Leading the way in Banking Innovation and Education

Bill King founded DirectorCorps, Inc., the publisher of Bank Director magazine and served as chairman until 2014. He has served on the boards of both New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq companies and was chairman of Private Business, Inc. from its founding through its IPO. Until its acquisition by Yahoo, he was chairman of Rivals.com and chaired the 247Sports.com board from founding until it was acquired by CBSinteractive.

Bill serves on the boards of several private companies including DirectorCorps and Journal Communications, and he is active in many non-profit organizations. Bill is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University and holds a JD degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Michelle King is President of Bank Director and FinXTech. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the strategy and financial performance of the company. Michelle joined Bank Director in 2011. She is focused on leading the company’s business development, bank services efforts, marketing, public relations and branding. This includes efforts to reach senior bank executives and board members along with corporate clients and prospective clients. In addition, she frequently meets with CEOs, chairs of the board, c-level executives and members of the board to provide services and support to these officers and directors. Michelle is a member of the Bank Director board and serves on the Executive Committee.

Michelle started her career in 1988 with a small community bank in Franklin, TN. During her tenure with the bank she was a part of 5 acquisitions – the final acquisition led to her position at Bank of America in their marketing department for the state of Tennessee. A graduate of the Southeastern Consumer Banking School, Michelle spent much of her career working in the consumer banking division, holding roles in consumer lending and retail banking, and in the bank’s, Bank-at-Work department.

Laura Schield is the Chief Operating Officer of Bank Director and FinXTech, and has served in numerous roles with the company since her start in 2010. Her primary focus is overseeing the day-to-day operational functions of the company. She is responsible for leading the planning and production of conferences and events, handling all aspects of human resources and managing the teams responsible for data, circulation, accounting and finance. She also integrates and implements new projects as the company continues to grow. Laura is a member of Bank Director’s board of directors and serves on the Executive Committee.

Prior to Bank Director and FinXTech, she served as the project manager for Global Navigation, a consultancy focused on the needs and interests of members of the boards of companies with interests in the U.S. and China. She spent 10 years at AIG/American General running the company’s community relations before helping to launch GlobalNav.

Laura graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in both Marketing/Sales Management and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management.

Laura Abbott is the project manager for Bank Director. In addition to managing the print production of Bank Director Magazine, she copy edits sponsored editorial content and works closely with the marketing and conferences teams to maintain brand consistency across digital and print materials. Laura also works with FinXTech, researching fintech companies and writing profiles for FinXTech Connect. Prior to Bank Director, Laura worked as publishing assistant for sculpture artist Peter Coffin. She graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a degree in English Literature.

John Michael Alday is a Director of Business Development at Bank Director. In this role, he works directly with corporate clients such as investment banks, law firms, accounting firms, consultants and technology companies to provide thought leadership and branding solutions to effectively connect them with our audience of the C-suite and board of directors of financial institutions. Prior to Bank Director, John Michael worked in the public relations field. He has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Laura Alix is the Director of Research at Bank Director, where she collaborates on strategic research for bank directors and senior executives, including Bank Director’s annual surveys. She also writes for BankDirector.com and edits online video content. Laura is particularly interested in workforce management and retention strategies, environmental, social and governance issues, and fraud. She has previously covered national and regional banks for American Banker and community banks and credit unions for Banker & Tradesman. Based in Boston, she has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree from CUNY Brooklyn College.

Cathy Anthony is the Controller of DirectorCorps, Inc., the parent company of Bank Director and FinXTech. Prior to joining the team at Bank Director, Cathy worked in finance and accounting for ten years at Wells Fargo Insurance Services and Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne, Inc. She graduated from Chadron State College where she received her bachelor’s degree in business accounting.

Breanna Bourque is a Data Researcher at Bank Director. In this role, she updates and manages the database of financial institutions and public companies, monitors industry changes, ensures data quality, and collaborates on process improvements. Breanna graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

Pete Dawkins is a Data Research Manager at Bank Director. He is primarily responsible for updating and maintaining our comprehensive database of senior executives and directors of financial institutions, publicly-traded companies, and top private companies from across the country. Pete is a graduate of the University of Mississippi where he received a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Ambrose Delahoussaye is the FinXTech Research & Marketing Associate for BankDirector. In this role she writes, edits, researches, maintains and publishes profiles on Bank Director’s FinXTech Connect online platform. In addition, she is responsible for FinXTech’s social media marketing and content distribution. Ambrose graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University New Orleans with a bachelor’s degree in English writing.

Macy Farley is a Client Relations Coordinator at Bank Director. Macy helps support the corporate sales team through prospecting efforts, responding to Media Kit requests, assisting on special projects, and managing all print advertisers for Bank Director magazine. Macy graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

Lexie Garcia is the Vice President of Business Development at Bank Director. In this role, she provides direct assistance to corporate clients in the accounting, consulting, technology and law industries. In addition, Lexie represents Bank Director onstage while speaking at industry events, moderating panel conversations at Bank Director conferences, and hosting internal virtual events and webinars. Prior to Bank Director, Lexie worked at KeyBank as a Licensed Relationship Manager after completing Key’s Retail Management Associate program. Lexie graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Business.

