Employee News

RIDE FOR THE BRAND The Ride for the Brand award recognizes those individuals who have gone above and beyond to uphold the SouthStar Bank brand. In the cowboy days, when you worked for a big ranch or participated in a trail drive, the cowboy was loyal to the Brand he “rode for.”  Guys that rode for the brand had deep connections representing the ranch that transcended their daily work.  To strengthen our culture, we continue to need employees that are a good example of this type of steadfast loyalty and who support our mission, vision, and values. STAR LEADER The Star Leader award is a special award given to applaud and promote the work and contributions of our most senior team. These individuals articulate a compelling vision for the institution and have inspired others to that vision. They actively support all aspects of our Bank’s advancement and show the highest commitment to professional growth. Recipients deserve exceptional notice and praise. TRAIL BOSS We also wanted to recognize a few individuals who have stepped up in their leadership roles. On a cattle drive, Trail Boss is the one in charge of the entire operation – keeping track of all the different elements of the drive, selecting routes, and making key decisions. Our Trail Boss awards go to those who have helped guide our teams, selected routes for new and expanded operations, and supported key initiatives to exceed expectations. We can all agree that this year brought many new challenges, and the executive team appreciates those who helped set the path for success. PRESIDENT’S AWARD This prestigious recognition is awarded by the bank president, David Kapavik, to the individual he and the executive team feel has made the strongest contribution to the organization over the past year in each region. They review many aspects including performance, leadership, service, and related organizational benefits. RISING STAR AWARD These individuals have been with the bank for less than two years, but have already made our star shine brighter. These emerging leaders were selected by the executive committee in each department because of their exceptional growth and contributions to the organization, as well as increased levels of leadership, responsibility, and sphere of impact. INVESTAR SUPERSTAR This award recognizes one individual who has embraced our partnership with Hilltop Securities. We look forward to the continued growth of this relationship and the benefits it provides for our clients. MERCHANT SERVICES SUPERSTAR This award recognizes one individual who has embraced our partnership with Merchant Services. We look forward to the continued growth of this relationship. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT SouthStar Bank takes great pride in supporting our communities. The Community Involvement Award recognizes one recipient in each of our four regions for exemplifying the community bank spirit through active involvement in worthy causes and initiatives throughout the area. STAR SERVICE AWARD The Star Service Award recognizes one recipient in each of our four regions for service above and beyond the expected norm. Recipients consistently demonstrate exceptional knowledge of our products and […]

Jorden Caudle, Credit Analyst | SouthStar Bank Leander Annex Jorden Caudle has joined the SouthStar Bank family as a Credit Analyst. Jorden received her degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio and has one year of experience in the banking industry. Jorden is looking forward to learning and growing in her position with SouthStar Bank and hopes to contribute to the growth of the credit department. Outside of the office, Jorden enjoys spending time with her friends and family, playing volleyball, and visiting the lake in the summer months.

Brittany Mantey, AVP & Branch Manager | SouthStar Bank Round Rock Brittany Mantey has joined the SouthStar Bank Round Rock branch as an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager. Brittany brings with her 12 years of experience in the banking industry, including a decade at her previous financial institution, where she worked her way up from her original teller role to her final position of Branch Manager. Her previous experience at a small-town community bank taught her the value of building lifelong relationships with her customers. Brittany is excited to join the SouthStar Bank family and looks forward to building relationships within the community and bank-wide. Outside of the office, Brittany enjoys spending time with her family, competing in BBQ cookoffs, and traveling, with their favorite destination being Destin, Florida. She spends much of her time with her children, accompanying them to sporting events and even coaching their softball team.

Hayley Harris, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Franklin Hayley Harris has joined the SouthStar Bank Franklin team as a Personal Banker. Hayley is new to the banking industry and, being a hometown Franklin girl, is excited to bring excellent customer service to the community she has grown up in and help all the familiar and new faces around town! Outside the office, Hayley enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family. Her favorite travel destination is Florida. A fun fact about Hayley is that gift-giving is one of her many hidden talents. She loves putting lots of time and thought into finding the perfect gift to make people feel special and appreciated.

Jason Herbert, Vice President of Lending & Branch Executive | SouthStar Bank Leander Jason Herbert joins the SouthStar Bank Leander branch as a Vice President of Lending and the Branch Executive. He is an alumnus of California State University San Marcos and brings over 20 years of experience in the banking industry with a focus on Residential Lending. In his position, Jason is looking forward to assisting clients with personal mortgage loans and expanding into the realms of commercial and construction lending. In his career, Jason is proud of his ability to help families become homeowners, particularly when they were told they could not do so. One of Jason’s crowning achievements across his career is the 600+ families and the 75+ active and retired military families he has assisted in their journeys to homeownership. He is a father of two and a member of the Leander Dad’s Group. He spends much of his time attending the various sports his children are involved in, including soccer, gymnastics, dance, and Ninja Warrior. When Jason can get some time to himself, he enjoys going to the golf course to unwind. NMLS#633039

Emma Taylor, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Leander Emma Taylor has joined the SouthStar Bank Leander team as a Personal Banker. Emma has one year of experience in the banking industry. The one thing she is most excited about bringing into her new role is her customer service skills, positive attitude, and dedication. In her free time, Emma enjoys writing and spending time with her dog. Welcome Emma!

Ivan Garcia, Vice President of Lending/Community Manager | SouthStar Bank Ivan Garcia joins SouthStar Bank as a Vice President of Lending and Community Manager. Ivan brings 14 years of experience in the lending industry and will be focused on expanding SouthStar Bank’s presence along the IH-35 corridor. Ivan prides himself on being able to provide opportunities for home ownership in historically underserved communities. Ivan covets the personal connection and relationship-building aspects of the lending process, striving to develop trust between lender and customer and navigating first-time home buyers through the sometimes complex mortgage process Ivan is also fluent in Spanish and is heavily involved with the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). One of his most significant professional achievements was when he was named one of the NAHREP Top 100 Regional Loan Officers in 2021. Outside of the office, Ivan enjoys spending time with his family, who began fostering children four years ago.

Rubi Perkins, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Hearne Rubi Perkins has joined the SouthStar Bank Hearne team as a Personal Banker. She is most excited to bring her stellar customer service skills to her new role. In her free time, Rubi enjoys painting and traveling. Her favorite place she has traveled to is Niagara Falls.  Welcome Rubi!