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2025 Workplace Inclusion and Leadership Summit
October 09, 2025
Program Overview
Mass Bankers presents the 2025 Workplace Inclusion and Leadership Summit!
Join us to hear from engaging speakers on current hot topics and strategies on cultivating diverse and inclusive environments in the workplace. The event also features an update from our D&I Council members on our accomplishments and the state of our current initiatives.
Date & Time
October 9, 2025
Registration 8:30 AM | Program Start 9:00 AM | Program Concludes 12:00 PM
Who Should Attend?
DEI Officers and staff, HR Managers, and all banking professionals looking to support D&I initiatives at their banks!
Workforce Training Fund Program
The course ID for the 2025 Workplace Inclusion and Leadership Summit is C-14142. Banks with 50 or fewer employees can be reimbursed 100 percent for the program's cost. For more information on the Commonwealth Corporation's Workforce Training Fund Program, please visit their website. If you need assistance with the Express Grant, please contact the Commonwealth Corporation directly.
2025 D&I Council Members
Co-Chairs
- Darryl Fess, Regional President, Brookline Bank (Division of Beacon Bank & Trust)
- Ive Gonzales, SVP, DEI Director, Eastern Bank
Ex-Officio
- Peter Brown, President & CEO, Dedham Savings
Council Members
- Emilie Bajorek, SVP, Communications, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank
- Susan Brown, SVP, Administration, Lee Bank
- Kara Clark, SVP, Chief Financial Officer, Winchester Co-operative Bank
- Suzanne Dupre, SVP, Chief Human Resources & Diversity Officer
- Lisseth Flores, SVP, Human Resources, North Shore Bank
- Thomas Golden, VP, CRA Officer, Rockland Trust
- Jamar Green, VP CRA/Lending Compliance Officer, Coastal Heritage Bank
- Elena Harootunian, Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources, BankNewport
- Lee Ann Hesse, SVP, Chief Engagement Officer, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod
- Victoria Kane, President, Dedham Savings Bank
- Beth McNeff, VP, Director of Human Resources, Newburyport Bank
- Lori Meads, President & CEO, Seamen's Bank
- Dan Moriarty, President & CEO, Monson Savings Bank
- Helena Moronta, FVP, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer, BayCoast Bank
- Mary Penkala, Chief Human Resouce Officer, Dean Bank
- Rebecca Regnet, Chief Talent Officer, Newburyport Bank
- Beverly Somerville, VP, CRA Officer, Dedham Savings
Early
Standard
Late
$390.00
Agenda
| 9:00 am | ||
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Welcome & Introductions
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Tanya Duncan, EVP, Revenue and Strategy, Mass Bankers Association Darryl Fess, President & CEO, Brookline Bank, D&I Council Chair |
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| 9:10 am | ||
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Review of Federal Action Regarding DEI and the Implications for Employers
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Suzanne Walker (Counsel) and Samara Ludwick (Partner), Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP |
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| 9:50 am | ||
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Building Inclusive Leadership Pipelines
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Steve Hopkins, Director of Organizational Performance, WIPFLI This session explores strategies to build a diverse and inclusive leadership pipeline that reflects the full potential of your workforce. Participants will examine barriers to advancement, identify inclusive talent practices, and learn how to embed equity into leadership development. Through discussion and practical tools, leaders will leave with actionable steps to foster a culture of opportunity and representation at every level. |
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| 10:30 am | ||
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Break
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| 10:40 am | ||
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The Benefits of Employee Resource Groups to Advance Workplace Goals
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Moderator: Tom Golden, VP, CRA, Rockland Trust |
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| 11:10 am | ||
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Breakout Groups
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| 11:40 am | ||
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Debrief
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| 12:00 pm | ||
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Closing Remarks & Adjourn
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Speakers
| Name | Organization | Speaking At |
|---|---|---|
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Dahiana Duarte Pena
<p>Dahiana Duarte Pena focuses on FinTech and digital product development as a Vice President on the broader Eastern Bankshares Digital and Labs team which manages the bank's innovation portfolio (this includes existing digital platforms, research and development, investments, and FinTech partnerships with the intention of helping her customers and communities prosper). She worked in product strategy and research globally including for State Street Corporation and across Europe and Asia.</p><p>Apart from her work in FinTech, She's passionate about finding new ways to expand opportunities in finance and entrepreneurship for fellow minority women through volunteerism / service. Pena currently Chairs Eastern Bank's Latines in Action network, serves as an Associate Board Member at the Council for Economic Education, an advisor for its Invest in Girls program, and a Director for the Tufts University Alumni Association as part of its Executive Committee.</p><p>Awards & Recognitions: El Mundo 30 Under 30 Latino Lister; Amplify LatinX Top 30 MA Leaders</p>
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Rockland Trust | - |
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Samara Ludwick
<p>Samera Syeda Ludwig focuses her practice on labor and employment and business immigration. For more than 20 years, she has represented employers in both state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings throughout the country. As an experienced litigator, Samera counsels and represents businesses on matters involving employee discipline, employee claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, OSHA compliance and counseling, EEO compliance and reporting, and conducts internal investigations. Samera also advises employers on immigration policies and employment related issues including obtaining non-immigrant and immigrant visas, providing immigration related guidance during corporate mergers and acquisitions, and assisting employers with I-9 employment eligibility and verification compliance.</p>
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Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP | - |
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Steve Hopkins
<p>Steve Hopkins leads the leadership consulting team, as part of Wipfli’s Organizational Performance group, focused on helping clients develop their people, their culture and, ultimately, their organizations. For the past decade, Steve has led and championed leadership development and executive coaching programs through his consulting work, building on a career as a leader of people. Previous to that, Steve ran an international sales team for a manufacturing company that took him around the world; he served as the business unit manager for ACS (now Xerox); and he taught English and comp at the University of Kentucky. He is nothing if not eclectic. Steve believes passionately in providing organizations with the framework, training and tools to enable their leaders to grow and develop effectively. Focused on providing clients with thoughtful—and thought-provoking—consultation, his greatest satisfaction comes from fostering employee performance, team integration and organizational development.</p>
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WIPFLI | - |
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Suzanne Walker
<p>Suzanne engages in a comprehensive employee benefits practice at Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton LLP with a concentration in the areas of: (i) non-qualified and tax-qualified retirement plans, (ii) equity compensation, (iii) succession planning, (iv) governance (regulatory and best practices), (v) mergers and acquisitions, (vi) director and management education/training on compensation and benefit matters, and (vii) the implementation of employment and severance arrangements. Suzanne is a frequent speaker at national and state banking conferences on a variety of compensation and benefit topics, as well as issues relating to diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Before beginning a career in law, Suzanne worked in the banking industry as a foreign exchange trader (retail side) with European American Bank.<br><br> </p>
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Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP | - |
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Thomas Golden
<p>Tom brings over a decade of financial services industry experience to his new role. He started his banking career at Hingham Institution for Savings. From there, he was a Bank Examiner as well as the Assistant Chief Director of Bank and Credit Union Supervision for the Massachusetts Division of Banks. Most recently, Tom was a commissioned compliance examiner at the FDIC for over five years. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Leadership and Organizational Change from University of Massachusetts Boston. Prior to receiving his MBA, he received his Bachelor of Science in Government at Suffolk University. Tom has earned various credentials that enrich his knowledge of CRA and compliance laws. He holds the following designations: Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) from the American Bankers Association, Certified Consumer Protection Examiner (CCPE-III) from the Conference of State Banking Supervisors, and a Commissioned Compliance Examiner from the FDIC. </p>
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Rockland Trust Company | - |