USA Funds Staff Profile: Translating ‘Techie’ Talk to Benefit Customers

Barb Davies’ job as USA Funds^® product market strategist requires her to speak the language of the technologically savvy as well as the non-technologically savvy to help ensure that USA Funds-supported electronic products and services meet customers’ needs.

Fortunately, she has a range of financial-aid experience that includes work both inside and outside of the world of technology.

“I’ve discovered I have a gift,” Davies says. “I can talk to the sales staff to identify our customers’ needs and then translate the information to the ‘techies.’”

Davies has held her current position since 2003. She focuses on projects such as USA Funds’ customer-relationship-management tool, the USA Funds Connection^® online portal for school-customers, and USA Funds’ online-learning platform and online meeting manager.

Her responsibilities range from training staff on using USA Funds’ products and services, to working with the research-and-development team of USA Funds’ guarantor-servicer to help ensure that the products address customers’ needs. In 2005 Davies trained 100 members of USA Funds’ and USA Funds Services’ staff on the customer-relationship-management tool alone.

“I support our staff to help keep them informed and responsive,” Davies says, “and hopefully I’m helping to bring innovative ideas about products and services to the customer and also helping speed the process of making those products available.”

Before her current role, Davies worked in sales positions for USA Funds Services, USA Group, Bank One and Southwest Student Services Corp. She also has experience working in two campus financial-aid offices, as director at Central Arizona College in Coolidge, Ariz., and as a staff member at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

“My job allows me to blend my technical ability with my communications skills,” Davies says.

The Nebraska native has been based in Arizona for nearly 20 years. Davies holds a bachelor’s degree in management and human resources from UNK and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

When not working she spends time with her family, including three children, and on volunteer work for the local community education department and preschool. Her volunteer work includes assisting in the classroom, serving on a parent-advisory committee, training education staff, and assisting with school events. Davies says she is proud that USA Funds shares her interest in community involvement.

She cites the satisfaction she felt when she learned that USA Funds awarded two $1,500 college scholarships to students in her area through the USA Funds Scholars program. The scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors from high schools selected by USA Funds in states — including Arizona — where USA Funds has offices or where USA Funds serves as the designated guarantor of federal student loans.

“It’s good to know I work for an organization with that level of commitment to the community,” Davies says.