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Denette Suddeth is regional president and head of Commercial Banking for PNC Bank in Nevada, including Northern and Southern Nevada regions. She joined PNC in November 2021, bringing 25 years of banking experience to the regional president position, as well as deep ties across Nevada.
During her banking career, she has led diverse teams focused on public and privately held middle market companies, as well as gaming and the gaming equipment manufacturer industries. She has been an active member of Women’s Leadership Councils and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committees.
An alumna of University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Suddeth is very active in the local community. One of the nonprofit organizations she serves on the board is the United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN), and she is the past chairman of the organization.
On September 23, 2022, UWSN will celebrate their annual Day of Caring event, which brings in volunteers of all-ages from southern Nevada to assist with various causes throughout the community.
In this interview, Suddeth talked about her involvement with UWSN and why corporate giving is integral to the economic growth of Southern Nevada.
1. How did you start volunteering with United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) and what do you like the most about this organization?
When I joined Nevada Title Company in 1984, they offered a UWSN employee giving campaign. I immediately started donating and volunteering. Over the years I’ve increased my involvement in the organization. I’ve become a Tocqueville donor, board member, committee member and chair, and past Chairman of the Board. Currently I am a board member, treasurer and finance committee chair. I am proud to support the life-changing work of the United Way of Southern Nevada. For the past 65 years, UWSN has helped provide generations of southern Nevadans the opportunity to succeed. Their mission is simple and clear – to unite our community to improve people’s lives. They work hand in hand bringing donors, partners, and the community together to meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents. UWSN partners to meet critical needs including education, workforce development, and community support. In the last three years alone, more than 840,770 individuals have received crisis, food, health, housing and utility assistance from UWSN.
2. Why is corporate giving integral to the economic growth of Southern Nevada?
Our business community knows our success relies on the success of the communities where we live, work and play. This is the foundation of PNC’s Main Street Bank approach. We understand the importance of being embedded in the markets where we do business and catering to the uniqueness of each community we serve. And we are committed to delivering on our commitment to make a positive difference and to help all move forward financially. As we experience explosive growth in Southern Nevada, the strength of our community is directly aligned to our economic growth. When companies consider relocating to a new market, one of their top considerations is the quality of the community where their employees will live. For Southern Nevada to continue growing, it is critical that companies of all sizes support our community with their leadership, financial resources and employee engagement.
3. How can businesses support local nonprofits such as UWSN?
Through corporate investment, employee giving campaigns, and employee volunteerism Southern Nevada companies can ensure organizations such as UWSN can help the community for years to come. Individual donors make a significant philanthropic impact, and the collective efforts of an organization go even further in funding resources and programming to those who need it most. In addition to the impact on the community, corporate giving programs can boost a company’s reputation, helping make it a place where employees and consumers want to be. This is even more important for our youngest employees, part of Generation Z, which studies show seek socially responsible companies and employers more than previous generations.
4. How can students and young professionals start to get involved in the community and develop their philanthropy mindset?
While there is tremendous need in the community, it can be overwhelming to find a place to start. The United Way of Southern Nevada website makes it easy to get started by offering options for individual and group volunteer opportunities. Along with our annual United Way employee giving campaign, PNC provides 40 paid volunteer hours per year for eligible employees. If you are in school, you can participate in service-learning projects or join student organizations that support the community. Once you get started, you will find that you will not want to stop. Research shows helping others has numerous mental health benefits, including reduced stress and improved self-esteem. It can even help you live a longer, healthier life.
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