Leadership Team

Marianne Markowitz
Chief Executive Officer
Marianne Markowitz
Marianne Markowitz is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, and a member of the boards of directors of the Company and the Bank. Marianne served as Acting Administrator for the Small Business Administration nationally and as Regional Administrator for SBA’s Midwest Region V. While at the SBA, Marianne served as an interim member of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet and was appointed by former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve on the City of Chicago’s Small Business Advisory Council. Most recently, Ms. Markowitz was a Managing Director at CIBC Bank USA (formerly The PrivateBank and Trust Company), where she implemented a national SBA and vertical industry strategy for the CIBC Small Business Banking business line. Before her time at the SBA, Ms. Markowitz served as trustee on the Obama for America board of directors, Chief Financial Officer for the Obama for America campaign and financial operations consultant for the launch of the Obama Exploratory Committee. Marianne received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and an MBA from DePaul University. She is a One Million Degrees Differencemaker Mentor and a member of the Chicago Economic Club.
Dan Konwent
EVP, Chief Credit Officer
Dan Konwent
Dan Konwent is the EVP, Chief Credit Officer. Dan is a senior credit executive with nearly 20 years of experience across many areas of commercial and consumer lending, including SBA loans, commercial and industrial lending, consumer mortgages and commercial real estate. Most recently, Dan served as SVP, GGL National Credit Director at Radius Bank and was also formerly Chief Credit Officer of HomeStar Bank. Dan received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa.
Maria Tabrizi
EVP, Chief Operating Officer
Maria Tabrizi
Maria Tabrizi is the EVP, Chief Operating Officer of the Bank. Maria is a financial services executive and Registered Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience in banking and public accounting. She has significant experience in audit, risk management, financial reporting, operations, regulatory compliance, information security and mortgage banking. Most recently, Maria served as the Chief Audit Executive of MB Financial Bank (“MB”), a position she held since 2014, and was a member of MB’s Bank Executive Management Committee. Maria was also the Executive Sponsor of MB’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Prior to MB, Ms. Tabrizi was Group Senior Vice President, a member of the Executive Management Committee and a prior Chair of the Risk Management Committee of Cole Taylor Bank, where she oversaw a division comprised of audit, information security, SOX 404 program, regulatory relations, fraud investigations, physical security, business continuity and compliance. Prior to her role as Group Senior Vice President, she served in various management positions at Cole Taylor Bank. Maria is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago.
David Ide
EVP, Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer
David Ide
David Ide is the EVP, Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer of the Bank. His 30-year career in bank treasury and asset/liability management includes management positions at USAmeriBank, Cole Taylor Bank, LaSalle National Bank, and Boatmen’s National Bank. Most recently, he was the Director of Investments for McKibbon Hospitality. David earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University with majors in Economics and History, and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis; he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Melissa Widen
EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Head of Impact Deposits
Melissa Widen
Melissa Widen is the EVP, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Impact Deposits of the Company. Melissa is an attorney, entrepreneur and executive with over 25 years of business and legal experience. She was a founder and Managing Partner of Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP, a trial and litigation boutique law firm based in Chicago. Functioning as the CEO for seven years, Melissa led the firm from a six-partner start-up to a top tier, nationally recognized law firm with 25 professionals and a roster of Fortune 500 clients. She served as senior litigation counsel for Arthur Andersen LLP, where she counseled senior firm management on legal, regulatory, and risk issues and advised on practice matters involving assurance, consulting, and tax services. Melissa was also a litigation associate at Jenner & Block. Ms. Widen is involved in many civic and community activities. She is a long-time board member and former board Chair of Personal PAC, a leading Illinois PAC focused on supporting women. She is a volunteer attorney with the ACLU’s Judicial Bypass Coordination Project, a Trustee of the Jewish Women’s Foundation, and Vice Chair for Domestic Affairs at the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Chicago. Melissa is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Maryland School of Law.
Gabe Beukinga
EVP, Head of Commercial Lending
Gabe Beukinga
Gabe Beukinga is the EVP, Head of Commercial Lending at First Women's Bank. Gabe has nearly 20 years of SBA lending experience. He is a financial services executive and economic development expert who is dedicated to creating an environment where small business owners and the community he serves can find opportunity and growth.
