FIRST FINANCIAL BANKSHARES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Executive Vice President, Treasury Management
Experience
Andrea grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana and started her banking career straight out of high school working as a teller, ATM servicer, and just about anything else they would let her do. When she graduated from Indiana State University three years later with a B.S. in Finance, the bank she was working for Merchants National Bank in Terre Haute, Indiana, asked if she "knew anything about computers" and thus began her first Cash Management Department. Over the 10 years she worked for Merchants and its Holding company, Old National Bank, she held many secondary responsibilities. Her last position was Assistant Vice President, Commercial Lender as well as always overseeing Cash Management.
A family move to northern Indiana in the Spring of 1998 led Andrea to 1st Source Bank in South Bend, Indiana where again her Cash Management/Treasury experience was put to use. Andrea took over Cash Management in 1998, later called Treasury Services, and expanded service offerings, grew relationships, and lead the growth and automation of the department for over 20 years. She was very active in her community that became home and raised her family there.
In 2018, Andrea and her husband Doug, left Indiana to move to Abilene, Texas. Andrea became Executive Vice President, Treasury Management, Line of Business Manager for First Financial Bank, N.A. headquartered there. The move allowed Andrea to use her then 30 years banking and treasury experience to review and enhance the Treasury Management Department and its offerings to clients across Texas.
Education
Andrea is a graduate of the Commercial Lending Schools through Robert Morris Association (RMA) and the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA). She has maintained her Certified Cash Manager/Certified Treasury Professional Accreditation (CTP) obtained in 1999 and her Accredited ACH Professional obtained in 2015. She attended the University of Notre Dame du lac from 2001-2003 obtaining her Master's in Business Administration and graduating Magna Cum Laude.
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Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Partner / Anthony Family Partners, Ltd.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Marketing Director
Chris Cook joined the First Financial Bank family in July 2021, following 28 years in intercollegiate athletics and university administration.
Cook spent the previous 22 years at Texas Tech University, including the last 11 in university administration as the institution's Senior Director of Communications & Marketing. His duties included serving as university spokesperson, crisis communication coordinator and guiding messaging and marketing efforts on behalf of the institution, in addition to leading an office that provided communications, marketing, social media, video, photography and web and graphic design support to the campus community. Cook also delivered direct communications counsel to university leadership and departments throughout campus.
From 1999-10, Cook directed the university's athletics communications office as Associate Athletics Director, helping lead the department's media efforts through one of the most successful periods in the university's history. The Red Raider football program, directed by then-head coach Mike Leach, and the men's basketball program, led by hall of fame coach Bob Knight, along with other successful sport programs, elevated the department's profile and subsequent national and international media attention.
In 2008, Cook led an award-winning Heisman campaign on behalf of All-America wide receiver Michael Crabtree and quarterback Graham Harrell, which resulted in unprecedented off-the-field coverage for the football program. The Pass or Catch 2008 campaign, which was a play on the U.S. Presidential campaign that same year, received nationwide attention throughout the season. The effort was recognized with a national Telly Award in 2009. The 2002 Heisman campaign for quarterback Kliff Kingsbury won an award from the Press Club of Dallas.
Prior to joining Texas Tech, he served as Assistant Sports Information Director at Saint Louis University from 1994-99 and was a graduate intern at Western Kentucky University from 1993-94. Cook is a 1993 journalism graduate of Louisiana Tech University and received a master's degree in mass communication at Texas Tech in 2012.
Cook, a devout Parrothead since 1989, and his wife, Jennifer, have a teenage son, Jack, and two dogs, Arrow and Hutch.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Executive Vice President
- First Financial in 2017 As the Chief Information Security Officer
Experience
Cynthia Suarez joined First Financial in 2017 as the Chief Information Security Officer. In her role as the CISO, she oversees information security governance programs which includes security awareness, policies, incident response, audit and risk assessments. She has over 30 years' experience in the financial services industry in a variety of roles including information security, vendor management, project management and operations. Cynthia previously worked for First American, First American Title and CoreLogic.
Education
Cynthia graduated with a BS in Mathematics from Grove City College, Grove City, PA. Additionally she holds the following industry certifications: Certified Information Security Manager, Certified in Risk & Information Systems Control, Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer, Certified CISO.
