Sandy Spring Bank Executive Honored with Washington Business Journal HR Impact Award

Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President Gary Fernandes was recently recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a 2022 HR Impact Award honoree. Fernandes is one of three human resources executives who were chosen based on the specific, tangible impact they’ve made on their workplace in the last year. They also have a track record of using their role to make their offices productive, creative and safe environments.

“Gary led us through three strategic acquisitions – including one during the peak of COVID — that expanded our geographic footprint and grew our employee base from 700 to nearly 1,200 people. With that kind of rapid growth, there are complex HR considerations to navigate. Gary’s leadership and expertise have been a tremendous asset to our company,” said President and CEO Dan Schrider. “He is the ultimate advocate for all of our employees, and we are proud to see him recognized for his impressive contributions.”

Fernandes was a steward in ensuring that Sandy Spring Bank employees were supported as much as possible during the pandemic by working closely with his team to develop new benefit programs such as enhanced personal leave, COVID hardship leave and vaccine leave options. Employees utilized over 5,700 hours of these new additional leave benefits last year.

In 2021, Fernandes also took feedback captured through employee surveys and implemented change in a number of ways: an enhanced FMLA benefit, more casual days, and a new employer-paid benefit that protects employees and their entire family through the Allstate Identity Protection Program.

To learn more about joining our remarkable workplace and to view our open positions, please visit www.sandyspringbank.com/careers. 

Learn more about Gary Fernandes, Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President. »