2026 Women & Allies in Banking Conference : Massachusetts Bankers Association

Dates

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Time

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT

Location

2026 Women & Allies in Banking Conference Event Image

Program Overview

Mass Bankers presents the 2026 Women and Allies in Banking Conference | Lead · Change · Grow

The 14th Annual Women and Allies in Banking Conference offers participants the opportunity to learn from accomplished banking leaders and industry experts while networking with peers. Attendees will explore industry trends, gain valuable personal development tools, and expand their professional skill sets.

Through engaging networking opportunities, keynote presentations, and panel discussions, participants will discover strategies to become stronger allies, support employee growth, and foster inclusivity within their organizations.
Space is limited. Registrations will not be available after the room capacity has been reached.

Date & Time

May 14, 2026

8:30AM Registration | 9:00AM Program Start | 3:00PM Program Concludes

Who Should Attend?

All women banking professionals and their allies

Pricing

Early Member Registration: $350
Member Registration: $425
*Early Registration Table of 10: $3500
*Table Registration: $4,250

*Tables may be purchased through the Exhibits menu within your MyMBA profile. Instructions HERE. Table locations are approximate and subject to change based on the number of registrations received. Contact Registrations with any questions.

Leadership Awards Nomination

Mass Bankers and its Women in Banking Advisory Committee are pleased to announce we are accepting Nominations for the 2026 Women and Allies in Banking Achievement Awards. The Awards honor the outstanding achievements of remarkable individuals who have demonstrated leadership, professionalism, and community service in the banking and finance industries. Please act before the March 20th deadline.

Nomination Form

Express Grant

The course ID for the Women and Allies in Banking conference is C-2836. Banks with 100 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. Please note: All applications must be submitted at least 21 days before the start date of training.

2026 Women in Banking Advisory Group

Jill Amato, SVP, Marketing & Community Banking Officer, MountainOne Bank, Rockland, MA

Emily Barden, VP Project Manager III, Needham Bank, Needham, MA

Casey Brouthers, SVP Chief Risk Officer and General Counsel, Baycoast Bank, Taunton, MA

Janytra M. Brooks, Chief Human Resources Officer, Brookline Bancorp, Inc., Boston, MA

Francesca B. DeFabrizio, EVP Chief Human Resources Officer, East Cambridge Savings Bank, Cambridge, MA

Terri Fox, SVP Chief Retail Officer, Monson Savings Bank, Monson, MA

Victoria Kane, Chief People Officer, Charlesbridge Group, President, Dedham Savings, Dedham, MA

Shanika M. Rogowski, EVP, Chief Consumer & Residential Banking Officer, Cape & Coast Bank, Hyannis, MA

Dee Sendrowski, Managing Director, Organizational Development, Fidelity Bank, Leominster, MA

Marianne Smith, President & CEO, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Gloucester, MA