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Job Titles:
- 2nd Vice Chair
- Co - Chairman of First Financial 's Customer Service First
- Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking
Experience
David Bailey joined First Financial Bank in 2003 as a part-time teller while attending college at McMurry University in Abilene. Since that time, he has served in numerous positions in several different markets including Credit / Loan Review Analyst in Abilene and Weatherford, Commercial lender in Granbury and in Eastland, President & CEO of the Eastland Division, and most recently, Senior Lender of the Abilene Region. In 2021, Bailey was promoted to his current position of Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking where he helps drive the commercial growth efforts across the entire footprint of First Financial.
Bailey is also co-chairman of First Financial's Customer Service First program and was instrumental in organizing the Company's Day of Service initiative, which was awarded the Texas Bankers Association's Cornerstone Award for outstanding community involvement.
Education
Mr. Bailey holds a bachelor's degree in business finance from McMurry University and is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.
Mr. Bailey currently serves as 2nd Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees for McMurry University and is a board member of the Hendrick Medical Center Foundation in Abilene.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President, SIPCO, Inc and Shelton Family Foundation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Scott Dueser has been with the First Financial family for more than 47 years, starting as a management trainee in 1976 with First National Bank of Abilene (now First Financial Bank, N.A.). He served as President and CEO of First Financial Bank Abilene from 1991-2001 and was named President and CEO of First Financial in 2001. Mr. Dueser became Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2008. His banking career began in 1971, as a bookkeeper for First National Bank in Breckenridge, Texas while attending college. He also worked as a teller at Plains National Bank in Lubbock, Texas while still in school. Following his graduation, Mr. Dueser became an assistant bank examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas.
Education
Mr. Dueser earned his BBA in finance and BBA in accounting from Texas Tech University in 1975. He graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in 1981.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Treasury Management Team
- Executive Vice President, Deposit Operations
Experience
Ms. Montoya started her career with First Financial Bank in June 1995. Her knowledge includes teller, lead teller, in-store bank assistant manager, and call center manager. After serving as call center manager for 15 years, she transitioned to the deposit operations area of the Company. She currently manages the Account Services department, which includes quality control of Customer Information Files, Deposit Report Review, Exception Items, and Research. She is responsible for responding to deposit operation compliance exams in these areas.
Education
Ms. Montoya earned her BBA in management from McMurry University in 1995.
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Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- EVP
Job Titles:
- Chief Accounting Officer
- Executive Vice President
- Investor Relations Director
Mr. McVey joined First Financial in 2011 following two years with KPMG LLP in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. McVey's responsibilities include financial reporting, external and internal audit, investor relations and assisting in various other roles across the Company and reports to the Chief Financial Officer.
He is co-chairman of First Financial's Customer Service First program and was instrumental in organizing the Company's Day of Service initiative, which was awarded the Texas Bankers Association's Cornerstone Award for outstanding community involvement.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
- Executive Vice President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President and CEO / Livestock Investors, Ltd.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman, President and CEO, First Financial Trust
Job Titles:
- Chief Digital Officer
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Treasury Management Team
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Credit Administration
Marna Yerigan joined First Financial in early 2011, bringing with her more than 25 years of Texas banking experience. During that time, she held positions as a loan concurrence officer, credit administration manager, corporate compliance officer, branch credit manager, and commercial and consumer loan officer. Ms. Yerigan lives in Fort Worth and works with the Company's banks throughout the DFW Metroplex.
Education
Ms. Yerigan earned a BBA in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington and holds the RMA Credit Risk Certified designation.
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Chief Financial Officer
- Executive Vice President
Mrs. Hickox was named EVP/Chief Financial Officer at First Financial Bank in January 2023. She previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Independent Financial Group, Inc. (IBTX) and its subsidiary, Independent Bank, an $18 billion publicly-traded bank holding company based in McKinney, Texas, where she led IBTX through its initial public offering in 2013 and played a key role in ten acquisitions during her tenure. Prior to joining IBTX, Mrs. Hickox was an audit partner at RSM US LLP in Dallas, serving financial institutions throughout Texas.