Patricia Rosa
SVP, Cashier & Controller
Patricia Rosa
Patricia Rosa is the SVP, Cashier and Controller at First Women's Bank. As a senior banking professional, she has more than 25 years of experience in accounting and bank management. She has significant experience in financial and regulatory reporting, asset liability management, and deposit operations.Contact
Board of Directors

Amy Fahey
Chair of the Board
Amy Fahey
Amy R. Fahey is the chair of the boards of directors of the Bank and the Company. Amy’s banking career spanned nearly 29 years at JPMorgan Chase and its predecessor organizations. She held a variety of senior positions, including Head of Credit Risk for Business Banking, Head of Midwest Middle Market, Chief Financial Officer of the Commercial Bank, and Head of Investor Relations. During her career, Amy held numerous other risk management and technology roles, and was a member of the Midwest Executive Committee and the JPMorgan Midwest Foundation. She has been the President of Sláinte Mhaith Inc., a consulting firm, since 2015. She has served on numerous non-profit boards including United Way, Goodman Theater, and All Chicago Making Homelessness History. Since retiring, Amy has consulted for a number of non-profit organizations, including Opportunity International and IC Catholic Prep. She is Chair of the board of Milaan Foundation. Amy received a B.S. in Information Technology from Northern Illinois University and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago.
Bobby Achettu
Director of the Company
Bobby Achettu
Bobby Achettu is a Partner at Sikich, one of the largest professional services firms in the country, where he is responsible for international operations. From 2009 to 2022, Bobby was the founder and CEO of Accelerated Growth Advisors (AGA), a management consulting firm. After growing AGA to 120 team members, including 5 consecutive appearances on the Inc. 5000 list, he sold the business to Sikich in November of 2022. At the time of sale, and to date, Bobby's global leadership team is comprised of 60% female leaders. Post transaction, Bobby continues to maintain his role as Chairman of the Board of both Accelerated Growth Partners, a venture fund which invests in social enterprises, as well as the Accelerated Growth Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission it is to educate underprivileged youth in the areas of financial literacy and women empowerment. Bobby's diverse 25-year career includes board roles at over a dozen for-profit businesses ranging in size from $5-$50MM in revenue within the marketing, media and technology industries. He also has served on three non-profit boards, including as the 2022-2023 president of the Entrepreneur's Organization Chicago. Bobby is a Faculty Member at both Loyola University and Northwestern University where he teaches courses in social entrepreneurship and modern workplace culture. He received his Bachelor of Science from DePaul University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Bobby has been married to his wife Julie for the past 22 years. Julie has her doctorate in education and has done extensive research on the lack of women in technology. He also has three teenage daughters.
Steven Bangert
Director of the Company and the Bank
Steven Bangert
Steven Bangert is a director of the Bank and the Company, and he will chair the executive and compensation committees. Steve has over 40 years of experience in bank ownership and management. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for CoBiz Financial, a $4 billion financial services company that delivered banking, insurance and wealth management services to businesses, business owners and professionals. The company began when Steve led the acquisition of two Denver banks in September 1994. CoBiz Financial was acquired by BOK Financial Corporation in October of 2018. Prior to CoBiz, Mr. Bangert had more than two decades of broad executive management experience with various financial institutions including banks in Illinois, Connecticut and Texas. From August 1992 to March 1999, he served as President and a director of Western Capital Holdings, Inc., formerly the bank holding company for River Valley Bank-Texas, and from April 1988 to July 1994, Steve served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of River Valley Savings Bank- Illinois. From February 1994 to July 1998, Steve served as a director and member of the Executive Committee of Lafayette American Bank. He also served as a board member for Prairie Capital, a Chicago-based private equity fund, and GMB Mezzanine Capital, a Minneapolis- based provider of mezzanine financing for middle-market companies. Throughout his career, Steve and his teams have built commercially-focused banks, with a strong credit culture, that have grown shareholder value through a differentiated approach to business banking. Steve was named the 2014 CEO of the Year by the American Cancer Society and a 2017 recipient of the St. George National Award. He received his B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Gary Gage
Director of the Bank
Gary Gage
Gary Gage is a director of the Bank, and he will chair the Enterprise Risk Committee. Gary spent 36 years in banking at JPMorgan Chase and its predecessor organizations in Chicago, with an overriding focus on all aspects of commercial banking risk management. He was the Chief Risk Officer for Business Banking which included credit, operational, technology, and all other risk factors impacting this business. Included in that function was responsibility for risk appetite, compliance, credit data and reporting quality, and reserve and capital modeling. In addition to managing underwriting teams across a variety of industry specialties, Gary has also managed work-out and risk for mezzanine finance. Gary received a B.S. degree from Loyola University of Chicago and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Kim Vender Moffat
Director of the Company
Kim Vender Moffat
Kim Vender Moffat is a director of the Company and the executive sponsor of the Bank’s Advisory Board. Kim is a tenured private equity investor and the founder of Rosa Partners, which provides support to founders and management teams through investment, advising, and board roles. Kim currently serves as a board member at Impact Engine and is an Investor in Residence at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Patricia Saldana Natke
Director of the Company
Patricia Saldana Natke
Patricia Saldana Natke is the President and Founder of Chicago-based UrbanWorks, an acclaimed architecture, planning, and interior design firm. UrbanWorks has won over forty-five local and national design awards. Natke focuses on the intersection of urban cities, social impact and design innovation. Natke has taught and lectured at Universities in the United States, Europe and South America. In 2018 she was elevated to the AIA National College of Fellows, the American Institute of Architect's highest membership honor in Category One: Design. Natke was named "2015 Outstanding Woman" by Chicago's largest Spanish newsmedia La Raza. In 2020 and 2021 she was recognized by Crains Chicago as one of 39 Notable Women in Design and Construction. Natke is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and The Chicago Network. She serves as a board member of First Women's Bank, the UIUC SoA Advisory Board, and the Chicago Women in Architecture Foundation.
