Employee Spotlight

Kristin Ross, Commercial Loan Closing Coordinator| SouthStar Bank Round Rock Kristin Ross joined SouthStar Bank as a Commercial Loan Closing Coordinator in the beginning of 2020. She offices out of our Sendero Springs Branch which is located in Round Rock. Kristin has worked in banking for a little under two years and enjoys that she is always learning something new from the industry. A career highlight for Kristin, were the efforts put in by her team to help small businesses and independent contractors get their PPP loans. When she is not at work, Kristin loves to volunteer with Texas Sled Dog Rescue, where she has adopted her two dogs from. One of her favorite moments from volunteering was being able to foster a twice returned dog until he found his forever home with her best friends. Kristin has many hobbies including hiking, sailing, water sports, woodworking, and cooking. Something that most people don’t know about Kristin is that she has lived in 7 different states, attended 8 different schools, and has moved a total of 15 time. Her idea of a dream vacation would be an around the world cruise. NMLS# 1965650

Kimberly Moore, Vice President and BSA & OFAC Officer| SouthStar Bank Shiner Kim Moore started her career with SouthStar Bank 18 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Kim is SouthStar Bank’s BSA & OFAC Officer as well as a Vice President. As a BSA officer, Kim makes sure that operations throughout the bank comply with the Bank Secrecy Act and on a daily basis watches over cash transactions to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary. She offices in the Shiner Branch. Achieving satisfactory scores on all exams and audits since becoming the BSA officer is one of her biggest career achievements. Kim loves working in the banking industry because of her awesome co-workers and customers. Kim is very involved in her community outside of work. She volunteers with the Shiner ISD PTO, Shiner Jr. Livestock Show, Halfmoon 4-H, the Ladies Auxiliary for the Shiner VFD, Shiner Little League, and the Shiner Youth Soccer Association. One of Kim’s most cherished moments from volunteering was helping the community of Woodsboro, TX clean up after Hurricane Harvey. Getting to see the amount of people willing to help friends, family, and complete strangers was extremely humbling. In her free time, Kim loves to spend time with her family, go to the beach, and travel. Her idea of a dream vacation is to spend a week on a secluded island living on island time, with no connection to others and a drink in hand.

Kendra Thurman, Mortgage Processor| SouthStar Bank Calvert Kendra Thurman joined the SouthStar Bank team last year as a Mortgage Processor. She is based at the SouthStar Bank Calvert location. Kendra began without previous experience in the banking industry but has quickly excelled in her role. She attributes this in part to the friendly and helpful people she has met while with SouthStar Bank, and truly enjoys working in the industry. Outside of work, Kendra loves to help people in any way she can. She currently volunteers with the Humane Society and the Agri Women’s Association. The most rewarding moment of volunteering for Kendra is seeing people’s faces light up when they receive the help they need. Kendra’s free time is spent with her two young daughters. When her daughters aren’t keeping her too busy, she enjoys putting her event planning skills to use – from simple birthdays to extravagant weddings. Something that most people don’t know about Kendra is that she is a minister and can perform baptisms and weddings. Kendra’s idea of a dream vacation would be sipping a drink on the white sand beach of Bora Bora.

Kacy Kirk, Vice President & Branch Manager| SouthStar Bank Hearne Kacy Kirk is the Vice President and Branch Manager at the SouthStar Bank Hearne Branch. She joined the SouthStar Bank team five years ago after working in the banking industry for two years. Kacy enjoys developing long term relationships with her clients and using her problem-solving skills to assist other employees and customers. One of Kacy’s biggest career achievements was being awarded the 2018 SouthStar Bank Star Service Award. Outside of work, Kacy serves on the Board of Directors of the Hearne Community Development Corporation as both Secretary and Treasurer. The HCDC helps fund projects that benefit the small businesses and citizens of Hearne. Kacy’s favorite aspect of working with the HCDC is supporting and learning more about her community. Kacy also enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, and visiting family. Kacy and her husband spent three years living in Germany and have traveled to over 20 different countries.

Justin Kleiber, Senior Vice President & Branch Executive| SouthStar Bank Hearne Justin Kleiber has been with SouthStar Bank for the last seven years. He is Senior Vice President, IRA Lending Specialist, and Branch Executive at SouthStar Bank’s Hearne location. Justin is a proud alumnus of Sam Houston State University where he graduated with his undergrad in 2010 and his MBA in Banking and Financial Institutions in 2017. Justin completed his MBA while working full-time and remains appreciative of the support he received from his family and SouthStar Bank during his studies. Justin enjoys working in the finance industry because he is able to build lasting relationships with his clients, becoming a strategic partner in planning their financial goals. Justin also enjoys his work as a community banker because it has allowed him to be involved in numerous organizations and events in Robertson County. Currently, Justin is on the board for Franklin Little Dribblers and runs the play clock for the Franklin Lions football team every Friday night. In the past, he also served on the Robertson County Appraisal Review Board, the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, and Franklin Little League as a t-ball coach. Getting to watch all of the kids in the community get to play a team sport is what makes volunteering so rewarding for Justin. Outside of work, Justin enjoys golfing, attending sporting events, traveling, and going to the beach. He has been married to his wife for 10 years and together they have two daughters. NMLS# 1081538

