Nationwide recently marked a rare milestone, honoring six employees who have each dedicated 50 years or more to the company. The celebration included a unique tribute: a re-created 1970s office space that transported the honorees back to their first day on the job. 

The Columbus-based insurance and financial services company transformed a video production studio into a retro workplace, complete with vintage cubicles, analog equipment and a view of the 1975 Columbus skyline. The immersive experience invited the associates to reflect on five decades of change, camaraderie and commitment. 

^{Pictured L to R: Pat Darst, Sonja Hutcherson, Teresa McGraw, Yvette Knott, Patricia Connors and Julie Revie}

“As we approach Nationwide’s centennial in 2026, the legacy of these six individuals becomes even more meaningful,” said Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker. “They’ve helped shape half, or more, of our journey, and their impact will be felt for generations to come.” 

From the moment they arrived at Nationwide’s downtown campus, the honorees were welcomed with care. Escorts guided them to a production studio space where a lounge and 1970s-style cubicle vignette set the scene. Laughter and storytelling quickly filled the room as the group reminisced about early managers, teammates and the tools they used to get the job done. 

Throughout the afternoon, hosts led conversations while the associates browsed archival materials and watched vintage Nationwide commercials that sparked more memories and smiles. 

The six honorees represent a range of roles across insurance, technology, investments and operations, with Walker noting that their careers exemplify the persistence and pride that define the company’s culture. 

Among those recognized was Julie Revie, Nationwide’s longest-tenured employee with 56 years of service. Revie works in Nationwide Property & Casualty’s indemnity operations in Wausau, Wisconsin. 

Other honorees include Teresa McGraw, known as “the glue of the department” in Nationwide’s investments office. Sonja Hutcherson and Patricia “Pat” Darst built careers in mainframe engineering and service desk leadership, respectively. Paula “Yvette” Knott and Patricia Connors, both part of Nationwide Financial, have mentored colleagues and modeled excellence in their departments. 

“Fifty years at one company is more than tenure, it’s a testament to purpose,” Walker said. “These associates have served generations of customers and amassed a combined 309 years of experience. They’ve trained, supported and inspired thousands of colleagues. And they’ve helped Nationwide deliver on its mission with extraordinary care, day after day.” 

Nationwide’s mission has guided the company since its founding in 1926 as a mutual automobile insurer for Ohio farmers. Today, it stands as a Fortune 100 company offering diversified insurance and financial services. Walker said the company’s strength lies in its people who are adapting, leading and keeping promises. 

As much as the honorees’ reflections highlighted how much the workplace has evolved — from analog to digital, regional to national — Knott said the company’s values remained constant over the last five decades. 

“Nationwide gives you opportunities,” Knott said. “You don’t have to leave to create your career.” 

In the end, the experience offered a simple truth: while workplaces change, values endure. The tools on a 1970s desk may look different from today’s systems, and the skyline outside Nationwide’s windows has grown. But the work, serving people with care and integrity, remains the same. 

Visit the Nationwide careers page to learn more about open positions.

The apprenticeship program identifies promising young adults while they’re in high school and provides an opportunity for them to earn an Associate’s degree at Columbus State as part of this community-based initiative.  

“Getting into this program has been a very big confidence boost for me,” says current program participant Keisha Bass in the short video. “It made others see potential in me that I didn't really see in myself.”

The program launched in 2020 to encourage students who may not have considered a career in financial services. It now has three current and former groups of participants and has seen three graduates hired to full-time positions at Nationwide. The company plans to continue creating opportunities for local talent through this program, further strengthening its longstanding commitment to the central Ohio community and to its values of belonging, respect and fairness.

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The Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE) is excited to put this insight into action with the introduction of its inaugural HBCU Mentorship Program to support Black students and young professionals with career growth and professional development opportunities.

In the spring of 2022 several subject matter experts from FARE member firms, including Franklin Templeton, M Financial, NFP, Nationwide, DCIIA, American Retirement Association, Advisor Group and The American College of Financial Services in HR, talent acquisition and DE&I brainstormed what a best-in-class mentorship program could look like based on their own learnings and firm experiences.

“The FARE mentorship program takes a holistic approach to nurturing young professionals and providing a framework to ensure a positive experience for both the mentors and mentees throughout the experience,” said Timi Jorgenson, Director to Assistant Vice President of Financial Education & Well-Being at The American College of Financial Services, who helped shape the program. “By incorporating the Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth℠ certificate program for mentors and mentees, the conversation around career goals and personal financial health can happen simultaneously. Personal, family, and community goals and aspirations can be matched with career and professional development goals to provide the mentees with a clear view of their future.” 

