Florida Banking April 2024

SPOTLIGHT ON FBA’S WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP PLANNING COMMITTEE: Q&A WITH COMMITTEE CHAIR

LOURDES MENDES M eet the Women in Leadership Planning Committee, a group of dedicated bank executives who assisted the FBA in developing the program for our 10th Annual Women in Leadership Conference! The conference is designed to encourage, support and inspire women to reach for leadership positions in their chosen industries. Lourdes Mendes, SVP and Relationship Manager at Cadence Bank, has served as the 2023-24 committee chair. Could you describe the committee’s role in planning the conference? What does serving as Chair mean to you? The committee is composed of female bank executives from across the state representing a diverse mix of experience, roles and geographic locations. We discuss hot topics, attendee reviews from previous years and feedback we receive from our colleagues in

the industry. We focus on providing an agenda that is relevant and meaningful to women across every department of the bank. Being Chair on the 10th anniversary was especially meaningful; I have attended this event for several years and appreciate how the program brings people together and enriches women across our industry.

Lourdes Mendes

What do you love best about the Women in Leadership event?

One of my favorite aspects of the conference is the ability to meet and network with women I normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to engage with. I enjoy introducing people and seeing relationships grow through the years of attendance. Meaningful contacts and relationships are made every year.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Tiffany Colucci

Gwynn M. Davey

Nicole Jones

Connie C. Nelson

Hanisha Patel

Pamela Ricco

Susan Rich

Susan Roetz

Kelly A. Smith

Lisa M. Scott

Susan H. Walker

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM APRIL 2024 — 7