Cover of Twin Cities Business magazine's August/September 2023 issue

Notable Women in Banking & Finance 2022

Our Notable Women in Banking and Finance have set the standard for crunching numbers and leading their teams to sustainable company growth. They also take time outside the office to mentor students, working mothers, and young professionals in the industry. Meet TCB’s Notable Women in Banking and Finance.

Methodology: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their
profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list is not  comprehensive; it includes only people who were nominated and accepted after editorial review. To qualify for this list, individuals must have at least five years of experience in their field and have shown the ability to effect change in their roles or areas of practice.

To nominate other best-in-class executives in their fields, click here.

TCB Notable logo'22 Women In Bank

Michelle Anderson

Michelle Anderson

Chief credit officer, Village Bank
When Michelle Anderson joined Blaine-based Village Bank as senior vice president in 2019, one of her first projects was to lead the implementation of CreditQuest, a complete credit risk management
Amber Benavides

Amber Benavides

Chief credit officer, Honour Capital
After more than 15 years in credit risk management, Amber Benavides helped establish Minneapolis-based Honour Capital in 2020. The financial services company aims to fill a void in the capital
Margaret Camp

Margaret Camp

Vice president, business unit operations, Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions
Margaret Camp sets operational strategy and provides strategic leadership for Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions, working in the Minneapolis office. Her key responsibilities include directing implementation of strategic priorities to maximize
Melodie Carlson

Melodie Carlson

Chief operating officer, Sunrise Banks
As chief operating officer of St. Paul-based Sunrise Banks, Melodie Carlson created the infrastructure for and managed the bank’s exceptions process during the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which included helping
Julie Cosgrove

Julie Cosgrove

Chief talent officer, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
Julie Cosgrove focuses her leadership on engagement, development, inclusion, and employee retention, resulting in a turnover rate of less than 16% in 2021—significantly below industry norms. Recently, Cosgrove created a
Elly Cummings

Elly Cummings

Senior vice president, Great Lakes and South Florida, New American Funding
Elly Cummings joined Edina-based New American Funding in 2018. In 2020, she drove the growth of her team’s production by 99% year over year. She kept her team focused on
Lauri Droster

Lauri Droster

Senior managing director-complex director, RBC Wealth Management
Lauri Droster spent more than two decades as a top-producing financial adviser at Minneapolis-based RBC Wealth Management before being named to her current role as complex director of the RBC
Megan Effertz

Megan Effertz

Chief experience officer, Village Bank
As chief experience officer, Megan Effertz leverages her 20 years of industry experience to lead sales strategy, marketing, culture, and compliance at Blaine-based Village Bank. Since joining the bank in
Kari Gilkey

Kari Gilkey

Commercial support director and vice president, Old National Bank
Kari Gilkey joined Evansville, Indiana-based Old National Bank in early 2020. Based in Chaska, Gilkey worked with Old National’s Small Business Administration team, playing an instrumental role in helping navigate
Gina Hamilton

Gina Hamilton

Chief operating officer, Platinum Bank
Gina Hamilton joined Oakdale-based Platinum Bank in 2015 as senior vice president and director of operations and information technology. In 2020, she was promoted to chief operating officer, overseeing 30
Teri Hodgett

Teri Hodgett

Chief risk officer, Sunrise Banks
Teri Hodgett was promoted twice in 2021: In January, she became the Sunrise Banks’ chief compliance officer, and in November, she was added to the executive team and promoted to
Heidi Hukriede

Heidi Hukriede

Chief operating officer and portfolio manager, Stonebridge Capital Advisors
Heidi Hukriede co-founded St. Paul-based Stonebridge Capital Advisors in 1997. She has helped grow the company from three to 24 advisors and more than $1.8 billion in assets. In October
Michelle Jester

Michelle Jester

Attorney, shareholder, and board of directors vice president, Messerli Kramer
Michelle Jester focuses her practice on banking and finance with an emphasis in real estate. She represents financial institutions and nonprofit corporations in commercial loan transactions. She has extensive experience
Alisha Johnson

Alisha Johnson

Chief growth officer, Ideal Credit Union
During Alisha Johnson’s 12 years with Woodbury-based Ideal Credit Union, she has steadily risen through the ranks, from vice president of marketing to her current role as chief growth officer.
Elizabeth Kiernat

Elizabeth Kiernat

Attorney and shareholder, Moss & Barnett
As a lead lawyer on Minneapolis-based Moss & Barnett’s commercial real estate finance team, Betsy Kiernat uses her 20 years of experience representing lenders nationwide who originate and sell mortgage
Elizabeth Wall Lee

Elizabeth Wall Lee

Shareholder, owner, and director, Highland Bank
As business owners turned to local banks for relief from the Covid-19 crisis in 2020, St. Michael-based Highland Bank issued more than 850 Paycheck Protection Program loans to local small
Laura Mayer

Laura Mayer

Senior vice president, commercial lending, Gateway Bank
Laura Mayer began her career in 2006 at Gateway Bank in Mendota Heights. In the 16 years since, she’s worked her way from credit analyst to senior vice president, commercial
Shannon O’Leary

Shannon O’Leary

Chief investment officer, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
As chief investment officer, Shannon O’Leary is committed to achieving strong returns for fundholders and ensuring assets and relationships are leveraged in ways that further the foundation’s commitment to equity