This month’s member spotlight is a feature on C Bradford Banks! C Bradford has been a resident of Vermont for 10 years and is based in Burlington. He works in the finance and insurance sector as a Licensed Insurance Professional with a Wall Street background.
He is also the owner of Elevated Designs, where he specializes in a wide range of personal insurance services, including health, life, long-term care, dental, vision, disability income, and Medicare Advantage and Supplemental plans. To learn more about C Bradford’s work, visit planenroll.com/?purl=CBradford-Banks or connect with him at linktr.ee/C.Bradford_Banks.
Tell us a bit about your background before arriving in VT and what brought you to the state.
I was born in Beacon, New York. About 110 north of Manhattan. I’m one of 10 children. I started visiting Vermont back in 2007, when my first son, Dior, was born. Since my son’s older sister, LA-Aja, was still in school, I would travel back and forth between NY and VT, spending 15 days in each state. This went on until 2015, that’s when my oldest daughter graduated from high school. I moved to VT in December 2015. My family grew by three. Tianna, Vivica, and Simeon joined us. I was blessed with a career early on in life. I started working on Wall Street in 2000 and then brought those talents to Main Street, Vermont.
How did you get into your career?
My career fell into my lap. Yet another blessing. I was working as a land surveyor in Cold Spring, NY. And one cold winter day, we were working in Garrison, NY, at an estate that was having trees removed so it could have an unobstructed view of West Point. As I worked outside in the cold and snow, he came out to speak with us, and he was flanked by his butler, who was holding a tray of hot chocolate. And as we talked, he asked me if I was happy with my career, and I said, honestly, no, but it pays the bills, and I was attending college at night to better myself. Then I added that I would love to be in his position, wearing a Louis Vuitton robe with a butler standing behind on his side. I asked him what he did for a living, and he replied to me that he was a Wall Street broker, and it made me immediately think back to when I was a kid playing office and walking around with a briefcase. He noticed me smiling and asked what I was thinking about, and I told him. He then asked his butler to get his wallet. He returned with it, and the gentleman handed me his business card and asked if I ever wanted a change in careers to call him. I thanked him and went back to work.
A couple of weeks later, I called him, and he set up an interview with the company he worked for, called Emmerson Bennett & Associates. A couple of days before the interview, my boss at my current job reprimanded me in front of the entire office for something I didn’t do, and once he was informed that someone else did it, he apologized in private. That did not sit well with me, so the following morning, while we were gathering around for the morning meeting, I took the opportunity to call him out on his behavior and added that I had no problem being reprimanded if I made a mistake. I also mentioned that he could have pulled me to the side. But instead, he decided to embarrass me in front of the whole company. I ended up saying to him, “Had you apologized to me the same way you screamed at me in front of the entire company, I would have continued working here.” So, I resigned on the spot and left.
Three days later, I had my interview, and I thought I had a leg up. When I walked in, more than 50 people were ahead of me, and I was thrown off. I asked the receptionist how many people were being interviewed, and she said over 200 people answered the ad in the paper. The excitement left my body instantly. At that point, my optimism was heading south and fast. Then I began to get nervous. My name was finally called, and I walked into the boardroom, where seven men sat at a table, and I began to tremble. They could tell, and they said Take a deep breath and read from the paper. It was three or four lines, and I messed up twice. It was at this point that I knew I blew it. I placed the paper back on the table and thanked them for their time. Before I could turn around, they told me I was hired, and I was shocked.
I later found out that they hire over 500 people a month. And most don’t make it through the first couple of days. The hours were from 8:30 to 6 pm if you were a cold caller/broker trainee. I was put on a team of 25 callers who were assigned to a guy named Greg Toll. We were trained by a gentleman named John Clancy. It was grueling work-hundreds of cold calls a day, but I was determined to succeed. The pay was $300 a week. I was determined to learn the business from top to bottom quickly so I could provide for my family.
Why are you a member of the Vermont Professionals of Color Network?
I was working with my new mentor, and he suggested I check it out, so I did my diligence and decided to join. I love the fact that people of color are lifting one another. Reminds me of something an old colleague said, “each one teaches one.” And that is what resonated with me as I did my research on VTPOC.
What aspects of life in VT do you find most fulfilling? What about your professional life here stands out to you?
