Marketing Executive Learned Essential Life Lessons at St. John’s

While a student at St. John’s University, Gloria Benfari ’05CCPS learned about the value of community service. Years later, she found Maspeth Federal Savings to be a company committed to the same goal. 

As Vice President and Marketing Director, Ms. Benfari is responsible for developing messaging strategies across the banking network while reinforcing its commitment to the Queens, NY, community. Founded in 1947 to help Queens residents—particularly those returning from World War II—establish roots in the community, Maspeth Federal Savings today manages $2.2 billion in assets through seven branches and a loan center. Except for a single branch in New Hyde Park, NY, all branches are based in Queens.

“Our culture is focused not just on providing banking services to our customers, but also on giving back to the communities in which we serve,” Ms. Benfari said. “That really resonates with me as a person, a mother, and a marketer. We are here to serve our communities very much in the way St. John’s is there to serve its students and community.”

Ms. Benfari’s position at Maspeth Federal Savings, which she started in April 2022, is the latest stop in a two-decade marketing and branding career that has included positions at Ameriprise Financial, Inc.; American Express; the tech firm AppSense (now Ivanti); and Cotton Incorporated, the nonprofit marketing arm of the cotton industry.

Her most recent position also represents a homecoming for the resident of Middle Village, NY. In 2023, Maspeth Federal Savings became an official bank of the University, partnering with St. John’s on athletic sponsorships, student internships and financial literacy seminars, and sustainability initiatives. Many of these programs were developed by Ms. Benfari, who graduated from the College of Professional Studies (now The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies) with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts and a minor in business administration.

“You never know where or how opportunities are going to happen,” Ms. Benfari said. “I get to work with my alma mater now, which is wonderful. We have built up this program to educate the next generation of St. John’s students in building better financial habits, including how to budget, what your credit score means, and more.”  

Ms. Benfari, a graduate of The Mary Louis Academy—located not far from the St. John’s Queens, NY, campus—was originally a journalism major. She switched to communication arts after taking a class led by Professor Thom McCarthy. Professor McCarthy, who died in 2020, inspired Ms. Benfari with his experience as an advertising and marketing professional and his enthusiasm for the subjects.

“I remember I took all of his courses because I loved what he was giving to the students,” Ms. Benfari recalled. “He brought the marketing and advertising world to life with his own experience.”

Ms. Benfari said her education at St. John’s helped her secure her first career-track position after college—at Cotton Incorporated—where she worked for five years before moving to Ameriprise. Eventually, she landed at American Express as Senior Manager of Global Content. She worked at American Express for four years before learning of the opportunity at Maspeth Federal Savings. 

“I was very happy at American Express and really was not looking for a job,” Ms. Benfari said. “But I got a call that my local community bank was looking for a marketing director. I asked myself, ‘Is this something I want?’ 

“Coming to community banking was an interesting possibility for me,” Ms. Benfari continued. “Ultimately, I decided to take the role because I felt I could make more of an impact with a smaller company than by continuing on a corporate trajectory.”   

The position at Maspeth also came with lifestyle advantages. With her commute reduced to 10 minutes, Ms. Benfari spends more time at home with her husband and 9-year-old son. 

“I think one of the biggest things I have learned is that even if you do not know it, opportunities are always around the corner,” she said.

Her son is a dedicated St. John’s fan who has already announced to his parents his eagerness to attend the University. “He is decked out in his Red Storm gear regularly,” Ms. Benfari said. “He jokes that he has already committed to St. John’s.”