Creativity comes from adversity--life lessons and twitter

@JillCastilla of @CitizensEdmond with newest version of #clarkclass

@Okieprof

Jill Castilla, vibrant president and CEO of Citizens Bank in Edmond, brought her experiences and passion for success and community to the UCO Twitter for Media class, #clarkclass, yesterday.

In an hour and a half session, she told of turning around a bank in crisis in 2009 to the success it is today. She and it are nationally recognized, much of it due to the use of twitter and other social media. The bank has more than 30,000 followers in social media.

She was named “Most Admired CEOs in Oklahoma", “Most Innovative CEOs in Banking”, "Community Banker of the Year" and "Most Powerful Women in Banking" in 2015

She joined twitter in one day after hearing about it at a national conference. Now she and her bank are models of its use; she speaks at conferences around the country, and via Skpe, internationally, about its use and community banking. 

"Owning our story," Jill Castilla with Ann Chen at right

Of course there's more to the story, and the one theme that stood out was  how adversity spurs creativity and courage. There was no PR gloss coating of what the bank had been through from Jill. "We own our story," she says, speaking frankly of its travails and those in  her own life.

Now as Edmond's smallest, and oldest, and only community bank, it sponsors the wildly popular @HeardonHurd music and food festival once a month, donates $50,000 a year to Edmond Public Schools (more than any other much bigger bank in Edmond), and is rejuvenating downtown Edmond including it's renovation of  the original building.

She was assisted yesterday by her chief marketing officer, Ann Chen, who she convinced to come to Edmond after meeting her in Washington D.C.

After each speaker, the class debriefs, and here is a compilation of student comments, noted by @AshleyNapier21.

@JillCastilla Debrief

• Quick bank turnaround is impressive and  social media was a key.
• A little bank received lots of recognition and anyone can do it.
• Jill took it upon herself for all of her social media efforts. She didn’t have anyone else do it.
• She likes to read about people dealing with failure rather than uplifting information.
• She didn’t quit and had many reasons to quit, but never did. Her fearlessness equated to much success for her, her bank, and her community.
• She experienced many trials and it never stopped her. She kept going.
• HeardOnHurd is not profitable, but is done anyway to build value in the community.
• She isn’t all about the bank. She is all about the bank AND the community and she is using social media to back that up.
• Her framework for social media  is GAP (Genuine, Accurate, Positive)
• Evoke Coffee, built goodwill by letting them use CBEdmond’s internet.
• She got banned on Twitter, rebuilt a bank, and didn’t let that stop her.
• She is a positive influence on a personal level.
• She is personally invested in her bank and community because of her mom and stepdad. That made her self-reliant and achieve greatness.
• She is self-taught in social media.
• She doesn’t think she is creative, but really is and has found how to be productive. Not only is she creative, she has created long-term success.
• She has held every position in the bank. It helps her to be able to relate to many different positions and people.
• Failure is an option.
• She is trustworthy because she is so open about her problems.
• She is relatable and has given us permission to be ourselves. Seeing a female in a position of power is motivating.
• Twitter is more than a tool, it is a way of life. 

Student comments before class about the class:

• Past students have changed. Is this class a cult? What is in store for our class and what can we expect to change after we finish this class?
• When you retweet things it makes people feel special and feel like they think they are doing something special.
• Twitter is different on a computer than it is on a phone.

@JillCastilla's list of people to follow on twitter

@okieprof

I asked #clarkclass speaker Jill Castilla, president and CEO of Citizens Bank in Edmond, to send us a list of people she follows in twitter and recommends. 
This follows the example of a list by Rob Crissinger. As we explore the uses and changing perspectives  of twitter, these contacts are valuable resources for business people and my students. 

• @BeckyMcCray -- Blogger, expert on small biz; small biz owner from Oklahoma
•  @ABWashBureau -- Rob Blackwell, American Banker’s Washington Bureau chief, novelist
•  @WAFTIShow -- Possibly the greatest podcast in the Metro
• @EdmondActive -- Great information about all happenings in Edmond
• @GinaMCampbell -- Local social media expert, @okcsocial President
•  @okcsocial -- OKC’s club for social media managers
•  @KochComm -- Local PR firm with great local #hashouts on various topics
•  @AmyJoMartin -- Her book, Renegades Write the Rules, is a must read for all things social and PR
•  @ElwellEats -- Greg Elwell, @okgazette, is the guy to follow for your inner foodie – as an added bonus, he’s super funny!
•  @DowntownEdmond -- Great account that features everything that’s happening in our little suburban “urban core”
•  @briOKC -- Brianna Bailey, Oklahoman journalist that covers business like no other.
• @Mecoy -- Don Mecoy, you’ll find local business breaking news on his account before you see it anywhere else. Don actively monitors twitter feeds for stories – one of the best!
•  @heardonhurd -- Best music festival in Oklahoma!
• @grahamcolton -- Singer/Songwriter from Oklahoma and co-founder of Fanswell, music promotion
• @annj_chen -- Marketing officer @citizensedmond 
• @citizensedmond -- Best bank ever!

Cool, collected, coloring outside the lines and twitter

@okieprof

Rob Crissinger brings coolness and passion for Public Relations to the twitter class, time after time, infecting students with his intimate involvement in rapidly changing Oklahoma City culture. I learn something every time he speaks, and I somehow think he does too.

Rob's another UCO alum, a former student who likes to tell the class I once gave him an "F" on an assignment. That's indicative of his independence and off-the-wall view, because he just wouldn't color inside the lines. He's found the perfect fit, working with the edgy boutique Bumbershoot PR and owner Tracey Zeeck.

