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Welcome to the 2026 Women Lead Symposium! Please use the following links and resources to navigate this event. If you’d like to use our custom Zoom background while you participate, please use the link below to download the graphic.

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  • Concurrent Breakouts I

  • General Session

  • Concurrent Breakouts II

  • Closing General Sessions

Opening General Sessions

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Meeting ID: 929 3797 6361

Welcome

  • Rob Nichols, President and CEO, American Bankers Association

Master of ceremonies

  • Lesa Vanotti, President and CEO, Torrington Savings Bank

The visibility advantage — Women leading in policy and industry

  • Melanie Cuevas, Vice President, State and Local Government Relations Manager, JPMorganChase
  • Patricia Herndon, Chief Policy Officer, Michigan Bankers Association
  • Kirsten Sutton, former EVP Congressional Relations, American Bankers Association
  • Moderator: Paige Bjornson, Regional President, Dacotah Bank

Leading in full view: Cathy Owen’s path to influence and national leadership

  • Cathy Owen, ABA Chair Elect; Executive Chair, Eagle Bank and Trust Company
  • Moderator: Kimberly Carhee, Senior Vice President, Loan Operations Manager, Heritage Bank NW

Concurrent Breakouts I

Navigating your career for visibility — Building influence through intentional growth

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Meeting ID: 914 8127 7517

  • Kristen Brabble, Chief Operating Officer, First Carolina Bank
  • Steffany Gallant, Assistant Vice President, Human Resource Officer, Piscataqua Savings Bank
  • Moderator: Kristina Schaefer, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Director of Government Relations, Dacotah Bank

Seeing the signal: Data that surfaces women’s impact

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Meeting ID: 928 6463 6899

  • Paola Fernandez, Senior Vice President, Community Development Centreville Bank
  • Karyn Hale, Executive Vice President, CFO and COO, Union Bank
  • CJ Conrad, Executive Vice President, Chief Client Experience Officer, Cape and Coast Bank
  • Moderator: Kim Snyder, CEO and Founder, KlariVis

Visibility through trust — Turning credibility into leadership capital

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Meeting ID: 970 3259 6281

  • Alisha Duehn, Senior Vice President, First Iowa State Bank
  • Alayasia White, Senior Vice President, Director of Audit, b1Bank and Stonier Advisory Board
  • Renee Smyth, Executive Vice President, Chief Experience and Marketing Officer, Camden National Bank
  • Moderator: Susan Cosgrove, CEO and Chair, R&T Deposit Solutions

General Session

Sustaining visibility — Strengthening the leader behind the vision

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Meeting ID: 929 3797 6361

  • Donna Rustigian Mac, Business Communication Expert and Mindfulness Coach, iVoice Communication

Concurrent Breakouts II

CEO visibility lab: Leading in full view

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Meeting ID: 914 8127 7517

  • Sally Heckman, President and CEO, First Federal S&L Association
  • Julie Hower, President and CEO, Farmers and Drovers Bank
  • Jennifer A. Poulsen, CEO and President, Hebron Savings Bank
  • Moderator: Melissa Cullen, Head of Regional and Community Banking, FIS

Communications lab: Language of leadership

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Meeting ID: 928 6463 6899

  • Lina Cagossi, Executive Communications Coach, The Communication Center
  • Moderators:
    • Jennifer Huffman, Senior Vice President, Atlantic Union Bank
    • Nicola McIntosh, Senior Vice President, Communications and Content Manager, Zions Bank

Closing General Sessions

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Meeting ID: 929 3797 6361

The visibility shift: Redefining strength and the courage to be seen

  • Jessica Lovell, Founder and CEO, Raevolution Speaking, Soul-centered Speaking, Senior Vice President, Director of Customer Experience, First National Bank Texas

Stay engaged: Upcoming opportunities for leadership and growth

  • Cathy Nestrick, Vice President of Workforce Excellence, American Bankers Association

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Get updates on the next session of the Women Lead Symposium. Contact Catherine Nestrick if you have any questions.