83 rising bank leader advance knowledge at LA Tech’s School of Banking

Thanks to Communications at Louisiana Tech University

The fourth year of the Louisiana Tech University School of Banking took place in Ruston from June 2–6, with participation from bankers from all throughout the state. The weeklong professional development program, which is offered by the College of Business in partnership with the Louisiana Bankers Association, broadens the knowledge and skill set of aspiring bank executives.

To sharpen skills that are becoming more and more important to the banking sector, the 83 participants took part in trainings and conversations regarding cybersecurity, AI, and regional economic development.

According to Rodney Poncho Seaford, SVP and director of credit support services for b1BANK and chair of the School’s Advisory Board, the Louisiana Tech School of Banking has quickly emerged as a crucial asset for the state’s banking sector. The School is helping to shape the future generation of bankers in Louisiana by emphasizing innovation, leadership, and professional development in the banking sector.

Operations, risk management, liquidity, marketing, sales, and regulations were among the subjects covered in the courses offered by Louisiana Tech teachers, banking executives, consultants, and regulators.

“The School gave us comprehensive knowledge that addressed all facets of community banking,” stated Adam Palmer, Caldwell Holding Company’s treasury assistant. Anyone will undoubtedly succeed in the dynamic banking industry thanks to the in-depth courses given by banking experts and the networking chances offered.

A graduation ceremony honoring 36 bankers who finished their second year at the School of Banking marked the end of the week.

2025 Banking School Graduates

• Ainsworth Kaitlin, Caldwell Bank & Trust

• Jake Bennett, Trust & Bank of Caldwell

• Caldwell Holding Company’s Amy Blaylock

• Bank of St. Francisville’s Whitney Boyd

• b1BANK’s Jack Colvin

• Culpepper Tia, Origin Bank

• David Angelle Bertrand, b1BANK

• Caldwell Holding Company’s Amy Flint

• (Bank of St. Francisville) Angelice Fried

• Guidedry, Misty, Synergy Bank

• Louisiana National Bank employee Danielle Hearne

• State Bank & Trust Company’s Devon Hebert

• Lazarus, Wesley, Progressive Bank

• Community Bank of Louisiana’s Kim Lee

• Origin Bank’s Jonathan Little

• Elliot Macks, Bank of South Louisiana

• Home Federal Bank’s Kade Madden

• McClaran, Lindsay M., Gibsland Bank & Trust

• Julie McMillin of Farmers & Merchants Bank

• Middleton, Kylie, b1BANK

• Rayne State Bank, Rusti Morel

• Barksdale Federal Credit Union’s Greg Nichols

• Louisiana National Bank’s Dillon Patel

• Prewitt, Briar, b1BANK

• Pruitt, Darryl, Bonvenu Bank

• Home Federal Bank’s Logan Reeder

• Trey Roberson, Next Bank Century

• Shaver, Karri, and Century Next Bank

• Shaw Kendall, b1BANK

• Susan Skapura, Century Next Bank

• Jessica Slaughter, Century Next Bank

• Justin Stanley, Delta Bank

• Neil Thomason, Jonesboro State Bank

• Peyton Underwood, Century Next Bank

• Katie Vegas, State Bank & Trust Company

• Michael Wilkes, Century Next Bank

Ainsworth Kaitlin, Caldwell Bank & Trust

Jake Bennett, Trust & Bank of Caldwell

Caldwell Holding Company’s Amy Blaylock

Bank of St. Francisville’s Whitney Boyd

b1BANK’s Jack Colvin

Culpepper Tia, Origin Bank

David Angelle Bertrand, b1BANK

Caldwell Holding Company’s Amy Flint

(Bank of St. Francisville) Angelice Fried

Guidedry, Misty, Synergy Bank

Louisiana National Bank employee Danielle Hearne

State Bank & Trust Company’s Devon Hebert

Lazarus, Wesley, Progressive Bank

Community Bank of Louisiana’s Kim Lee

Origin Bank’s Jonathan Little

Elliot Macks, Bank of South Louisiana

Home Federal Bank’s Kade Madden

McClaran, Lindsay M., Gibsland Bank & Trust

Julie McMillin of Farmers & Merchants Bank

Middleton, Kylie, b1BANK

Rayne State Bank, Rusti Morel

Barksdale Federal Credit Union’s Greg Nichols

Louisiana National Bank’s Dillon Patel

Prewitt, Briar, b1BANK

Pruitt, Darryl, Bonvenu Bank

Home Federal Bank’s Logan Reeder

Trey Roberson, Next Bank Century

Shaver, Karri, and Century Next Bank

Shaw Kendall, b1BANK

Susan Skapura, Century Next Bank

Jessica Slaughter, Century Next Bank

Justin Stanley, Delta Bank

Neil Thomason, Jonesboro State Bank

Peyton Underwood, Century Next Bank

Katie Vegas, State Bank & Trust Company

Michael Wilkes, Century Next Bank

A cohort of 47 bankers completed their first year of courses and will return in June 2026 for a second year featuring BankExec simulations and case studies complimenting classroom discussions.