How it works
Through structured 1-to-3 mentorship circles and focused, industry-relevant content, FARE’s HBCU mentorship program will serve as an industry best practice and practical guide to elevate awareness in the Financial Services industry and will eventually be available to any firm or individual, to utilize for no fee.

The FARE Mentorship Program will leverage content from The American College of Financial Services, Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth^SM, a state-of-the-art education and empowerment experience for those who want to improve their understanding of money and personal finance.

Each circle includes three mentees – Black students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and one mentor – a FARE member firm mid-senior level leader, with matching based on career goals and interests. FARE leaders anticipate 30 black students will complete the program in 2023, providing insights and data to grow and scale this model for others in the industry looking to incorporate mentorship into their own employee retention and DEIB strategies.

Program participants will have the opportunity to complete a capstone course directly following the mentorship experience. The FP99 curriculum, Foundations of Financial Planning (presented by The American College of Financial Services), provides an overview of key industry concepts such as the financial planning process, industry trends, retirement planning, Medicare and Social Security.

“As an HBCU graduate, I know firsthand how mentorship can aid in accelerating your career,” said Aiyisha Adams, Vice President of Advisor Engagement for Advisor Group, who will participate as a mentor in the program. “Proper mentorship can have a significant impact on the psychology and confidence level of minorities. Just knowing that I have a hand in shaping a young person’s career and can help them navigate the corporate world is a thrill for me. It is my hope that I will help my mentees see that servant leadership benefits them, their teams, and the organizations they serve.”

View a recent column about the FARE Mentorship program in Financial Advisor Magazine

The Financial Alliance for Racial Equity includes Advisor Group, Capital Group, Cetera, Franklin Templeton, Huntington Bank, M Financial Group, Nationwide, NFP, RBC Wealth Management, Swiss Re, American Retirement Association, CFP Board, DCIIA, The American College of Financial Services, IRI (Insured Retirement Institute), Hampton University, Howard University, Lincoln University of Missouri, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston Salem State University.

¹ Research for Action (2019) “Nationwide Potential Advisors: HBCU Student Perceptions of the Field of Financial Planning and Factors that Influence Student Career Choice

All third parties mentioned are not related to or affiliated with Nationwide or any of its affiliates.

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Students from eight different Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) participated in FARE’s first hybrid in-person/virtual event. They were joined by industry executives from financial services firms such as Advisor Group, NFP, Franklin Templeton, RBC, Swiss Re, and Nationwide; representatives from the American College of Financial Services; HBCU Connect; and other young professionals eager to interest them in career experiences in the financial services industry. 

Special guests Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, the men behind the popular podcast and social media phenomenon Earn Your Leisure, shared their inspiring message of financial wellness and entrepreneurship. 

In addition to learning more about generational wealth-building, attendees were offered free professional headshots along with guidance on enhancing their resumes and building a strong LinkedIn profile. FARE member firms conducted 36 interviews for current jobs and internships at the event and collected more than 700 resumes from students and young professionals for future engagement.

This was the first in-person event of many planned events aimed at increasing diversity in financial services and aiding financial awareness and wellness in diverse communities.   

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Diversity Equity and Inclusion Award – Diverse Markets Initiative
Nationwide’s Diverse Markets Initiative received the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Award for its efforts to create awareness and understanding of the unique financial planning and retirement income needs of diverse and underserved consumer markets. The initiative advocates for a more equitable financial services industry and is committed to financial and retirement preparedness of various communities including Black, Hispanic, women and LGBTQ+. Designed to showcase a variety of client demographics to better understand the potential differences and similarities among these client bases, the Diverse Markets Initiative aims to partner with firms and advisors to make them aware, educated, and empathetic of these groups' needs.  

Asset Managers Award – Risk-Managed Income ETF Suite
As a first-of-its-kind options-based solution, Nationwide’s Risk-Managed Income ETF Suite earned the Asset Managers industry award. Nationwide’s suite targets high current income and seeks to provide a measure of downside protection in falling markets and the potential for upside participation in rising markets. Nationwide launched three of the of the four solutions in early 2022.   

By providing exposure to some of the most well-known domestic indexes, Nationwide Risk-Managed Income ETFs may provide investors with greater optionality for managing their exposure to different sources of risk and return while targeting secular opportunities as part of a diversified, core income allocation.