Jennifer St. Pierre, CFO of Bristol County Saving Bank

Registration Fees

Bronze Sponsorship

Early Standard Late

$1000.00

Early Bird: Single Member Registration

Early

$350.00

Early Bird: Single Nonmember Registration

Early

$650.00

Gold Sponsorship

Early Standard Late

$3000.00

Platinum Sponsorship

Early Standard Late

$5000.00

Silver Sponsorship

Early Standard Late

$2000.00

Single Member Registration

Standard Late

$425.00

Single Nonmember Registration

Standard Late

$725.00

Agenda


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8:30 am
	Registration \| Networking Continental Breakfast \| Wellness Stations Sold Out! 0 Slots Left
9:00 am
	Welcome Sold Out! 0 Slots Left Tanya M. Duncan, EVP of Revenue & Strategy, Mass Bankers Association
9:10 am
	Opening Remarks Sold Out! 0 Slots Left Anne Tangen, President & CEO, BankFive, Chair-Elect, MBA Board of Directors Anne Tangen BankFive <p>Anne P. Tangen joined BankFive in 2020, driving significant investments in technology, infrastructure, and employee development. A former Chief Information Officer, Anne values the blend of personal service and innovative, customer-friendly technology. Her leadership has earned recognition from media, the community, and industry peers.</p><p>Anne has extensive experience in business and product strategy for wealth management, institutional asset management, and cash management services. She began her career at Fidelity Investments, spent 14 years in leadership roles, and later joined State Street Bank to launch a wealth management business generating $90MM annually. Prior to BankFive, she was Chief Operating Officer at The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. </p><p>A graduate of the University of Vermont, Anne founded the Alden Pettengill Foundation and serves on multiple boards, including the SouthCoast Community Foundation and the Massachusetts Ban kers Association. Under her leadership, BankFive has earned accolades like The Women’s Edge Top 100 Women-Led Businesses. Anne frequently speaks at industry conferences and received the 2023 Northeast Women of Banking Award.</p> <p>Anne P. Tangen joined BankFive in 2020, driving significant investments in technology, infrastructure, and employee development. A former Chief Information Officer, Anne values the blend of personal service and innovative, customer-friendly technology. Her leadership has earned recognition from media, the community, and industry peers.</p><p>Anne has extensive experience in business and product strategy for wealth management, institutional asset management, and cash management services. She began her career at Fidelity Investments, spent 14 years in leadership roles, and later joined State Street Bank to launch a wealth management business generating $90MM annually. Prior to BankFive, she was Chief Operating Officer at The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. </p><p>A graduate of the University of Vermont, Anne founded the Alden Pettengill Foundation and serves on multiple boards, including the SouthCoast Community Foundation and the Massachusetts Ban kers Association. Under her leadership, BankFive has earned accolades like The Women’s Edge Top 100 Women-Led Businesses. Anne frequently speaks at industry conferences and received the 2023 Northeast Women of Banking Award.</p>
9:15 am
	Keynote Address: Letting Go of Fear and Embracing Confidence or Strengths That Redefine Confidence Sold Out! 0 Slots Left Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS What would happen if you let go of fear, got off the sidelines, and jumped boldly into the game of life? Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, electrifies audiences as she unpacks this vital question in her moving, motivating, and empowering talks. Catalyzing confidence and inspiring innovation, Sun seamlessly blends stories from her personal journey with data and experience-driven insights from her 11 years at McKinsey & Company and 11 years running the game-changing company GRAVITAS. She offers talks that change the way you and your organization think about strengths, motivation and leadership. Sun draws on her entrepreneurial drive and business acumen honed from her time at McKinsey to underscore why it’s vital to push past your potential, how to transform an idea into a movement, and why you’ve got to bet on yourself every single day. She defines research-backed confidence languages, helps each audience member uncover their own unique “superpowers,” and unlocks the secrets to high-performing leadership. With an unwavering dedication to helping others show up as the best version of themselves, Sun authored the national bestselling book Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. Lisa Sun GRAVITAS <p>What would happen if you let go of fear, got off the sidelines, and jumped boldly into the game of life? Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, electrifies audiences as she unpacks this vital question in her moving, motivating, and empowering talks. Catalyzing confidence and inspiring innovation, Sun seamlessly blends stories from her personal journey with data and experience-driven insights from her 11 years at McKinsey & Company and 11 years running the game-changing company GRAVITAS. She offers talks that change the way you and your organization think about strengths, motivation and leadership.