The Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) announced five new hires and seven promotions.
“I’m thrilled to welcome five new teammates to the CBA family,” CBA President and CEO Richard Hunt said in a release. “As we work to come out the other side of the pandemic, these new hires bring a wealth of regulatory, political, and industry experience critical to promoting and defending the retail banking industry in ‘the new Washington.’”
The new staff members include Ebony Sunala Johnson, vice president, associate general counsel for the regulatory affairs team; Susan Stutz, vice president, advanced education; Alyssa Dean, education coordinator; Lauren Blair Bianchi vice president, public affairs, and Billy Rielly, assistant vice president, media relations.
Prior to joining the CBA, Johnson was senior litigation counsel for the CFPB’s office of enforcement. She also has served as a partner at a top international law firm focusing on complex civil litigation. Additionally, she is a decorated Air Force veteran who graduated from the Air Force Academy and spent many years as a military intelligence officer.
Stutz has over 30 years of experience in retail banking. She has served on the SunTrust, now Truist, team for over 12 years. She was a graduate of the 2017 CBA-Executive Banking School class.
Dean joins the CBA with experience in many administrative roles for several-Washington, D.C.-area firms. She has a degree from the University of New Hampshire in international affairs and Italian with a minor in political science and Asian studies.
Bianchi brings almost 10 years of leading public affairs and advocacy efforts on and off Capitol Hill. She has served in communication roles for both congressional houses, most recently filling the role as communications director for a U.S. senator. The new vice president also has led media relations, issue campaigns, and crisis communications for corporate, nonprofit, and advocacy organizations.
Rielly has worked on political campaigns, on Capitol Hill, and in public affairs for leading corporate advocacy clients before joining the CBA. He has a degree in political affairs and entrepreneurship from Wake Forest University.
“Ebony’s legal background and experience leading investigations at the CFPB [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] will be critical to helping our members navigate what we expect to be an aggressive regulatory landscape,” Hunt said.
“Lauren and Billy’s time leading public affairs campaigns on- and off- Capitol Hill will help us champion the benefits of retail banking and drive our policy objectives forward,” he continued. “And, as a graduate of CBA’s Executive Banking School who previously worked at one of our member banks, Susan brings invaluable knowledge and industry insights to further strengthen our advanced education programs, where Alyssa will help support opportunities to shape the next generation of retail banking leaders.”
The promotions announced were as follows:
- Angie Berkey, now assistant vice president, marketing, creative and design; she was previously director, marketing and communications.
- Ryan Blake was promoted to assistant vice president, director of committee advocacy and engagement; he was previously legislative director.
- Jenny DeBerry, previously membership coordinator, has been promoted to manager, membership and webinars.
- Jake Fowler, previously director, associate membership and exhibits, is now assistant vice president, associate membership and exhibits.
- Allison Heimberg has been promoted to director of new media; she previously was manager, media relations and communications.
- Karen Neeley, previously regulatory manager, has been promoted to regulatory director.
- Jordan Selmer, director of education operations, has been promoted to assistant vice president, director of education operations.
“Over the last year, our team has worked exceptionally hard to support our member banks and the customers they serve, and I’m proud to recognize their efforts,” Hunt said.