PREMIER Bankcard Women in Business University Event
Dakota State University is welcoming the PREMIER Bankcard Women in Business University Event to the Heartland Captains Club in the Beacom PREMIER Athletics Complex on Wednesday, April 9.
The day’s events will be open to all DSU students, including a networking lunch featuring the theme “Own your Potential.” At least one businessperson will be seated at each table to talk with tablemates about their experiences.
Agenda
This event is open to all students from DSU.
There will be four (4) panelists for the discussion. Questions will be pre-submitted and will be facilitated by two (2) Student Success liaisons. Questions may be submitted anonymously if preferred by the inquirer. The questions should fall into one of four categories; Breaking through the Glass Ceiling, Work-Life Balance and Flexibility, Mentorship and Sponsorship, Combating Gender Bias and Discrimination.
Panelists
- Jennifer Olson, PREMIER Bankcard
- Lisa Gerner, PREMIER Bankcard
- Suzy Collignon Hodgen, Sanford
- Lisa Romkema, CEO at Sioux Empire United Way
- Brenda Merkel, Moderator
This event is open to all students from DSU.
Reshma Peck, the CMO for Experian in North America, will speak to the group on her experience as a female and senior executive. Her talk will include personal experience, trials and tribulations, the power of mentorship and allyship, and what she has learned and harnessed from her experience. She will close with a “If I may leave you with one thing it would be this…….” piece of advice. She will then remind the group that she will be at the Networking Lunch and the end of day Q&A and will welcome students to bring their questions for her to the latter.
This event is open to all students.
PREMIER Bankcard’s VP of Human Resources (Sandra Wallace) will open the lunch with a short presentation (10 minutes) that speaks to the types of jobs and opportunities that exist at PREMIER and the greater financial services market (folding in Experian) and the greater Sioux Falls market (folding in Sanford). Sandra will then encourage the attendees to engage with the business representatives over the course of lunch and to build both their knowledge and their network.
At least one businessperson will be dedicated to each table at the lunch in order to ensure access and availability through the luncheon, and attendees will be encouraged to float from table to table, as they see fit and appropriate, to speak to different businesspeople and take part in different conversations. This is the “social” event of the day for the students.
Networking Lunch Exec Attendees
- Reshma Peck, Experian
- Sandra Wallace, PREMIER Bankcard
- Paurakh Paudel, PREMIER Bankcard
- Suzy Collignon Hodgen, Sanford
- Ashley Podhradsky, DSU
- Rebecca Hoey, DSU
- Dorine Bennett, DSU
This event is open to all DSU students.
Having already heard from Reshma Peck during the keynote, this will be an opportunity for other PREMIER and Sanford participants to share their stories. Each participant will have 5-7 minutes to summarize their journey, acknowledge a challenge they’ve overcome, celebrate an achievement they’re proud of, and give a tip or piece of advice to the audience. At the end of all stories, a Q&A will open up for on-the-spot questions and discussions. Questions from Reshma’s keynote will also be in play here. The goal is to exhaust and answer all questions, so the team will be prepared to run beyond 2:00 as to ensure all questions are answered.
Career Stories Participants:
- Reshma Peck, Experian
- Jennifer Olson, PREMIER Bankcard
- Lisa Gerner, PREMIER Bankcard
- Suzy Collignon Hodgen, Sanford
- Ashley Podhradsky, DSU
- Rebecca Hoey, DSU
Panelists/Speakers
Jennifer Olson is a seasoned credit card services executive with a proven track record of leadership, operational excellence, and strategic growth. She began her career at PREMIER Bankcard in 2002 as a manager in the retention department, quickly showcasing her leadership abilities and deep understanding of operations. Through a series of promotions, she took on increasing responsibilities, driving key initiatives that enhanced efficiency and customer experience.
In 2010, Jennifer was promoted to Vice President, Card Services, where she spearheaded major projects, including the expansion of e-statements—a move that resulted in over $4.5 million in savings within the first year. As a key driver of digital innovation, she has led efforts to enhance payments, improve customer experience, and strengthen security. Under Jennifer’s leadership, PREMIER Bankcard’s Customer Service has received multiple prestigious Stevie® Awards, including Gold – Contact Center of the Year (Financial Services), Gold – Front Line Customer Service Team of the Year (Financial Services), Bronze – Customer Service Management Team of the Year.
