Rising Stars in Banking

Each summer, BankBeat honors Rising Stars in Banking. Nominations for bankers under the age of 45 are accepted at any time, but submissions close on May 8.

Candidates for Rising Stars in Banking can hold any position in the bank, from teller to president; they should have worked in banking for at least 10 years. BankBeat looks for bankers who have made outstanding contributions to their bank, industry and community, and who are poised to continue to make substantial contributions for years to come.

Nominated bankers should work in a bank from one of the following states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan or Iowa.

Send nominations to Tom Bengtson at tom@nfrcom.com or use snail mail: BankBeat, NFR Communications, 250 Prairie Center Drive, Ste. 300, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.

Click HERE to nominate a banker online.

2025 Rising Star Honorees:

Matt Jenkins, Iowa Trust and Savings Bank, Clive, Iowa.
Cole Sabe, Northview Bank, Finlayson, Minn.
Katelyn Olson, First State Bank Southwest, Worthington, Minn.
Josh Dreher, Bank of Hays, Kan.
Caitlin McMahon, Sunrise Banks, St. Paul, Minn.

2024 Rising Star Honorees:

Brock Goggins, German American Bank, Jasper, Ind.
Ben Udell, Lake Ridge Bank, Madison, Wis.
Kevin Tiernan, Bankers Trust, Des Moines, Iowa
Brian Nelson, BankVista, Mankato, Minn.
Connor Peterson, First Bank & Trust, Minden, Neb.
Matt Vaillant, North Shore Bank of Commerce, Duluth, Minn.

2023 Rising Star Honorees:

Randy Dorn, First National Bank of Henning, Ottertail and Battle Lake, Henning, Minn.
Josh Hogue, Reliabank, Estelline, S.D.
Luke Donnenwerth, Bank Midwest, Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Charlie Bauman, EntreBank, Bloomington, Minn.
Tom Mews, First National Community Bank, New Richmond, Wis.

2022 Rising Star Honorees:

Emily Boardman, Crossroads Bank, Wabash, Ind.
Rich Eckert, Beardstown Savings, Beardstown, Ill.
Nicole Evenson, TruCommunity Bank, Garrison, N.D.
Isaac Flenner, Stearns Bank N.A., St. Cloud, Minn.
Kevin Forristall, TS Banking Group, Treynor, Iowa
Savanna Hendrickson, The Bank of Tioga, N.D.
Lynn Rhodes, Flagship Bank Minnesota, Minnetonka
Aaron Siegle, First Resource Bank, Stillwater, Minn.

2021 Rising Star Honorees:

Juhl Erickson, Bank Midwest, Spirit Lake, Iowa
Nate Lloyd, Grand Rapids State Bank, Grand Rapids, Minn.
Kyle Baker, Community Bank & Trust, Waterloo, Iowa
Stephanie Brummette, Union Bank, Lake Odessa, Mich.
Courtney Olson, First Bank of Highland Park, Ill.
Amanda Morris-Feldman, First Federal Savings Bank, Rochester, Ind.

2020 Rising Star Honorees:

Nikki Walker, Village Bank, St. Francis, Minn.
Jeremy Skoglund, First Western Bank & Trust, Bismarck, N.D.
Christopher Lee, Gate City Bank, Fargo, N.D.
Heather Malcolm, Bank of the Rockies, Livingston, Mont.
TJ Minnehan, Bank of Kaukauna, Wis.
Ben Bochnowski, Peoples Bank, Munster, Ind.
The PPP Lending Team, Investors Community Bank, Manitowoc, Wis.

2019 Rising Star Honorees:

Megan Willcoxen, Peoples Bank Midwest, Hayward, Wis.
Kathy Torske, American Trust Center, Bismarck, N.D.
Brian Wagner, Flagship Bank, Wayzata, Minn.
Jon-Myckle Price, Security Federal Savings Bank, Logansport, Ind.
Craig Madsen, Bank Plus Iowa, Estherville, Iowa

2018 Rising Star Honorees:

Caleb Sekavec, First National Bank of Syracuse, Kan.
Kristin Marcuccilli, STAR Financial Bank, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Anita Drentlaw, New Market Bank, Elko New Market, Minn.
Mike Scholl, Northeast Bank, New Brighton, Minn.
Kayla Konger, The Garrett State Bank, Garrett, Ind.
Brad Lane, Security Savings Bank, Gowrie, Iowa
Heidi Brown, Citizens State Bank, Sheldon, Iowa

2017 Rising Star Honorees:

Bob Southworth, HomeTown Bank, St. Peter, Minn.
Lori Keigher, HomeStar Bank, Manteno, Ill.
Tony Gudajtes, Choice Financial, Grafton, N.D.
Jon King, Fidelity Bank & Trust, Oelwein, Iowa
Becky Miller, First Bank Financial Centre, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Dan Maddox, Citizens State Bank, New Castle, Ind.

