2015 Outstanding Women in Banking: Kris Holoch

In July, Kris Holoch was named to succeed her father Kelly Holthus as CEO of the $1.4 billion Cornerstone Bank. She came to that position after overcoming a year of personal tragedy to lead the York, Neb., bank to continued success and expansion..Holoch is one of six women honored by NorthWestern Financial Review as a 2015 Outstanding Woman in Banking..Her brother, Kendell Holthus, who had been a commercial and agricultural loan officer at Cornerstone, died of cancer in March 2014. Her husband Greg had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – Lou Gehrig's disease – the previous fall. At first, Holoch decided to build a house with everything on one level so her husband would be able to navigate with ease whether he used a walker or wheelchair. Nine months after the diagnosis, however, and in the middle of construction, he passed away in June 2014.."While that was a tremendous loss, she didn't let it stop her," Kelly Holthus said. "She felt, for her own good and the good of the people around her, she needed to work her way through and be a steady leader. I think she handled it very well.".Despite those struggles, Holoch is more than ready to tackle the challenges that come with her new role. Chief among her assets is her boundless energy and deep people skills, said Holthus, who was named NorthWestern Financial Review's inaugural Banker of the Year in 1989. "Kris has a very high energy level and therefore she is very busy and wants to be very busy. She's actively involved in everything going on," he said. "Our organization is widespread and other people might find it hard to get their arms around; not her. I think she fits the job description very well.".A large part of executive work is managing personnel, Holoch said. It is a continual investment of time to make sure the right people are in the right places, and that they have what they need to grow and flourish.."Everyone can remember how big the bank was when they started," she said. "When my dad started it was $50 million. When I started, summer of 2000, it hit $300 million; now we're at $1.4 billion. We've seen a lot of growth, and a lot of branches in a lot of communities.".Those personnel skills were honed from working with the bank's human resources department, which began shortly after she joined Cornerstone, working in the newly formed electronic banking department to implement internet banking. Previously, she had spent time working as a teller and in the trust departments at other Nebraska banks and as a CPA with a York firm..Besides her responsibilities at Cornerstone, Holoch serves on the board of directors of the Nebraska Bankers Association, an organization she and her father have supported for a long time.."When she was dealing with family crises, she was able to help lead Cornerstone to continued success," said Richard Baier, NBA president. "Kris has been essential in making the transition and implementing the continued plan of Cornerstone as a family bank in Nebraska.".Her youngest son also works in the bank as a lender, and Holoch is looking forward to passing on the bank to a third generation.."I grew up hearing all the talk with banking and had early interest in banking as a career," she said. "I'm really thrilled now that I can. I've loved every minute of it. It's been an energizing, challenging, fun career to have.".Holoch is poised to lead a re-invigorated team in the next chapter of Cornerstone's history. Along with other members of the executive committee, she completed an organizational overhaul..As well as restructuring the bank's staff, Holoch did finish building her house after her husband's death. It sits next to a golf course and although she does not golf, her two sons and son-in-law do. When a memorial scramble golf tournament was held in her late husband's honor, her sons, son-in-law and her husband's best friend teamed up to win the tournament.Other 2015 Outstanding Women in Banking honorees include:Edie Tholo, Bankers' Bank, Madison, Wis.Debbie Maw, HomeStar Bank & Financial Services, Manteno, Ill.Deb Otto, Beacon Bank, Duluth, Minn.Val Fick, Security State Bank, Fergus Falls, Minn.Kristina Schaefer, Fishback Financial Corp., Brookings, S.D.