The Center for Financial Training & Education Alliance (CFTEA) has announced that Katrina Randlett, Learning and Development Officer for New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp (NHMB), has been awarded the Sapphire Award – Council of the Year. The Sapphire Award – Council of the Year recognizes innovative approaches to education that have allowed continued employee learning and enhancement during the current health crisis. In her role, Randlett oversees the planning and execution of learning and professional growth, workplace engagement and leadership development for NHMB.

NHMB is a shared service organization that provides essential services to three one-hundred fifty year old mutual community banks in New Hampshire – Savings Bank of Walpole, Merrimack County Savings Bank (the Merrimack) and Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) – as well as their sister organization NHTrust, a full-service trust and investment management firm.

“Katrina implemented and maximized the use of technology during the pandemic and has taken full advantage of all our virtual capabilities,” said David Cronin, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for NHMB. “She has adapted the functionality of the tools provided to her to ensure that our vast employee training and onboarding programs continues to progress. This recognition is well-deserved.”

“I’m honored and humbled to have been selected for this award, “noted Randlett. “Our biggest challenge is that we are made up of three banks throughout the state of New Hampshire. It’s not easy for our employees to gather in one central location to learn, since some would have to drive 3+ hour’s roundtrip for a training that lasts around an hour. We have benefitted from distance learning even before COVID-19. Distance learning is great on time, decreases mileage expense and for branches with limited employees, we don’t have to have employees gone for hours. Students have commented that they love being able to see the instructor over a webcam and that the small groups found within breakout rooms make them feel like a team. There has been less travel and hours aren’t lost to travelling to a traditional site. We love the fact we can have instructors from anywhere and that even though the experience is remote, there is still great growth and a wealth of learning.”

Randlett joined Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) in 1999 as a teller. She spent several years in a variety of roles within the branch network at MVSB including Branch Services Manager and Teller Trainer. In 2017, she moved to the Risk Management Department as the Risk Management Systems Administrator for NHMB and in 2019 was promoted to Learning and Development Officer.

Randlett earned her teller and customer service certifications through the American Bankers Association, and is a graduate of the Northern New England School of Banking. Katrina has been an active member of the Center for Financial Training & Education Alliance Board for two years, representing the Lakes Region Council.

Randlett has volunteered with the Save for America Program and the Ashland 4th of July Committee and participates in the Holderness Fire Association to create Halloween in Holderness. She lives in Holderness with her family.

CFTEA has been providing industry specific training and education to financial institutions and area organizations for over 100 years. They began as volunteer chapters of the American Bankers Association’s educational arm, the American Institute of Banking and serve organizations throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Virginia. You can find out more at cftea.org.

New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp, a shared services organization, was formed in 2013 when two New Hampshire-based community banks, Meredith Village Savings Bank and Merrimack County Savings Bank, formally affiliated – the first relationship of its kind in the state. This strategic partnership has positioned the banks to leverage each other’s strengths as they work together to advance a shared vision of maintaining and enhancing community banking standards and values. MillRiver Wealth Management joined as a third affiliate in 2015, combining the financial advisory divisions of MVSB and the Merrimack. Savings Bank of Walpole joined NHMB in 2018. In 2020, MillRiver Wealth Management affiliated with the New Hampshire Trust Company and Savings Bank of Walpole Wealth Management to become NHTrust. NHMB combined assets total more than $2.8 billion. For more information, visit nhmutual.com.

Photo caption: Katrina Randlett, Learning and Development Officer, NHMB