2016 Rising Star Honorees:

Andy Schornack, Flagship Bank, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Steven Erickson, Oregon Community Bank, Oregon, Wis.
Krista Heiss, NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte, Neb.
Darla Kauffman, First State Bank of Middlebury, Ind.
Darin Johnson, Security State Bank Sutherland, Iowa
Dave Mason, First International Bank & Trust, Bismarck, N.D.
Bryan Toft, Community Bank Owatonna, Minn.
Joel Rochleau, Security State Bank, Springville, Iowa

2015 Rising Star Honorees:

Bill LaVigne, The Bank of Elk River, Minn.
Lucas White, The Fountain Trust Company, Covington, Ind.
Amanda Fanning, Adams Bank & Trust, Ogallala, Neb.
Tim Heilman, Choice Financial Group, Fargo, N.D.
Mark Heinemann, Farmers State Bank of Hartland, Minn.
Jennifer Kruchten, First National Bank and Trust of Beloit, Wis.
Matthew Lujano, Westside State Bank in Westside, Iowa

2014 Rising Star Honorees:

Katy Wolf Bode, Platte Valley Bank, North Bend, Neb.
Daron Van Beek, The First National Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Laura Pomerene, First National Bank and Trust Co., Beloit, Wis.
Brian L. Johnson, Choice Financial, Grand Forks, N.D.
John Welle, Minnwest Bank Metro, Eagan, Minn.
Dusten Johnson, Northeast Bank, Minneapolis

2013 Rising Star Honorees:

Chris Conrad, First Bank & Trust, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Karen Brekke, Frandsen Bank & Trust, East Grand Forks, Minn.
Ty Lucas, Nebraskaland National Bank, North Platte, Neb.
James Klein, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Korey Schow, Bank of Keystone, Neb.
Christie Obenauer, Union State Bank, Hazen, N.D.
Jeff Gilbert, Frontenac Bank, St. Charles, Mo.
Matthew Howrey, North Salem State Bank, North Salem, Ind.

Past Rising Star Honorees:

