Pamela Cross thrives on passion to connect, build and lead
Synovus Senior Community Development Manager and African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG) Chair Pamela Cross is passionate about connecting people and organizations to encourage growth, diversity, equity and inclusion. She credits her career success to pursuing higher education and her inherent determination on the job. Cross even tapped into her competitiveness, which helped her achieve high school track and field records that have yet to be broken.
In 2023, after being presented with the opportunity to lead the AAERG, she was honored and aware of the time and effort it would take to hold the position. During her transition into the role, she always focused on uplifting team members in their careers and lives. “We’re looking at multiple ways our team members can invest in themselves,” she explains. “That could be mentally, financially, personally and professionally. We’ll create opportunities to help our members learn, grow and develop their careers while staying true to their cultures.”
Being naturally driven with a “can-do" personality, she is no stranger to pushing herself outside her comfort zone. “I’m a natural born advocator and activator with compassion, integrity, discipline and internal drive,” she explains. Her drive was planted in her while watching her parents work with purpose and determination.
Cross’ tenacity comes from her father, a farmer and Dublin, Georgia’s, first Black owner and operator of a residential and commercial roofing company. She inherited her athleticism from her mother and still embodies the “never give up” spirit of an athlete.
“I’m a connector and an activator. Give me an assignment, and my wheels will start turning. I’ll start thinking, ‘How can I materialize this and bring it into reality?’”
As a three-star, high school athlete dominating in track, Cross also played basketball and softball. While a torn ACL in high school slowed down her athletic career, she continued to excel in academics. She earned her undergraduate business degree from Atlanta Metropolitan State College, where she established the Alvin C. Cross Scholarship Fund 10 years ago in memory of her father. She also received a master’s degree in community, social and economic development from Case Western Reserve University as a Congressional Fellow.
Following college, Cross built a diverse career path that allowed her to focus on her passion as a community development professional, where she seeks to serve marginalized and disenfranchised communities.
She accepted her current position at Synovus in November 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered in-person activities.
Even during the pandemic, she connected Synovus team members with community organizations to make an impact in the bank’s five-state footprint (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee) with a special focus on her assigned markets across Georgia.
Cross created and managed virtual financial education workshops with nonprofits such as The Scholarship Academy and Future Seekers. “All the organizations I support and partner with serve underserved residents and communities,” she explains. Cross sits on the boards of the Atlanta Metropolitan State College Foundation, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Mercy Housing Southeast and several others.
“I’m a connector and an activator. Give me an assignment, and my wheels will start turning. I’ll start thinking, ‘How can I materialize this and bring it into reality?’” she admits.
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