</p><p>Sun draws on her entrepreneurial drive and business acumen honed from her time at McKinsey to underscore why it’s vital to push past your potential, how to transform an idea into a movement, and why you’ve got to bet on yourself every single day. She defines research-backed confidence languages, helps each audience member uncover their own unique “superpower s,” and unlocks the secrets to high-performing leadership. </p><p>With an unwavering dedication to helping others show up as the best version of themselves, Sun authored the national bestselling book Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. </p> <p>What would happen if you let go of fear, got off the sidelines, and jumped boldly into the game of life? Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, electrifies audiences as she unpacks this vital question in her moving, motivating, and empowering talks. Catalyzing confidence and inspiring innovation, Sun seamlessly blends stories from her personal journey with data and experience-driven insights from her 11 years at McKinsey & Company and 11 years running the game-changing company GRAVITAS. She offers talks that change the way you and your organization think about strengths, motivation and leadership.</p><p>Sun draws on her entrepreneurial drive and business acumen honed from her time at McKinsey to underscore why it’s vital to push past your potential, how to transform an idea into a movement, and why you’ve got to bet on yourself every single day. She defines research-backed confidence languages, helps each audience member uncover their own unique “superpower s,” and unlocks the secrets to high-performing leadership. </p><p>With an unwavering dedication to helping others show up as the best version of themselves, Sun authored the national bestselling book Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. </p>
9:45 am
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11:00 am
	Leadership Panel Sold Out! 0 Slots Left Moderator: Kathleen Murphy, President and CEO, Massachusetts Bankers Association Panelists: Kathleen Henry, EVP, General Counsel, and CHRO at Eastern Bank Dana Neshe, President and CEO, Middlesex Savings Bank Marco Bernasconi, FSVP, Chief Operating & Innovation Officer, Country Bank Kathleen Henry Eastern Bank <p>Kathleen C. Henry is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Eastern Bankshares, Inc. and Eastern Bank (together, Eastern). She oversees the various legal affairs of Eastern, including corporate governance, in-house legal advice, litigation risk, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including SEC compliance; she leads the teams responsible for talent acquisition, training and development, employee relations, and compensation and benefits as well as corporate communications and public relations. She serves on Eastern’s executive management committee and was part of the leadership team that led the company through its highly successful IPO in 2020 and subsequent three bank acquisitions, helping to grow Eastern into Greater Boston’s leading bank. Prior to joining Eastern, Kathy served as the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel at Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation; and before that was a litigator at Choate, Hall & Stewa rt, where she also served as the firm’s hiring and pro bono partner. Nominated by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, she serves as Chair of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Committee. Kathy is a member of the Boston Bar Association (BBA) and has served on or chaired various of its committees. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Political Asylum/ Immigration Representation Project; and on the Advisory Committee for the Women in the Law Conference of Northeastern University Law School. Kathy is a graduate of Boston University (B.A. Journalism) and Northeastern University School of Law. She is a ten-time Boston Marathoner.</p> <p>Kathleen C. Henry is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Eastern Bankshares, Inc. and Eastern Bank (together, Eastern). She oversees the various legal affairs of Eastern, including corporate governance, in-house legal advice, litigation risk, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including SEC compliance; she leads the teams responsible for talent acquisition, training and development, employee relations, and compensation and benefits as well as corporate communications and public relations. She serves on Eastern’s executive management committee and was part of the leadership team that led the company through its highly successful IPO in 2020 and subsequent three bank acquisitions, helping to grow Eastern into Greater Boston’s leading bank. Prior to joining Eastern, Kathy served as the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel at Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation; and before that was a litigator at Choate, Hall & Stewa rt, where she also served as the firm’s hiring and pro bono partner. Nominated by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, she serves as Chair of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Committee. Kathy is a member of the Boston Bar Association (BBA) and has served on or chaired various of its committees. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Political Asylum/ Immigration Representation Project; and on the Advisory Committee for the Women in the Law Conference of Northeastern University Law School. Kathy is a graduate of Boston University (B.A. Journalism) and Northeastern University School of Law. She is a ten-time Boston Marathoner.</p> Kathleen Murphy Mass Bankers Association <p>Kathleen Murphy is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts Bankers Association, which represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the exceptional voice and resource for the Commonwealth’s $580 billion banking industry.