Valerie Utsey Joins ICBA as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Washington, D.C. (April 1, 2021) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today announced that Valerie Utsey has joined the association as executive vice president and chief human resources officer. In this role, Utsey will lead ICBA’s human resources strategy and facilitate employee relations throughout the association’s offices.

“Valerie is a dedicated human resources professional with a wealth of knowledge, talent, and management experience that will greatly benefit ICBA’s diverse and talented staff,” ICBA Senior Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Terry Jorde said. “In her role as a trusted advisor, coach, and strategic leader, Valerie will bring expertise and creativity to ICBA, continuing to advance ICBA’s talent development programs, enhance best-in-class technology solutions, champion diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and collaborate across the association and subsidiaries to ensure workplace culture alignment for the benefit of the nation’s community banks.”

Utsey is results-driven human capital executive with 20 years of related experience. Prior to joining ICBA, she served as Chief People Officer for T-Rex Solutions, a leading IT professional services firm. In this role she created a positive professional experience that supports the development of employees, leading to T-Rex being recognized as a “A Best Place to Work” for 2020 by The Washington Post.

Utsey has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Cleveland State University and a master’s degree in labor and human resources from Ohio State University.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America creates and promotes an environment where community banks flourish. ICBA is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education, and high-quality products and services.

With nearly 50,000 locations nationwide, community banks constitute 99 percent of all banks, employ more than 700,000 Americans and are the only physical banking presence in one in three U.S. counties. Holding more than $5 trillion in assets, over $4.4 trillion in deposits, and more than $3.4 trillion in loans to consumers, small businesses and the agricultural community, community banks channel local deposits into the Main Streets and neighborhoods they serve, spurring job creation, fostering innovation and fueling their customers’ dreams in communities throughout America. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org.

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