For more information about Nationwide’s 2022 WealthManagement.com honors visit the finalist page. This is the second consecutive year that Nationwide has been recognized at the Wealthies. In 2021, two Nationwide initiatives were honored for excellence in marketing and diversity equity and inclusion.

Call 1-800-617-0004 to request a summary prospectus and/or a prospectus or download prospectuses at etf.nationwidefinancial.com. These prospectuses outline investment objectives, risks, fees, charges and expenses, and other information that you should read and consider carefully before investing.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV), may trade at a discount or premium to NAV, and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. The Funds’ returns may not match nor achieve a high degree of correlation with the return of the respective underlying index. 

Nationwide Fund Advisors (NFA) is the registered investment advisor to Nationwide ETFs, which are distributed by Quasar Distributors LLC.

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"I’m both proud and honored to receive this recognition,” said Vinita Clements, Nationwide’s chief HR officer. “Nationwide’s efforts to champion diversity and create an inclusive culture show our values in action and help create a workplace where each of our associates can thrive. It’s why I’m passionate about helping the next generation of leaders reach their potential through mentorship, formal programs and everyday opportunities.”

Clements provides strategic and operational leadership for Nationwide’s overall Human Resources strategy and its 25,000 employees, ensuring Nationwide has the talent to deliver on its mission. Under her leadership, the company has achieved historic levels of engagement and continues to be recognized as an employer of choice for its strong culture, performance orientation and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“I’m humbled and grateful to be included on a list of so many inspiring leaders,” said Eric Stevenson, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions. “In pursuing our mission to help more Americans achieve a secure retirement, I hope to also empower and encourage those that see this list to believe that they too can reach their goals and see that financial services present a great opportunity.”

Stevenson’s cross-functional leadership skills and financial discipline have led to sustained success for Nationwide Retirement Solutions. His ability to orient firms towards customer centricity and operational excellence has led to top quartile performance for the business with $200B in assets under management.

Savoy magazine is a national publication covering the power, substance and style of African American community that showcases and drives positive dialogue about Black culture.

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Opal Lee, a nationally recognized community activist who is known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth," joined Nationwide Chief Human Resources Officer Vinita Clements for a discussion on the importance of the holiday and the need for people to get and stay involved in their communities. In honor of the one-year anniversary of Juneteenth being recognized as a federal holiday, Nationwide invited the 95-year-old Lee to talk about her life’s work, including her local activism and the years-long effort to make Juneteenth a national holiday.   

“Juneteenth means freedom,” Lee said. “In fact, I advocate that we celebrate from the 19^th of June to the 4^th of July. I believe that is celebrating freedom.”  

The oldest, nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery, Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The legacy of Juneteenth shows the values of deep hope and never giving up in uncertain times, and it marks the nation’s second Independence Day.  

At 90 years of age in 2017, Lee began a walking campaign from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to bring awareness to the need for celebrating Juneteenth nationally. She walked 2.5 miles in cities across the country to represent the 2.5 years it took after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation for enforcement to reach Texas. In 2019, she launched an online petition campaign that garnered over 1.6 million signatures to continue the crusade for federal holiday observance. 

After years of activism by Lee and the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF), Pres. Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021. Lee stood next to him in the White House East Room as he signed the act into law.  

“I was humbled. I was thankful. I was grateful. It was so joyful,” Lee said. “I don’t think we can rest on our laurels now that we have Juneteenth as a national holiday. There are so many disparities we need to address.” 

Lee has a history of local involvement and activism, which began early. At the age of 12, her family’s home was destroyed on June 19, 1939, by a mob angered that hers was the first Black family to move into the Terrell Heights neighborhood in Fort Worth’s 7^th ward. She noted that neither she nor her family allowed that to deter them from making an impact in the community.  

Lee began her career in education and over the years has served on many boards and with many organizations, including Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity, Habitat for Humanity, and the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Fort Worth Black populace. During her tenure as Chairman of the Community Food Bank, the organization received the $1.3 million, 33,000-square-foot facility that now serves 500 families a day. Currently, she is the oldest living board member of the NJOF, which is working to establish a National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth.  

“I’d say to the younger ones, make yourself a committee of one. It’s your responsibility to see that these things are changed,” Lee said. “You can’t depend on anyone else to do it. And so, get busy. The bible tells us that we are our brother’s keeper, so let’s act like it.” 

