Cape & Coast Bank has announced that Chair of the Board, President and CEO Lisa Oliver and Executive Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer Lee Ann Hesse have received 2024 Women & Allies in Banking Awards from the Massachusetts Bankers Association.

The awards, presented at a recent conference in Framingham, Mass. by the organization’s Women in Banking Advisory Group, honor the achievements of remarkable individuals who have demonstrated leadership, professionalism and community service in the banking and finance industries.

Lisa was presented with the Champion for Women Award, and Lee Ann received the Achievement Award.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Massachusetts Bankers Association for something that is so important to me – supporting gender equity and inspiring women in the workforce to reach their full potential,” said Lisa. “I’m also incredibly proud of Lee Ann for receiving an Achievement Award, which celebrates a woman who has excelled in the banking and finance profession with a focus on exemplary community service.”

Lisa, who has more than three decades of banking and financial service management experience, was appointed Cape & Coast Bank’s first female president in 2017 and serves as Chair of the Board of Directors. She was named one of 2023’s The Most Powerful Women in Banking honoree by American Banker magazine and is also a member of the inaugural leadership team of the American Bankers Association Women CEO Peer Group. Lisa is also extensively involved in Cape Cod civic affairs and philanthropy, serving as Chair of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and Board member and Clerk for The Cape Cod Foundation, a nonprofit organization that invests in the local community through scholarships and grants.

Lee Ann joined The Coop in 2013 following a two-decade career in banking and financial services in Boston and Cape Cod. She is active in the community, including serving as a Board Member of the Cape Symphony and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She is a past mentor with WE CAN’s Pathmaker Program, Board President of the Barnstable Land Trust, Member of the JFK Hyannis Museum Board, YMCA Cape Cod Human Resources Advisory Committee, the Barnstable-West Barnstable School Council and the Workforce Investment Board.

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod has announced the promotion of six employees in recognition of individual performance and successes within the organization.

“I congratulate this extremely talented group of professionals on their well-deserved promotions,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “They consistently exhibit high levels of subject matter expertise and customer service commitment by always going the extra mile to ensure clients have the best banking experience possible. I also applaud this group’s commitment to community service and volunteerism – they truly embody the Bank’s vision to transform lives through the power of community banking.”

Promotions recently approved by the bank’s Board of Directors include:

• Sarah Swift was promoted to Vice President, Retail Administration Manager with responsibility for vendor management, training, reporting, maintenance and creating tools and procedures to enhance efficiencies within the bank’s retail operations. She also leads the bank’s efforts in all branch operations, compliance and regulatory procedures.
• Jill Levesque was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Deposit Operations Manager with management responsibility for electronic delivery channels, payment systems, and enhancing performance as well as exceptional customer service across the bank’s deposit operations team. Additionally, she manages vendor relationships and represents the department in audits and regulatory procedures.
• Andrea Merianos was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Learning and Development Officer with responsibility for promoting talent development opportunities for all bank personnel. In addition to assessing learning needs, designing and implementing effective training programs, she also is charged with managing training records through the bank’s Learning Management System while partnering with HR on recruitment and engagement efforts.

The Bank also welcomed three employees to the ranks of Bank Officer:

• Kristina Cormier was promoted to Senior Commercial Loan Administrator, Officer. Her responsibilities include supporting the commercial banking team in preparing loan documentation, maintaining collateral and credit files, ensuring regulatory adherence in the loan process, and ordering necessary reports to mitigate bank risk. She also assists the bank’s small business relationship managers with loan processes.
• Jennifer Driscoll was promoted to Senior Marketing Coordinator, Officer, responsible for all advertising and marketing efforts at the bank including product line promotions, sales campaigns, brand management and market research. In addition to managing a yearly calendar of events and liaising with external vendors, she supervises all graphic design, copywriting and production for bank messaging across diverse media platforms.
• Brian Hegg was promoted to System Administrator, Officer. Responsible for maintaining and upgrading the bank’s computer hardware and software, tasks include mobile device management, managing inventory systems, end-user technical support and training, and remote support. The position serves as a secondary for IT application administration, documenting and updating department procedures to ensure smooth and compliant operations of all bank systems.

Cape & Coast Bank, through its Charitable Foundation Trust and corporate giving programs, has awarded $148,750 in grants and donations to local nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of Barnstable County residents.

