AMBA SERVICES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- AMBA Staff Member
- EVP Communications and Operations
- Executive Director of AMBA Services, Inc
- Executive Vice President for Communications and Operations for the Association
- Military Saves Coordinator
Andia Dinesen is the Executive Vice President for Communications and Operations for the Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA) and has been with AMBA since 2013.
Andia is charged with assisting the President/CEO of AMBA in all aspects of communications, operations, and programs with a focus on providing financial readiness support to the military and veteran community through AMBA member banks. Andia maintains and manages the Veterans Benefits Banking Program, a partnership between AMBA and the Veterans Benefits Administration. Andia is responsible for ensuring relevant and up-to-date electronic materials reach their intended user through www.ambahq.org, www.veteransbenefitsbanking.org, and www.mildocs.org websites and social media channels.
Andia is also the Executive Director of AMBA Services, Inc. (ASI). ASI is a corporation supporting AMBA and its mission to provide relevant and timely materials and information to AMBA member banks and subsequently the military and veteran communities. Andia holds two volunteer positions; as a director on the board of the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education and as a founder/leader on the National Chapter for the Society of FINRA Foundation Fellows (SF3).
Formerly, Andia was the National Coordinator for Military Saves. As Military Saves Coordinator, Andia managed the DoD-wide social marketing campaign designed to persuade, motivate, and encourage military families to enhance their personal financial health and well-being through saving.
Prior to assuming her position as the Military Saves Coordinator, Andia worked at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, as a Personal Financial Counselor (PFC). In addition to her work as a PFC, Andia has more than 23 years of volunteer service in support of military families. In 2010 she received a Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Excellence Award in recognition of her work. Andia is certified as an Accredited Financial Counselor® credentialed by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education. In 2005, she graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Andia earned her Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University in 2021.
Andia has relocated with her family to nine installations since 2000 including two overseas assignments. She now resides in the Washington D.C. area with her family.
Job Titles:
- AMBA Staff Member
- Managing Director - Administration & Membership
- Managing Director of the Association of Military Bank
Christiane P. Jacobs is the Managing Director of the Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA). She provides administrative support to the President and Executive Vice President of AMBA, and AMBA Services, Inc. (ASI). She oversees daily administrative operations of the headquarters office, and provides support and coordination of the membership program, special projects, sponsorship program and two major annual events: the Annual AMBA Luncheon in conjunction with the Military Family Financial Readiness Coalition Roundtable and the Annual Fall Workshop.
Christiane is responsible for gathering and disseminating information to members and partners on the latest banking updates, especially when military financial readiness matters become topics of legislation, regulation, or education. She is AMBA's in-house graphic illustrator for print collaterals to promote AMBA's brand to members, potential members, and military communities. Christiane coordinates with Service branch military banking liaison officers on the dissemination of information, such as on-installation bank solicitations.
Christiane joined the Association in November of 2005. Prior to coming to AMBA, she was employed by the Association of the United States Army for over ten years and served in its Membership and Meetings Directorate organizing in membership recruitment and retention programs.
Christiane and her husband, Charles live in Prince William County, Virginia with their two sons, Christian and William.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Community Leadership Team
- Airport Concessionaires Committee - Chair / Bank of Hawaii Smart Money Mondays
- Airport SPOKES Committee - Member
Job Titles:
- President
- President of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Executive Managing Director With Aon 's Public Sector Partnership
Geoff is an Executive Managing Director with Aon's Public Sector Partnership (PSP) which focuses on developing innovative solutions to help governments and other public institutions reduce volatility and increase the resiliency of their mission. The PSP is a global team of talented colleagues that have deep experience serving in government, insurance, reinsurance, and the capital markets.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
James Carlile joined UMB in 2013. Mr. Carlile is responsible for helping institutional clients understand how to best manage their bond portfolios and interest rate risk. Prior to his current role, he served as an analyst for the division's Financial Services Group, assisting community bank clients with rate sensitivity and compliance needs. He also serves on the board of the bank's Veteran Taskforce, helping drive engagement for military causes both within and outside of UMB.
Mr. Carlile is a veteran of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, where he served as a Forward Observer in the NATO Kosovo Force mission and Operations Iraqi Freedom I and II.
