First Commonwealth Bankers Receive PBA Recognition

INDIANA, Pa. – Two members of the First Commonwealth Bank team are recipients of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s 2024 Future Under 40 Awards.

Larissa Murphy, advertising and digital content manager, and Eric Gavazzi, operations manager, were selected for the PBA’s Future Under 40 Award, which honors banking industry leaders, ages 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,” says 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. Murphy sits on several local boards, including for LifeChoices, a women’s medical clinic, and SeaChange Filmmakers and Storytellers. In October, she will be helping to host the bank’s first disability day which will welcome school students to spend a day learning how the bank works. Murphy also co-leads an employee resource group that provides a space for employees to find resources, friendship and professional development on their care-giving 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.

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 a dispute management platform. Additionally, he was instrumental in the implementation of robotic process automation software that allows the bank to perform repeatable tasks, using a script based platform, with significant improvements in efficiency and accuracy.

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 to promote health and wellness. He participates in First Commonwealth’s employee resource group and is active in the bank’s mentorship program.

Gavazzi has one son and lives in Indiana, Pa.

Murphy and Gavazzi received their awards Sept. 26 at the PA Bankers’ Young Professional Conference in Hershey, Pa.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.