2025 School of Banking First-Year Participants

• Alyssa Allen, Louisiana Land Bank

• Ashley Avery, Louisiana National Bank

• Hunter Battles, Century Next Bank

• Eric Bedel, Rayne Building & Loan Association

• Hailey Begnaud, FM Bank

• Ronnie Bennett, Louisiana Land Bank

• Briana Borland, Caldwell Bank & Trust

• Ashley Butler, Origin Bank

• Haley Chavis, Century Next Bank

• Kellie Coulter, Century Next Bank

• Sonya Crowe, Landmark Bank

• Brandy Davis, WSB

• Stephen Dowies, Gibsland Bank & Trust

• Ashley Evans, Origin Bank

• Randy Funes, Century Next Bank

• Nicky Gautreau, Bank of Zachary

• Chris Harkins, Louisiana National Bank

• Jessica Haymon, b1BANK

• Rusty Jenkins, Louisiana Land Ban

• Landon Joiner, Citizens Progressive Bank

• Mikey Jones, American Bank

• Andie Lindsey, Caldwell Bank & Trust

• Jordan McNeely, Origin Bank

• Abbey Melancon, MC Bank and Trust

• Adam Napper, Century Next Bank

• Sherman Naquin, Synergy Bank

• Stephanie Ockman, Gulf Coast Bank and Trust

• Keesha Ockmand, Landmark Bank

• Megan O Neal, Gibsland Bank & Trust

• Adam Palmer, Caldwell Holding Company

• Amanda Parker, Century Next Bank

• Rachel Raborn, Century Next Bank

• Charlie Reeves, Delta Bank

• Stacey Schouest, South Louisiana Bank

• Leslie Slaughter, b1BANK

• Casey Smith, Landmark Bank

• Christie Spillers, WSB

• Tim Stephens, Origin Bank

• Brittany Theriot, FM Bank

• Lindsay Tomlinson, Origin Bank

• Marcel Vandenoord, Louisiana Land Bank

• Sara Walden, Community Bank of Louisiana

• Tammy Walsworth, Century Next Bank

• Roger Watkins, b1BANK

• Braden Whatley, b1BANK

• Heath Williams, First Federal Bank of Louisiana

• Johnny T. Williams, Louisiana National Bank

Alyssa Allen, Louisiana Land Bank

Ashley Avery, Louisiana National Bank

Hunter Battles, Century Next Bank

Eric Bedel, Rayne Building & Loan Association

Hailey Begnaud, FM Bank

Ronnie Bennett, Louisiana Land Bank

Briana Borland, Caldwell Bank & Trust

Ashley Butler, Origin Bank

Haley Chavis, Century Next Bank

Kellie Coulter, Century Next Bank

Sonya Crowe, Landmark Bank

Brandy Davis, WSB

Stephen Dowies, Gibsland Bank & Trust

Ashley Evans, Origin Bank

Randy Funes, Century Next Bank

Nicky Gautreau, Bank of Zachary

Chris Harkins, Louisiana National Bank

Jessica Haymon, b1BANK

Rusty Jenkins, Louisiana Land Ban

Landon Joiner, Citizens Progressive Bank

Mikey Jones, American Bank

Andie Lindsey, Caldwell Bank & Trust

Jordan McNeely, Origin Bank

Abbey Melancon, MC Bank and Trust

Adam Napper, Century Next Bank

Sherman Naquin, Synergy Bank

Stephanie Ockman, Gulf Coast Bank and Trust

Keesha Ockmand, Landmark Bank

Megan O Neal, Gibsland Bank & Trust

Adam Palmer, Caldwell Holding Company

Amanda Parker, Century Next Bank

Rachel Raborn, Century Next Bank

Charlie Reeves, Delta Bank

Stacey Schouest, South Louisiana Bank

Leslie Slaughter, b1BANK

Casey Smith, Landmark Bank

Christie Spillers, WSB

Tim Stephens, Origin Bank

Brittany Theriot, FM Bank

Lindsay Tomlinson, Origin Bank

Marcel Vandenoord, Louisiana Land Bank

Sara Walden, Community Bank of Louisiana

Tammy Walsworth, Century Next Bank

Roger Watkins, b1BANK

Braden Whatley, b1BANK

Heath Williams, First Federal Bank of Louisiana

Johnny T. Williams, Louisiana National Bank

For Kellie Coulter, vice president and operations manager at Century Next Bank, attending the School was an opportunity for both personal and professional growth.

I m so grateful for the opportunity to attend the Louisiana Tech School of Banking, said Coulter. It was an incredible experience to learn from industry experts about the challenges we re facing now and what s coming in the near future. I appreciated the chance to connect with other bankers, share ideas, and gain new perspectives that will help me grow both personally and professionally. Thank you to the organizers, speakers, and everyone who made this experience so impactful. I m excited to put what I ve learned into action.

Each second-year banker participated in BankExec, an intensive simulation designed to provide an understanding of financial management challenges in banks. Divided into seven banks, teams competed throughout the week and presented their final results prior to graduation. The following team was the 2025 winner:

Integrity One United Bank

• Amy Flint, Caldwell Holding Company

• Danielle Hearne, Louisiana National Bank

• Briar Prewitt, b1BANK

• Logan Reeder, Home Federal Bank

• Justin Stanley, Delta Bank

Amy Flint, Caldwell Holding Company

Danielle Hearne, Louisiana National Bank

Briar Prewitt, b1BANK

Logan Reeder, Home Federal Bank

Justin Stanley, Delta Bank

Sponsors for the Louisiana Tech School of Banking include b1BANK (presenting), Bonvenu Bank (gold), Origin Bank (gold), Century Next Bank (silver), Caldwell Holding Company (bronze), Gibsland Bank & Trust (bronze), Louisiana Land Bank (bronze), and the Louisiana Bankers Education Council (bronze).

Registration will open in January 2026 for the next cohort of participants. For more information on the School of Banking, visitbusiness.latech.edu/banking.