Mr. Carlile holds a Bachelor of Finance and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis. He also holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman Elect
- Senior Banker
Kelly Hughes is a Senior Banker, and she leads the Public Sector Group's relationships across multiple U.S. Federal Agencies and Government Sponsored Enterprises. Kelly identifies her clients' banking needs and drives delivery of Citi's banking, markets, cash management and trade services to complex public sector clients. Kelly ensures overall Citi banking client satisfaction as well as operational business requirements. Additionally, given the evolving environment of data privacy and cyber security, Kelly is actively involved in ensuring her clients are aware of Citi's cyber security approach and technology platforms. Kelly is focused on the holistic delivery of the firm's products and services.
Prior to joining Citi in 2008, Kelly worked at Toyota Motor North America, where she conducted market research that she presented to senior leaders in Tokyo and Toyota City, Japan. With more than 20 years of experience, spanning the banking, automotive and consulting industries, Kelly has wide-ranging experience, working with data, conducting research and helping her clients banking strategy and financial operations.
Additionally, Kelly is involved in supporting military veterans. She was selected for the US Army War College National Security Seminar (NSS), and she volunteers her time at the Fisher House supporting service members and their families.
Kelly earned a dual BA in Economics and Spanish from the University of Virginia and a Master's degree in International Affairs with a focus on finance and policy from Columbia University. Kelly holds Series 79, 63, and 24 FINRA licenses.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President of the Arkansas Bankers Association
Larry T. Wilson has been a part of First Arkansas Bank & Trust, headquartered in Jacksonville, Arkansas, since 1971 and has served in various capacities during that time.
Mr. Wilson has served as President of the Arkansas Bankers Association and has served on the Consumer Depository Institution Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Community Bank Advisory Council of the Consumer Financial Protection Board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- SVP Global Military Affairs, Bank of America
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Banker
- Chairman / Chairman, President & CEO, 5Star Bank
Mike League has been a banker for 29 years and the last 25 years in Colorado. He also serves as Chairman, President and CEO of Little London Bancorp. Mr. League led a management and community acquisition of 5Star Bank in 2015 after serving as its President and CEO since 2007. Mr. League started his banking career with United Missouri Bank of Kansas City and eventually served as Regional Bank President of UMB Bank Colorado. He also served as Executive Vice President of ANB Bank and President & CEO of Bank of the Rockies. He previously formed investment groups to purchase Colorado banking institutions, including the 1999 purchase of Bank of the Rockies, which was subsequently sold in 2003. Mr. League is a past Director of the Colorado Bankers Association and currently a Director of the Association of Military Banks of America.
Job Titles:
- AMBA Staff Member
- Social Media, Digital Marketing, and VBBP Communications Consultant
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director for AMBA Services, Inc
Michael Greer has been a director for AMBA Services, Inc., since its founding in December 2016. Mike likes to say he is ‘semi-retired', with plenty of things to do in pursuit of his passions: supporting the military community, promoting healthy lifestyles and physical fitness, and staying connected with friends both old and new.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Management Consultant in the Financial Services
Phil Edwards is a management consultant in the Financial Services and Government Agencies global practice at Ernst & Young, LLP specializing in advising clients on strategic initiatives, regulatory change and designing transformational operating models and processes concerning third party risk management and supply chain optimization.
He has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry directing operations and leading best-in-class supply chain & procurement organizations, third party risk, operational risk and global shared services divisions within top 5 global financial institutions.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Wells Fargo in 2020 As Vice President, Head
Sean Passmore joined Wells Fargo in 2020 as Vice President, Head of Enterprise Military and Veteran Initiatives. He oversees the Enterprise Military Affairs Program supporting the military community, primarily focused on housing affordability, financial wellness, small business support, and career transition assistance programs. He manages relationships with strategic military, non-profit and for-profit veteran serving organizations. Sean also oversees military talent sourcing strategy and leads a team of Military Talent Liaisons who attract, recruit, coach, and advocate for veterans seeking career opportunities at Wells Fargo.
Prior to Wells Fargo, Sean was the Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Military Affairs at Perfect Technician Academy, where he led the military engagement strategy and developed veteran recruiting, training and career placement programs. Sean was previously the Military Hiring Advisor for USAA, where he led the corporate effort to recruit and hire veterans and military spouses, and represented USAA globally as a military hiring, transition, retention, and talent programs subject matter expert.
