Speakers | Women Lead Symposium

Natalie Bartholomew, Community President, First Community Bank

Natalie Bartholomew oversees market development and expansion into the Northwest Arkansas region for First Community Bank. Bartholomew was recently recognized by the American Bankers Association as a 2023 Emerging Leader. Arkansas Money and Politics included her on their 2022 Power Women in Banking and Power Women in Business lists. In 2017, Bartholomew launched The Girl Banker platform to advocate for women in banking and educate young women on opportunities in the banking industry.

Latia Coleman, Vice President of Compliance, Corporate Banking Risk Analyst, Regions Bank

Latia Coleman is responsible for analyzing compliance risks for Corporate and Commercial Banking, Real Estate Banking, Capital Markets, Regions Business Capital, Equipment Finance, Regions Securities LLC and Black Arch Partners. Coleman, who joined Regions Bank in 2005, has over 19 years of banking experience, including in Commercial Banking and Compliance Risk.

Cristina Feden, Commercial Banking Managing Director, Regional President, Berkshire Bank

Cristina Feden joined Berkshire Bank in 2019, when the bank acquired SI Financial Group Inc. At SI Financial Group, she was an SVP in Commercial Banking for the Rhode Island market. Feden has also held roles at PNC Financial Services Group and Xerox. She is also a board member of the Rhode Island Bankers Association and Ocean State Business Development Authority, and a member of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Jennifer Keitt, Chief Executive Officer, The Keitt Institute: A Center for Emotional Development & Well-Being

Dr. Jennifer Keitt draws from her background in broadcast journalism, practical theology and educational psychology to help people discover the best of who they are. A media veteran with over 34 years of experience, Dr. Keitt has reached millions of listeners through her syndicated radio shows. With her daughter, she co-founded the Keitt Institute: A Center for Emotional Development & Well-Being to create high-powered, engaging, research-driven experiences that help professionals succeed.

Krystalle 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. Lassiter was previously a licensed investment advisor and facilitator for a large Fortune 100 Firm. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, she is currently the Vice Chairman for the Black Bankers ERG for the American Bankers Association.

Jan Mills, President and Chairman of the Board, First National Bank of Winnsboro

Jan Mills serves as President and Chairman of the Board of First National Bank of Winnsboro (Texas), a $160-million community bank founded in 1893 in rural Northeast Texas. She began her banking career over four decades ago at First National as a part-time receptionist and bookkeeper during summer and school breaks and has worked throughout the organization, making her way to her current positions in 2003 and 2006, respectively.

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.

Rob Nichols, President and CEO, American Bankers Association

Rob Nichols is the president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, the voice of the nation’s $23.7 trillion banking industry and the only organization that represents banks of all sizes and charters in Washington. Since joining ABA in August 2015, Nichols has led ABA’s advocacy efforts, working to ensure that banks of all sizes operate in a policy environment that allows them to best serve their customers and communities.

Amy L. Randolph, Executive Vice President and COO, First Busey Corporation

Mrs. Randolph is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Busey Corporation. She joined Busey in 2008 and has 28 years of financial and leadership experience. Mrs. Randolph oversees various areas at Busey and its subsidiaries, including: human resources, marketing, corporate communications and the overall Busey experience, consumer and digital banking, executive administration, as well as all technology and business services and systems. Additionally, Mrs. Randolph serves as Chairperson and oversees FirsTech, the company’s payment processing subsidiary.

Krista Snelling, President and CEO, Santa Cruz County Bank

Krista Snelling is the President and CEO and Board Member of Santa Cruz County Bank and its holding company, West Coast Community Bancorp. Under her leadership, their stock made the 2024 OTCQX Best 50 list of top performers based upon total return and growth in average daily dollar volume. In 2023, Snelling was recognized by American Banker magazine as one of the Most Powerful Women to Watch and by Silicon Valley Business Journal on their Power 100 list.

Rebekah Stokes, Executive Vice President and CFO, Thomaston Savings Bank

Rebekah Stokes has held various positions in the Retail and Finance departments at Thomaston Savings over the past 22 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Post University and a master’s degree with a concentration in finance from UCONN. Stokes is also a graduate of the Connecticut School of Finance & Management as well as the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, which confers a Wharton Leadership Certificate.

Julieann Thurlow, ABA Chair; President and CEO, Reading Cooperative Bank

Julieann M. Thurlow is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Reading Cooperative Bank and is responsible for its strategic direction and management. Julieann serves as Chair on the Board for the American Bankers Association. She is immediate Past-Chair of ABA’s Core Platforms Council; and currently serves as a member of the Government Relations Administrative Committee and Membership Council.

Stacey Webb, Senior Vice President – Chief Retail Officer, The State Bank

Stacey Webb oversees Retail Banking, Treasury Management and Deposit Operations at The State Bank of Fenton in Michigan. A career banker with nearly 35 years of community banking experience, Webb led successful retail banking mergers and product conversions at State Bank, and launched its digital transformation strategy and branch of the future concept. She is a graduate of ABA’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking and serves on the Board of the Michigan Bankers Service Corporation.