Kiah Lau Haslett is the Banking & Fintech Editor of Bank Director. Kiah is responsible for editing web content and works with other members of the editorial team to produce articles featured online and published in the magazine. Her areas of focus include bank accounting policy, operations, strategy, and trends in mergers and acquisitions. She was previously a Financial Institutions reporter at S&P Global Market Intelligence, and has worked for Businessweek.com, The Arizona Republic, the Chicago Tribune and the Omaha World-Herald. Kiah has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska.

Chelsey Heimer serves as the Registration Coordinator for Bank Director. In this capacity, she is the primary contact for registration inquiries and conference-related matters, and she is likely one of the first faces seen at our conferences upon check in. In this role, Chelsey also manages the hotel blocks and the distribution of any educational credits associated with Bank Director events. Before joining Bank Director, Chelsey was the Customer Experience Supervisor at the fresh pet food company, Nom Nom. Chelsey attended East Tennessee State University and graduated from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology as a Registered Dental Assistant.

Bill Herrell is Executive Vice President & Managing Director of Bank Director. In this role, he is responsible for leading and implementing board advisory services offered by the company. Bill joined Bank Director in July 2024. He has been advising and studying the community bank industry for more than 30 years. Originally trained as a corporate lender, his career led him to advisory work in the banking industry. Bill’s extensive advisory background ranges from advising on private and public capital raises to structured products and all sizes of mergers and acquisitions. He spearheaded a southeast US advisory team for D. A. Davidson that quickly climbed the M&A league tables. Prior to that, he served as Principal and Co-Founder of The Burke Group, LLC, and was a Managing Director in the Financial Institutions Group banking practice at Morgan Keegan & Co., which was acquired by Raymond James. He has also held positions at FSI Capital, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., and Bank of America, formerly known as NationsBank.

Bill has served as an instructor for the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) in Washington, D.C., and as an expert witness on securities matters to the banking industry. He is also a frequent speaker at banking industry conferences on mergers and acquisitions, and private capital raising. Bill currently serves as a member of the Banking and Financial Services Program Advisory Committee at Eastern Kentucky University and as a Board member for profit entities. He has held his Series 7, 24 and 63. Bill holds a master’s degree in finance from Boston College, and a bachelor’s degree in finance and insurance from Eastern Kentucky University.

Will Hubbs is the Director of Data Intelligence at Bank Director, where he plays a pivotal role in overseeing the integrity and security of the company’s database. This database contains detailed information on publicly-traded and top private companies nationwide, including their board members and executives. Will is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of this critical data, which supports the company’s strategic initiatives and decision-making processes.

In addition to his data management duties, his role also involves managing IT infrastructure, optimizing workflow processes, and enhancing internal data systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness across the organization.

Tricia Lesh is Senior Vice President for Bank Director and manages the production and development projects for BankDirector.com and FinXTech.com. In addition, Tricia is focused on leading the direction of the company’s marketing, public relations and branding initiatives. A graduate of Belmont University, Tricia has more than 20+ years of experience in the financial industry, working in institutions with assets ranging from $500 million to $2.2 billion.

Tori Lyda is the Conference Manager at Bank Director. She is primarily responsible for event preparation of all Bank Director conferences and managing the onsite logistics. In this role, she serves as the primary point of contact with host hotels and vendors. Tori comes from a hospitality background and most recently worked in events at one of Nashville’s luxury hotels. Tori graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Emily McCormick is Vice President of Editorial & Research for Bank Director. Emily oversees research projects, from in-depth reports to Bank Director’s annual surveys on M&A, risk, compensation, governance and technology. She also manages content for the Bank Services Program, including Bank Director’s Online Training Series. In addition to speaking and moderating discussions at Bank Director’s in-person and virtual events, Emily writes and edits for Bank Director magazine, BankDirector.com and Bank Director’s weekly newsletter, The Slant. She started her career in the circulation department at the Knoxville News-Sentinel and graduated summa cum laude from The University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Business.

Emma McMillan-Zapf is the Marketing Associate at Bank Director. In this role, she works closely with the marketing team to create and execute campaigns, events, and content that showcase Bank Director’s insights, services, and network. Prior to joining Bank Director, Emma spent over a year working as a Technical Recruiter where she leveraged her skills in customer service, sales, and marketing. She attended Roanoke College in Salem, VA where she obtained her BBA with a concentration in Marketing.

Dylan Miller is an Accounting Clerk / Administrative Assistant at Bank Director. In this role he helps manage outgoing bills and invoices, posts receipts to accounts, reconciles reports, and maintains general office supplies. Dylan graduated from Cumberland University in Lebanon Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and a minor in business and management.