<br><br>With a career spanning state and national banking associations, Kathleen joined MBA in September 2020 following twenty-one years at the helm of the Maryland Bankers Association in Annapolis. Before joining the Maryland association, Kathleen served as Director of Community Banking for the American Bankers Association in Washington, D. C. where she led the Association’s largest constituency group of community bank CEOs which influenced policy, education, communication and service strategies for the national Association.  <br>Kathleen’s earlier career highlights include working as Director of Communications for the Ohio Bankers Association and in the financial card services group of Bank One in Columbus. <br> ;<br>She currently serves on the ABA Foundation Board of Directors, the Independent Community Bankers of America Large Community Bank Council, the BDC Capital Corporation and Infinex.  Kathleen was elected by her peers to chair the State Bankers Association Alliance and in this role served on the Board of Directors of the American Bankers Association in 2010-2011. She also served from 2012-2019 on the Board of Trustees of Marietta College and chaired its Audit Committee.   Kathleen is recipient of numerous awards including the 2019 Community Service Award from the Maryland Government Relations Association; the Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in Maryland in 2017 and one of fifty Influential Marylanders named by The Daily Record in 2009, 2014 and 2017 and inducted into its Circle of Excellence in 2017.  <br><br>Kathleen is a graduate of Marietta College in Marietta Ohio and has completed Executive Education courses at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Kathleen and her husband Mike are avid boaters and reside on Boston’s South Shore.</p> <p>Kathleen Murphy is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts Bankers Association, which represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the exceptional voice and resource for the Commonwealth’s $580 billion banking industry.<br><br>With a career spanning state and national banking associations, Kathleen joined MBA in September 2020 following twenty-one years at the helm of the Maryland Bankers Association in Annapolis. Before joining the Maryland association, Kathleen served as Director of Community Banking for the American Bankers Association in Washington, D. C. where she led the Association’s largest constituency group of community bank CEOs which influenced policy, education, communication and service strategies for the national Association.  <br>Kathleen’s earlier career highlights include working as Director of Communications for the Ohio Bankers Association and in the financial card services group of Bank One in Columbus. <br> ;<br>She currently serves on the ABA Foundation Board of Directors, the Independent Community Bankers of America Large Community Bank Council, the BDC Capital Corporation and Infinex.  Kathleen was elected by her peers to chair the State Bankers Association Alliance and in this role served on the Board of Directors of the American Bankers Association in 2010-2011. She also served from 2012-2019 on the Board of Trustees of Marietta College and chaired its Audit Committee.   Kathleen is recipient of numerous awards including the 2019 Community Service Award from the Maryland Government Relations Association; the Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in Maryland in 2017 and one of fifty Influential Marylanders named by The Daily Record in 2009, 2014 and 2017 and inducted into its Circle of Excellence in 2017.  <br><br>Kathleen is a graduate of Marietta College in Marietta Ohio and has completed Executive Education courses at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Kathleen and her husband Mike are avid boaters and reside on Boston’s South Shore.</p> Dana Neshe Middlesex Savings Bank <p>Dana is the Chair, President & CEO of Middlesex Savings Bank.  She began her banking career working for the FDIC as a commissioned compliance examiner and joined the Bank in 1995 as the Assistant Compliance Officer.  Since then, Dana’s career has been anything but linear.  In her time at Middlesex, she’s overseen a variety of areas including regulatory compliance, retail branches, enterprise risk management, human resources, marketing, and community relations.  Dana was also closely involved with the formation of the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation where she served as the President of the Board for more than two decades.  </p><p>A strong believer in the importance of volunteerism, Dana has served on a variety of boards and committees.  Organizations on whose boards she has served include Framingham State University, the MetroWest Health Foundation, Philanthropy Massachusetts, the MetroWest Chambe r of Commerce, Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, and the Warrior Within Yoga Project.  She currently sits on the boards of the Community Foundation for MetroWest, the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation, SBERA, and COCC.</p> <p>Dana is the Chair, President & CEO of Middlesex Savings Bank.  She began her banking career working for the FDIC as a commissioned compliance examiner and joined the Bank in 1995 as the Assistant Compliance Officer.  Since then, Dana’s career has been anything but linear.  In her time at Middlesex, she’s overseen a variety of areas including regulatory compliance, retail branches, enterprise risk management, human resources, marketing, and community relations.  Dana was also closely involved with the formation of the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation where she served as the President of the Board for more than two decades.  </p><p>A strong believer in the importance of volunteerism, Dana has served on a variety of boards and committees.  Organizations on whose boards she has served include Framingham State University, the MetroWest Health Foundation, Philanthropy Massachusetts, the MetroWest Chambe r of Commerce, Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, and the Warrior Within Yoga Project.  She currently sits on the boards of the Community Foundation for MetroWest, the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation, SBERA, and COCC.</p> Marco Bernasconi Country Bank for Savings <p>Marco Bernasconi is Chief Operating and Innovation Officer at Country Bank, where he brings more than 30 years of experience in banking and financial technology. Throughout his career, Marco has built a reputation for turning innovation into execution—aligning strategy, operations, and technology to deliver measurable results and long-term value.</p><p>A former Bank President and CEO, Marco is known for his disciplined, practical approach to leadership. He focuses on simplifying operations, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring that investments in technology and digital capabilities translate into meaningful outcomes for customers, employees, and the communities the Bank serves.</p><p>In his role, Marco works across the organization to align people, process, data, and technology, enabling stronger decision-making and positioning Country Bank for continued growth in an evolving financial services landscape.</p><p>Marco is also proud to wor k alongside and support the advancement of strong female leaders in the financial services industry, recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives in driving innovation, performance, and meaningful impact.</p><p>At Country Bank, being Made to Make a Difference means making smart, responsible decisions that strengthen the Bank, support its communities, and create lasting value for those it serves.</p> <p>Marco Bernasconi is Chief Operating and Innovation Officer at Country Bank, where he brings more than 30 years of experience in banking and financial technology. Throughout his career, Marco has built a reputation for turning innovation into execution—aligning strategy, operations, and technology to deliver measurable results and long-term value.</p><p>A former Bank President and CEO, Marco is known for his disciplined, practical approach to leadership. He focuses on simplifying operations, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring that investments in technology and digital capabilities translate into meaningful outcomes for customers, employees, and the communities the Bank serves.</p><p>In his role, Marco works across the organization to align people, process, data, and technology, enabling stronger decision-making and positioning Country Bank for continued growth in an evolving financial services landscape.</p><p>Marco is also proud to wor k alongside and support the advancement of strong female leaders in the financial services industry, recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives in driving innovation, performance, and meaningful impact.</p><p>At Country Bank, being Made to Make a Difference means making smart, responsible decisions that strengthen the Bank, support its communities, and create lasting value for those it serves.</p>
11:45 am
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1:00 pm
	Bold Thinking, Smart Decisions: Strategy that Works Sold Out! 0 Slots Left Catherine Nestrick, VP Workforce Excellence, American Bankers Association Strategic thinking isn’t reserved for boardrooms—it’s a mindset rooted in curiosity, clarity, and courage. In this dynamic session, we’ll explore how bold decisions are often shaped by thoughtful questions, and how confidence grows not from having all the answers, but from knowing what to ask. Through real-world insights, we’ll reframe how we view strategy, decision-making, and leadership. Attendees will leave with a renewed sense of their strategic strengths and practical tools to lead with impact. Cathy Nestrick American Bankers Association <p>Cathy is the Vice President of Women’s Leadership and DEI at the American Banker’s Association and the former Vice President and General Counsel of a Fortune 500 business where she founded her company’s diversity and inclusion initiative. She is the co-host of the Parity Podcast which offers concrete solutions to accelerate gender parity. Cathy helps organizations with their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies, and is a frequent speaker on topics such as building inclusive cultures, disrupting bias, creating diverse teams, and allyship. She is a member of the SPE DEI Advisory Board for the manufacturing industry and a DEI columnist for Plastics Engineering Magazine.</p> <p>Cathy is the Vice President of Women’s Leadership and DEI at the American Banker’s Association and the former Vice President and General Counsel of a Fortune 500 business where she founded her company’s diversity and inclusion initiative. She is the co-host of the Parity Podcast which offers concrete solutions to accelerate gender parity. Cathy helps organizations with their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies, and is a frequent speaker on topics such as building inclusive cultures, disrupting bias, creating diverse teams, and allyship. She is a member of the SPE DEI Advisory Board for the manufacturing industry and a DEI columnist for Plastics Engineering Magazine.</p>
2:00 pm
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2:10 pm
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3:00 pm
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Speakers

