This fall, Core Bank launched its first Professional Development Cohort, a 10-week program designed to help employees grow the skills that make strong leaders. Participants learned how to understand different communication styles, work through conflict productively, build emotional intelligence, take personal ownership, and give and receive honest, helpful feedback. Each week combined classroom learning with self-assessments, practical assignments, and accountability partners who helped one another apply what they learned on the job.
We built this program because we believe leadership is not limited to a title. Strong communication, self-awareness, and accountability matter at every level of our organization. That is why the cohort was open to employees across all departments and levels, from frontline team members to people leaders. Bringing these perspectives together in one room led to conversations and insights that would not have happened otherwise, as participants learned how colleagues in other roles think, work, and solve problems. Along the way, they also built strong cross-functional relationships that will carry forward long after the program ends.
Most of all, we want to recognize the members of our Fall 2026 cohort. Committing to a 10-week program while balancing daily responsibilities takes real dedication, and each participant showed up ready to learn, share openly, and challenge themselves. Their commitment to building their leadership skills reflects the kind of culture we want at Core Bank. Congratulations and thank you to:
- Chike Okechukwu, Infrastructure Manager
- Crystal Plum, SVP – Trust Officer
- Casey Giffort, Assistant Banking Center Manager
- Eric Barnby, Business Intelligence Solution Architect
- Brian Dryak, SVP – Director of Residential Mortgage
- Kristin Ward, Director of Product Delivery
- Cyndi Cloward, Loan Servicing Manager
- Wade Cole, Commercial Relationship Manager
- Angie Sutton, Accounting Manager
- Ernesto Gomez, Compliance Officer
- Angela Burg, Experience Expert
- Heather Preister, Treasury Services Specialist II
- Steven Smith, Relationship Manager
This article was written by Sunni Wiltse, Director of Learning & Development at Core Bank