What stands out the most is helping educate people in my community and helping them become financially literate.
Looking back, what advice would you have appreciated receiving about being a professional of color in VT before you arrived?
Looking back, it would have been helpful to know about this program and understand how to network here.
What are some challenges that you’ve faced on a professional level since living in VT?
Entrance to barrier. Breaking the stereotype of not being a legitimate or capable trusted advisor.
Can you share any strategies or resources that have helped you overcome these challenges?
I orchestrated several strategies. The first was hanging flyers and posters in local businesses that have my picture, contact details, and a QR code that points to my onboarding website. Next, I had shirts made that had ask me about Medicare on the front and the same QR on the back. Next, I volunteered my time in nursing homes in Chittenden County. And lastly, my church congregation allows me to speak.
Tell us about the work you’re currently doing and what drives you in your profession!
Currently, it’s open enrollment for healthcare, and Vermont Blue Advantage and United Healthcare have stopped providing Medicare in Vermont. So, thousands of Vermonters’ Medicare coverage will end at the end of the year. Also, because of the government shutdown and the tax credits not being extended, tens of thousands of Vermonters will see their insurance premiums double. So, I am trying to help as many people as I can. Hopefully, through VTPOC and word of mouth, my name will get to the people who need it the most.
What future opportunities do you see for your industry, particularly in the context of the state?
It’s difficult to navigate and have visibility when it comes to my industry. When a new administration brings new rules and laws. However, I can acclimate in real- time.
In your opinion, how can VT better support its BIPOC residents, both professionally and personally?
Bridging the gap with the social divide. More importantly, allocating funds for this program and others like it. Provide a platform so all Vermonters can see US for our talents and attributes, not our color.
Are there other things (events/opportunities/jobs/etc) you’d like to share with the VT BIPOC community?
For the past eight years, I have participated in the Great Cycle Challenge. It’s a nonprofit organization to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research. I also volunteer for the Special Olympics fall and summer games. And next February, I will be doing my fourth penguin plunge. https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/CBradfordBanks
Have you had any mentors or support networks in VT? How have they
impacted your journey?
I have virtual mentors that I can bounce ideas off. None in Vermont. They continue to help guide me after all these years.
Can you share an experience in VT that highlighted your cultural identity?
One recent experience was a young boy who came up to me on Church Street and asked me if I was important because he had seen my posters in four different places.
What role does community play in your life here, and how have you engaged with the local BIPOC community?
The community is a pivotal part of my life here in Vermont, especially my church congregation. I have come to faith since I’ve moved here, and that is a debt I could never repay. One recent engagement was when I was giving blood; I was informed that I was the only black person to donate at that facility. So, I started a social media campaign to educate people of color that donating to help save not only lives, but also our brothers and sisters around the United States, because Sickle Cell Anemia is more common in people of African descent.
Can you share a defining moment in your life that shaped your professional journey?
A defining moment for me was passing my Series 7 exam and becoming a licensed Wall Street broker.
What aspects of your culture do you see reflected in the Vermont community, and what aspects do you feel are missing?
I personally feel that people of color are seen in a negative light before being given a chance to get ahead of some stereotypes.
What advice would you give to young BIPOC professionals starting their careers in Vermont?
The advice I give is to establish a relationship with Jesus. Acknowledge Him in all ways. Starting with that foundation will only strengthen your ability to defy the rules of gravity.
How do you balance your professional life with personal interests and self-care?
My work–life balance has been shaped by early responsibilities that required me to adapt quickly. Becoming a father at nineteen meant I had to learn how to divide my attention between family, work, and personal life. This was not always easy, as the demands of each often overlapped, creating tension and challenges. I discovered that no one can be perfect at managing every responsibility equally, so I focused on setting boundaries and making sacrifices where necessary. For much of that time, family and work took precedence, while my social life became less of a priority.
A significant turning point came in 2008 when I began working remotely. This change provided me with greater flexibility and control over my schedule, allowing me to dedicate more time to both family and social connections. Through this experience, I learned that balance is not about dividing time evenly but about giving the right amount of attention to each area of life based on priorities and values. Remote work ultimately gave me the freedom to achieve a healthier balance, enabling me to fulfill my responsibilities while also finding personal fulfillment.