A prior enlisted Soldier, Non-Commissioned Officer, and graduate of Officer Candidate School (OCS), Sean served 22 ½ years in the Army before retiring in 2014 as a senior Presidential Communications Officer in the White House Communications Agency, where he provided direct and personal support to the President of the United States and led teams supporting Presidential events around the World. Sean earned his Master of Science degree in Project Management from The George Washington University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He is also a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and has earned SHRM's Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential and the SHRM Foundation's Veterans at Work Certificate.
Sean and his wife of 29 years, Mary, live in San Antonio, TX and have 4 children: Grey, Devin (actively serving in the Army), Raquel, and Miranda.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Service Member
Steve Beres manages the Service Member and Veterans Outreach Program for Regions.
Steve joined Regions in 2013 as the Service Member and Veterans Affairs Manager following a career as a law enforcement officer and in the health care field working with service members and veterans with disabilities.
Steve served in the United States Army for 22 years with numerous combat tours in the Middle East retiring in 2004 following a traumatic injury that left him totally blind and with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Steve also served as a Sergeant with the City of Milwaukee Police Department.
Steve is a member of several veteran organizations and has served on the National Board of Directors for several of these organizations. He has provided testimony before both the U.S. Senate and Congress regarding service member and veteran-related issues and has served as a consumer reviewer for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs for the Department of Defense.
Job Titles:
- AMBA Staff Member
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Steven J. Lepper became AMBA's President and Chief Executive Officer in 2015 after serving for one year as the Acting Director and Deputy Director of the American Bar Association's Rule of Law Initiative and for thirty-five years as an Air Force judge advocate culminating in his service as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Air Force. A retired Air Force major general, Steve has spent most of his career as a legal advisor and counselor to senior U.S. government and military leaders and serving in leadership roles himself.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President of Retail Operations for FSNB
Tiffany Davis Schaefer is the Vice President of Retail Operations for FSNB, continuing the legacy of family-owned, community banking. She leads 75+ branches and focuses on developing the consumer portfolio.
Schaefer earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing and a Bachelor of Science in advertising from Oklahoma State University.
She serves and has served on multiple boards and committees, to include FSNB, City National Bank & Trust, the Stanley Bruce Davis Foundation, the Junior League of Lawton, the Lawton Public Schools Foundation, and Oklahoma Bankers Association's Women in Banking Committee.
Schaefer and her husband live in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President of Fort Hood National Bank
Todd Fox is the President of Fort Hood National Bank. He served in the US Army for 24 years and retired as a Colonel in 2018. His last assignment was Fort Hood, Texas where he served as the Garrison Commander for Fort Hood and the Chief of Staff for III Corps and Fort Hood.
Fox received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point, a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, a Masters of Public Policy from Georgetown University, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategy from the United States Army War College.
He serves on multiple committees and boards in the community to include the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, Association of the United States Army Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter, the Armed Services YMCA Killeen, and the Texas Governor's Committee to Support the Military.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President, Military Retail Executive for Armed Forces Bank
Tom McLean serves as Senior Vice President, Military Retail Executive for Armed Forces Bank and has worked for the company for 16 years. He is responsible for sales, business development and financial outreach at military banking locations around the country. He spends time focused on Associate development, coaching, marketing, business development, financial education initiatives, supporting installation activities and community outreach.
Prior to joining Armed Forces Bank, Tom was the Director of Financial Services for Walmart Stores, Inc. in Bentonville, AR. He developed the products and programs for Walmart Financial Services that included Payroll Check Cashing, Extended Warranties and Money Center formats. He was also responsible for the Bank Leasing Program.
Tom started his banking career in 1988 and worked for various financial institutions in southwest Florida for 13 years, primarily in consumer lending, retail banking and branch administration.
The recognition that Armed Forces Bank has received over the years for Bank of the Year and Military Saves Designation of Savings Excellence is rewarding. He also is very active with financial education programs, developing connections to key constituents in the military non-profit space and supporting community outreach. The involvement in strategic initiatives for the company, including Chat, New Client Onboarding, Digital Transformation, Client Experience and Product Development have been beneficial to my own professional growth. Tom is a proud co-host of the "Militarily Speaking" podcast for Armed Forces Bank that launched in April 2022.
Tom has volunteered for organizations such as Veterans Community Project, Friends in Service of Heroes, Operation Homefront, Armed Services YMCA, and others. He graduated in 1987 from Denison University in Granville, OH with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a minor in Psychology. He has been married for 28 years and has two daughters, ages 24 and 25. He enjoys movies, music, sports, and spending time with his family.