Jessie Burkholder, Credit Analyst| SouthStar Bank Leander LAB Jessie Burkholder works in the Leander LAB as a Credit Analyst. She joined the SouthStar Bank team two years ago after her graduation from Texas State University as a Junior Credit Analyst. One of the things she is most proud of is earning her promotion to Credit Analyst. One of Jessie’s favorite things about working in the banking industry is the opportunity to analyze and problem-solve. She loves to analyze the creative ways money can be used, its great impact on everything around it, and how it moves. Jessie enjoys supporting her community by volunteering with Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Through this group she brings food and supplies to people within the homeless community in Austin. Each run is special for Jessie because she is able to meet and make special connections with fascinating people. Jessie also volunteers with Miracle League, a baseball league for special needs children, as a volunteer coach. In her free time, Jessie loves to hike, crochet, cook, make scratch pasta, and bake. Another one of her many hobbies is archery which she discovered she had a natural talent for as a child. She enjoys getting to go to the range whenever she can. Jessie’s idea of a dream vacation is anywhere with beautiful views, a mountain to hike, and food she can’t get at home.

Jesse Miller, Information Technology Specialist I| SouthStar Bank Harker Heights Annex Jesse Miller is an Information Technology Specialist at the SouthStar Bank Harker Heights Annex. Jesse graduated from Texas A&M-Central Texas and holds his CEH and CCNA certifications. He has been with SouthStar Bank for the last five years and assisted with the merger of the three banks that formed SouthStar Bank. Jesse enjoys getting to teach people how to use technology to do great things. Jesse has always found pride in serving his community. All of the men in Jesse’s family have served in the military, including Jesse. He also volunteers with the city of Harker Heights through their Adopt-a-Spot, trash pickup program. Other organizations Jesse is involved with include: the Tri-County Soccer Club, Westside Church of Christ, and Harker Heights Parks & Recreation. Outside of work, Jesse and his family are avid soccer fans. Jesse plays on a soccer team and coaches his kids’ teams. The family also enjoys watching all levels of soccer, especially professional. Jesse hopes to one day travel to Spain, so that he can tour the famous sites and see an FC Barcelona game.

JW Smith, Senior Vice President & Branch Executive| SouthStar Bank Round Rock Branch JW Smith is Senior Vice President of Lending and Branch Executive for the Round Rock Branch. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, JW has been with SouthStar Bank for the last five and a half years. Over his 17-year career in community banking, JW has learned many tips and tricks for balancing the customer’s needs while protecting the bank’s investment. He prides himself on his customer service, and the ability to approach each loan in a unique way. Outside of work, JW is a member of the Hill Country Bible Church where he teaches Sunday School, which is the highlight of his week. He is also the past President of the Cedar Park Public Library Foundation and a board member of Workers 2 Work. JW enjoys spending time with his two daughters. He also likes to play golf and paint landscapes. JW hopes to one day attend The Masters golf tournament and would love to visit Japan, so that he can eat sushi in old fish markets and visit the high-tech cities. NMLS# 1022470

Greg Vesely, Senior Vice President & Branch Executive| SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch Branch Greg Vesely is Senior Vice President and Branch Executive at the Steiner Ranch Branch. A Southwest Texas Alumni, he holds over 25 years of experience in the banking industry and has been with SouthStar Bank for the last four years. Greg also holds multiple licenses including the Series 6, 63, and Group 1. Greg enjoys being his clients’ trusted advisor. By understanding their needs, he is able help them achieve growth and success. One of Greg’s career highlights was being named a Top Mortgage Producer in the Austin Metro Area by Austin Business Journal.  Greg is proud to have called Steiner Ranch home for the last 19 years. A former Marine, he enjoys contributing his time to his community whenever he can. Some of the organizations he is passionate about include March of Dimes, Coats for Kids, Toys for Tots, and United Way. Greg enjoys spending his time traveling across the U.S. with his wife and daughter, who plays competitive golf. Two places he hopes to go one day with his family are Fiji and Africa. NMLS# 621784

Gary Mobbs, Senior Vice President & Area Manager| SouthStar Bank Gonzales Branch Gary Mobbs has been an employee of SouthStar Bank for 15 years and has an additional seven years’ experience in the banking industry. Gary is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the Southwest Graduate School of Banking. One of his favorite things about his job is helping people with his problem-solving skills. He also enjoys educating people on finance and credit. One of Gary’s biggest career achievements was starting the SouthStar Bank Loan Production Office in Gonzales and helping expand it to a full-service branch. Gary enjoys being an active member of the Gonzales community and supporting the local youth. He currently serves as a board member for the Gonzales Area Development Corporation and the Gonzales Youth Center. He also serves as Region Director for the Texas High School Rodeo Association. When he is not working, Gary loves to spend time outdoors hunting, fishing, working cattle and horses, and teaching his kids about  animal husbandry. He one day hopes to visit Australia to see the countryside and a large ranching operation. Gary prides himself as being good with his hands and able to do multiple tasks around the farm and ranch. NMLS# 586586