Name	Organization	Speaking At
Anne Tangen <p>Anne P. Tangen joined BankFive in 2020, driving significant investments in technology, infrastructure, and employee development. A former Chief Information Officer, Anne values the blend of personal service and innovative, customer-friendly technology. Her leadership has earned recognition from media, the community, and industry peers.</p><p>Anne has extensive experience in business and product strategy for wealth management, institutional asset management, and cash management services. She began her career at Fidelity Investments, spent 14 years in leadership roles, and later joined State Street Bank to launch a wealth management business generating $90MM annually. Prior to BankFive, she was Chief Operating Officer at The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. </p><p>A graduate of the University of Vermont, Anne founded the Alden Pettengill Foundation and serves on multiple boards, including the SouthCoast Community Foundation and the Massachusetts Bankers Association. Under her leadership, BankFive has earned accolades like The Women’s Edge Top 100 Women-Led Businesses. Anne frequently speaks at industry conferences and received the 2023 Northeast Women of Banking Award.</p>	BankFive	Opening Remarks
Cathy Nestrick <p>Cathy is the Vice President of Women’s Leadership and DEI at the American Banker’s Association and the former Vice President and General Counsel of a Fortune 500 business where she founded her company’s diversity and inclusion initiative. She is the co-host of the Parity Podcast which offers concrete solutions to accelerate gender parity. Cathy helps organizations with their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies, and is a frequent speaker on topics such as building inclusive cultures, disrupting bias, creating diverse teams, and allyship. She is a member of the SPE DEI Advisory Board for the manufacturing industry and a DEI columnist for Plastics Engineering Magazine.</p>	American Bankers Association	Bold Thinking, Smart Decisions: Strategy that Works
Dana Neshe <p>Dana is the Chair, President & CEO of Middlesex Savings Bank.  She began her banking career working for the FDIC as a commissioned compliance examiner and joined the Bank in 1995 as the Assistant Compliance Officer.  Since then, Dana’s career has been anything but linear.  In her time at Middlesex, she’s overseen a variety of areas including regulatory compliance, retail branches, enterprise risk management, human resources, marketing, and community relations.  Dana was also closely involved with the formation of the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation where she served as the President of the Board for more than two decades.  </p><p>A strong believer in the importance of volunteerism, Dana has served on a variety of boards and committees.  Organizations on whose boards she has served include Framingham State University, the MetroWest Health Foundation, Philanthropy Massachusetts, the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, and the Warrior Within Yoga Project.  She currently sits on the boards of the Community Foundation for MetroWest, the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation, SBERA, and COCC.</p>	Middlesex Savings Bank	Leadership Panel
Kathleen Murphy <p>Kathleen Murphy is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts Bankers Association, which represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the exceptional voice and resource for the Commonwealth’s $580 billion banking industry.<br><br>With a career spanning state and national banking associations, Kathleen joined MBA in September 2020 following twenty-one years at the helm of the Maryland Bankers Association in Annapolis. Before joining the Maryland association, Kathleen served as Director of Community Banking for the American Bankers Association in Washington, D. C. where she led the Association’s largest constituency group of community bank CEOs which influenced policy, education, communication and service strategies for the national Association.  <br>Kathleen’s earlier career highlights include working as Director of Communications for the Ohio Bankers Association and in the financial card services group of Bank One in Columbus. <br><br>She currently serves on the ABA Foundation Board of Directors, the Independent Community Bankers of America Large Community Bank Council, the BDC Capital Corporation and Infinex.  Kathleen was elected by her peers to chair the State Bankers Association Alliance and in this role served on the Board of Directors of the American Bankers Association in 2010-2011. She also served from 2012-2019 on the Board of Trustees of Marietta College and chaired its Audit Committee.   Kathleen is recipient of numerous awards including the 2019 Community Service Award from the Maryland Government Relations Association; the Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in Maryland in 2017 and one of fifty Influential Marylanders named by The Daily Record in 2009, 2014 and 2017 and inducted into its Circle of Excellence in 2017.  <br><br>Kathleen is a graduate of Marietta College in Marietta Ohio and has completed Executive Education courses at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Kathleen and her husband Mike are avid boaters and reside on Boston’s South Shore.</p>	Mass Bankers Association	Leadership Panel