“This quarter’s grant recipients truly reflect The Coop’s vision to transform lives through the power of community banking,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO, Cape & Coast Bank. “As a true community bank, we have a commitment and expectation to help alleviate the major issues affecting Cape Cod, including affordable housing, poverty, social justice and racial and economic equity. I congratulate all the extremely deserving nonprofit organizations that received grants from The Coop and look forward to supporting their work now and in the future.”

During the recent quarterly meeting of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, the following new grants were awarded for the first quarter of the bank’s 2025 fiscal year:

• $25,000 to Helping Our Women, distributed in four annual installments, for support of its Women Thriving campaign, which includes the new Ann Maguire Women’s Wellness Center in Eastham. The grant will also help fund Helping Our Women’s Peer Wellness Coaching program and much-needed updates to its Provincetown facility.
• $25,000 to Heritage Museums & Gardens, distributed in four annual installments, to support the Barbey Family Welcome Center, a 9,000-square-foot three-building facility scheduled to open in 2025. The new welcome center will elevate the guest experience by providing a gracious gateway for visitors to prepare to enjoy a day of exploration, discovery and learning on the Sandwich museum’s 100-acre grounds.
• $15,000 to Harwich Ecumenical Council for Housing to be used for expansion of its Rental Assistance Program, which helps people stay in place to creates stability for residents, employees and the community workforce on Cape Cod.
• $10,000 to Belonging to Each Other to support its $1.3 million campaign to purchase and renovate the former Gerald Flynn House in Falmouth to be used as a shelter in the winter months for those experiencing homelessness and as housing for seasonal workers during the summer.
• $5,000 to Falmouth Housing Trust to help fund its Waquoit Project, a plan to create six affordable workforce homes on a 3.8-acre parcel with a pond that connects to the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The project will initially provide housing for more than 20 people in new, energy-efficient homes restricted as affordable housing in perpetuity.

The Coop Foundation also issued the final $6,250 installment of a four-year $25,000 grant award to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & The Islands to help expand mentoring services to youth throughout the region.

The Coop has also disbursed more than $100,000 in funding support from its Corporate Giving program to almost 50 local nonprofits to date in the first quarter.  Most notable donations include:

• $25,000 to The Women & Girls Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation.
• $20,000 to Housing Assistance Corporation.
• $10,000 to the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.
• $10,000 to the Y Achievers Program of YMCA Cape Cod.
• $10,000 to Love Live Local.
• $10,000 to Independence House.

Cape & Coast Bank has announced organizational changes to its Retail Banking team in recognition of individual performance and successes within the organization.

• Maeghan DeLellis was promoted to Retail Sales and Service Delivery Manager. With her promotion, she will play a pivotal role driving the design, communication, and implementation of retail sales tools including products, services, programs and campaigns. Meaghan has been an invaluable member of Cape & Coast Bank team for the past 11 years, demonstrating her focus on delivering outstanding client service.
• Jay Fabbio has been named Branch Manager – Small Business Specialist for the Sandwich branch. Having demonstrated his capabilities at the Marstons Mills branch, Jay’s grounded leadership style, dedication to clients and team members, and results-oriented focus will significantly enhance the success of the Sandwich office.
• Brendan Pike will lead the combined branch teams of West Barnstable and Marstons Mills. Brendan’s additional management responsibilities in Marstons Mills will complement his continuing exemplary leadership in West Barnstable.
• Robert Brackett III has been promoted to Assistant Branch Manager of the West Barnstable branch. Robert’s steady progression from first hire at the West Barnstable branch to Assistant Branch Manager is marked by his strong base of leadership skills and an ability to integrate technology and provide outstanding support for clients.

“I congratulate Brendan, Jay, Meaghan, and Rob,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President, and CEO. “These changes demonstrate a personal commitment to operational excellence and client service, as well as the bank’s dedication to nurturing and empowering team members to embrace new challenges and opportunities.”

Nine interns are participating in this year’s program, working with professionals from our marketing, information technology, finance and retail banking teams.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome these talented students to the Bank this summer, where we hope they will build a strong foundation for future careers,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “I offer a special thanks to members of The Coop team who generously offer their time, expertise and mentorship to provide invaluable real-world experience for the next generation of financial service professionals.”

