Announcing: LBF's 2024 Best in Finance honorees
This article was written by Allison Stines and originally appeared in Louisville Business First on May 7, 2024.
Back for its eighth year, Louisville Business First is announcing its 2024 Best in Finance Awards, presented by Truist, to recognize outstanding professionals working in a finance position at an area company or nonprofit organization.
Behind the scenes at organizations across the community, these leaders and their teams are working on everything from strategic planning, to mergers and acquisitions to generating financial growth for their organization — plus much more.
This year’s Best in Finance honorees are from a variety of industries where they work to create a better environment for the employees, the organization and the clients they serve.
We are announcing 24 local professionals who’ve proven they’re among the Best in Finance.
Honorees will be featured in print and online in LBF June 21 and will be honored at an in-person luncheon Tuesday, June 18, from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, 280 W. Jefferson St.
Each of these professionals was nominated by someone who thinks highly of them and selected with help from a panel of judges. We turned to the experts to judge this year’s awards, all past Best in Finance recipients.
LBF would like to thank: Cynthia Clemons, vice president, finance and administration – HSC; vice dean, finance – School of Medicine, University of Louisville; Holly Rogers, director of finance and operations, Yew Dell Gardens; and Michael Heichelbech, vice president – finance and administration, Greater Louisville Inc. They lent their time and expertise to help the editors and publisher select our honorees.
Here are the 2024 honorees, in alphabetical order:
- Jason Aberli, CFO, Buffalo Construction
- Lyndy Alexander, CFO, Jewish Family and Career Services
- Jennifer Allgeier, director of finance, TKT & Associates
- Derek Bell, chief accounting officer, Republic Bank & Trust Co.
- Stephen Bellas, CFO, Commonwealth Credit Union
- Michelle Blandford, CFO, Commonwealth Pain & Spine
- Deborah Chenois, CFO, OnPoint Warranty Solutions
- Billieann Durrett, finance director, River Ridge Development Authority
- Adam Faris, vice president of finance, Family & Children’s Place
- Pamela Freeman, CFO, Office Resources Inc.
- Maggie Garrison, vice president, CFO, Kentucky Lottery Corp.
- Jessica Grigsby, controller, Calhoun Construction Services
- Nick Heavner, CFO, LMH Architecture PLLC
- Michael Holwerda, vice president, middle market, corporate banking, Fifth Third Bank
- Nick Hunter, CFO, Catholic Charities of Louisville
- Megan Krebs, director of finance, The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
- Geoff Luber, CFO, Air Hydro Power
- Laura Monroe, senior finance director, global incubation brand management, Bacardi Limited
- Suhail Nath, finance director, UofL Health – UofL Hospital
- Amy Pennington, director of finance, Miranda Construction LLC
- Gwen Simpson, vice president of treasury, Heaven Hill Brands
- Matt Vance, CFO, Kentucky Bankers Association
- Rob Waite, CFO and executive vice president, American Roofing & Metal Co.
- Matt Willinger, CFO and co-founder, Pluris Real Estate
Thank you to title sponsor Truist; key supporting sponsors Dentons and Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants; and A/V partner Markey’s.
Congratulations to our honorees!