November 4, 2024 (Buffalo, NY) – Impressia Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Deborah Pontzer, President of Grow Rural PA, to its Advisory Board. With a deep commitment to rural economic development and extensive experience in business leadership, Ms. Pontzer brings valuable expertise that aligns with Impressia Bank’s mission to support the financial growth and advancement of women in business, leadership roles, and nonprofit organizations.

“We are excited to welcome Deborah Pontzer to our Advisory Board,” said Mary Kate Loftus, President of Impressia Bank. “Her passion for rural development and economic empowerment, combined with her proven leadership, makes her an outstanding addition to our Board. Deborah’s insight will help us further our mission to provide women leaders and business owners the tools, services, and support they need to achieve financial success.”

Deborah Pontzer currently serves as the President of Grow Rural PA, an organization dedicated to fostering sustainable growth and opportunity in rural communities across Pennsylvania. Her extensive background includes working closely with businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders to advance economic initiatives that promote innovation and development in underserved regions. Ms. Pontzer also serves on the Board of Directors for Impressia Bank’s parent company, CNB Bank.

“I’m honored to join Impressia Bank’s Advisory Board,” said Deborah Pontzer. “Impressia’s commitment to empowering women aligns perfectly with my passion for creating opportunities and driving growth in communities. I look forward to contributing to the Bank’s mission of helping women achieve their financial goals.”

Impressia Bank’s Advisory Board provides strategic guidance to support the Bank’s continued expansion and its goal to serve clients across with relationship-centered financial solutions. With Deborah Pontzer’s appointment, the Board strengthens its collective expertise in business development, nonprofit leadership, and economic innovation, furthering its efforts to empower clients throughout every phase of their financial journeys.

Deborah Pontzer

President, Grow Rural PA

Deborah Pontzer is the President of Grow Rural PA, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to growing economies and improving lives in rural Pennsylvania.

Deborah began her career working as a forensic accountant for one of the big six accounting firms before moving on to management positions in higher education, first as the Executive Director of the Community Education Council of Elk and Cameron Counties and then as Director of Outreach and Business Services at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, serving on the President’s Cabinet. Through her leadership, she increased educational opportunities for traditional and non-traditional students and provided much-needed access to business services in an eight-county region in northwest/north central Pennsylvania.

Deborah recently retired after 16 years as a workforce and economic development specialist for U.S. Representatives John E. Peterson and Glenn “GT” Thompson. The 15th Congressional District is one of the largest and most rural Districts east of the Mississippi River and includes many energy communities. Deborah worked on rural economic and community development projects matching constituents’ needs to federal resources.

Since 2003, she has served as a director of CNB Bank/CCNE Fin Corp., where she has contributed to the Bank’s significant growth in assets over the years. Deborah began serving as a director when the bank had assets of $723M and served only Pennsylvania. She has served on various committees during her tenure including, Audit, Corporate Governance, and is currently the chair of the Asset and Liability committee.

Deborah is a happy transplant to Appalachia and takes pride in being an active member in her community from serving on economic development and healthcare boards to building and expanding regional rails-to-trails and supporting the PA Wilds work to grow outdoor recreation and visitation.

Deborah graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in Latin American Studies and then earned her MBA at Thunderbird School of Global Management, a division of Arizona State University. Deborah and her husband enjoy traveling, biking, hiking, and finding good restaurants. Deborah has lived in six states and has traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad but now believes that she lives in the most beautiful place of all.

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About Impressia Bank

Impressia Bank, a division of CNB Bank, was designed to uniquely meet the professional and financial needs of women, women-owned businesses, and non-profits. Impressia Bank offers financial solutions to clients by providing solutions for personal and business banking, wealth management, private banking, and treasury management. Impressia Bank is where women bank, providing opportunities and support for clients to learn, connect, and grow, ultimately to achieve their financial goals.