@rcrissinger in #clarkclass

In my opinion they are perhaps the most enlightened company in OKC...they don't have meetings. Can you imagine how much money that would save, just at UCO?
His impact on the class is always immediate, because he's talking about all the activity that is changing OKC. Students coined a hashtag for him, #RobMob, as an indication. One student--most are graduating seniors, tweeted "Is it too late to change my major?"
This time though, he even brought a simplified powerpoint for his main points, saying he had to "up his game," following Jill Castilla of @CitizensEdmond.

Our students make us look good

I am so impressed and charged with the professionalism and energy of the speakers in the class--it has become my favorite. 
He's also the one that sent us 50 names you should be following in OKC, posted earlier in December on this blog, Who to follow.
 Another repeat hint: You can see much of what the class tweets during the presentation by hitting #clarkclass. 
(Again, all of this should have been posted much earlier. The fault all belongs to @okieprof. Sorry.)
So here are some of his comments, student tweets and debriefing, and power point points, with the help of @cassjack12.

• Social media is an extra fuel that was needed in PR
• "We work hard and try to look like we aren't working hard." 
• Successful places in OKC are successful because they are engaging
• Social media is the feedback loop 
• We work hard without looking like we’re working hard
• Be authentic
• Put community first--unique about OKC
• The new OKC thinks of the community before they think of themselves  
• Learn to like social media
• Everyone is trying to fit in while standing out--can't do both at the same time 
• Know how and who to connect
• Have purposeful conversations-meetings aren’t always necessary
• Find what you want to do, that represents you – not just going out to get a job
• Show interest in people

• Listen more than you speak, but you have to speak or people will forget that you’re there --a  balancing act
• being an introvert helps listening 
• I wouldn't be as successful as I am without social media."
• "News Releases are Magic if done right."
• "Some people say that social media is PR, but social media was just the missing link."
• When your college is associated with @oakandore, you know you're going to the best college.
• we are talking about bacon bourbons, good food, local OK, being authentic,
• "Don't be a douche bag."  
• All #OKC successes have a community first mindset" -
• Be yourself, be authentic, and listen more than you speak.
• "The number one rule of social media is being authentic." 
   

Vibrant influence in media and community

@okieprof

Jill Castilla is the vibrant president and CEO of Citizens Bank in Edmond, this year named one of the top three community bankers in the country. 
 She spoke to my Twitter for Media class in late December, opening --perhaps boggling--  our minds to the changing and growing influence of twitter in business. 

Jill Castilla engaged the class every minute.

She readily agreed to speak to the twitter class, and enthralled students for an hour and a half with her comments, conversation, stories and advice. 
 Returning to Edmond in 2009, she became an immediate force in the community, and has become a model for using "social" media in business. Castilla received the Woman of the Year award by the Edmond Chamber of Commerce and was named by Independent Community Bankers Association as a top social media influencer.
She's used twitter to help the bank actively become involved in Edmond, saying it helps her learn about the audience, engage in the customer base and community.

@JillCastilla introduced by @okieprof

Best example is how she and the bank are the sponsors of the wildly successful food truck-music event, "Heard on Hurd," promoted by social media.
And as with many of our speakers, much of her advice had to do with far more than just social media, but life success. 
Called an important role model by other faculty in our department, her influence was palpable among the female majority (22 students, six men) in the class. She says only two percent of the country's banks are led by women, and she is determined not to "look" like a banker. Most of these students will graduate in May, so they got valuable advice into their futures.
It's significant to me that this laid back class coined a hashtag for her and the class, #chillwithjill.
Hint, you can get a lot of these comments on twitter by hitting #clarkclass.
(All of this should have been posted much earlier. The fault all belongs to @okieprof. Sorry.)
Here are some of her comments, with the help of @cassjack12:

• You have permission to be different
• Twitter is a way to engage your customer base and community
• Own who you are
• Social media rewards that--when you are transparent you can connect
• It helps you be accessible and grounded
• "Your ego is not your amigo."
• Think about the greater good
• "A lot of social media is just listening."
• It helps you know what is needed in your community
• It's all about listening to the community.
• "Put the fertilizer in, plant the seed, make sure there's water and see how it grows"--Heard on Hurd
• Don't over plan, let it happen
• It's not about Citizens--more about fostering community events, helping revitalize downtown Edmond.
• Be an advocate and a catalyst for making something better.
• "If you do good, you'll do well."
• Social media allows faster growth
• GAP--be absolutely Genuine, Authentic, Positive.
• Follow the light, blog negativity 
• Be humble and accessible
• If you are just saying things on social media for yourself, don't say it
• Make sure others benefit
• You have greater authenticity when people are talking about you on social media rather than you promoting yourself
• "Elevate where you're at."
• If you take a general interest in others, rewards will be there.
• Millennials want to be in a social cause, they're inclined to make a difference.
• "Community banking is compassionate capitalism"
•  Want to use social media, don't think of it as a necessary evil.

Student debriefing comments

• It's not always about money, do what you enjoy 
• know when to say no to ensure the authenticity of what you do 
•  it's all about listening to the community
• whether they need help or just want to communicate/learn 
• be consistent in what you say and what you do
• keep your ego out of it
• build community through small businesses
• don’t complain all the time 
• elevate the people around you and what you do
• keep your faith, keep goingbe inspiring, uplifting
• embrace and show difference
• use favorites more than retweets
• if people aren’t responding think about what you’re retweeting
• if people aren’t buying your newspaper, rethink what you’re writing