Kelly Green, Community Bankers Association of Illinois Committee Member, Senior VP of Operations, Herrin Security Bank

By KATE GENO
   Kelly Green’s contribution to the banking world is closely matched by her involvement in the community. As the senior vice president of operations of Herrin Security Bank, Green says she works hard to inspire not only her fellow staff members but also the young people of Herrin, Ill.
   Green is also actively involved in the industry statewide as an education committee member with the Community Bankers Association of Illinois and a past chairman of the CBAI’s Career Development Division.
   Her enjoyment of a high school accounting class, paired with a prevalence of jobs in the business world at that time, led Green to pursue a business degree from the Southern Illinois University College of Business. During college and after graduation, Green worked as a manager at Kerasotes Theatres. However, the theatre’s schedule was not conducive to raising a family; when she became pregnant with her second child, Green decided to pursue a different field. As a customer of Herrin Security Bank, she inquired about a job and was hired in the customer service department.
   After Sept. 11, 2001, bank compliance laws changed drastically and took on new meaning for the industry, says Green. Due to her research skills, she was promoted to the position of full-time compliance officer in 2003. Green was subsequently promoted to management in 2005 and is now the senior vice president of operations. Green says it is her job to keep everything at the bank balanced. She admits to being blessed by a wonderful team that is receptive to new ideas, particularly in the technology realm. In turn, Green says she is committed to being a good teacher and mentor.
   In 2004, she graduated from the School for Community Bankers offered by the Community Bankers Association of Illinois. CBAI represents approximately 400 Illinois financial institutions and provides first-class educational seminars and schools, and professionally lobbies for the Illinois community banker. Green served on a CBAI education subcommittee after graduation and went on to serve as secretary, treasurer before her term as chairman the Career Development Division. From 2005 to 2012, she served on the career development board. Green says her involvement with the CBAI has been beneficial for networking with bankers and learning how other banks operate. It also helped her to share her perspectives confidently with executives, both male and female.
   Women are becoming more powerful in banking, says Green. Opportunities can still be limited, especially in lending, but women are breaking down these barriers and achieving their goals, despite the accepted norms.
   Making a lasting impact in her mentoring relationships with the high school students of Herrin is most important to Green. She is a liaison with the Future Business Leaders of America at the high school. Her greatest triumph, says Green, would be to inspire young people – especially young women – to pursue the career of their dreams. In addition to her work with the FBLA, she mentors high school juniors and seniors through her involvement with LEAD SI. This initiative helps young people to learn leadership and community development skills and to expand the leadership base of Southern Illinois. To support her two sons, Brett and Josh, who are involved with Boy Scouts of America, she is also training to be a scoutmaster.
   Green’s father, a Vietnam veteran who always stressed the value of giving back to others, instilled in her a commitment to her bank and her community.