Outstanding Women in Banking

Each fall, we honor Outstanding Women in Banking. Nominations for bankers who have made outstanding contributions to their bank, industry and community are accepted at any time, but submissions close in early September. Nominations should include a description of the specific contributions nominees have made in these three areas. The Outstanding Women in Banking program is sponsored by Eide Bailly.

For the BankBeat print magazine, nominated bankers should work in a bank from one of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin or Wyoming.

For the BankNews print magazine, nominated bankers should work in a bank from one of the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma or Texas.

Send nominations to Mara Gawarecki at [email protected] or use snail mail: NFR Communications, 250 Prairie Center Drive, Ste. 300, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.

Click HERE to nominate a banker online.


2023 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

BankBeat

Leann Nelson, Marci Knight, Mary Hendrickson, Beth Hyduke and Christina Cavallin, Park State Bank, Duluth, Minn.
Deneen Axtman, Cornerstone Bank, Fargo, N.D.
Kelsey Stupfell, TS Banking Group, Treynor, Iowa.
Amy Meyer, BankVista, Sartell, Minn.
Nancy Rosentrater, Oxford Bank, Oxford, Mich.
Sue Lee, Highland Bank, St. Paul, Minn.

BankNews

Angie Eilrich, First Bank Kansas, Salina.
Tammy Gibbons, Spring Hill State Bank, Longview, Texas
Nayer Sikder, American Bank of Commerce, Austin
Janice Spooner, Great Plains Bank, Elk City, Okla.

2022 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

BankBeat

Mary Williams, United Bankers’ Bank, Bloomington, Minn.
Jamie Nelson, TruCommunity Bank, Garrison, N.D.
Julie Benedict, Security First Bank, Rushville, Neb.
Sherri Reagin, North Salem State Bank, North Salem, Ind.
Pennie Lutz, Richland State Bank, Bruce, S.D.
Brenda Franke, Star Bank, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Emily Abbas, Bankers’ Trust, Des Moines, Iowa
Jenny Provancher, The Equitable Bank, Wauwatosa, Wis.

BankNews

Rosa Rivera, Dream First Bank, Syracuse, Kan.
Ashley O'Neal, Midwest BankCentre, St. Louis
Amber Burge, Flatwater State Bank, Gothenburg, Neb.
Jan Mills, First National Bank of Winnsboro, Texas

2021 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Marcy Mutch, Jodi Delahunt Hubbell, Rachel Turitto, Lorrie Asker, Jocelyn Lane and Tawnie Nelson, First Interstate Bank, Billings, Mont.
Mary Buche, Bank of Labor, Kansas City, Kan.
Anita Drentlaw, New Market Bank, Elko New Market, Minn.
Tammy Sexton, First Central Bank McCook, Cambridge, Neb.
Maureen Jorgensen, Peoples State Bank, Wausau, Wis.
Stephanie Christian, WCF Financial Bank, Independence, Iowa
Betsy Johnson, Solutions Bank, Forreston, Ill.

2020 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Aleesha Webb, Megan Effertz, Michelle Anderson and Beth Ecklund, Village Bank, Blaine, Minn.
Barb Smith, RiverWood Bank, Baxter, Minn.
Kathleen Bruegenhemke, Hawthorn Bank, Jefferson City, Mo.
Kathy Schoettlin, Old National Bank, Evansville, Ind.
Edith Farrell, Union Bank, Lake Odessa, Mich.
Rebecca Diaz, Legacy Bank, Pueblo, Colo.

2019 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Lori Raabe, Park Bank, Holmen, Wis.
Jessica Carroll, The New Washington Bank, Charlestown, Ind.
Erin Procko, Bell Bank, Bloomington, Minn.
Christine Obenauer, Union State Bank, Hazen, N.D.
Peg Scott, Union State Bank, Greenfield, Iowa
Krista Tschetter, First Bank & Trust, Sioux Falls, S.D.

2018 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Karin Taylor, MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City, Iowa
Betty Yott, HomeStar Bank & Financial Services, Manteno, Ill.
Sharon Manke, First Bank Financial Center, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Paige Bjornson, Dacotah Bank, Valley City, N.D.
Katie Incantalupo, Star Bank, Eden Prairie, Minn.

2017 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Julie Dahle, Choice Financial, Bismarck, N.D.
Connie Lonneman, First State Bank Southwest, Worthington, Minn.
Jennifer Jakel, AbbyBank, Abbotsford, Wis.
Elyse Smithback, Oregon Community Bank, Oregon, Wis.
Shane Pilarski, Alliance Bank, Francesville, Ind.

2016 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Karen Gregerson, The Farmers Bank, Frankfort, Ind.
Tirzah Wedewer, F&M Bank, Manchester, Iowa
Susan Koranda, Security Bank, Laurel, Neb.
Nichol Beckstrand, Sunrise Banks, St. Paul, Minn.
Jan Odin, Unison Bank, Jamestown, N.D.
Leann Stessman, Park State Bank, Minneapolis

2015 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Edie Tholo, Bankers' Bank, Madison, Wis.
Debbie Maw, HomeStar Bank & Financial Services, Manteno, Ill.
Deb Otto, Beacon Bank, Duluth, Minn.
Val Fick, Security State Bank, Fergus Falls, Minn.
Kris Holoch, Cornerstone Bank, York, Neb.
Kristina Schaefer, Fishback Financial Corp., Brookings, S.D.

2014 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Jean Ann Honegger, Morton Community Bank, Morton, Ill.
Trish Ellison, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Debra Norstad, First Farmers & Merchants Bank, Cannon Falls, Minn.
Sherry Lervik, State Bank of Bottineau, N.D.
Annette Russell, Security Federal Savings Bank, Logansport, Ind.