For more information about Ms. Opal Lee and her contribution to establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, visit https://www.opalswalk2dc.com/. 

Nationwide leaders, recognizing the women and allies who have helped elevate, empower and enable them, are reflecting this month on their mentors and what they’re doing to help inspire and motivate others.

Elevate: Vinita Clements
I have been fortunate to have a network of so many women throughout my career who have helped elevate me to where I am today -- starting with a strong family of women who instilled strong values and provided a strong foundation for self-confidence. Many of my previous leaders have also served as informal mentors -- they took the time to know me and to understand my passions and were my biggest advocates in support of my development during stretch assignments. One thing I appreciated most from my leaders along the way was direct, constructive feedback. It wasn’t always easy to hear, but it empowered me to overcome challenges and become the leader I am today. 

I’ve recognized the importance of women supporting women and how it fuels each other’s success. It’s why I’m passionate about helping other women reach their potential through mentorships, formal programs and everyday opportunities, including ones where we celebrate each other’s success. I believe it’s my responsibility to pay forward the advice I was given, and help women dream bigger in ways they never thought possible. 

For women looking to develop their career at Nationwide, I’d say go for it! The investment in our people, the strength of our culture, and the resilience of our associates foster strong connections that will influence your career in positive ways. And, some of these connections will last forever.

Empower: Amy Shore
Many men and women have empowered me over the years. For example, a senior leader took me under her wing and provided me valuable coaching on how to navigate the executive ranks, a peer I “grew up with” in the company was my truth teller always sharing honest feedback, and several operations leaders have been so highly effective, they help me to focus on the big/strategic items.  

I have paid it forward through years of support for the All Women’s associate resource group and by hiring and promoting strong female leaders who have proven they are the best person for the job.  I continue to mentor and sponsor leaders from across the company.  

You own your career and defining what success looks like to you.  Nationwide and its leaders will help you achieve your goals if you consistently perform.  Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.

Enable: Tina Ambrozy
I’ve been very lucky to have great mentorship from women and men throughout my career.  I was fortunate to work with a leader in Nationwide Financial when he first joined Nationwide who gave me opportunities to perform and deliver, encouraging me along the way to step out of my comfort zone and take on more. He advocated for me and enabled me to grow as a leader and person. I have never taken that for granted and I recognize how important his sponsorship has been to my success.  It’s everyone’s job to carry the kind of help and support that he showed me to those who are willing to do the work and bringing the energy and dedication to being the best version of themselves.  I believe growth and development is the responsibility of each individual, and our role as leaders is to meet them on the 50-yard line with support, coaching and feedback to help them drive the rest of the way down the field toward their goals.

For those looking to develop in their career, I encourage them to be brave and lean into opportunities that will allow for growth. That growth does not necessarily mean promotions or that you have to be a people leader, although it could.  It’s about not getting comfortable. Even individuals that enjoy their current roles have room for growth. I believe there is always room to be better, to make our work better. Stepping back from what we do and asking how we can improve and deliver greater impact is constantly top of mind for me and it affects how I approach each day.  It keeps our work interesting and expands our mindset on problem solving and on what opportunities we want to tackle. I’ve found that approach has rewarded me countless times throughout my career with stimulating work and new opportunities.

A culture that works for everyone
Nationwide is proud to be recognized for its diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where employees can develop their potential and bring their authentic selves to work each day. To view open positions, visit www.nationwide.com/careers.

The ThinkAdvisor Luminary Awards honors individuals and firms that are taking the most creative and the boldest steps to push the industry and clients’ best interests forward, while having the biggest impact, shining a spotlight on how individuals and firms are changing the investment advisory industry where it matters most.

FARE was honored in the Diversity & Inclusion category, which honors firms and organizations that meaningfully embrace and genuinely strive to incorporate individuals of different ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, disabilities and sexual orientations through creative and effective programs within their organizations and within their community.

“It’s exciting to be part of this tremendous coalition of financial services firms, partners and academic institutions,” said Kristi Martin Rodriguez, SVP of the Nationwide Retirement Institute. “This award is a testament to the commitment of our members who have come together to form FARE and drive meaningful change in our industry.”

FARE was formed in late 2020 when a group of leading financial services organizations, associations and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) came together to focus on increasing the number of Black professionals entering the financial services industry and supporting and investing in them once there. FARE’s efforts include providing resources, scholarships training and connections to diverse students and professionals, which are important components to career success.