2012 Sherri Van Beek, CorTrust Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D. Henry Schutz, Lake Country Community Bank, Morristown, Minn. Todd Heilman, Western State Bank, Devils Lake, N.D. Tod Eastman, HomeStar Bank and Financial Services, Manteno, Ill. Adam Dittrich, Americanna Community Bank, Sleepy Eye, Minn. Blair Folkens, L.A. Amundson Investments, Sioux Falls, S.D. Greg Turner, MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City, Iowa Eric Kjos, Regional Missouri Bank, Marceline, Mo	2011 Jackie Herman, Flagship Bank, Wayzata, Minn. Doug Truex, Iowa Falls State Bank, Iowa Falls, Iowa David Hanson, American State Bank and Trust Company, Williston, N.D. Dan Fagan, Tradition Capital Bank, Edina, Minn. Michelle Gross, State Bank of Bement, Ill. Lori Heath, The Farmers State Bank, Brookston, Ind. Keith Willcut, Peoples Community Bank, Greenville, Mo.
2010 Todd Means, MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City, Iowa Andrew Sexton, Readlyn Savings Bank, Readlyn, Iowa Patrick Artz, State Bank of Bottineau, N.D. Lesly Couper, Alpine Bank, Rockford, Ill. Daniel Padilla, First National Bank of Omaha, Neb. Bryan Bruns, Annandale State Bank, Annandale, Minn. Annette Russell, Security Federal Savings Bank, Logansport, Ind.	2009 David Wittenberg, United Prairie Bank, Mankato, Minn. Brad Koehn, F&M Bank, West Point, Neb. Amy Thiede, Prairie Community Bank, Marengo, Ill. Mike Stratton, Better Banks, Bartonville, Ill. Greg Vetter, American Bank Center, Bismarck, N.D. Lisa Artz, Choice Financial Group, West Fargo, N.D. Barbara Finney, MidWestOne Bank, Oskaloosa, Iowa Anthony Gambaiani, Jackson County Bank, Seymour, Ind.
2008 Bruce Kout, Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, Iowa City, Iowa Lynn Olson, Great Northern Bank, St. Michael, Minn. Jon Schmaderer, The Tri-County Bank, Stuart, Neb. Michael Solberg, State Bank & Trust, Fargo, N.D. Mark Demske, Community State Bank, Avilla, Ind. Dale Boyer, Citizens National Bank, Paris, Ill. 2007 Casey Regan, Premier Bank, Hastings Offices, Minn. Stacy Brass, Union Bank & Trust Co., Lincoln, Neb. Scott McCoskey, The First National Bank, Tremont, Ill. Todd Nagel, River Valley State Bank, Wausau, Wis. Drew Brattain, First National Bank of Cloverdale, Plainfield, Ind. Erik Skovgard, Lincoln Savings Bank, Waterloo, Iowa Mark Anderson, Peoples Bank of Deer Lodge, Deer Lodge, Mont.
2006 David Reiling, University National Bank, St. Paul, Minn. Chris Ekstrum, The First National Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D. Andrew Black, Princeville State Bank, Princeville, Ill. Jeremy Smail, First Option Bank, Osawatomie, Kan. Gail Mikolich, Northeast Bank, Minneapolis Matthew Morris, Fort Madison Bank & Trust, Fort Madison, Iowa Stuart Hood, Garrett State Bank, Garrett, Ind. Earl Jarolimek, Bank of the West, Fargo, N.D.	2005 Bryn L. Rude, Midwest Bank, Parkers Prairie, Minn. Nancy Baerwald, CountryBank USA, Cando, N.D. Abe Tubbs, First Central State Bank, DeWitt, Iowa Peter Alworth, Great Northern Bank, St. Michael, Minn. Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer, First Security Bank & Trust, Charles City, Iowa Kendell Holthus, Cornerstone Bank, York, Neb.
2004 Robert Cera, State Financial Bank, Milwaukee Clark Vollan, Lake Region Bank, Willmar, Minn. Janell Beveridge, Bank of Paxon, Neb. Paul Waltz, First American Bank, Des Moines, Iowa Tim Siegle, United Valley Bank, Cavalier, N.D. Robert Cormier, Jr., Home State Bank, N.A., Crystal Lake, Ill. Kevin Tetzlaff, Community State Bank, Milbank, S.D. Dan Raleigh, Lake Elmo Bank, Lake Elmo, Minn	2003 Stephen Daggett, Midwest Bank, Detroit Lakes, Minn. John DeDoncker, THE National Bank, Bettendorf, Iowa Pete Jahner, Kirkwood Bank & Trust, Bismarck, N.D. Corey Chambas, First Business Bank, Madison, Wis. Vicki Kraai, Sutton State Bank, Sutton, Neb. Rod Lasley, North Salem State Bank, Salem, Ind. Greg Ohlendorf, First Community Bank and Trust, Beecher, Ill.
2002 Brigham L. Tubbs, First Central State Bank, DeWitt, Iowa Brad Bakken, Citizens Independent Bank, St. Louis Park, Minn. Tom Capouch, First and Farmers Bank, Portland, N.D. Jacob Stahl, Home Federal Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D. Dean Friesen, Beacon Bank, Shorewood, Minn. Mitch Feiger, MB Financial, Chicago Mark Mohr, Monona State Bank, Milwaukee Myron Sams, High Plains National Bank, Wiggins, Colo.	2001 Tom Damkroger, Saline State Bank, Wilbur, Neb. Brad Davis, Hampton State Bank, Hampton, Iowa Margrette Newhouse, National City Bank, Minneapolis Bruce Anderson, State Bank of Lakota, N.D. Gary Hemmer, First National Bank of Waterloo, Ill. Scott Page, The Pony Express Bank, Liberty, Mo. Scott Bird, First National bank, Quinter, Kan. William Baker, The First National Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D. Kevin McCoy, Acuity Bank, Tomah, Wis
2000 Gary Peterson, Lakeside State Bank, New Town, N.D. Jack Hopkins, CorTrust Bank, N.A., Sioux Falls, S.D. Brian Nicklason, Woodland Bank, Remer, Minn. Jay Harris, The Yellowstone Bank, Laurel, Mont. Tom Bugielski, Founders Bank, Worth, Ill. Stacy Bentley, Community National Bank, Waterloo, Iowa Kim Schroll, Nebraskaland National Bank, North Platte, Neb. Jeff Knudson, Ixonia State Bank, Ixonia, Wis.	1999 Laura Warne, Home State Bank, Kandiyohi, Minn. Janet Krier, The Security National Bank of Sioux City, Iowa Bill Lastovica, Bank of Yutan, Neb. Nate Franzén, First Dakota National Bank, Yankton, S.D. Doug Parrott, State Bank of Toulon, Ill. Jim Hegenbarth, The Park Bank, Madison, Wis. Don Bennett, First Citizens Bank, Columbia Falls, Mont. John Hoeven, Bank of North Dakota, Bismarck, N.D.