Kenneth McAllister, a graduate of Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), was recently named Director of Business Services for Jax Federal Credit Union, which serves members across Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Baker and Nassau Counties.

In his new role, Kenneth is responsible for the continued development and implementation of products and services for commercial members, such as commercial mortgages, company vehicle loans, business lines of credit and equipment loans. Previously, he held the position of Branch Vice President for VyStar Credit Union.

Kenneth graduated from FSCJ in 2015 with an Associate of Arts (AA) Degree in Business Administration and Management.

Kenneth became interested in the financial services industry because it was “the perfect combination of people and numbers. I liked math and science.” The financial services sector allows Kenneth to positively impact the lives of people. For example, his work helped people get a first credit card, home or car, all with the education required to make smart financial choices. As Kenneth’s role has evolved, he helps maintain and grow businesses.

Kenneth enjoys the industry because of its constantly changing environment which requires progressive learning. When he entered the industry, Kenneth taught himself a great deal about interest rates and loans. He also mastered the skill of talking to customers about their finances, which initially challenged his comfort zone. Now, Kenneth sees his career choice as one that’s generated happiness and has provided a meaningful career. He encourages those seeking to enter the financial services industry to understand themselves and seek a field that is interesting and “goes beyond chasing a dollar.” Kenneth exemplifies selecting a career pathway and setting goals to achieve success — all of which was accomplished using opportunities and resources in Northeast Florida.

Sean O’Neill is a third-year student at Florida State University, who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. As a graduate of the St. Johns County’s Creekside High School, Sean has taken advantage of multiple internship opportunities over recent years. These internships have all occurred in Jacksonville, at Fortune 500 companies such as Citibank and Deutsche Bank, along with local Jacksonville start-ups like OnDefend. These internships were focused on cybersecurity, one of the fastest growing fields globally, and helped Sean to learn valuable skills that can’t be taught in the classroom.

Internships are highly beneficial work-based learning opportunities. Sean is able to apply what he has learned in the classroom to real-world situations and gain hands on experience from seasoned industry professionals. These experiences have proven extremely valuable for Sean, who states, “With the training and experience I have gained through school and internships, I feel very confident in my skills and abilities as a cybersecurity professional and look forward to future opportunities throughout my career.”

Sean has proven himself to be a skilled contributor to the workforce, garnering praise from colleagues and industry experts. His LinkedIn profile features this quote from a former supervisor: “Sean worked as an intern for me over the summer. He showed true leadership skills, quickly grasped the cyber security skills to have a successful career in the future and was a true asset to the company even as an intern.” From the knowledge gained through his collegiate studies and internships, to the cybersecurity industry certifications and other independent training, he has generated a wealth of experience to prepare him for his future career as a cybersecurity professional within the financial services sector.