Kathleen Henry <p>Kathleen C. Henry is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Eastern Bankshares, Inc. and Eastern Bank (together, Eastern). She oversees the various legal affairs of Eastern, including corporate governance, in-house legal advice, litigation risk, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including SEC compliance; she leads the teams responsible for talent acquisition, training and development, employee relations, and compensation and benefits as well as corporate communications and public relations. She serves on Eastern’s executive management committee and was part of the leadership team that led the company through its highly successful IPO in 2020 and subsequent three bank acquisitions, helping to grow Eastern into Greater Boston’s leading bank. Prior to joining Eastern, Kathy served as the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel at Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation; and before that was a litigator at Choate, Hall & Stewart, where she also served as the firm’s hiring and pro bono partner. Nominated by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, she serves as Chair of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Committee. Kathy is a member of the Boston Bar Association (BBA) and has served on or chaired various of its committees. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Political Asylum/ Immigration Representation Project; and on the Advisory Committee for the Women in the Law Conference of Northeastern University Law School. Kathy is a graduate of Boston University (B.A. Journalism) and Northeastern University School of Law. She is a ten-time Boston Marathoner.</p>	Eastern Bank	Leadership Panel
Lisa Sun <p>What would happen if you let go of fear, got off the sidelines, and jumped boldly into the game of life? Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, electrifies audiences as she unpacks this vital question in her moving, motivating, and empowering talks. Catalyzing confidence and inspiring innovation, Sun seamlessly blends stories from her personal journey with data and experience-driven insights from her 11 years at McKinsey & Company and 11 years running the game-changing company GRAVITAS. She offers talks that change the way you and your organization think about strengths, motivation and leadership.</p><p>Sun draws on her entrepreneurial drive and business acumen honed from her time at McKinsey to underscore why it’s vital to push past your potential, how to transform an idea into a movement, and why you’ve got to bet on yourself every single day. She defines research-backed confidence languages, helps each audience member uncover their own unique “superpowers,” and unlocks the secrets to high-performing leadership. </p><p>With an unwavering dedication to helping others show up as the best version of themselves, Sun authored the national bestselling book Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. </p>	GRAVITAS	Keynote Address: Letting Go of Fear and Embracing Confidence or Strengths That Redefine Confidence
Marco Bernasconi <p>Marco Bernasconi is Chief Operating and Innovation Officer at Country Bank, where he brings more than 30 years of experience in banking and financial technology. Throughout his career, Marco has built a reputation for turning innovation into execution—aligning strategy, operations, and technology to deliver measurable results and long-term value.</p><p>A former Bank President and CEO, Marco is known for his disciplined, practical approach to leadership. He focuses on simplifying operations, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring that investments in technology and digital capabilities translate into meaningful outcomes for customers, employees, and the communities the Bank serves.</p><p>In his role, Marco works across the organization to align people, process, data, and technology, enabling stronger decision-making and positioning Country Bank for continued growth in an evolving financial services landscape.</p><p>Marco is also proud to work alongside and support the advancement of strong female leaders in the financial services industry, recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives in driving innovation, performance, and meaningful impact.</p><p>At Country Bank, being Made to Make a Difference means making smart, responsible decisions that strengthen the Bank, support its communities, and create lasting value for those it serves.</p>	Country Bank for Savings	Leadership Panel

Continuing Education

Hotel

The Renaissance Framingham Hotel, 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701 is the host hotel for the conference. The room rate will be $199/per room, per day, plus state & local tax of 11.7 % for single or double occupancy.

The deadline to register is April 15, 2026. Secure Hotel accommodations HERE.