Spartanburg, S.C. — Candy Moore, senior vice president and Southeast community development manager for Wells Fargo in Atlanta, returned to her alma mater as speaker for the 119th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 14. Moore is a member of the Converse College Class of 1993 and the first African-American alumna to serve as the college’s commencement speaker.
“Converse is distinguished by dynamic, accomplished women, like Candy, who are passionate about advancing women and girls in their communities and professions,” said Converse President Betsy Fleming. “The Class of 2011 specifically requested that this year’s commencement speaker be an accomplished young alumna — a woman who reflects the ‘can do’ spirit of Converse both personally and professionally. Candy is an excellent role model for our graduates.”
Moore, who has been named to Who’s Who Black Atlanta, Atlanta’s 100 Most Influential African-American Women and Atlanta’s 100 Top Black Women of Influence, shared her personal and professional journey through her remarks — offering both poignant and humorous insight into her life experiences. She encouraged the Class of 2011 to begin forming a personal board of advisers who can offer life advice and support.
“The most influential women in the world have a board of advisers…you have to prepare to be great…you do not need to do it alone,” she said. Moore also challenged the graduates “not to take being knowledgeable, ambitious, attentive, creative, innovative, and interactive casually. More is expected of Converse women.”
“It was an honor to return to Converse College to deliver the 2011 commencement address,” added Moore. “Converse has set the bar high. I hope to empower our graduates to expect more of themselves, because more is expected of Converse women. I attribute much of who I am to my Converse education.”
As senior vice president and community development manager for Wells Fargo in Atlanta, Moore is responsible for the
company’s community lending, service and investment strategies and goals for Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
An active community volunteer, Moore serves on the boards of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and the Atlanta Business League, while serving previously on the boards of the United Way of the Central Carolinas and the South Carolina Board for Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic. She is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s 2012 class. Moore served on Converse College’s alumnae board for ten years and was the first African-American to serve as chair of the college’s Board of Visitors.
Candy Moore is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of The Links Inc., where she was among 50 women nationally selected as a member of the Scott Hawkins Leadership Institute (2010 – 2011) and serves as co-chair of the Fundraising Committee.
She has held leadership positions with Junior League in Charlotte, N.C., and is a PAC Committee Member with Junior League of Atlanta. Moore was co-leader of Wells Fargo’s 2010 Community Support/United Way Campaign and was 2010 Vice Chair for UNCF’s 27th Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and marketing, graduating cum laude, from Converse, and is also a graduate of the Retail Consumer Bank Associate Management Program.
Converse College, a women’s college located in Spartanburg, S.C., was named the #1 Best Value in the South by U.S.News & World Report and one of the top five colleges in S.C. by both Forbes and Washington Monthly. Founded in 1889, Converse is dedicated to advancing women for professional and personal success and to developing creative thinkers and doers who effect positive change in the world.
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