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Honoring 200 Years of KeyBank: Empowering Communities and the Next Generation

KeyBank is proudly celebrating 200 years of business! As a cornerstone of Northeast Ohio, KeyBank has played a vital role in helping individuals, families, and businesses grow and thrive. From its deep community roots to its continued commitment to innovation and local impact, KeyBank’s legacy reflects two centuries of trust, partnership, and progress.

“We invest in our community, we are nothing without them,” says Julius Paradise, Vice President of Records Management at KeyBank. After more than 30 years with the company, Julius’s words capture the essence of KeyBank’s 200-year mission: building trust, opportunity, and prosperity through partnership. That same spirit fuels KeyBank’s relationship with Saint Martin’s Corporate Work Study Program, where students gain real-world experience that helps shape their futures.

Julius has proudly served as a Corporate Work Study Supervisor for 11 years and currently mentors three Saint Martin students. His senior student, Layshawn ’26, has been a Student Associate at KeyBank for all four years of high school. Saint Martin students on Julius’s team support the Records Department by managing key records, organizing materials, and ensuring accuracy in daily operations. Along the way, they gain hands-on experience in collaboration, organization, and professional communication, skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

“As long as I believe in them, they believe in themselves,” Julius shares when discussing the impact CWS has had on KeyBank. Julius understands the value of this partnership more than most. He began his own journey at KeyBank as an intern when he was just 15 years old. “My experience is a full-circle moment for me,” Julius reflects. “Now, my students are walking a similar path, gaining the same real-world experience that helped shape my career. It’s rewarding to see them grow in confidence and professionalism, just as I once did.”

As KeyBank celebrates this historic milestone, Julius can’t help but think of what the next 200 years could hold, and how his students are part of that future. His goal is not only to teach them workplace skills but also to help them see their own potential. “I hope to see my students get rewarded for the hard work they do here,” Julius shares. He adds that being a good supervisor means more than giving direction — it requires understanding and patience. “You have to be patient with the students, but with patience comes reward.”

As KeyBank looks ahead to its next 200 years, Julius sees his students as part of that future. “You have to be patient with the students,” he says. “But with patience comes reward.” Through leaders like Julius and partnerships that empower young people, KeyBank continues its legacy of investing in people, potential, and the promise of what’s next.