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While Courtney Meckes’s tenure at First Horizon Bank may read as fifteen years, the VP of benefits and wellbeing strategy leader says it’s been anything but static. Given the multiple roles she’s worked and the growth First Horizon has incurred in that decade and a half, the HR professional feels like she’s been part of a lot of impactful changes.
“I’ve had the opportunity to sit in about every HR seat there is,” Meckes explains. “I’ve grown my skillset both professionally and personally through being adaptable to change, and I’ve gotten the chance to work for a company that has undergone an incredible amount of transformation. That’s a new education every time, and you learn a lot about transition, evolution, and growth.”
In her own words…
Courtney Meckes shares the inherent value of wellbeing
At First Horizon, we believe that our associates’ wellbeing is the foundation for delivering exceptional value to our clients and our communities. Inspired by Winston Churchill’s words, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference,” our benefits and wellbeing strategy continually evolves to foster a culture where every associate feels supported, empowered and equipped to thrive, both professionally and personally.
By listening to our associates and adapting our benefits to meet their unique needs, we’re creating an environment where a positive attitude is not just encouraged, it’s enabled through thoughtful programs, resources and a commitment to holistic wellbeing. Every step forward in our strategy is designed to help our associates show up at their best, knowing their health, financial wellness and life outside work truly matter here.
As we innovate and grow, our approach to benefits and wellbeing reflects our promise: When our associates feel valued and supported, real positive change happens at work and beyond.
Meckes has been a guiding hand through that transition and has helmed multiple project leadership roles, particularly in HR technology and benefits over her tenure. She’s played a central role in implementing and upgrading HR systems, recognizing the importance of digital transformation in preparing the organization for the future. The VP emphasizes the ongoing review and investment in HR technology as essential for increasing efficiency in administering and reviewing benefit programs, ensuring that First Horizon remains competitive in attracting and retaining top talent.
For the past five years, Meckes has concentrated on benefits and wellbeing, where she has led efforts to review and enhance the bank’s offerings. The leader’s focus is twofold: supporting internal talent development and retention while leveraging external expertise to stay ahead of industry trends, especially in complex areas like pharmacy benefits.
“For an organization of our size, it’s important to find those external subject matter experts that help us keep our finger on the pulse,” the VP says. “Success for us means leveraging as much of our internal expertise as possible but reaching out when we know there are gaps to fill.”
Internally, Meckes says it’s critical for her and her team to always have data easily and readily accessible. Hearing from individual associates about their wants and needs is essential, but hard data is what sells leadership.
“Data is such a big deal for us,” Meckes says. “It helps us dig deep into our population and not just rely on anecdotal information. It helps us home in on what our population is managing and treating and where our claims fall in that alignment.”
In the wellness space, First Horizon is something of a trailblazer. The company’s had a formalized wellness program since the 1980s, though it has undergone significant change over the years. The bank’s WellnessFirst program partners with outside vendors to tailor its program and continually modify it based on what makes sense for employees, their families and the organization at large.
WellnessFirst has a significant footprint at First Horizon, and Meckes says regular programming and outreach continue to boost its participation. That’s incredibly important.
“We can talk about programming all day long, but I’m the one leading it,” Meckes says. “It means so much more if one of our bank tellers is talking about it to their colleagues. That’s the word of mouth that’s most impactful for us, and helps us provide great opportunities for our population. That’s what builds trust across an organization.”
Over the last fifteen years, Meckes’s leadership journey has included significant mentorship on both sides of the relationship. First Horizon has a formalized mentorship program, one Meckes says continues to pay off for her in building lasting relationships across the organization.
“Relationships, not only within HR, but across the organization, are what help you accomplish big things,” the VP says. “When you build that awareness and that trust, you realize you all have the same goal. For us in HR, we’re trying to make sure that everybody is successful in moving the organization in the right direction. I’ve spent a lot of time developing the right relationships, seeking out feedback, and taking the time to learn from my colleagues across the bank.”
On her own team, Meckes says she’s happy and relieved to be surrounded by experts who know more than she does. It’s underselling her own expertise, but the point is that the VP isn’t intimidated by crafting a team of experts around her because it makes her better at what she does. And when her internal team wants to tackle training on a new topic, she’s the first to offer her support.
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