Pub. 17 2020 Issue 1

20 O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S — H E L P I N G N E W M E X I C O R E A L I Z E D R E A M S BANKERS ON THE MOVE Don Padgett Has Joined the Bank as Executive Chairman. Don Padgett has joined Southwest Capital Bank as Executive Chairman. Padgett has a rich and varied four-decade history in banking and has been working as a consultant for the bank since January 2020. Padgett retired as president and CEO of Santa Fe-based Century Bank in 2017, roles he held since 2006. Greg Levenson said he is “thrilled to announce that Don is joining our leadership team and I know he will bring a wealth of experience and ideas to the bank. I look forward to his contributions to our continued success and growth as we expand our products and services that are focused on the communities we serve, having real relationships with our customers, and building upon the entrepre- neurial spirit of our state.” Greg Levenson serves as president and chair of the holding company and a member of the board of directors. Talbert Named President of Southwest Capital Bank Lonnie Talbert, chief operating officer at Albuquer - que-based Southwest Capital Bank, has taken on the role of president. Talbert said, “The bank has been my home for the past six years and I am honored to take on this new role. I look forward to working with Don (Padgett) and continuing to support Greg (Levenson) and all our employees and customers.” “I’m excited to get to continue to work with Lonnie in his new position of President,” said Chairman and President of the bank's holding company Greg Levenson. “Lonnie will be taking on some added responsibility in our organization, which he knows well. This isn’t much of a transition for Lonnie or our institution but rather a recognition of the dedica- tion and hard work that Lonnie has shown over the last six years that he has been the chief operating officer.” Mirabal Joins First National 1870 Bank as Senior Vice President/Commercial Team Lead Santa-Fe based First National 1870 Bank has added Suzanne Mirabal as senior vice president/commercial team lead. She began her banking career in 2006 at U.S. Bank in Albuquerque, serving there as vice presi - dent/business banking team lead. Mirabal attended the University of New Mexico. Active in her community, she currently serves on the boards of The Loan Fund and National Hispanic Cul- tural Center Foundation. She previously served on the boards of CLNKids and YMCA of Central New Mexico, as well as on the council of Women United of Central New Mexico. Leadership New Mexico 2020 Graduates Include Four Up-and-Coming Bankers Leadership New Mexico recently announced the 2019-20 graduating class of its Connect New Mexico “The Next Generation of Leadership” program. Four of the graduates are up-and-coming leaders in the bank- ing industry: Christopher Woodland, credit analyst/ leader, First National Bank, Carlsbad; Bryan Ross, vice president/commercial banking relationship manager, U.S. Bank, Albuquerque; Eric Ehler, vice president/in - formation security and retail operations, Pioneer Bank, Roswell; and Anthony Carillo, assistant vice president and business banker, First National 1870. The Connect New Mexico program is open to young professionals as an opportunity to build on leadership skills while gaining an in-depth understanding of New Mexico systems and structures, as well as cultivating new ideas to face critical issues in the state. Western Heritage Bank Adds Aguirre as Mortgage Business Development Officer Las Cruces-based Western Heritage Bank has hired Brenda Aguirre to serve as a mortgage business develop- ment officer for the bank’s El Paso market. “With more than 20 years of experience in customer service and 10 years in the mortgage industry, Ms. Aguirre makes an ideal addition to our community banking team,” said Greg Cory, president and CEO. A native El Pasoan, Aguirre is a graduate of the Uni - versity of Texas El-Paso. She is actively involved with numerous community organizations, including the El Paso Mortgage Bankers Association, El Paso Association of Builders, Greater El Paso Association of Realtors, Tex- as Association of Realtors Political Action Committee, Woman’s Council of Realtors and the National Associa- tion of Hispanic Real Estate. n