Jack Milligan is the Editor-At-Large of Bank Director magazine, a position to which he brings over 40 years of experience in financial journalism organizations. Jack directs Bank Director’s editorial coverage and leads its director training efforts. He has a master’s degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University.

Maria Mueller is the Circulation Associate at Bank Director. In this role, she provides thoughtful customer service to our Bank Director magazine subscriber base. Maria graduated from Rockhurst University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Business Communications.

Emily Muir is the Graphic Design Director at Bank Director. In this role, she conceptualizes and prepares layouts for events, emails and research reports. She also oversees the Bank Director brand, collaborates with the marketing team on print and digital materials, and manages the AV team during Bank Director events. Prior to joining Bank Director, Emily worked as Head Graphic Designer at Bear & Son Cutlery. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Jacksonville State University, where she graduated with special honors.

Julia Olla is the Bank Services Coordinator for Bank Director. As the primary point of contact for boards participating in Bank Director’s annual membership program, she is responsible for onboarding new members, providing customer service and coordinating client outreach efforts. Prior to joining Bank Director, Julia worked as the Director of Agent Services, at Keller Williams, in Wisconsin and Tennessee. Julia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Lucas Pillaga is the Data Researcher at Bank Director. His primary responsibility is to verify, update, and maintain our comprehensive database of senior executives and directors of publicly-traded and private companies from across the country. Lucas graduated from Middle Tennessee State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

Laura Ramsey is Vice President at Bank Director. Laura oversees all sales initiatives and efforts of the corporate sales team. She coordinates the complete sales process from identifying and qualifying leads/prospects, to conducting detailed, strategic conversations with our clients and potential clients to creating a custom partnership package. Laura also provides input for conference agendas and virtual events. Prior to Bank Director, Laura worked with Warner Brothers at Ingram Entertainment, Inc. in sales and marketing. Laura graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

Erin Register is the Digital Marketing Manager at Bank Director. She is responsible for coordinating, publishing and managing all digital content, including sponsor articles, videos and display advertising on BankDirector.com and FinXTech.com. Erin previously worked at MD Publishing, where she was the Digital Marketing Executive, and has over 6 years of experience in the publishing and events industries. Erin graduated from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in English and minors in media studies and history.

Kendall Schottenfeld is a Client Relations Manager at Bank Director. In this role, she develops and manages client relationships for our member banks. Prior to Bank Director, Kendall worked as a Sales Representative at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Kendall graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelors degree in Dietetics and Nutrition and a minor in Business Administration.

Editor-in-Chief Naomi Snyder is in charge of the editorial coverage at Bank Director. She oversees the magazine and the editorial team’s efforts on the Bank Director website, newsletter and special projects. She has more than two decades of experience in business journalism and spent 15 years as a newspaper reporter. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.

Lucy Taylor is the Vice President of Conferences at Bank Director. She oversees the planning and production of all of Bank Director’s in-person and virtual events. Lucy graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Katherine Tracy is a Client Relations Manager at Bank Director. In this role, she works directly with corporate clients such as investment banks, law firms, accounting firms, consultants and technology companies to provide thought leadership and branding solutions to effectively connect them with our audience of the C-suite and board of directors of financial institutions. Prior to Bank Director, Katherine worked as a Strategic Partnerships Manager at Franklin Madison where she managed sponsorships, conferences and events. Katherine graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.S. in Integrated Marketing and Communications and a minor in Business Administration.

Amanda Wages is the Director of Bank Services at Bank Director. She develops and manages client relationships for our member banks and oversees the logistics of our Director Certification Program. Previously, she worked for 7 years in sales and convention services for Disney, Gaylord Hotels and Marriott. Amanda graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management.

Jackie Wall is the Vice President for Bank Director. As the primary point of contact for boards participating in Bank Director’s annual membership program, she is responsible for leading new member education and training efforts. In addition, Jackie works closely with boards and CEOs on developing, analyzing and initiating board performance surveys.

Prior to joining Bank Director, Jackie worked as an Account Manager at Chatter Buzz Media, a digital marketing agency in Orlando, Florida. Jackie received her bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from Millersville University.

Deahna Welcher currently serves as the Director of Marketing at Bank Director. With a keen eye for strategic communication, she drives awareness for Bank Director’s conferences, bank services membership program, magazine and website (BankDirector.com) through meticulously planned and executed marketing campaigns. Prior to working at Bank Director, Deahna honed her skills at Neighborhood Publishing Partners, where she excelled as a Design/Marketing Coordinator. Deahna holds a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Lipscomb University, which provides a solid foundation for her creative and results-oriented marketing approach.

Taylor Zito is the Events Coordinator at Bank Director. She is primarily responsible for handling all logistics prior to and day of for each virtual event as well as some of our in-person events. In addition, Taylor coordinates with sponsors, speakers and Bank Director staff participating in all in-person and virtual events. Prior to Bank Director, she worked at Marquee Insurance Group as a Sales Representative. Taylor graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations.