Alietys Pineiro, 38

Alietys Pineiro started out at Bank of America as a part-time teller almost 20 years ago. Today she oversees 16 financial centers in the Fort Myers-Cape Coral market.

“I love the company,” she says. “I love the focus of the company and how consistent it is to deliver for its clients but also for its associates.”

Pineiro immigrated to the United States with her family from Cuba at age 15, and she’s always worked to make her late father proud. “He was selfless and always giving to everybody and impacting everyone,” she says. “I know he’s looking down and seeing that coming here and sacrificing everything for my education was worth it.”

Now Pineiro gets to have her own impact on others through her role at Bank of America. “There are challenges, just like in any job,” she says. “But I wake up every day excited, because I know that I have the power to really influence my associates to be better, to influence my associates to grow their careers, and to be there for our clients.”

Despite her longevity at the bank, Pineiro never wants to get too comfortable. “I make sure that I continue to learn and develop myself, so that in turn I can continue to develop my associates,” she says. “Yes, I have been here for 20 years. But I have to continue to invest in myself so in the next 20 years I can continue to make that positive impact on people.”

Determination is one of her trademarks, and she never wants to take the easy way out. “In my passion to deliver for people, I always want to make sure I’m doing everything I possibly can,” she says. “When the challenges get bigger, I just have to get better.”

Her dad always advised her to do the right thing even when nobody’s looking, and Pineiro lives that both at work and in her community service efforts. “He taught me that doing the right thing is not to receive recognition,” she says. “Doing the right thing is to make sure that I was living up to my values and my expectations.”

She remembers what it was like to grow up in Cuba and to come to a new country where she spoke little English. Her family had struggles, and now she wants to help others facing similar situations. “When I think about those moments, I want to give more, and I want to do more,” she says. “When I can deliver for the community, it’s making sure that I continue the legacy of helping people to become better and to achieve what they want.”