Now serving as Senior Vice President of Card Services, Jennifer is a key leader driving PREMIER Bankcard’s strategic vision for the future focusing on modernization, innovation, profitability, and market expansion. She remains dedicated to driving efficiency, fostering high-performing teams, and delivering exceptional customer service. Through her leadership, PREMIER Bankcard continues to grow, evolve, and set new standards in the industry.
Lisa Gerner is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at PREMIER Bankcard. With over 40 years of experience in the Banking and Financial Services industry, she has been instrumental in driving the company's financial strategy and human resources initiatives. Ms. Gerner holds B.S. degrees in Finance and Accounting from California State University, East Bay, which have provided her with a strong foundation for her extensive career.
Background – Ms. Gerner is currently the EVP Chief Financial Officer and Head of Human Resources and Facilities. She joined PREMIER Bankcard in 2016 as its SVP Chief Financial Officer. Prior to her employment at PREMIER she worked as CFO Global Banking Group, American Express, CFO, Ally Bank, Vice President and Controller, CitiFinancial Mortgage Company, and various management and staff roles at Associates First Capital Corporation.
Responsibilities – As CFO and Head of Human Resources and Facilities, Ms. Gerner is responsible for the financial health of PREMIER Bankcard, including asset, liquidity, and equity management to ensure the self-funding of the credit card portfolio. She collaborates with the Bankcard President to drive strategic growth and profitability initiatives of the business. She is responsible for leading all aspects of human capital, including employee relations, recruitment, compensation, benefits, and wellness. She is also responsible for employee safety and facilities management.
Ms. Gerner’s leadership and expertise have been pivotal in ensuring the success and growth of PREMIER Bankcard.
Suzy Collignon-Hodgen is the Vice President of IT Central Services at Sanford Health, leading the Technology Solutions department. She oversees project and portfolio management, business relationship management, major business applications, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) activities.
A graduate of Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems, Suzy has extensive experience in technology leadership roles across the healthcare and insurance industries. Before joining Sanford Health in 2018, she held significant positions in these sectors.
Suzy is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Scrum Master, and in Organizational Change Management. She also contributes to her community and industry through various leadership roles, including serving as the former President of the DSU Board of Trustees Foundation and facilitating the DSU/Sanford Health strategic alliance.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Suzy is actively involved in several non-profits, including the United Way, The Boys and Girls Club, and The Abbot House.
Suzy and her husband, Max, a fellow Dakota State University alumnus, divide their time between Sioux Falls and Madison.
Lisa Romkema serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Sioux Empire United Way, where she provides strategic direction and leadership to advance the organization’s mission to lead, sustain and nurture a unified, effective response to community needs. Her leadership emphasizes building strong partnerships, ensuring financial transparency, and maximizing the impact of every dollar raised to support the most vulnerable populations in the region.
Born and raised on a farm near Springfield, South Dakota, Lisa developed a strong commitment to service and community collaboration at an early age. She earned a degree in Business/Marketing from Dakota State University, which laid the foundation for her successful career across both the business and nonprofit sectors.
Lisa’s nonprofit journey began in 2010 when she joined Sioux Empire United Way as Campaign Director. Over the years, she gained invaluable experience in fundraising, community outreach, and nonprofit leadership through various roles at Sanford Health, Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons, and Maximizing Excellence. In July 2024, she returned to Sioux Empire United Way as CEO.
Outside of her work at United Way, Lisa is dedicated to giving back to her community. She volunteers with Kid Central at Central Church and is an active member of 100+ Women Who Care in Sioux Falls.
When she’s not focused on her professional or volunteer roles, Lisa enjoys traveling, spending time at the lake with friends and family, and cheering on her 12-year-old son, Bennett. A 6th grader at Harrisburg North Middle School, Bennett is a math whiz and avid basketball player who motivates Lisa to stay curious and continue her own journey of growth and learning.