Alumni Spotlight: Susan Crawford Pilon, Class of 2001

25 years of friendships, leadership, and staying connected.

If you've met Susan Crawford Pilon, chances are you've been greeted with her big smile and warm personality. A proud member of the Leadership St. Pete Class of 2001, Susan has been part of the LSP community for 25 years, building friendships, giving back, and staying involved along the way.

And if you ask her what makes LSP so special, she won't hesitate to tell you: it's the people.

Building Relationships That Last

Susan is a Senior Financial Consultant at Manning & Napier, where she helps families turn their financial success into a path toward their dreams.

For Susan, it's about much more than managing investments. It's about understanding people, building trust, and helping families create a legacy that lasts.

One thing people might not realize about her work? Human behavior is often the biggest challenge.

Fear and emotion can lead people to make financial decisions that aren't necessarily in their best interest. Susan believes education, communication, and understanding someone's relationship with money are just as important as understanding the investments themselves.

She jokes that a minor in psychology might have come in handy!

25 Years of LSP Connections

Susan's LSP experience began in 2001, and some of her favorite memories are from the very beginning.

She recalls the diversity seminar as one of the most meaningful experiences of her class year. It was an opportunity for classmates to be vulnerable, share their stories, and truly get to know one another.

Those connections stuck.

Susan Robertson, her roommate at opening retreat, became one of her dearest friends. Twenty-five years later, they've shared countless milestones and life experiences, alongside many of their fellow classmates.

And the Class of 2001 is still showing up!

Whether it's attending alumni events, reconnecting over breakfast, joining a Krewe, or unexpectedly running into a classmate around town, Susan loves that the relationships formed through LSP continue to be part of everyday life.

Her involvement didn't stop at graduation, either. Susan spent seven years serving on the LSP Planning Committee, helping shape the program and getting to know even more incredible people along the way. She continues to attend LSPAA events and enjoys meeting alumni from newer classes.

For Susan, LSP is one of those rare experiences that creates an immediate connection, even with someone you've just met.

Lessons in Leadership

One lesson from LSP that Susan still uses today is the KAI preferred style inventory, which explores how people approach problem-solving and change.

It made her more aware of her own communication style and how to better connect with people who think differently.

That emphasis on understanding others also reflects some of the best advice she's ever received.

Her father taught her to treat everyone with respect, regardless of their position, something she's watched him practice throughout his life.

He also encouraged her to apply for LSP after alumnus Bob Douglass recommended her back in 2000.

Clearly, Dad gave some pretty good advice!

A Few of Susan's Favorites

When she's not working or catching up with fellow alumni, Susan enjoys exploring everything St. Pete has to offer.

Her local recommendations? A floral therapy class at Wonderland Floral Art and Gift Loft. You'll leave with a beautiful arrangement and, hopefully, a little less stress! For visitors, her go-to spots include Ted Peters, Pia's, The Helm, and The Dalí Museum.

On her reading list: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, a book she loves for its stunning writing.

What she's watching: Shoresy, which she describes as a grittier version of Ted Lasso. It may be a little crude, but she promises there's plenty of heart beneath the surface.

What's next on her bucket list? More Italy! After traveling with La Cucina Sabina earlier this year, Susan is ready to experience all seven of their other Italian trips. After taking a break from traveling for several years, she's officially caught the travel bug.

Her Advice to the Next LSP Class

Susan's advice is simple: Take the time to really get to know your classmates.

Grab coffee. Meet for lunch. Stay a little longer after a seminar to talk. Those conversations may turn into friendships that last decades.

Twenty-five years after graduation, Susan is still surrounded by people she met through LSP, and she hopes every new class gets to experience that same sense of connection.

We're grateful for Susan's years of involvement, her welcoming spirit, and the enthusiasm she continues to bring to our alumni community.

And if you see that big smile at an upcoming LSPAA event, be sure to say hello. She's always happy to meet another alum!

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