Two First Commonwealth Leaders Receive PA Bankers Association Recognition

INDIANA, PA (September 20, 2024) ― Two members of the First Commonwealth Bank team were named recipients of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s 2024 Future Under 40 Awards.

   

Larissa Murphy, Advertising and Digital Content Manager, and Eric Gavazzi (guh-VAH-zee), Operations Manager, were selected for the PBA’s Future Under 40 Award, which honors banking industry leaders, aged 40 years and younger, who have made a tremendous impact on their institution, the community and the industry. This year, four individuals from PBA member banks were honored for the Future Under 40 Awards.

“We are proud of Larissa and Eric’s recognition for this impressive PA Bankers’ award,” said Jane Grebenc, President and Chief Revenue Office for First Commonwealth Bank. “Both are very deserving of the award, not only because of their substantial contributions here at First Commonwealth and commitment to improving the financial lives of our neighbors and their businesses, but also their significant and meaningful service to our communities.”

Murphy joined the First Commonwealth marketing and communications team in 2010 and leads the marketing strategies to help promote the First Commonwealth’s banking solutions and mission. She has had recent success with leading the advertising strategy to grow the Bank’s digital checking account-openings, including developing the advertising creative campaign and strategy.

Over her 13 years at First Commonwealth, Murphy has been active in the Indiana community, sitting on several local boards, including the Board of Directors for LifeChoices, a women’s medical clinic, and SeaChange Filmmakers and Storytellers. In October, she will be helping to host the Bank’s first-ever Disability Day which will welcome school students to spend a day learning how the bank works. Murphy also co-leads an employee resource group, Supporting Parents and Caregiver Employees (SPACE), which provides a space for employees to find resources, friendship and professional development on their caregiving journey.  She is a caregiver to her husband, Ian, who lives with a traumatic brain injury.

Murphy and Ian have three children and live in Indiana, PA.

Gavazzi joined First Commonwealth in 2006 and has spent 18 years in operations, serving in Loan Operations, Deposit Operations and Logistical Operations. He was pivotal in implementing various technology platforms to better streamline processes and improve departmental efficiencies over the years, including playing a critical role in a full, bank-wide systems conversion in 2014. One of his most-recent accomplishments is the launch of First Commonwealth’s Reg. E dispute management platform for which he transitioned the team from a manual dispute process to a fully integrated, customer-facing dispute management program significantly reducing First Commonwealth’s losses and allowing better visibility into each dispute. Additionally, he was instrumental in the implementation of RPA (robotic process automation) software that allows the bank to perform repeatable tasks, using a script based platform, with significant improvements in efficiency and accuracy.

In the community, Gavazzi is committed to his passion for wellness and fitness and wakes up at 4 a.m. to train athletes attending his Crossfit Affiliate, which also regularly works with many nonprofit/community service groups in the area to promote health and wellness. Additionally, he participates in First Commonwealth’s SPACE (Supporting Parents and Caregiver Employees) program, which provides a forum for parents and caregivers to seek advice from those that have experienced it before them. Gavazzi also is active in the bank’s mentorship program, both as a mentee and mentor.

Gavazzi has one son and lives in Indiana, Pa.

Murphy and Gavazzi will receive their awards at the PA Bankers’ Young Professional Conference Awards Luncheon, Sept. 26, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

 

PA Bankers has been bringing banks and bankers together for more than 125 years to learn, grow, serve and engage with their peers, communities and lawmakers. The association has built a strong reputation as a leading advocate for pro-banking policies at the state and federal levels, as well as the delivery of quality education, products and services for banks of all sizes and their employees.

 

About First Commonwealth Financial Corporation

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF), headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is a community bank committed to its mission of improving the financial lives of its neighbors and their businesses. First Commonwealth operates 124 branches throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio and also has business banking centers in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Cleveland, Canton, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. First Commonwealth, through subsidiaries First Commonwealth Bank and First Commonwealth Insurance Agency, provides a full range of commercial and retail banking services, including mortgage, wealth management and insurance solutions, along with equipment financing and SBA and indirect lending. For more information about First Commonwealth or to open an account today, please visit www.fcbanking.com.

 

Media Contact:
Ron Wahl
724-463-6806
RWahl@fcbanking.com