Kristine Paskvan
Director of the Bank
Kristine Paskvan
Kristine Paskvan is a director of the Bank and she will chair the Audit Committee. Kristie has an extensive career in mergers and acquisitions, risk management, finance, business operations and regulatory compliance across asset management, investment banking, and capital markets. She was the Chief Financial Officer for Mesirow Financial, a global financial services company with historical revenues of over $500 million, and the Chief Operating Officer, where she was responsible for managing technology, human resources, marketing and risk. Kristie was a member of the Mesirow Financial Board for 6 years, chairing a variety of committees including strategy, investment, audit, compensation and risk management. She was named CFO of the Year in 2012 in the large private company category by the Chicago chapter of FEI, a professional association for corporate finance executives. In 2017, she was named corporate citizen of the year by the Executives’ Club of Chicago. Kristie has engaged in significant civic and philanthropic board work throughout her career, currently chairing the human resources and compensation committees for the United Way. She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), attaining governance fellow status, and is affiliated with numerous professional and industry associations. She received her B.A. in Accounting from the University of Illinois and an executive MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Christina Rashid
Director of the Bank
Christina Rashid
Christina Rashid is a director of the Bank, and she will chair the nominating and governance committee. Christina is an executive and governance expert who has served as an officer and/or board member of numerous investment companies, corporations and nonprofit entities. Christina previously served as an officer and investment committee member of a NYSE investment company and as president and principal of an insurance brokerage acquired from Anthem Health Insurance. She has experience across a variety of industry sectors and investment asset classes in finance, corporate/fund governance, strategy, mergers and acquisitions, risk management and business development. Christina twenty-five years of board experience has provided her with valuable insight into effective board dynamics, and she brings to the Board strong interpersonal skills, capital markets knowledge and broad leadership and operational experience. She has participated on a broad range of standing committees, has chaired audit, compensation and nominating committees and meets SEC requirements for an audit committee financial expert. Christina received a B.B.A. from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana and an MBA with concentrations in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Winslow Sargeant
Director of the Bank
Winslow Sargeant
Winslow Sargeant is a director of the Bank, and he will chair the Technology Advisory Council. Winslow is a managing director with S&T, LLC, an early stage investment firm based in Great Falls, Virginia, specializing in supporting small and innovative companies. He is the President-Elect for the International Council for Small Business. From 2010 to 2015, he was the Chief Counsel with the SBA Office of Advocacy. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. From 2006 to 2009, he was the managing director at Venture Investors, LLC (VI), an early stage venture capital firm in Madison, Wisconsin. He is Chairman of DermRx, an online pharmacy specializing in dermatology conditions, Chairman of CircleIn, an educational study preparation company for college students, and lead investor for Hylux, LLC, a sports energy drink company focused on providing nutritional drinks to athletes. Winslow is an active investor in small information technology services companies. He is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 11) and a visiting scholar (2018 to present) with George Washington University, and is on the Presidential Leadership group at Stevens Institute of Technology. He has served as a Director of the University of Wisconsin Foundation (2001 to 2010), Trustee for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (2015 to present), and Trustee for the IEEE History Center. Winslow is also a Trustee (2016 to present) with the Morgridge Institute. He received a B.S. from Northeastern University, M.S. from Iowa State University, and Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin, all in Electrical Engineering.Careers
First Women’s Bank is a purpose-driven organization on a mission to grow the economy and advance the role of women within it.
We value inclusion not exclusion; equality not dominance. We are committed to diversity and recognize that diverse leadership teams drive more and better innovation and improved financial results. We believe in the power of connection – connection to our clients, connection to one another and connection to the communities we serve. We are committed to building a work environment where you can grow professionally and personally.
Equal Opportunity Employer
First Women's Bank is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. First Women's Bank does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.
Reach out to us to learn more about our current career opportunities.