Speakers | Women Lead Symposium

Kristen Brabble, Chief Operating Officer, First Carolina Bank

Kristen Brabble is the Chief Operating Officer at First Carolina Bank and BM Technologies, Inc., a $3B national bank with offices in NC, SC, GA, and VA, and customers across the country. Some of her key responsibilities include strategy and development, human resources, loan and deposit operations, marketing, customer care, dispute management, legal, program management, and public and investor relations.

Lina Cagossi, Executive Communication Coach, The Communication Center

Lina Cagossi brings two decades of experience in journalism, broadcast media, and financial consulting to The Communication Center. Lina worked as a financial journalist, anchor, and reporter for Bloomberg Television and Sky Italia, first in London and then New York. Lina was a correspondent from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, reporting also on the economy and politics, and anchored a daily show from Bloomberg NY studio on the stock market.

Kimberly Carhee, Senior Vice President, Loan Operations Manager at Heritage Bank NW

Kim Carhee is a trailblazing banking executive whose four decades of leadership have left an enduring mark on the financial services industry and the countless professionals she has inspired along the way. As Senior Vice President and Loan Operations Manager at Heritage Bank, Kim is known throughout the Pacific Northwest for her strategic expertise, ethical leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Through her dedication, she has enriched the work of the American Bankers Association (ABA) Black Bankers Open Committee (“BBOC”) and advanced fairness, representation, and professional connection across the industry nationwide. The ABA recently acknowledged Kim’s exceptional leadership and service through her work serving on the BBOC Leadership Committee.

Susan Cosgrove, CEO and Chair, R&T Deposit Solutions

Susan Cosgrove is the CEO and Chair of the Board of Managers at R&T Deposit Solutions. She is responsible for creating, communicating, and implementing the organization's vision, mission, strategy, and overall direction. She oversees the Executive Management Committee and the functional areas of the organization. As CEO and Board Chair, she plays a pivotal role in guiding the organization's strategic direction, with a focus on enhancing operational resiliency and security to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.

Alisha Duehn, Loan Officer, First Iowa State Bank

Duehn was born and raised in the nation's heartland. The daughter of a farmer and a community banker, her childhood was filled with everything agriculture and finance. Duehn's lending portfolio contains a healthy mixture of consumer, commercial, agriculture and real estate loans. Professionally, she finds very little is more rewarding than watching a customer transition from financing their first car to their first home or farm and knowing they chose "you" to be alongside them.

Paola Fernandez, Senior Vice President, Community Development Centreville Bank

Paola has over 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit and financial industry. She joined Centreville Bank in 2019 as the Vice President, Community Development Officer to support the expansion of the bank’s community efforts and development of the bank’s long-term philanthropic strategy in Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut. With a lens focused on underserved communities, she has successfully built and leveraged relationships to support community-based initiatives and directs multimillion dollar investments from the bank’s charitable foundation.

Steffany Gallant, Assistant Vice President, Human Resource Officer, Piscataqua Savings Bank

Steffany is a human resources professional with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional. With experience spanning multiple industries and a few regions of the country, she brings a well-rounded and adaptable perspective to her work. She currently serves as the AVP Human Resource Officer for Piscataqua Savings Bank, where she plays a role in supporting strategic business initiatives.

Karyn Hale, Executive Vice President, CFO and COO, Union Bank

Karyn Hale joined Union Bank in 2005 as a project specialist and moved into the role of Finance Officer in 2008 until she assumed the role as CFO and Treasurer of the Company and Union in, 2014. She became a Senior Vice President of Union in 2014, was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2019 and assumed the additional role of Chief Operating Officer ("COO") in April 2025. Ms. Hale's responsibilities include oversight of accounting, internal controls, treasury, taxation, regulatory reporting, asset/liability management, audit/exam processes, shareholder relations, human resources, branch administration and oversight of select operational functions, and serving on the senior management team.

Kim Hannay, CRA Officer, Optum Bank

Kim Hannay is the CRA Officer at Optum Bank. With decades of experience serving in her community, Kim is passionate about providing opportunities and support to vulnerable populations through lending, investment, and services. Optum Bank was awarded an outstanding CRA rating by the FDIC for its community development activities in its most recent exam.

Patricia Herndon, Chief Policy Officer, Michigan Bankers Association

Patricia Herndon is the Chief Policy Officer for the Michigan Bankers Association which she joined in June 2011. She was previously the State Government Affairs Specialist for State Farm Insurance. Patricia also worked as an intern for former Attorney General Frank Kelly and in the Michigan House of Representatives for Ken Sikkema. She lobbies the state and federal legislative branches and state and federal regulatory agencies while leading the MBA Advocacy team. Patricia has over 30 years of experience working in or for the financial services industry.

Julie Hower, President and CEO, Farmers and Drovers Bank

Julie Hower is Chairman, President and CEO of Farmers and Drovers Bank in Council Grove, Kansas. Julie is a 5th generation community banker, working in the bank started by her great-great grandfather in 1882. In addition to banking, she is actively involved in her family's agricultural operation. She currently serves as Chairman of Kansas Bankers Association.

Jennifer Huffman, Senior Vice President, Atlantic Union Bank

Jennifer Huffman is an accomplished American businesswoman and Senior Vice President of Solutions Banking at Atlantic Union Bank, the largest regional bank headquartered in the lower Mid Atlantic. Recognized as a Power Broker, Jennifer is a highly sought after speaker and respected thought leader whose influence extends well beyond banking, with appearances on national stages.

Jessica Lovell

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

Nicola McIntosh, Senior Vice President, Communications and Content Manager, Zions Bank

Nicola McIntosh serves as senior vice president and Communications and Content Marketing Manager for Zions Bank, responsible for overseeing internal communications, public relations, social media marketing, content creation and financial education outreach.