The Coop’s 2024 intern class, and their areas of focus this summer include:

• Jeramy Campbell is the General Operations Intern with the Deposit Operations Team. Jeramy is an Honor Program Participant at Suffolk University, with a Business Economics major and a minor in Finance.
• Allison Duffy is joining the East Harwich team this summer. Allison is a Mathematics and Economics major at Columbia University.
• George Eiermann is joining the Hyannis team for the season. George is a Finance major at Providence College.
• Hope Greene is joining the East Dennis team. Hope is dedicated Finance major with a minor in Communication at Providence College.
• Sidney Huynh is joining the Marketing team this summer. Sidney is a dual degree candidate with the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics with the University of New Hampshire. Sidney is studying for her Bachelor of Science in Information Systems & Business Analytics; Marketing.
• Drew Mahoney is joining the Yarmouth Port team. Drew is a licensed real estate salesperson with RE/MAX. Drew is an Honors 3+1 accelerated M.B.A. and Finance BBA student at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI.
• Ava Radford is the Finance Intern this summer. Ava is a student at Bentley University, with a major in Finance complimented by a triple minors in Computer Information Systems, Business Administration, and Law.
• Zach Rogers is returning to the Sandwich team for another summer. Zach graduated on May 4th with his Bachelor’s Degree from Colby Sawyer and will achieve his Masters in Business Administration with a Marketing Minor next year. Congratulations, Zach!
• Kate Sorz is the Data Analytics intern this summer. Kate is studying informatics with a concentration in data science and a minor in education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Cape & Coast Bank recently held its annual meeting for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, reporting a strong financial performance, announcing a major staff promotion and electing five new Corporators.

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Erik Porter reported the bank achieved $1.5 billion in total assets, an increase of 7% over the previous fiscal year. He also highlighted strong growth and momentum in deposits, residential loans and commercial loans.

“Reaching the $1.5 billion asset level is a milestone for the bank, and doing so during a challenging time in the financial services industry is a testament to our community commitment, exceptional professional staff and innovative banking products and services,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair of the Board, President and CEO, Cape & Coast Bank.

Barbara Smith, Chief Banking and Strategy Officer, discussed plans to expand the Bank’s wealth management team and services over the coming year. Lee Ann Hesse, Chief Engagement Officer, unveiled the Bank’s new Vision, Mission and Values.

“Our vision is simple yet profound: ‘To transform lives through the power of community banking,’” said Hesse. “This vision embodies our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Our mission is clear and unequivocal: ‘To be the best bank on Cape Cod.’”

Hesse introduced the refreshed core values: Heart, Integrity, Respect and Excellence. These four values serve as the compass points that guide the Bank’s decisions and actions.

The Bank’s corporate giving initiatives and Cape & Coast Bank Charitable Foundation Trust combined to contribute $384,000 in philanthropic and community support funding to more than 100 local nonprofit organizations during the recently completed fiscal year.

Kwarta Promoted, Five New Corporators Elected

The Bank also announced the promotion of Scott Kwarta to the dual role of Chief Operating and Risk Officer.

Kwarta will oversee a comprehensive scope of responsibilities, including Risk Management, Credit, Information Technology, Deposit Operations, Information Security, Compliance and BSA (Bank Secrecy Act), in addition to new oversight responsibilities for Digital Banking and Project Management.

“Scott has been an integral part of the Bank since joining us in 2020, demonstrating exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of risk and the banking industry,” said Oliver. “His dedication and commitment have been instrumental in establishing an enterprise risk management culture, developing a comprehensive risk management program, and navigating through a variety of challenges and opportunities. His promotion to Chief Operating and Risk and Officer reflects not only his outstanding performance but also the evolving needs of our organization as we continue to expand and innovate.”

The Coop also elected five new Corporators who will serve 10-year terms:

• Lauren Barker – Director of Government Relations for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and former Chief Executive Officer of Cape Cod Young Professionals.
• Alton Chun – Chief Operating Officer of Upland Capital, a Boston-based real estate investment and management firm. He previously served as Regional Managing Director of EOS Hospitality, whose properties included the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club and the Red Jacket Resort Collection.
• Kevin MacArthur – Founder and President of Secure Networks, a Hyannis-based managed services firm.
• Kristin O’Malley – Chief Executive Officer of The Cape Cod Foundation.
• Kevin Skrickis – Partner, DePaola, Begg & Associates PC, a Hyannis-based accounting firm.