Speakers | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit

Aaron Tsang, Commercial Underwriter, Carter Bank & Trust, Chair, ABA Asian Banker ERG

Aaron Tsang is the Chair of the ABA’s Asian Banker’s Employee Resource Group, and a Commercial Underwriter and emerging leader at Carter Bank & Trust. With a Master’s in management, strategy and leadership from Michigan State University and a Bachelor’s in sociology from The College of William & Mary, he has a longstanding passion for developing strong leaders and strong communities. Tsang believes that job titles do not determine impact, and he advocates for the influence of ERGs to develop leaders and retain employees.

Anthony Pardal, Vice President, State Legislation, American Bankers Association

Anthony Pardal is VP in the Office of Strategic Engagement at the American Bankers Association, leading the working group on state issues and policy issue strategies in state legislatures. Anthony is a strong advocate for the agricultural banking industry, raising issues before Congress and has advocated for Florida’s agricultural industry during his time at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Ben Feller, Communications Consultant, Maslansky + Partners

Ben Feller is a partner at Maslansky + Partners , a communications consulting firm that helps create engaging and persuasive messaging. An award-winning writer during his distinguished 20-year career in journalism, Ben served as the chief White House correspondent for the Associated Press. He now works as a strategic advisor, helping companies convey how they want to be known. Ben is also a writing coach, public speaker and author of Big Problems, Little Problems.

Cathy Nestrick, Vice President, Women's Leadership & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, American Bankers Association

Cathy is the Vice President of Women’s Leadership and DEI 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 global manufacturing company where she also founded the first Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Cathy co-founded the Parity Podcast focused on the equitable advancement of women. She is a frequent speaker and workshop facilitator on women’s leadership, allyship, and inclusive workplace cultures.

Christopher Gray, Vice President, Office of Strategic Engagement, American Bankers Association

Christopher Gray joined ABA in 2021 after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), where he played a pivotal role in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Prior to the SBA, Christopher held a senior role in the Executive Office of the President, the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role he led the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” outreach and coordinated with statewide elected officials on behalf of the administration. Christopher was named a Maverick PAC - Future 40 Award Recipient in 2023.

David Femi, SVP, Business and Professional Banking Regional Manager, M&T Bank

David Femi serves as the regional manager for business and professional banking at M&T Bank. He brought the Bank On program to M&T, helping them provide more affordable accounts for economically challenged and underserved communities. David developed M&T Bank’s Multicultural Banking & Diverse Market Strategy Segment. David is committed to adding strength and resilience to diverse communities across the M&T footprint, advocating for financial service inclusivity aimed at empowering families and small businesses and the community at large.

Denise Hamilton, Author and WatchHerWork CEO

Denise is the author of Indivisible, a book that urges readers to re-examine and redefine diversity and inclusion to transform their personal and professional lives. Featured on The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, CBS and other outlets, she uses her ability to tackle challenging topics with tangible solutions, aiming to resolve conflict and promote inclusive environments. Denise is also the founder and CEO of WatchHerWork, a digital learning platform that offers training and advice to professional women.

Dr. Dionne Blue, Chief Impact Officer, YWCA USA

Dr. Dionne Blue is the first Chief Impact Officer for YWCA USA, a national organization supporting nearly 200 local associations across the country. On her mission for social justice, Dr. Blue leads strategic impact for YWCA USA with a focus on the implementation and evaluation of data-driven programming, advocacy and learning opportunities to further the mission and vision of YWCA USA. Dr. Blue has written several publications and serves on various boards, including the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), where she was recently elected Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Emily McCormick, Vice President, Editorial & Research, Bank Director

As vice president of editorial & research for Bank Director, Emily McCormick oversees research projects and manages content for Bank Director's Bank Services Program, a training initiative for bank boards. Emily also regularly writes and edits for Bank Director magazine and BankDirector.com.

Glen Guyton, Trainer, Speaker, and Cultural Competency Navigator

Glen Guyton, influential speaker, workplace trainer and author, is dedicated to transforming the office dynamic. Glen’s career spans over two decades as an Air Force veteran, leader in diversity, equity and inclusion and owner of Guystar Enterprises, an organization that provides teams with inclusive strategies. Through motivational keynotes, tailored workshops and comprehensive consulting, Glen helps organizations build trust, manage diverse teams and enhance employee wellness.

Joanna Shapiro, Chief Member Engagement Officer, American Bankers Association

Joanna Shapiro leads a team in executing effective engagement strategies to promote ABA membership and has grown relationships with banks of all sizes. Joanna previously spent more than 12 years at Bank of New York Mellon and served as managing director and segment head for the U.S. Federal Government, Document Custody and Public Finance. In her position as senior client executive for Global Client Management’s U.S. Federal Government practice, Joanna created and executed new business growth strategies across the enterprise.

Krys Lassiter, MBA, Manager, Fraud Prevention and Detection, USAA

Krys Lassiter leads a team of fraud prevention and detection analysts at USAA. She has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, with a focus on domestic and international regulations and compliance. Krys was previously a licensed investment advisor and facilitator for a large Fortune 100 firm. She has an extensive background working with the military as a prior military member, spouse and child. She is currently the vice chairman for the Black Bankers ERG for the American Bankers Association.

Lindsay Torrico, SVP, Bank Community Engagement, ABA Executive Director, ABA Foundation

Today, Lindsay Torrico drives community building, financial empowerment, affordable housing and financial inclusion initiatives that help banks build thriving, resilient and equitable communities. Prior to ABA, Lindsay served as vice president of policy and advocacy at United Way Worldwide, in social policy roles for Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and in community outreach positions at City Year and the office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Lindsay serves on the Board of the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution.

Maggie Rivera, Vice President, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion, Stearns Bank

Maggie Rivera serves as head of corporate social responsibility and inclusion at Stearns Bank, overseeing their community development banking, specialty lending and client experience divisions. In 2023, CIO Magazine recognized her as one of the most influential leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion. Maggie has contributed her expertise to various organizations including Paychex and U.S. Bank. From overcoming homelessness to speaking at Harvard University, Maggie’s lived experience inspires many others to break down barriers.

Mika Moser, Founder & CEO, C Level Consulting Group

Mika Moser is an experienced C-suite executive with over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, leadership development, brand marketing and board governance. She is the founder and CEO of At C Level, a talent consulting group that helps companies build diverse, high-performing leadership teams by providing executive search, professional development and consulting services.

Naomi Snyder, Editor-in-Chief, Bank Director

As Editor-in-Chief, Naomi oversees the editorial coverage at Bank Director, working as a publisher and informational resource for bank boards and the C-suite.

Sui Lang L. Panoke, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Rethink International

Sui Lang L. Panoke is founder and chief creative officer of Rethink International, a global social enterprise and strategic consulting firm designed to challenge people to rethink how and what they think. From 2020-2024, she served as senior vice president of culture at Zions Bank. She directed the bank’s strategic vision to foster a culture of community, prosperity and growth and build economic inclusion in the communities they serve.

Tishania Gist, Vice President, Manager of DEIB & Culture Engagement, Atlantic Union Bank

Shani has over 20 years of specialized leadership experience, serving an eleven-year tenure in retail management with prominent retailers like the Walt Disney Company and Limited Brands. In 2017, Shani joined Atlantic Union Bank, boosting market share and fostering organic deposit growth as a branch manager. She progressed to vice president, consumer market leader of the Richmond market, overseeing 17 branches within her purview and actively participating in the Diversity, Equity, Inlcusion and Belonging Council.