Christina M. Bennett retired from the Indiana Bankers Association effective Dec. 31, 2025.
Bennett started with the Association in 1990 as a member of the government relations team. She later shifted to the education department, working her way up to vice president-meetings & events. She also served as corporate secretary to the Board of Directors.
“The IBA has long been proud of the education we provide for our members’ employees, and Chris has been one of the key factors behind that,” said Amber R. Van Til, president & CEO of the IBA. “She was the driving force behind our Mega Conference, which, with nearly 1,300 attendees annually, continues to set the standard for state bankers associations nationwide. We wish her the best in her well-earned retirement.”
With Bennett’s retirement, the Association is reorganizing its education into a streamlined Professional Development department.
- Vice President-Education & Training Laurie A. Rees has been promoted to senior vice president-professional development, joining the Association’s executive management team.
- Molly Gibbs, who previously split her time between the education and products & services departments, will shift entirely into professional development as assistant vice president-education & training.
Katie Yates, who joined the Association in August as an education coordinator, will have the updated title of professional development coordinator to reflect the new organizational structure. The Association is currently hiring for an assistant vice president-meetings & events as well as a second professional development coordinator to assist the department in producing the 150 live events and facilitating the additional 725 webinars the IBA hosts or co-sponsors every year.
The Association is also excited to announce the hiring of two new employees for its highly respected advocacy team. Connor Wong joined the Association in November as vice president-government relations, and Jackson Norman joined Jan. 2 as government relations coordinator. Wong has previous experience at a local public affairs company and as a legislative assistant in the Indiana State Senate since earning a bachelor’s degree from Western Colorado University. Norman was most recently a senior staff intern in the Indiana House of Representatives after earning a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.
Biographies of all IBA staff members are available online at indiana.bank/about. Headshots available upon request.