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

Cathy is the Vice President of Workforce Excellence at the American Bankers Association where she provides guidance, thought leadership, and resources for the banking and financial services industry. Cathy came to ABA after she transitioned from a legal career, first as a law partner in a Midwest firm where she represented banks and other businesses, and later as the Vice President and General Counsel of a Fortune 500 business where she also founded the first Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Jennifer A. Poulson, CEO and President, Hebron Savings Bank

Jennifer A. Poulsen serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of Hebron Savings Bank. With nearly 40 years of experience in community banking, Ms. Poulsen brings deep expertise in executive leadership, strategic planning, talent development, and operational management. In addition to her leadership at Hebron Savings Bank, she shares her knowledge and experience with organizations both within and beyond the banking industry.

Shanika Rogowski, Executive Vice President, Cape and Coast Bank

Shanika Rogowski is Cape & Coast Bank’s Executive Vice President, Chief Consumer & Residential Banking Officer. In this role, Shanika oversees all consumer areas including Retail Branches, Mortgage Lending, Consumer Lending and our Financial Investment team. Shanika leads, empowers and guides the bank’s sales, service, and delivery teams to provide a personalized experience coupled with comprehensive financial solutions to banking clients and homeowners.

Rob Nichols, President and CEO, American Bankers Association

Rob Nichols is the president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, which represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the voice for the nation’s $23.7 trillion banking industry. Rob joined ABA in August 2015 following ten years at the helm of the Financial Services Forum, a non-partisan financial and economic policy organization. Before joining the Forum, Rob served in the George W. Bush administration as the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Treasury Department, a position requiring confirmation by the United States Senate. In this role, he acted as chief spokesperson and head of the office of public liaison, serving as Treasury’s lead representative with the media, business, professional trade organizations, consumer groups and the public.

Cathy Owen, ABA Chair Elect; Executive Chair, Eagle Bank and Trust Company

Catherine Owen is currently Chair, President & CEO of State Holding Company, which is the holding company for Eagle Bank & Trust Company, Little Rock, AR. She is also Executive Chair of the bank, which is 106 years old, $490 million state bank, with 13 branches in central Arkansas, and Mortgage Loan Offices in Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Mississippi. She has served in nearly every capacity within the bank, up to and including president and CEO. She served as Chair of the Arkansas Bankers Association (2018-2019) and remains the only female to serve in this position in its 136-year history. In October 2025 Owen was elected as Chair Elect of the American Bankers Association's Board.

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

Donna Rustigian Mac is a business communication expert, national keynote speaker, and mindfulness coach. She works with individuals and organizations who are ready to strengthen how they feel, speak, and operate at work, especially in high pressure environments. Known for her grounded and practical approach, Donna believes we all possess within ourselves unique gifts that are just waiting to be uncovered, polished, and shared. The ability to see and develop what's already there is her superpower, and it's what she brings to every engagement.

Kristina Shaefer, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Director of Government Relations, Dacotah Bank

Kristina Schaefer serves as Senior Vice President, Director of Government Relations and Associate General Counsel for Dacotah Bank. With over two decades of legal and risk management experience in the financial services industry, Kristina has provided strategic legal counsel to the Board and executive leadership, focusing on banking law, contracts, lending, payment systems, acquisitions, and corporate governance.

Renee Smyth, Executive Vice President, Chief Experience and Marketing Officer, Camden National Bank

Renée Smyth is executive vice president and chief experience and marketing officer of Camden National Bank, where she is responsible for enterprise wide marketing, brand management, customer experience, internal communications, public relations, and corporate strategy. She joined Camden National in October 2015 as chief marketing officer following the merger with The Bank of Maine and was promoted to her current role in 2017.

Kim Snyder, CEO, KlariVis

Kim Snyder is the Founder and CEO of KlariVis, a leading data analytics platform that empowers financial institutions with the actionable intelligence they need to drive profitability, growth, and operational efficiency. With more than 30 years of experience in financial services, Kim is a visionary leader who is passionate about helping community banks and credit unions unlock the full potential of their data to make smarter, faster decisions.

Kirsten Sutton, EVP Congressional Relations, American Bankers Association

Kirsten Sutton serves as Executive Vice President of Congressional Relations and Legislative Affairs at the American Bankers Association (ABA), the leading voice for the nation’s $25.3 trillion banking industry and its more than two million employees. Recognized by Association Trends as one of Washington’s top association lobbyists, Sutton leads ABA’s bipartisan advocacy team, directing strategy and engagement with lawmakers and senior staff on the full range of policy and legislative issues shaping America’s banks and the communities they support. She is also the first woman in ABA’s 150-year history to serve as the association’s head lobbyist.

Lesa Vanotti, President and CEO, Torrington Savings Bank

Lesa A. Vanotti is the 14th President & CEO of Torrington Savings Bank. In November of 2019 she was appointed President & Chief Operating Officer as part of a 9-month transition succession plan toward the CEO role. She took helm on October 1, 2020.

Alayasia White, Senior Vice President, Director of Audit, b1Bank and Stonier Advisory Board

Alayasia Delaney White has progressive internal audit experience and is entrusted with senior level responsibility as she is the SVP-Director of Audit at b1BANK. Alayasia drives the internal audit strategy for the department and is experienced in developing the Internal Audit Risk Assessment and Annual Audit Plan, directing the FDICIA/SOX controls testing and reporting process, and conducting internal investigations. Alayasia works closely with the Audit Committee of the Bank and relies upon her team to provide independent and objective assessments of the operations and controls of the institution.