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Meet Your Neighbor: Meet The Neighbor – Diane Fearon
By Callie Thomas
There aren’t many times you can actually say something is a “sure thing,” but with 89135 resident Diane Fearon as the newest CEO of the Communities In Schools of Nevada (CISN), you can bank on her success.
When the board appointed Fearon as CEO of the organization, they knew that her wealth of knowledge as a business executive would take CISN to new heights. Her business acumen includes being the founding President and CEO of Bank of George, where she took the company from $21 million in capital to $108 million in assets during her tenure. She has also served as a director for the bank, chaired the bank’s Loan Committee, Community Reinvestment Act Committee as well as other executive and management groups.
From her career beginnings in 1988 as a Loan Adjustment Department Manager to becoming an Executive Vice President for Bank of Nevada before joining Bank of George, Fearon has also played a part in developing partnerships between the private and non-profit sector. She’s dedicated her time and expertise serving as Vice Chairman of Habitat for Humanity, board member with the American Diabetes Association and as a committee member with Shade Tree and Nevada Public Radio. So, to Fearon, taking this next step with CISN was just another way to give back and making a tangible difference.
CISN currently supports nearly 25,000 students across 40 school sites in Southern Nevada and Northeastern Nevada, providing critical services such as medical and dental care, mental health counseling, food, clothing, tutoring, career exploration, academic development and other programs. CISN also advocates for at-risk students at partner schools. All of this adds up to decreasing the dropout rate and increasing graduation rates, which means a higher economic benefit to the community. Diane Fearon talks about her new career with CISN, what motivates her and a look at the person behind the success.
Why did you choose to become a part of CISN?
“Reducing our high school dropout rate is critical to the future of Nevada and it’s easy to get discouraged by how far we need to go. I’m encouraged by the talented and dedicated folks coming together to make progress. It’s also extraordinary to represent an organization that does so much with modest means, and has the hard data measurements to back up our fantastic ROI. For every $1 invested, we return $11.60 in economic benefit to our community. The prior banker in me loves that!”
Any experiences so far you’d like to share about CISN?
“Since joining I’ve had the chance to meet and begin to work with a significant number of committed and capable volunteers at all levels who are making a positive difference in the educational outcomes for Nevada K-12 students.”
Why do you feel it is important to give back?
“I think there are generally two types of individuals in the world – those who multiply the potential of those around them, and those who diminish the potential of those around them. I strive to always be a multiplier.”
Of your many career accomplishments what stands out?
“I would have to say being named the CEO of CISN positions me for tremendous professional and personal growth while enabling me to have a great deal of satisfaction in being involved in improving the future of Nevada’s students – who are our future.”
Speaking of personal growth, is there something you’d like to share that others might not know?
“I’m the proud mother of four; my adult step-children, Natasha and Alex with husband Mike Majewski and my two nine-year old cats, Scout and Rudy.”
Any favorite hobbies?
“I love to travel and have had the chance to visit some fascinating destinations such as the base camp at Mt. Everest in Tibet, China, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Costa Rica, Croatia, Italy, England and Portugal…and that’s just the beginning!”
Any words of wisdom you live by?
“Probably John F. Kennedy’s quote – ‘to those who much is given, much is expected.’”