The FARE coalition includes Morgan Stanley, M Financial Group, NFP, Employee Benefit Research Institute, Huntington Bank, Franklin Templeton, Miami Life, Advisor Group, DCIIA, the American College of Financial Services, Capital Group and Nationwide, in partnership with six HBCUs, including Hampton University, Howard University, Lincoln University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University. 

FARE was recently honored with a Diversity Champion Award by Investment News and a WealthManagement.com industry award. 

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In its annual rankings of best large U.S. employers for women, Fortune ranked Nationwide at 35. The magazine, which published the list on its website, noted that Nationwide achieved its ranking based in part on the time and focus the company spends on its employees every day.

“At Nationwide, we are proud to be a great place to work for all of our associates, a place where all voices are heard and respected,” said Nationwide Chief Human Resources Officer Vinita Clements. “For so many women here, myself included, Nationwide is more than a job, it’s a supportive environment where women can flourish throughout their career.”

To determine the Best Workplaces for Women awards, Fortune partnered with Great Place to Work to analyze feedback representing more than 5.6 million U.S. employees. The survey measures the extent to which women report their organizations create a positive working environment for everyone and how fairly women’s experiences compare to men’s reports of the same workplace. The survey also factors in the representation of women in the workforce and management, compared to industry trends.

Nationwide consistently ranks on top workplace award lists. To learn more about career opportunities available at Nationwide, visit the Nationwide careers page.

Asset Managers: Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year - A New Approach to Income Generation
The winning campaign, spearheaded by Nationwide’s Investment Management Group Marketing team, involved the delivery of an innovative, digital marketing approach fundamentally designed to address the evolving investment education needs and thought leadership consumption habits of advisors and their clients in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign drove awareness of the newly launched Nationwide Risk-Managed Income ETF (NUSI), serving as a catalyst for both early stage and long-term market adoption. NUSI launched at the end of 2019 and has performed exceptionally well even during the market volatility of 2020, reaching $500 million in assets under management recently, making it the company’s top fund by sales, net flows and asset growth.

Asset Managers: Diversity Equity and Inclusion - Financial Alliance for Racial Equity
The Financial Alliance for Racial Equity was recognized in the Asset Managers: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category. Nationwide Financial partnered with leading financial services organizations, associations and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to form FARE in late 2020. FARE’s focus is on increasing the number of Black professionals entering the financial services industry and supporting and investing in them once there.

“Seeing the efforts of our team and partners recognized among the very best and brightest individuals and companies in the financial services industry reinforces what I’ve known all along: we have a great team at Nationwide,” said John Carter, President and COO of Nationwide Financial. “The work of the Nationwide teams that contributed to these awards is nothing less than extraordinary and a clear demonstration of our peoples’ passion for driving change in our industry and helping more Americans achieve a secure retirement.”

View a complete recap of the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards.

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Today, FARE was recognized by InvestmentNews as a 2021 Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards finalist. FARE, along with 15 other firms, were chosen from more than 120 nominations by a committee of InvestmentNews representatives and judges from the advice business. FARE was recognized for its ability to inspire others from diverse backgrounds to join, flourish and bring their true selves to work in the financial services industry.

“Since FARE’s inception, we’ve made tremendous progress assembling a prestigious coalition of financial services organizations and academic institutions committed to, not only increasing diversity in our industry, but also positively impacting Black communities by increasing access to financial professionals and financial education,” said Kristi Rodriguez, leader of the Nationwide Retirement Institute. “Our recognition as a finalist for the InvestmentNews Diversity Equity & Inclusion Awards is a great honor for the alliance and evidence that our efforts are beginning to gain broader engagement and traction across our industry.”

The FARE coalition currently includes Morgan Stanley, M Financial Group, NFP, Employee Benefit Research Institute, Huntington Bank, Franklin Templeton, Miami Life, National Brokerage Atlantic and Nationwide in partnership with six HBCUs, including Hampton University, Howard University, Lincoln University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University. 

InvestmentNews’ fourth annual Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion recognition program aims to tell the story of individuals and firms using their success, leadership skills, and willingness to implement and advocate for diversity and inclusion within the financial advisory industry. FARE, along with the other organizations and individuals making the fourth annual Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion list, is highlighted in the Aug. 9 issue of InvestmentNews and online at dandiIN.com.

*Nationwide Retirement Institute RISE Research 2018

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