For Tom Fitzgerald, growing up one of five children of a single mom served as one of the greatest lessons of his life.
In that situation, “you learn quickly about the importance of hard work and family preservation,” he says. “Instead of becoming a statistic, I decided to remain steadfast and accomplish things in my life.”
A Rhode Island College graduate who earned an MBA from Providence College, he is now the youngest vice president in the corporate banking group at Citizens Financial Group, managing a commercial loan portfolio in excess of $150 million. Over the last three years, he has originated more than $80 million in loans to local businesses.
Along the way, Fitzgerald also received as graduate certificate in finance from New England College of Finance and completed two Babson College leadership and development programs.
He says he’s been ranked as one of the top-producing commercial lenders at Citizens and has been awarded the bank’s distinction of “World Class Performer” three years in a row.
But his “most important accomplishment so far in my career has been helping finance Rhode Island companies supporting employment in this recessionary environment,” he said in his 40 Under Forty application.
In addition to a full professional plate, for the last eight years he has been mentoring underprivileged schoolchildren in the Boston area. He and a childhood schoolmate started a program in which students are provided with resources to learn about the importance of education and personal financial planning.
Fitzgerald also serves on the selection committee for the Champions in Action, a program sponsored by Citizens Bank and WJAR-TV NBC-10. The five-member committee selects local nonprofits each quarter to receive a $25,000 donation and public service announcement on NBC-10. •