Mrs. Hickox is a certified public accountant and a graduate of Texas A&M University, where she currently serves as a trustee of the 12th Man Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President / Batjer and Associates
Mike Parker - Chief Compliance Officer, EVP
Job Titles:
- Chief Compliance Officer
- Executive Vice President
Mike Parker was elected EVP and Chief Compliance Office in January 2023. He brings more than 15 years of compliance experience to First Financial, including his most recent post as a director of compliance governance with USAA Federal Savings Bank. He has also held positions with Capital One and Ocwen Financial Corporation in compliance and audit director roles and provided support to community banks on compliance matters with Capco. Parker began his banking career as an examiner with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, where he specialized in compliance.
Education
A native of western New York, Parker earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from Virginia Commonwealth University and holds the Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) designation.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Treasury Management Team
- Executive Vice President, Consumer Lending
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Retail Banking
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Principal / the Edwards Group
Randy Roewe - Chief Risk Officer, EVP
Job Titles:
- Chief Risk Officer
- Executive Vice President
- As Chief Risk Officer
As Chief Risk Officer, Randy Roewe is responsible for overseeing the company's risk governance and strategy. Mr. Roewe spent 24 years with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) as a National Bank Examiner. He served as an Examiner-in-Charge in the OCC's Midsize Bank Supervision unit immediately prior to joining First Financial in May 2015. His broad and diverse experience with the OCC included supervising banks that included de novo banks to the largest banks in the United States; supervising technology service providers; creating and instructing internal courses; evaluating draft regulatory guidance; and, participating in industry outreach.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Credit Administration
- First Financial Bank in 2021 As an Executive Vice President, Credit Administration
Rett Everett joined First Financial Bank in 2021 as an Executive Vice President, Credit Administration. Prior to joining First Financial, he served in senior and executive management positions at community and commercial banks in the DFW metroplex. With a background in underwriting, portfolio management, and credit administration, Mr. Everett works with lenders, directors, customers, and partners in order to evaluate and approve complex commercial and consumer loans.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Executive Chairman / Alegacy Group, LLC
Job Titles:
- Government Imposter Scams
Job Titles:
- Chief Administrative Officer
- Executive Vice President
Ronald Butler has been part of the First Financial family for 25 years, beginning his career in 1993 as Commercial Loan Officer in Abilene. In 1996, he was named President and CEO of First Financial Bank, Eastland and, in 1999, was named President and CEO of First Financial Bank, Stephenville. In 2006, he returned to Abilene and was named the President and CEO of First Financial Bank, Abilene. In 2012, Butler was named Chairman and CEO of First Financial Bank, Abilene Region and Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. Today, Butler is a member of the Advisory Boards of multiple regions of First Financial Bank, and also serves on the board of First Technology Services, Inc.
Education
Mr. Butler earned his BBA in finance from Texas Tech University and earned his MBA from Tarleton State University. He graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in 1996.
Mr. Butler is the former board chair of the Abilene Industrial Foundation and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Advisory Councils of the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University and Cisco College Abilene. Butler serves on the boards of the West Central Texas Municipal Water District, ContinueCare Hospital at Hendrick Medical Center, and the Abilene Improvement Corporation.
Job Titles:
- South Texas Area Banking Executive
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer
Luke Longhofer joined First Financial in 2010, as manager of the Loan Review Department. His responsibilities include assisting in credit administration, as well as oversight of the credit analysis and loan review functions. Mr. Longhofer began his career in 2003 as an intern with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). During his tenure with the FDIC, he held positions as a commissioned Bank Examiner and a Senior Financial Analyst.
Education
Mr. Longhofer earned a BBA in Finance from West Texas A&M University. In 2011, he graduated from Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- President
- President, First Financial Mortgage
Experience
Troy Fore joined First Financial Mortgage following the acquisition of 4trust Mortgage, inc. on June 1, 2015. Mr. Fore was President of 4trust Mortgage for 15 years prior to joining First Financial Mortgage. His mortgage career began in the DFW metroplex in 1985.
Education
Mr. Fore earned his BBA and MBA from Baylor University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
- Member of the Board of Directors