Since 1981, Education Week has been the cornerstone national resource for K-12 news and information with the mission to make sure that every child in this country has access to a high-quality education. When Michele Givens joined the organization in 2001 as General Manager, she understood the multiple streams of revenue that Education Week generates. In 2016, when she was appointed President and CEO, she knew that they needed a bank to understand their diverse financial needs.
In 2018, Education Week selected Sandy Spring Bank as their financial banking partner. “It’s important for your banker to understand what makes your organization unique and what drives your success.” Givens stated. “Having a banker who takes the time to get to know you is important. It’s valuable to have a bank that’s responsive.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Education Week heard about the CARES Act, in particular the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). “We realized that this was a time-sensitive moment, so I reached out and expressed our interest to Sandy Spring Bank and they stayed in close touch with us,” she stated. “The team helped us, and we applied and received our loan in a timely manner.”
“I’ve had conversations with other CEOs who did not have as fortunate a situation with their banks, and none were banking with Sandy Spring Bank,” she continued, “some weren’t even getting responses from their banks… they were not even picking up the phone.”
Givens stated, “Sandy Spring Bank is large enough to offer a variety of sophisticated products and services, yet small enough so that you actually know the people and they know you, too.”
“Every organization needs a great bank. Sandy Spring Bank has been a perfect fit for Education Week.”