 Ms. Regina Brinson
Monticello Banking Company
Graduate of KBA General Banking School
B.A. in Organizational Management/Midway College
Master of Banking via Louisiana State University/Sheshunoff Consulting | Ms. Regina Brinson
Monticello Banking Company | 40+ years experience in community banking with emphasis on commercial lending. I presently oversee the market leaders for 14 markets across Kentucky for Monticello Banking Company.
Graduate of KBA General Banking School
B.A. in Organizational Management/Midway College
Master of Banking via Louisiana State University/Sheshunoff Consulting | BRINSON, REGINA |
 Ms. Lori Elam
Magnolia Bank, Incorporated | Ms. Lori Elam
Magnolia Bank, Incorporated | Lori is Chief Financial Officer of Magnolia Bank in Elizabethtown. Her 30 years of experience includes various roles in banking, public accounting, and the community development financial institution space. She is a graduate of ABA’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking where she also received a Leadership Certificate from the Wharton School. Lori is a CPA and provides accounting industry leadership by serving on the Kentucky Society of CPAs Educational Foundation Board of Trustees. | ELAM, LORI |
 Ms. Varinka Ensminger
Enterprise Management Division PEO-SOFSA
| Ms. Varinka Ensminger
Enterprise Management Division PEO-SOFSA
| Varinka Ensminger is a graduate of Marshall University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT): Biotechnology with a minor in Math, and holds a Master's degree in Business and Organizational Security Management from Webster University. She is retired Forensic Services Unit Detective with the Lexington Police Department and maintains her Kentucky Law Enforcement Certified Instructor certification and continues to teach Forensics Investigations to police and civilians. Currently, she is the Security Manager for the US Department of Defense, USSOCOM PEO SOFSA in Lexington, KY. She is also a Lt. Col in the US Army Reserves with over twenty years of military service and is an instructor with the Army Command and General Staff College.
| ENSMINGER, VARINKA |
 Dr. Melissa Furman
Career Potential
Her strong understanding that the prosperity of any organization is deeply entwined with the success of its people, allows her to fearlessly tackle the most pressing topics through her speaking, training, coaching and consulting services with a dynamic perspective.
Dr. Furman’s unique approach intertwines her academic prowess with practical insights, all with the goal of fostering individual and organizational success. | Dr. Melissa Furman
Career Potential | On a mission to equip individuals and organizations with the skills and strategies needed to succeed, Dr. Furman has put her formal training into practice throughout her 20-year career in the professional development space by starting her own business, Career Potential.
Her strong understanding that the prosperity of any organization is deeply entwined with the success of its people, allows her to fearlessly tackle the most pressing topics through her speaking, training, coaching and consulting services with a dynamic perspective.
Dr. Furman’s unique approach intertwines her academic prowess with practical insights, all with the goal of fostering individual and organizational success. | FURMAN, MELISSA |
 Ms. Lanie Gardner
First Southern National | Ms. Lanie Gardner
First Southern National | Lanie Gardner serves as First Southern National Bank’s Community President in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. She is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking (LSU) and Brescia University. Lanie also serves on the Kentucky Bankers Association Board of Directors, Muhlenberg Alliance for Progress Board of Directors, The Community Hospital Board of Directors, various other community boards and associations and serves in her church in ladies ministry and Sunday School. She is a frequent emcee at the KBA’s Spring Conference. | GARDNER, LANIE |
 Dima Ghawi
| Dima Ghawi
| Dima is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, workshops, training programs, and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to develop critical business skills and expand their leadership potential. In addition, she has provided guidance to business executives to help them understand the value of gender diverse leadership and develop a multi-year plan for advancing quality leaders from within the organization.
Dima is Middle-Eastern in her genes, American in her heart, and a global citizen in her spirit. She ignites the untapped potential in individuals across the globe, empowering them to shatter limitations and become courageous, purpose driven leaders. Her own journey is one of escaping confinement, crossing continents, and transforming her life’s purpose. Harnessing the power of her story, Dima is committed to inspiring individuals to attain personal and professional growth.
She has worked across the United States, Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa for several Fortune 100 companies including IBM, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America. Through her work, she has honed a keen expertise in developing leaders to meet the demands of the global workforce.
| GHAWI, DIMA |
 Ms. Marni R. Gibson
Department of Financial Institutions - Kentucky (DFI) | Ms. Marni R. Gibson
Department of Financial Institutions - Kentucky (DFI) | Marni Gibson has almost twenty-five years of experience in the financial services sector and its regulation. After spending time in the industry, she joined the Securities Division of the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions in 2009. While she focused much of her time on enforcement, Marni has held leadership positions in several areas and supervised all three divisions within the agency. Over the last fourteen years, Ms. Gibson has been named Securities Enforcement Manager, Depository Division Director, Securities Director/Administrator, and Deputy Commissioner. Currently, she is serving in the role of Commissioner and Securities Administrator.
