Press Release – May 5, 2021

Chris Pratt | 301.775.8703 | [email protected]

MBA's Council of Professional Women in Banking and Finance Hosts its Ninth Annual Conference; Announces Achievement Award Recipients 

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND (May 5, 2021) — The Maryland Bankers Association’s (MBA) Council of Professional Women in Banking and Finance (CPWBF) today announced the winners of three of its awards, which recognize outstanding women in the field of banking and finance. The MBA congratulates the following 2021 award winners: 

• Achievement Award – Roshan Alavi, first Senior Vice President and Residential Lending Manager at Eagle Bank, received the Achievement Award, recognizing her outstanding accomplishments in both the banking industry and service to the community. 
• Champion for Women Award – Michelle Coates, Senior Vice President and Treasury Sales Manager at Howard Bank, was presented with the Champion for Women Award in recognition of her personal commitment to promoting and inspiring women to reach their full potential.
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Christa Heron, Chief Risk Officer at Severn Bank, is this year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her extraordinary accomplishments spanning a career in the banking industry.

“The MBA congratulates this year’s award recipients who have diligently worked to make a positive impact on the banking and finance industry,” said Ramon Looby, President, and CEO of the Maryland Bankers Association. “These awards celebrate their leadership and the important role they continue to play in inspiring other female leaders to become successful role models as they move forward in their own careers.” 

The mission of the Council of Professional Women in Banking and Finance is to encourage, empower, and inspire women to reach their goals in their banking and finance careers through ongoing education, personal and professional development, innovative programs and activities, and opportunities for mentoring to enable them to reach for GOLD –Growth, Opportunity, Leadership, and Development.

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Founded in 1896, the Maryland Bankers Association (MBA) is the only Maryland-based trade group representing banks in the state. MBA's member banks employ more than 40,000 banking professionals and hold 97 percent of the FDIC insured deposits in Maryland in nearly 1,700 branch offices. MBA serves its members as a legislative and regulatory advocate at all levels of government, as the public relations voice for the industry, as a provider of professional education to members, and as a promoter of financial education to the community.