The first thing you notice about Carmen Bartlett is her smile. But what the JN Money family will remember most is her passion for making the lives of those around her better.

As she prepares to call time on her tenure with The Jamaica National Group after 45 years, Bartlett, who is the regional manager of JN Money Services (JNMS) USA South East, notes that she feels a degree of satisfaction in having been able to help others, both in her daily work and in her charities.

“I am a people person,” she says. “I enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter where they are from. As long as I can impact their lives in some way I am happy.”

This trait has impacted how she interacts with customers who visit the JN Money location in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, and has endeared her to many.

“Most of the customers are like family to us because we treat them as such. We refer to them on a first name basis, with many coming here since we started, 21 years ago,” she explained.

In 1997, when the money store began operations, Bartlett, a mother of two, went ‘door-to-door’ to businesses along the 441 corridor to promote the JN Money Transfer brand, now rebranded JN Money.

“I remember sometimes our customers would call and say they were coming to the office after closing time because they needed to send funds. And I would wait until they came because I was determined to keep them connected with home,” she shares.

Although new to Lauderdale Lakes at the time, she did not isolate herself from the community. Rather, she became a part of the city and its culture. Soon, JN Money sponsored community events, mounted Christmas treats and attended church services.

Based on those contacts, she was also instrumental in establishing three additional JN-owned JN Money locations and a network of some 30 agents, a feat which made JN Money Transfer one of the most influential operators on the South Florida to Jamaican remittance corridor. She also played a major role in the opening of the JN Florida Overseas Representative Office.

“There were so many persons who played a role in helping us to be successful and also assisted in my personal development. And many of the persons I worked with made our team that much stronger,” she says.

One of them was Maxine Hinds, former sales and support manager.

“She always makes you feel comfortable around her. In my 13 years of working with her, I would say it has been awesome and a pleasure because of her work ethic and how she interacts with everyone,” Hinds recalls.

Horace Hines, general manager of JNMS explains that he has always admired Bartlett’s effervescent personality.

“I have known her for many years and have always appreciated her spirit and the fact that she is so pleasant and compassionate. She is always seeking to make the lives of others better and I wish her all the best as she embarks on her new journey,” he said.

Prior to taking up the regional manager role overseas, Bartlett was with the parent company for 24 years, where she distinguished herself in customer service. Prior to that, she worked with the Jamaica National Building Society. Professional work aside, however, it’s her charity work that Bartlett prizes.

“I used to give of my time to a number of community and charitable organisations and would organise Christmas treats for the various children’s homes as well,” she said.

Since 2008, she has led an annual medical mission to Jamaica which offers free health checks to residents in St James as well as her home community in Ketto, Westmoreland. She also does charity work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a non-government organisation that works to find a cure, or control cystic fibrosis.

“I have always wanted to carry on the legacy of my deceased parents, which was to help others who were less fortunate and when the opportunity presented itself, I went for it. It has been successful so far and from that we have adopted the City Mission Ketto Basic School,” she said

“My second charity, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is near and dear to my heart. My daughter, Lisa Simone, died of this chronic lung and digestive system disease. I have been an active member since 1997 and each year my team and I participate in the Great Strides Walk, an event that has been ongoing for the past 30 years, in which we raise over US$5,000 yearly. This year’s walk is scheduled for April 29 and I will be there,” she added.

Bartlett, who is an avid zumba dancer, has been married for 44 years and is a grandmother of two.

As for her retirement plans, she says:

“I am looking forward to spending more time with my grandchildren and working on my charities. I am passionate about helping others and I will now be able to devote more time to that goal.