Employee News

Hilary Hernandez, Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager | SouthStar Bank Gonzales Hilary Hernandez has joined the SouthStar Bank Gonzales team as an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager. Hilary is well-versed in banking, with nearly two decades of experience in the industry, including a year spent previously with SouthStar Bank. In her role as Branch Manager, Hilary is excited to bring her passion for customer service alongside her hunger to continue learning new things. She looks forward to instituting her inclusive style of leadership and helping her team learn and develop. Outside of work, Hilary enjoys embarking on beach vacations, shopping, hosting backyard BBQs, and having movie nights with her kiddos! One of her crowning achievements is her career in banking, as well as her journey and development throughout her 18 years in the industry. Welcome to the team, Hilary!

Ryan Ezzell, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch Ryan Ezzell has joined the SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch team as a Personal Banker. Ryan is a recent graduate of Texas State University and is excited to start his career in the banking industry. He looks forward to developing professionally in his new role while contributing to the bank’s goals and connecting with his customers. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys reading, running, and playing card games. He also enjoys traveling to Colorado and Hawaii, spending time sharpening his skills skiing the slopes in the winter and getting out to roller skate in the warmer months. Welcome to the team, Ryan!

Kevin Juliani, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Leander Kevin Juliani has joined the SouthStar Bank Leander branch as a Personal Banker. Kevin has five years of banking experience and a degree from Housatonic College. Kevin is excited to bring his solid foundation of experience from working in large, national, and smaller regional banks. In his previous positions in the industry, he was able to hone his ability to work in a fast-paced environment where he consistently delivered exceptional service and built strong customer relationships while also acquiring experience adapting to the ever-changing banking industry. Outside of work, Kevin enjoys reading books, going on walks, and playing volleyball. He also enjoys traveling and has visited many beautiful destinations, including Portugal and Brazil. Kevin’s biggest personal achievement is moving to the U.S. alone at 18 and building a successful banking career from the ground up – navigating college full-time, working his way through multiple banks, and relocating across states all on his own! Welcome to the team, Kevin!

Glenn Wash, Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager | SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin Glenn Wash has joined the SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin branch as an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager. Glenn has a wealth of banking experience, spending more than four decades navigating the ever-changing industry. Glenn looks forward to leveraging his expertise to provide top-tier customer service to his customers and help expand SouthStar Bank’s strong reputation in the local community. Glenn spends much of his time outside of work with his family or on various backyard projects. He also enjoys travelling with his favorite destination being Mallorca, Spain. Glenn‘smost significant personal achievement is getting his wife to marry him. Welcome to the team, Glenn!

Bryan Buck, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, & Chief Information Security Officer | SouthStar Bank SouthStar Bank has promoted Bryan Buck to Executive Vice President/Chief Risk Officer/Chief Information Security Officer. Bryan has two decades of experience in the banking industry, with 18 years spent with SouthStar Bank. Throughout his tenure, Bryan has worked in several positions in the IT Department, most recently as SVP/Chief Technology Officer. As CRO & CISO, Bryan is excited to take on a more prominent leadership role while also focusing on mentoring a capable successor. In his new position, Bryan will be focused on risk management across all bank areas, ensuring the bank and its customers can safely grow into the future. Outside work, Bryan enjoys singing in the local choir, being active in his community church, and spending time with family. He also enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors hiking and mountain biking. In his community, Bryan also serves as the President of the Nolanville Economic Development Corporation and Treasurer for the Central Texas Theater and Vive Les Arts. Congratulations, Bryan!

Dawid Bednarek, Senior Vice President of Lending & Branch Executive | SouthStar Bank Georgetown Dawid Bednarek has joined the SouthStar Bank Georgetown location as a Senior Vice President of Lending and Branch Executive. He holds an undergraduate degree from Texas State University and a Master of Business of Administration degree from Jones International University. After 17 years in the banking industry, Dawid is well-versed in all things real estate lending, including residential, commercial, construction, development, and everything in between! Dawid loves making his clients’ real estate dreams a reality. One of his career highlights was funding multiple large tract purchases for future mixed-use development, helping the local community grow. In his new role, he looks forward to working alongside like-minded, community-focused individuals and continuing to help his clients achieve their goals. In his community, Dawid is a member of the Leander Chamber of Commerce and Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce. He is also involved with Deal Maker Cen-Tex Real Estate Investors and The enTREpreneur Community. Outside of work, Dawid enjoys spending time with his family. They often travel and enjoy going on road trips anywhere within 10 hours, which is well within their range! He also enjoys golfing, pickleball, and watching movies. One interesting fact about Dawid is that his family is first-generation Polish, which is the reason for the unique spelling of his name. Welcome to the team, Dawid!

