2019 Most Influential Women: Carlye Wannenmacher

SBJ photo by Jessica Rosa

In Her Words

Family: I am married to Phil Wannenmacher. We have two sons in college, Trey and Jake. Empty nesting is nice!
Words to live by: “Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” —Brené Brown
Reading list: “Dare to Lead,” by Brené Brown.
Dream dinner party guest: Ellen DeGeneres.
Favorite place to be: Table Rock Lake.
Childhood dream: Veterinarian.
Advice to other women: Find other like-minded women to share life with; you’re going to need them.
Biggest career obstacle: Reentering the workforce after allowing myself to be a stay-at-home mom for five years.

Carlye Wannenmacher has worked over the past 12 years to shine a spotlight on her employer. She says her efforts are paying off.

Now vice president of marketing for Guaranty Bank, Wannenmacher in 2007 was tasked with making the company’s name shine in the Springfield market.

“I have led the transformation of a 100-plus-year-old traditional bank brand, that was not widely known in our area, to a modern, technology-focused commercial bank brand,” she says.

In her time with Guaranty Bank, the marketing department has grown from just her to four employees with responsibilities that touch all areas of the company.

Last year, Wannenmacher and her staff participated in what she calls a “Super Bowl” level event for marketing professionals.

When Guaranty Bank bought Carthage-based Hometown Bank, Wannenmacher’s team worked over a six-month period to communicate with customers about the change. At the finale, Hometown Bank’s branches closed on a Friday and opened on a Monday with Guaranty Bank’s branding, a process that involved months of detail-oriented strategizing.

“This is the largest marketing project I have ever had to lead, and while I was incredibly stressed and overwhelmed at times, the successful outcome, sense of teamwork and feeling of accomplishment was well worth it.”

Outside the banking company, Wannenmacher has been active with the local chapter of the Association for Women in Communications, Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, Project Hope and other nonprofits.

For AWC, she’s served in a variety of roles, including president, secretary and treasurer.

“Mentoring women in this organization has been a very gratifying experience,” Wannenmacher says. “I’ve encouraged women to lean in and lead, take that next job opportunity or ask for that salary increase.”

Mitzie Zerr, a member of AWC and owner of Zerco Consulting LLC, recognizes Wannenmacher’s leadership is growing the industry networking group that serves some 70 women in communication positions.

“She has always been someone you can depend on when leadership assistance was needed,” Zerr says. “Her active membership, professional experience and foresight have been extremely beneficial in growing membership, developing educational programs and scheduling informative speakers for AWC.”

For the city of Springfield, Wannenmacher serves on the Mayor’s Commission on Human Rights and Community Relations, which investigates cases of alleged discrimination and examines human rights issues. Wannenmacher says the work has exposed her to different ways of life, and she now participates regularly in events such as the Martin Luther King. Jr. March and Celebration, Springfield Multicultural Festival and PrideFest.

“I have learned so much and have been pushed way outside my comfort zone,” Wannenmacher says. “It has been a wonderful and challenging experience.”