What a year it’s been.

It's official! uBack has partnered with Bank of America to unite mobile banking with mobile giving. 

At uBack, we love it when companies go above and beyond when it comes to giving back. It pushes us all to be better, to do better and to aim higher. We've got those who push us professionally. We need the same motivation philanthropically — all of us do. 

Hard to believe, but the holidays are almost upon us. Most companies use this time of year to say thanks — to their employers, their customers or both. This year, we've got an idea for you that goes beyond the standard Starbucks gift card. 

That's right, friends: We are getting ready to hit the stage at the first-ever Southeast Fintech Venture Conference, taking place in our hometown of Charlotte on Nov. 20! 

Lauren Koontz is the executive vice president and chief development officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the sixth largest YMCA in the nation, with an annual budget of over $100 million.

Jennifer Levine Hartz is the president of Corporate Hartz, an Atlanta-based company that provides corporate social responsibility consulting services and personal philanthropy development. In other words, it’s her job to help people and companies do more good in the world. Not a bad way to spend your working hours, in our opinion.

For those of you who get our "A Christmas Story" reference in the headline, thank you. Creativity on a Friday afternoon is no small feat. Now, on to this award...

Linda Lockman-Brooks is the president and principal of Lockman-Brooks Marketing Services in Charlotte, N.C., someone who knows how to build a brand for products and services. But that’s just the tip of an extensive personal and professional resume. 

It’s hard to believe but we are once again looking at a catastrophic hurricane.