Notable Minority Executives: Chandra Rodgers

Community Affairs/CRA Officer, Associated Bank

Chandra Rodgers, community affairs/CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) officer at Associated Bank, earned a senior vice president title in August 2019 when she accepted the lead role to oversee the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act governance.

She has continued building alliances through inclusive and thoughtful engagement of diverse internal and external perspectives. Rodgers ensures data collection turns into action, influencing product offerings, service delivery and the bank’s physical footprint, according to William Kopka, vice president and community accountability officer at Associated Bank.

From 2018-’19, Rodgers co-chaired Associated Bank’s Milwaukee Cultural Awareness Colleague Resource Group, engaging, educating and empowering Associated Bank’s diverse network.

Because of this effort, diverse colleagues within Associated Bank continue to demonstrate career growth. For example, Marilka Velez, who succeeded Rodgers as a co-chair of this group, also recently became senior vice president, senior director of marketing.

“Chandra consistently elevates others through mentoring and creating pathways for others’ growth. She is the opposite of divisive, creating and finding common ground to overcome obstacles and de-escalate conflict,” Kopka said.

Her current roles outside Associated Bank include advisory board member of Diverse Dining, Milwaukee Urban League board member as treasurer, and advisory board member for Cardinal Stritch’s College of Business and Management.

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