Christie Obenauer, president and CEO of Union State Bank in Hazen, ND, has been elected chair of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC) Alumni Association, effective July 26, 2019.

Obenauer is a 2016 graduate of GSBC and is active in many local, regional and state-level boards involving banking and community development. Obenauer worked in business and private banking throughout North Dakota and Idaho before returning home to Hazen to join her family’s bank.

“As a fourth generation banker, Christie truly understands the core of community banking and has remained heavily involved in GSBC since her days as a student,” notes GSBC President Tim Koch. “We are fortunate to have Christie as an advocate for GSBC and in the role of chair of the alumni association.”

Obenauer and her husband Jerry are parents to Isaak, Kordon and Elle. She loves to spend time with family and friends, volunteer, travel and read.

Obenauer succeeds Sheila Noll, executive vice president and chief operations officer of Midwest Independent Bank in Columbia, MO, as the board’s chair and will represent the Alumni Association on the GSBC Board of Trustees.