2013 Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

Kim Schroll, NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte, Neb.
Lori Allan,
Beacon Bank, Duluth, Minn.
Emily Hofer, Merchants State Bank, Freeman, S.D.
Rose Wageman, First Eagle Bank, Chicago
Dawn ZimmerBank Midwest, Spirit Lake, Iowa

Past Outstanding Women in Banking Honorees:

2012
Doris Loen, First Security Bank/Amundson Group, Benson, Minn.
Mary Sulser, Buena Vista National Bank, Chester, Ill.
Nancy Skophammer, Farmers State Bank of Hartland, Minn.
Julie Causey, Western Bank, St. Paul, Minn.
Jennifer Sobotta, Forward Financial Bank, Marshfield, Wis.
2011
Cleo Bykonen, American Bank Center, Stanley, N.D.
Vicki Monsen, McKenzie County Bank, Watford City, N.D.
Robin Loftus, Security Bank, Springfield, Ill.
Rachel Nesheim, First Community Bank, Newell, Iowa
Rachael Petersen, Bridgewater Bank, Bloomington, Minn.
Sue Sjoselius, Northeast Bank, Minneapolis, Minn.
2010
Susan Whitson, First National Bank of Waverly, Iowa
Cindy Haas, Gateway Bank, Mendota Heights, Minn.
Jana Sipe Berndt, Bremer Bank, Breckenridge, Minn.
Lesa Black, Princeville State Bank, Princeville, Ill.
2009
Margaret Howard, Bank of Wolcott, Indiana
Lois Bednar, Bank Forward, Grand Forks, ND
Marcia Malzahn, Tradition Capital Bank, Edina, Minn.
Stefanie Kramer, Shelby County State Bank, Harlan, Iowa
Lori Schneider, Plattsmouth State Bank, Plattsmouth, Neb.
2008
Christine Hensley, Bank of the West, Des Moines, Iowa
Shelley Steer, Grand Rapids State Bank, Grand Rapids, Minn.
Vaune Cripe, American Bank Center, Dickinson, N.D.
Gail Mikolich, Northeast Bank, Minneapolis, Minn.
Marcia Honomichl, Commerical State Bank, Wagner, S.D.
2007
Sharon Berger, American Bank Center, Bismarck, N.D.
Anne Hofstede, United Bankers’ Bank, Bloomington, Minn.
Mary Ellen Domeier, Bank Midwest, Spirit Lake, Iowa; Fairmont, Minn.
Cathy Morrissey, Wells Fargo, Lincoln, Neb.
Jackie Johnson, Community Savings Bank, Edgewood, Iowa
2006
Jane Treston, First Commercial Bank, Bloomington MN.
Terryl Grieve, First State Bank of North Dakota, Arthur, N.D.
Polly Glynn, First State Bank Minnesota, LeRoy, MN.
Kathleen E. Marinangel, McHenry Savings Bank, McHenry, Ill.
2005
Mary Erman, Starion Financial, Bismarck, N.D.
Linda Dugan, First National Bank, Omaha, Neb.
Joyce Douglas, Farmers Bank, Lincoln, Neb.
Tammy Danover, Heritage Bank, Marion, Iowa
Connie Powell, Park Midway Bank, St. Paul, Minn.
Anne Arvia, Shorebank, Chicago
2004
Alisha Johnson, Highland Bank, St. Paul, Minn.
Kelly Schuler, Wells Fargo & Co., Des Moines, Iowa
Marian Dunn, American State Bank & Trust Co., Williston, N.D.
Kim Schaffer, Park Bank, Milwaukee
Jan Lang, American State Bank, Olivia, Minn.
Rhonda Bartel, Farmers & Merchants Bank of St. Clair, Mo.
2003
Carol McCollam, First Western Bank, Rapid City, S.D.
Janet Lundebrek, First Security Bank, Benson, Minn.
Corinne Wold, First Bank & Trust, Menomonie, Wis.
Kathleen Thuman, Farmers State Bank, Maywood, Neb.
2002
Carole Bartman, First National Bank of Marengo, Ill.
Mary Gerdes, Wells Fargo Bank, North Platte, Neb.
Linda Johnson, Manufacturers Bank & Trust, Forest City, Iowa
Phyllis Monson, Security Bank Minnesota, Albert Lea, Minn.
Jessie Nelson, Bankers' Bank, Wis.
2001
Barbara Gill, Rushmore Bank & Trust, Rapid City, S.D.
Charie Zanck, American Community Bank & Trust, Woodstock, Ill.
Tena Lawrence, Stutsman County State Bank, Jamestown, N.D.
Robbie Gallinger, Shelby County State Bank, Harlan, Iowa
Janice Lehrke, State Bank of Long Lake, Minn.
Mitzy Porter, United Community Bank, Okoboji, Iowa
Dorothy Bridges, Franklin National Bank, Minneapolis
Jan Thompson, First National Bank, Volga, S.D.
Jana Jantzen, Citizens State Bank, Liberal, Kan.
2000
Connie Blake, First National Bank, Akron, Iowa
Leslie Andersen, Bank of Bennington, Neb.
Del Mari Runck, Security State Bank of N.D., Wimbledon, N.D.
Marion Brummer, Citizens Independent Bank, St. Louis Park, Minn.
Shelley Ryan, Garfield County Bank, Jordan, Mont.
Roxanne Miller, Community First State Bank, Vermillion, S.D.
1999
Marti Rodamaker, First Citizens National Bank, Mason City, Iowa
Renee Hilbrand, United Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Morris, Minn.
Kay Clevidence, Farmers State Bank, Victor, Mont.
Janet Latimer, Lancaster County Bank, Waverly, Neb.
Liz Behrendt, Tri City National Bank, Oak Creek, Wis.