Employee News Archives - SouthStar Bank, S.S.B.

by Keely McCarthyMay 24, 2023

Congratulations Andrew Denny!

Congratulations to Andrew Denny, who was recently awarded the EMBA scholarship at the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame Gala. Starting in the Fall, Andrew will be enrolled in the Executive MBA Program in Banking and Financial Institutions at Sam Houston State University. The program is a unique two-year program designed to develop and enhance a candidate’s skills necessary for a position of leadership in a financial institution or regulatory agency. The program emphasizes the integration and synthesis of various disciplines to develop a student’s ability to function and make sound administrative decisions in a dynamic financial institution environment. Apart from being a valued SouthStar Bank team member, Andrew is also a husband, father, and avid paddleboarder. Every year he volunteers to raise funds and awareness for the Flatwater Foundation, paddling 21 miles in the annual TYLER’S Dam That Cancer event. Congratulations and Good Luck, Andrew!

Bank News, Employee News

by SouthStar BankMay 22, 2023

Congratulations Kacy Kirk & Kristy Hollis New Retail Area Managers

Kacy Kirk and Kristy Hollis have been promoted to the role of Vice President/Retail Area Manager for the Rural and Urban regions, respectively. Both Kacy and Kristy have thrived in their Branch Manager positions, using their knowledge and experience to support their teams and provide an outstanding banking experience for their customers. Their hard work was recognized in 2022 when both ladies were awarded the Ride for the Brand Award for Operations, which is one of the bank’s highest internal honors. In their new roles, both ladies will assist with the advancement of new employees, develop strategic plans with the retail team, and continue to grow customer relationships. Kristy is coming up on her fourth year with SouthStar Bank and has over two decades of banking experience overall. As the Retail Area Manager of the urban market, she is excited to share SouthStar Bank’s overarching vision and motivate her team to be the best they can possibly be. Kristy is a natural leader who thrives on sharing knowledge and seeing team members excel in their respective roles. When Kristy is away from work, she can be found spending time with her daughter. She points to being a mother as her biggest personal achievement and cherishes every moment she can spend with her family. Kristy also enjoys traveling, with cruises being her preferred method. She has a great appreciation for anywhere with beautiful blue water. Kacy has been in the banking industry for over a decade boasting 11 years of experience, including eight years at SouthStar Bank. In her new role as Retail Area Manager of the rural market, she is excited to be able to work on new projects aimed at elevating the customer and team member experience across all the branches in her area. Kacy is also involved in the Hearne community and finds great enjoyment in contributing her skills beyond the bank. Most recently, she has served three years on the Hearne Community Development Board as secretary and treasurer. When Kacy is out of the office, she enjoys spending time with her family. They enjoy traveling, camping, visiting family, and reading books. SouthStar Bank is excited to watch Kacy and Kristy continue to grow in their new positions and make our star shine! Congratulations, Kacy and Kristy!

Employee News

by SouthStar BankMay 16, 2023

Welcome Camisha Delgado

Camisha Delgado, Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager | SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch Welcome Camisha Delgado! Camisha is the new Branch Manager for the SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch branch and brings with her over a decade of banking experience. She has worked in the Finance industry for 10+ years and has worked diligently to become an expert across many subjects, including Lending, Operations, and Customer Service. Her extensive banking knowledge and interpersonal skills make her an excellent person to step into the role of Branch Manager. At her previous institution, Camisha started at the bottom and eventually worked her way up through the ranks to the role of Branch Manager. Upon starting her leadership position, Camisha managed three branches and supported 23 employees simultaneously. One of her most significant professional achievements was winning the Legend Award, which equates to receiving Employee of the Year, not once but twice. Outside of work, Camisha is a frequent traveler, with her favorite destination being Italy. She loves trying the food, experiencing the culture, and learning all about the country’s history. Camisha spent a little less than a month exploring Europe and says it’s something everyone should do once in their lifetime. Her next international trip is already in the planning stages, but this time she is planning on traveling to Asia. Camisha loves talking to the locals and hearing about the history of where she visits. In her free time, she takes random “adventures” to anywhere new. This has led to her visiting more than 12 states, with Hawaii, Florida, and Colorado being some of her favorites. This trait is also how she found her love for Texas, which eventually led to her move here from her home in Southern California. Since she is still new to the great state of Texas, Camisha is actively welcoming recommendations for any and all places that her clients and coworkers love.

Employee Spotlight

by SouthStar BankApril 17, 2023

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

by SouthStar BankApril 10, 2023

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.

Employee Spotlight

by SouthStar BankMarch 13, 2023

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, Quentin. 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

by SouthStar BankMarch 6, 2023

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.

Employee News

by SouthStar BankFebruary 16, 2023

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

by SouthStar BankFebruary 6, 2023

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

by SouthStar BankJanuary 30, 2023

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.