Camille Acosta, Vice President of Lending | SouthStar Bank Georgetown Camille Acosta has joined the SouthStar Bank Georgetown team as a Vice President of Lending. Camille has worked in banking for more than 15 years, working her way up the ranks and serving as a Branch Manager for several years before transitioning to commercial lending and working closely with small business owners. In addition to her professional experience, she holds a Business Administration degree in Operations Management from New Mexico State University. Camille takes pride in providing top-notch,  individualized customer service and focuses on being as responsive as possible to ensure her clients feel valued and supported. In her previous position, Camille was a top producer in 2022 and 2023 and looks forward to continuing her success at SouthStar Bank. As an active member of her community, Camille currently serves as a member of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Texas Women in Business (TWIB),  National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). Camille has lived in Georgetown since 2018 with her husband, daughter, and four fur babies. She loves cooking, watching movies, swimming at the lake, and networking. She says her key to success is “It’s okay to make a mistake, just learn from it. Listen first and then listen some more.” Welcome to the team, Camille! 

Barbara Shaffer, Vice President & Business Development Officer | SouthStar Bank Barbara Shaffer joins SouthStar Bank as a Vice President and Business Development Officer. Barbara arrives with more than four decades of experience in the banking industry and is excited to connect with her coworkers and the customers they serve. In her role, Barbara will work to increase SouthStar Bank’s growth by developing new strategies and connecting with community organizations. After 40 years in the banking industry, getting to personally help connect her company with the communities they are involved with is Barbara’s favorite aspect of her position. Barbara is an avid community advocate and places a high value on community involvement. She is currently involved in the City of Cedar Park Community Development Board (4B), Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center, Twin Lake YMCA Board of Directors, and serves as an Ambassador for the Cedar Park and Leander Chamber of Commerce. Barbara also finds time to volunteer for many local non-profit organizations. Outside of work, Barbara enjoys the outdoors and likes to take time to camp, hike, and cycle whenever she gets the chance. She also enjoys traveling and seeking out the beautiful outdoors, with her favorite destination being Big Bend National Park. Barbara considers her most significant personal achievement to be raising a strong and healthy family. SouthStar Bank is excited to see how Barbara makes our star shine! Welcome Barabara!

Evan Randazzo, Vice President of Lending | SouthStar Bank Franklin Evan Randazzo has joined our SouthStar Bank Franklin branch as a Vice President of Lending. Evan, a Bremond native, attended Texas A&M University, where he received his degree in Agricultural Economics with a focus on Finance and Real Estate. He was a top performer in his previous position, where he received the Executive Club Award for being the top Sales Consultant in the South Texas region. Although he is new to the banking industry, Evan prides himself on his strong work ethic, which he brings to every challenge and task he faces. He strives always to put the customer first and looks forward to building strong relationships within the community. Evan is excited to help community members achieve their financial goals. Outside of work, Evan can be found spending time with his family and friends. He enjoys hunting and fishing and always looks forward to catching an Aggies game when college football is in season.

Jesse Miller, SVP & Director of IT | SouthStar Bank Jesse Miller has rejoined SouthStar Bank as a Senior Vice President and Director of Information Technologies. Jesse received his BBA from Texas A&M University-Central Texas and holds several certifications, including CCNA, CEH, and ITIL. Jesse previously spent close to a decade with SouthStar Bank in the IT department and looks forward to making even more meaningful contributions in his new position. As Director of IT, Jesse will oversee the IT department and collaborate with the entire bank staff to solve technology problems and create workflow efficiencies. Outside of work, Jesse spends much of his time on the soccer field, where he serves as a Director and Coach for Lonestar-SC. Jesse enjoys sharing his love for soccer with his wife and four children. He also enjoys traveling with his family, his favorite destination being Wales. One of Jesse’s hidden talents is that he has a green thumb and is excellent with plants! SouthStar Bank is thrilled to welcome Jesse back to the team!