During her time with the agency, Ms. Gibson has served on numerous national committees, project groups, and working groups across the financial services spectrum. Marni served three terms on the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) Board of Directors. In September, she will begin the role of President Elect. She also serves on NASAA’s Finance and Audit Committee, Steering Committee (Vice-Chair), and representative to the Financial Banking Information Infrastructure Committee. | GIBSON, MARNI |
 Mrs. Melissa Lee Knight
The Farmers National Bank of Lebanon | Mrs. Melissa Lee Knight
The Farmers National Bank of Lebanon | Melissa Lee Knight has 24 years of banking experience and over two decades of experience running various non-profit organizations. She is President of Farmers National Bank where she has worked for 21 years. FNB is a community bank located in Lebanon, Kentucky, the geographic center of the state, where it has served the region since 1890. The bank has two branches and assets of just over $129 Million. Knight is a graduate of the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking. She is also certified as a Predictive Index Analyst and an Entrepreneurial Coach with the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Business Administration from Campbellsville University.
Knight is very active in volunteer work at the state and local level and has a passion for volunteering with programs to benefit kids. She volunteers in Marion County as a board member on the Working the Puzzle for Autism, Inc. Board. She has also served on the Centre Square Foundation Board for the past 19 years. She is an executive board member of Leadership Kentucky and recently served as Chair of the State Advisory Council for Exceptional Children. She was awarded the Mary Hass Advocacy Award by the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky for her work on passing Larry's Law (Senate Bill 115) in honor of her late brother and named Citizen of the Year by the Marion County Chamber of Commerce in 2010. She is married to William Knight who recently retired from the Kentucky Department of Corrections as the statewide Commander of the Hostage/Crisis Negotiation Team. They have five children Braelyn, William, Zachary, Peyton, and Cameron. | KNIGHT, MELISSA |
 Hannakah Rubin
Abrigo | Hannakah Rubin
Abrigo | Hannakah Rubin is a Senior Client Development Consultant with Abrigo and has 24+ years’ experience working in financial institutions with 16+ years in internal auditing, as a BSA officer, and in the AML/CFT software industry.
While at Abrigo, Hannakah has served in an advisory capacity, implementing risk-based calibrations for financial institutions, and now as a Senior Client Development Consultant, serving customers in a more intimate capacity with one-on-one custom trainings and monthly offerings. Most recently, Hannakah has been instrumental in the development of an outward-facing program, training newcomers and seasoned professionals in all things BSA. Hannakah studied English and Rhetorical Criticism at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and is currently pursuing her CAFP (Certified AML & Fraud Professional) certification. | RUBIN, HANNAKAH |
 Kathryn Spitznagle
Mentoring Women Millenials, LLC | Kathryn Spitznagle
Mentoring Women Millenials, LLC | Kathryn Spitznagle has more than 30 years’ experience in mentoring, training, and leadership development in corporate, small business and not-for-profit environments, including corporations such as Caterpillar and Purina. She has spent more than 10 years mentoring cancer survivors and families throughout their journey. Her passion is fostering the personal and professional development of leaders for the life they lead today, and the one they want tomorrow.
Kathryn is the author of ROCK STAR MILLENNIALS: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders, and host of the Rock Star Millennials podcast. Drawing upon the lessons learned through her decades of business experience, she offers one-on-one coaching and workshops for companies looking to build trust, instill positivity, and develop leadership in their teams. | SPITZNAGLE, KATHRYN |
 Danielle Sullivan
Fifth Third Bank, Kentucky | Danielle Sullivan
Fifth Third Bank, Kentucky | Dani Sullivan serves as Vice President, Retail Regional Manager of the Fifth Third Bank North Louisville Kentucky territory. She leads over 80 employees and 15 financial centers serving more than 30,000 households.
During Dani’s 20 years with the company, she has led 14 financial centers to success in the Bluegrass region and 14 locations in the East region as the regional manager in both markets. Dani is passionate about coaching and development, collaboration, creating connections, and change leadership. Fast integration of new ideas, solutions and advice in order to best engage our clients is a top priority for Dani.
Before her role as Retail Regional Manager, Dani served as a Personal Banker and Financial Center Manager with Fifth Third Bank in Lexington.
Dani earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Transylvania University in Lexington.
Dani has a passion for giving back. In addition to quarterly in-person community investment activities, she previously served as the Loaned Executive to the United Way for its annual giving campaign and as a board member and treasurer for Visually Impaired Preschool Services in Lexington. She supports the executive sponsor for the Women’s Business Resource Group with program design, goals and intentional women-focused support around development, education and community connections for business growth.
Dani has earned the President’s Circle award five times. Her hobbies include being outdoors, spending time with family and friends, being active, and giving back. | SULLIVAN, DANIELLE |