GSBC is proud to announce that 57 members of the GSBC Class of 2024 have completed its innovative Committed to Lead micro-credential, a supplementary set of coursework designed to equip community bankers with the critical leadership skills necessary to guide their institutions in an evolving financial landscape.

“Community banking needs bold leaders who are equipped with the knowledge, ideas and connections to take the industry in bold, new directions – and that means community bankers need bold opportunities to expand their leadership potential and thoughtfully map out their journeys into the future,” stated GSBC VP of Strategy & Experience Josie Bunch. “Committed to Lead accomplishes just that.”

The micro-credential, first introduced in 2023, provides second- and third-year GSBC students with a focused curriculum aimed at developing bold, future-oriented leaders. Committed to Lead participants engage in various activities, including interviews with CEOs across community banking, completing a personal development plan and more. Upon successful completion, students receive the micro-credential, signaling their readiness to lead within their organizations and communities. Between the school’s second- and third-year classes, more than 160 students are enrolled in Committed to Lead.

Graduates who have completed the micro-credential describe its impact as invaluable, citing authentic perspectives from seasoned leaders and real-world insights as serving them in a unique and exciting time in their careers while encouraging them to look forward to future growth and advancement.

“Crafting your own personal development plan from the course work lets you put your leadership aspirations in motion,” reflected GSBC Alum Clint Duncan, a 2023 graduate who serves as a senior examiner for the Oklahoma Banking Department. “Saying yes to this opportunity was a game-changer.”

Those who earned the Committed to Lead micro-credential in 2024 include:

ROW 1, L TO R:

  • Mark Andersen, Northwoods Bank of Minnesota (Park Rapids, Minn.)
  • Lane Bangasser, State Bank of Faribault (Prior Lake, Minn.)
  • Eric Bartzatt, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Omaha, Neb.)
  • Dallon Bitz, Security 1st Bank (Bismarck, N.D.)
  • Kayla Bosch, Security First Bank (Bismarck, N.D.)
  • Sayer Brenner, FNB Bank (McAlester, Okla.)
  • Kami Busch, Alpine Bank (Grand Junction, Colo.)
  • Audra Butler, First Western Bank (Minot, N.D.)
  • Wesley Campbell, Citizens Bank & Trust Company (Campbellsville, Ky.)
  • Janelle Campbell, Community First Bank of Indiana (Westfield, Ind.)
  • Justin Clevenger, First Pioneer National Bank (Holyoke, Colo.)
  • Jerika Coffman, Quail Creek Bank (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
  • Beth Criswell, Dakota Western Bank (Bowman, N.D.)
  • Audrey Davis, Blue Sky Bank (Tulsa, Okla.)

ROW 2, L TO R:

  • Dallas Dupey, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Golden Valley, Minn.)
  • Christine Frederick, Great Southern Bank (Springfield, Mo.)
  • Christy Grove, Iowa State Bank (Fairfield, Ia.)
  • Bryant Hall, Citizens State Bank (Ouray, Colo.)
  • Amanda Hamilton, Bankers Trust Co. (Phoenix, Ariz.)
  • Doug Hanisch, First Western Trust Bank (Englewood, Colo.)
  • Jeffery Heidrick, Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (Lenexa, Kan.)
  • Audrey Hermanson, Bank of North Dakota (Bismarck, N.D.)
  • Mallory Holley, Security Federal Bank (Aiken, S.C.)
  • Angela (Missy) Johnson, Citizens Bank of Ada (Ada, Okla.)
  • Joshua Kummer, Bremer Bank (Lake Elmo, Minn.)
  • Derek Layton, Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (Topeka, Kan.)
  • Deanna Lease, Center National Bank (Litchfield, Minn.)
  • Mindy Lyman, Bank of Star Valley (Afton, Wyo.)

ROW 3, L TO R:

  • Jon Marchi, Stockman Bank (Billings, Mont.)
  • Angie Marshall, Farmer State Bank (Booneville, Ky.)
  • Carolyn Matzinger, First National Bank in Shenandoah (Shenandoah, Ia.)
  • Jesse Morris, Union State Bank (Winfield, Kan.)
  • Andrea Murphy, Northeast Bank (New Brighton, Minn.)
  • LaVonne Olsen, Peoples Bank (Bellingham, Wash.)
  • Taylor Oltjenbruns, Midwest Bank (Pierce, Neb.)
  • Kent Palmer, Adams Bank & Trust (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
  • Jacob Parker, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Kansas City, Mo.)
  • Erica Petersen, Central Bank (Sedalia, Mo.)
  • Stephanie Podoll, Watermark Bank (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
  • Alexander Price, Citizens State Bank (Ouray, Colo.)
  • Jennifer Reimers, Yampa Valley Bank (Craig, Colo.)
  • Nathan Rusinack, Security State Bank (Radcliffe, Ia.)

ROW 4, L TO R:

  • Susana Salamun, Alpine Bank (Denver, Colo.)
  • Camerin Schimenti, Bank of Scotia (Scotia, Neb.)
  • Eric Schulze, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Omaha, Neb.)
  • Cole Schwanke, Arvest Bank (Overland Park, Kan.)
  • Ana Maria Senica, MidWestOne (Naples, Fla.)
  • Jaclyn Sharon, Colorado Bank and Trust Company (La Junta, Colo.)
  • Jordan Shearer, SNB Bank N.A. (Shattuck, Okla.)
  • Daryl Steele, American National Bank Ardmore (Ardmore, Okla.)
  • Abigail Tardiff, ANB Bank (Castle Rock, Colo.)
  • Amber Ten Eyck, Kaw Valley State Bank (Wamego, Kan.)
  • Silas Turner, Alabama State Banking Department (Montgomery, Ala.)
  • Gunner Whorton, Peoples Bank & Trust (Hutchinson, Kan.)
  • Amy Wolfskill, NebraskaLand Bank (North Platte, Neb.)
  • Kyle Womacks, Emprise Bank N.A. (Wichita, Kan.)
  • Ryan Yates, Firstar Bank (Tulsa, Okla.)

This initiative is part of GSBC’s broader Bolder Banking campaign, which aims to produce bold ideas through collaboration and innovation among banking leaders for the advancement and betterment of community banking. Learn more about Committed to Lead.