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Author: SouthStar Bank

Employee Spotlight- Sche Kehner

Sche Kehner, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Kerrville Sche Kehner is a Personal Banker for the SouthStar Bank Kerrville branch. She has been in banking since high school and has spent the last 13 years broadening her knowledge of the banking industry and honing her interpersonal skills. Sche was a member of the Community First team before SouthStar acquired the branch in 2021. Sche greatly enjoys her conversations with customers and the relationships she can form by genuinely listening to their needs and informing them of the best products and services SouthStar can offer them. Outside of work, Sche loves to fish and hopes to one day have fished in every state across the US. She also loves to visit the coast and explore exciting new recipes. When she isn’t doing one of her many hobbies, Sche enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs, Byrd and Bailey Mae, cuddled on the couch watching action movies.

Employee Spotlight- Roni Nickelson

Roni Nickelson, Vice President/Loan Operations Manager | SouthStar Bank Calvert Roni Nickelson is a Vice President and the Loan Operations Manager at the SouthStar Bank. Roni has been with us for almost two decades, with 19 years of experience under her belt. Along with her volume of experience, she has also been awarded the prestigious President’s Award on two separate occasions! The President’s Award is given out each year to the individual who the president and executive team feel has made the strongest contribution to the organization. Roni works tirelessly to ensure that she and her team can process loans effectively and efficiently. She enjoys the fast-paced, ever-changing environment that banking offers. When Roni is out of the office, she is often found reading books or spending time near the water. She enjoys spending time at the lake, floating down the river, and of course, hanging out at the beach.

A Message from the President

Considering all the recent news on the big bank failures, I want to assure you our bank is safe.   While there are some commonalities in the decline in the values of bonds at virtually all banks, there are also key differences.  The following are a few significant differences between our bank and the banks in the news: Aside from my support of our strength, there are several other rating companies that also reflect our bank as “5 Star” or “A” rated.  Compare us to other banks, and I know am confident you will find SouthStar to be one of the strongest banks around. I encourage you to contact the Senior Officers at your local branch or me directly if you have any concerns. We want all our customers to feel comfortable with our bank as a safe place for any additional funds you, your friends, and your family have. Despite all the negative news on banks, we still believe our Star shines the brightest during these times. David R. KapavikPresident/CEO

Employee Spotlight- Patricia Novosad

Patricia Novosad, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Shiner Patricia Novosad is a Personal Banker in Shiner that has been with SouthStar Bank for over two decades. She takes great pride in providing exceptional service and building relationships with her customers. Patsy, as she is known to everyone, runs the drive-thru and works diligently to ensure every customer leaves with their needs met and a smile on their face. Outside of work, Patsy is a member of the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Shiner, as well as the Catholic Daughters of America. She enjoys antique shopping and taking road trips with her husband. She loves to spend quality time with her entire family on amazing vacations and support her grandchildren at school and community functions. Her favorite trip was to Winter Park, Colorado, where she got to take in a breathtaking view of the Continental Divide and create longstanding memories with her family. She hopes to one day travel to Europe to visit Rome and the Czech Republic.

Employee Spotlight- Pam Browning

Pam Browning, Vice President/Branch Manager | SouthStar Bank Brazoria Pam Browning is a Vice President and the Branch Manager at the SouthStar Bank Brazoria branch. Pam holds a wealth of banking experience, she will have been with the bank for 25 years in July. With over four decades of banking experience, Pam uses her expertise to best serve her customers and provide valuable insight to her peers and coworkers. This is further reinforced by the value she places on the connections and friendships she has been available to develop throughout her time in banking. Pam is very involved in the Brazoria community, holding the position of Board Treasurer for the Brazoria Heritage Foundation and serving as Board President for the Brazoria Chamber of Commerce six separate times. Her dedication and hard work in the community have not gone unrecognized, as she has been named Outstanding Board Member of the Year four times and was also named Brazoria’s Woman of the Year in 2019. Outside of her incredible contributions to SouthStar Bank and the Brazoria community, Pam enjoys spending time with her five grandchildren and reveling in the beauty of stained glass. Her husband is responsible for all the stained glass in the Moulton location. Pam herself constructed the transoms and sidelights for the Brazoria, Shiner, Gonzales, and Southwest Austin branches. Never short of talents or knowledge Pam still has a need for a thrill, with skydiving being an activity she hopes to knock off her bucket list in the near future.

Welcome Winter Larson

Winter Larson, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Harker Heights Winter Larson has joined the SouthStar Bank Harker Heights team as a Personal Banker. She brings two years of banking experience, a year spent as a licensed escrow officer, and more than ten years in cash handling. Along with her experience, Winter is looking forward to bringing her determined work ethic and positive attitude to SouthStar Bank. Rain or shine, Winter always finds a way to smile through all situations and instill a positive attitude in those around her. Outside of work, Winter enjoys spending time near or on the water or meeting up with family and friends.   Welcome Winter!

