Sunshine Sisters: Stacia Schrader a VP of SouthState Bank
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In this episode of Sunshine Sisters, host Karen Carmichael sits down with Stacia Schrader—community leader, arts advocate, and banking executive—for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the impact of investing in local culture.
Stacia shares her journey from growing up in Columbus, Ohio, to living her dream in New York City as a flight attendant with Trans World Airlines. Her career allowed her to travel the world, while also pursuing acting—including work on Spin City.
After the life-altering impact of September 11 attacks, Stacia made the decision to start over—eventually finding her home in St. Petersburg, where she has now lived for over two decades.
Stacia’s passion for connection led her deep into the local arts scene. Her involvement includes:
- Leadership with the St. Pete Arts Alliance
- Longtime board service with Florida CraftArt (celebrating 75 years!)
- Founding support and advocacy for the SHINE Mural Festival
She emphasizes that strong communities create strong economies, highlighting how banks and businesses thrive when they actively support local nonprofits, artists, and small businesses.
As Chair of the St Petersburg Public Arts Commission, Stacia has spent over a decade helping shape the city’s cultural landscape. Her work ensures:
- Public art is preserved and maintained long-term
- Taxpayer dollars are used responsibly
- Art reflects and helps heal the city’s history
She also discusses meaningful upcoming projects like the Courageous 12 monument, reinforcing how public art can honor the past while inspiring the future.
At SouthState Bank, Stacia brings a relationship-first approach—supporting creatives, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs with financial guidance tailored to their needs. Her philosophy is simple but powerful:
“We will only be as successful as our community is financially fit.”
Stacia channels her energy into leaving a lasting legacy through community impact. Her story is a testament to:
- Reinvention at any stage of life
- The power of civic engagement
- The importance of supporting the arts as an economic driver
🔗 Learn More
- 🎨 Explore Florida CraftArt: https://floridacraftart.org/
- 🌇 Discover St. Pete Arts Alliance: https://stpeteartsalliance.org/
- 🏦 Learn about SouthState Bank: https://www.southstatebank.com/
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