People

Palm Beach State College employee Jessica Bender is the recipient of the 2019 National Association of Campus Card Users Distinguished Service Award.

The award, sponsored by PERSONA Campus, is presented annually to recognize an individual who has advanced the industry, exhibited entrepreneurial spirit, is an active member of NACCU, is actively involved in research and development, and who is active in the industry through serving on advisory boards and/or actively educating through presentations and sessions.

Bender, the auxiliary services and College card manager, has worked with leaders to reduce costs while increasing campus services and revenue. She was instrumental in the conversion of the campus transaction system at Palm Beach State to a new platform to further control institution expenses and provide enhanced services.

“Jessica has mentored and shaped many of the talented leaders in our industry today,” said Jim Primovic, PERSONA Campus national sales manager. “She is a wise counselor, a standard bearer of integrity and highly respected in our field. As a servant leader, she always shines the spotlight away from herself, while promoting the development of others and the profession as whole. She has been out front in the development of programs that have helped our members thrive and continue to thrive for years to come.”

According to association administrators, her work on the Professional Development committee with the development of the NACCU New Professionals Institute, webinars and other initiatives and events help to ensure the success of members and the industry. She has also helped lead the association by serving on the Board of Directors for six years in a variety of roles including president elect, president and immediate past president. She also served on the Executive Director Search committee to replace Lowell Adkins upon his retirement.

Since her retirement from the NACCU board this past year, Bender continues to serve the association in a variety of ways that enrich the lives of its members, currently as the 2019 conference chair.

Bender was presented the award during the 26th annual NACCU conference in Hartford last month. For more information, visit www.naccu.org.