Employee Spotlight- Melissa Thompson

Melissa Thompson, IT System Administrator II | SouthStar Bank Gonzales Annex Melissa Thompson is an IT System Administrator II at the Gonzales Annex. She has been with SouthStar for 10 years and holds almost three decades of experience in the finance industry. Working in IT, much of what Melissa does is behind the scenes; however, her work has a significant impact bank-wide. Melissa takes pride in making everyone’s lives easier, working to simplify and automate processes to allow every employee to operate at maximum efficiency and help make our star shine. Outside of work, Melissa is very involved in her local church, where she leads a Youth Group as well as a Ladies’ Bible Study. She enjoys organizing activities for the Youth Group, including an annual all-night lock-in, bowling trips, and the occasional Christian concert. While Melissa spends her days at SouthStar plugged in, she covets the time she can spend unplugged. Her favorite vacation was a seven-day cruise where she was free from phone calls, the internet, and any semblance of a schedule. She also enjoys golfing with her husband, vacationing with her family, and spending time with her new grandson.

Employee Spotlight- Meghan Rabel

Meghan Rabel, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Kerrville Meghan Rabel is a Personal Banker at the SouthStar Bank Kerrville branch. She has been with SouthStar since the acquisition of the Kerrville branch and holds over a decade of experience in the finance industry. Meghan greatly enjoys building relationships with her customers. She strives to form trust and familiarity to provide the best banking experience possible. Off the clock, she is a busy mother of two boys and many cats and dogs. However, when she can get a moment to herself, she enjoys doing puzzles or catching a movie (preferably a chick flick). Meghan also loves the outdoors and has a great appreciation for nature. Her favorite destination is the mountains in Wyoming, and she dreams of seeing the Northern Lights one day.

southstar bank cockrum custom homes

Customer Spotlight – Cockrum Custom Homes

Cockrum Custom Homes is locally owned and operated by Bradley and Marian Cockrum. Established nearly three decades ago, the Cockrums are intimately familiar with Williamson County market, witnessing significant growth in Georgetown and its surrounding communities.   Bradley was keenly interested in home building from an early age. Helping frame homes with his grandfather who was a German carpenter, Bradley began his home building career at the age of 16. He has passed on his passion for craftmanship to his entire family that now works by his side. His son, Garrett Cockrum, working as superintendent and project manager at Cockrum Custom Homes, and daughter, Amber Cockrum, who manages the most recent expansion of their business, Cockrum Commercial. His eldest daughter, Haley Waggoner, a licensed residential real estate agent with Keller Williams, manages the real estate transactions.    Cockrum Custom Homes remains a niche business dedicated to quality custom homes. A full-service, residential custom home builder, the team specializes in 1+ acre homesites in Williamson County. Clients appreciate their attention to detail and personal approach to home building.  Bradley values personal relationships and local expertise, and so found SouthStar Bank to be a fit for his financial needs. SouthStar Bank is able to provide a full relationship including commercial accounts as well as lending services for spec homes. From the personal attention by Stephanie Weaver, Branch Manager, in retail and commercial banking to knowledgeable insights from lender, Jesica Garza. “Their professionalism and service can’t be beat,” says Bradley.  Ready to build your custom home with Cockrum Construction? SouthStar Bank provides financing for lot purchase and construction with one-time-close. If your dream home is on acreage or otherwise unique, look to Jesica Garza and the team of expert lenders who specialize in flexible, common-sense financial solutions to meet your needs.  CONTACTS  Cockrum Custom Homes  200 Sedro Trail  |  Georgetown, TX 78633 sales@cockrumhomes.com  512.930.1130  SouthStar Bank  4535 Williams Dr.  |  Georgetown, TX 78633 512.688.5093  Jesica Garza, Vice President & Branch Executive | NMLS# 1508061 jesica.garza@southstarbank.com | m: 512.966.7342  Stephanie Weaver Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager stephanie.weaver@southstarbank.com  |  m: 512.217.7605 

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Customer Spotlight – Jonathan Twaddle

Jonathan Twaddle Homeowner After months of searching for a lender who would finance a self-employed, 27-year old first-time homebuyer, I was on the verge of giving up. After many exhausting ‘NO’s’, an associate recommended I visit with SouthStar Bank. I was immediately impressed with their ability to look beyond the standard paperwork and consider the individual behind the application. Other lenders said ‘you don’t quite fit the box and should start small’. The team at SouthStar Bank assured me that because they set their own lending criteria, the jumbo loan I needed was quite workable. We’ve enjoyed our new home for several months now! If you’ve been turned down because a banker doesn’t ‘get’ your vision, give SouthStar Bank a call!

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