciates Belvidere’s historic flavor. As a mother of a young son, many of her “non-working” hours are spent in child-related activities as a volunteer with Washington Elementary’s Homework Club, a team mom for Belvidere Youth Baseball, and as vice president of Home and School for St. James School in Belvidere.