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16 Hartford Business Journal | April 11, 2022 | Women In Business Women In Business Awards 2022 Integrity, Vision, Passion & Teamwork. These are the qualities of our leaders at Torrington Savings Bank. Congratulations Jennifer Marchand, our Senior Vice President, Treasurer and CFO, for being named to the 2022 Hartford Business Journal's Top 25 Women In Business! (860) 496-2152 TorringtonSavings.Bank P rior to entering banking, Jennifer Marchand spent several years in both the assurance and tax areas at PwC. She is a Certified Public Accountant and earned her MBA in finance from the University of Hartford. Marchand joined Torrington Savings Bank (TSB) in 2010 and has worked in various capacities, most recently as vice president and controller. In her current role, she is responsible for TSB's finance and treasury functions, and also oversees the facilities, security and deposit operations of the bank. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? I stepped into the CFO role just weeks before news of COVID broke. Quickly interpreting and implementing major regulatory and accounting changes is an accomplishment I'm proud of. I'm grateful for the trust placed in me by our board and the other members of the executive team. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? My current focus is on further strengthening my teams to ensure we are all operating at peak efficiency and focused on execution of the bank's strategy. The banking landscape is constantly evolving, and it is critical that we are all aligned and prepared. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Maintaining momentum in my career while raising children was challenging. I had to be very deliberate about finding balance. It wasn't always perfect, but my children have seen that it is possible to set and reach career goals while still being present for family. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? The pandemic highlighted the importance of maintaining connections and being present for my teams. The way we all handled the challenges of COVID was unique and personal; recognizing and respecting that helped build stronger relationships and allowed us to work together more cohesively to meet the needs of our customers. What are your keys to maintaining business success? Three core principles come to mind: Acting with integrity at all times, empowering staff and communicating openly and directly. All three foster a culture of trust and help develop confident, engaged teams that can make valuable contributions to an organization. Jennifer Marchand Employer: Torrington Savings Bank Title: Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer K eisha S. Palmer advises a broad range of governmental agencies on the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable bonds and other debt. Her practice includes assisting public and private entities in understanding the complexities inherent in transactions involving tax- advantaged obligations. She has held numerous leadership positions of several professional associations and organizations. Palmer has been recognized for her dedication to mentoring lawyers and participating in pipeline programs to create pathways for increased diversity within the legal community. Palmer is Robinson+Cole's hiring committee chair, partner-in-charge of its Hartford office and a valued member of its diversity, equity and inclusion committee. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? Making partner in a large law firm is the ultimate goal for private practitioners — that has been my biggest professional accomplishment so far, augmented by the leadership roles I've taken on within my firm at what is still the relatively early part of my career. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? Outside of expanding my practice, continuing my work to find innovative ways to help women and attorneys of color find their definition of success in private practice is a goal for me. The lack of mentors and advocates who can help clear the path — all while they juggle families with busy practices — can be insurmountable obstacles. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? My biggest professional challenge is inextricably linked to my biggest accomplishment — making partner. The private practice of law is infamously unfriendly to women and people of color, figuring out how to solve the puzzle of success in a predominantly white male industry while remaining authentic was not an easy feat. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? My legacy should reflect that I opened the doors to the practice of law as a serious career consideration for people who look and sound like me — young people of color and immigrants to the United States — and also that I positively influenced the lives I've touched throughout my career. Keisha Palmer Employer: Robinson+Cole Title: Partner