Influential Women spotlights Old Second National Bank executive Cathy Adams

Influential Women is highlighting Cathy Adams, SVP director of operations at Old Second National Bank, for more than 25 years of banking leadership focused on operations, change management and people-centered growth. The profile underscores how Adams connects strategy, technology and team development as financial institutions navigate complexity and transformation.

Why it matters: - Cathy Adams represents the kind of banking leader financial institutions need as they push for scale, efficiency and stronger risk controls. - Her profile spotlights how operational leadership now spans technology, compliance, change management and employee development, not just back-office execution. - Influential Women is using Adams’ career to highlight women leaders who can shape both business performance and workplace culture.

What happened: - Influential Women published a profile on Cathy Adams, SVP director of operations at Old Second National Bank. - The profile says Adams has more than 25 years of experience in financial services. - Adams leads enterprise operations with a focus on scale, efficiency and sustainable growth. - The profile says Adams began her banking career as a teller and moved into leadership within her first year. - Adams is also described as a woman leader encouraging others to build careers through curiosity, mentorship and self-advocacy. - More information is available through Cathy Adams’ Influential Women profile.

The details: - Adams’ experience spans branch banking, call center management, training and development, mortgage operations, mortgage collections, loan operations, deposit operations, treasury services, payments and operational transformation. - She has held leadership roles at Fifth Third Bank, MB Financial Bank, CIBC and Cole Taylor Bank. - The profile says those roles helped build expertise in operational leadership, team development, customer service and organizational effectiveness. - Adams works across Lending, Retail, Risk, Technology and Operations to turn strategy into execution. - She focuses on simplifying complexity, strengthening controls and building scalable operating models. - Her leadership approach emphasizes engaged teams, clear communication, empowerment and accountability. - Adams earned a degree in finance from DePaul University. - She also completed training and certifications in Lean Six Sigma, operational risk management, cybersecurity management, instructional design, adult learning, executive presence, diplomatic communication, growth mindset and effective feedback. - The profile says Adams specializes in operational excellence, Lean Six Sigma process improvement, change management and mergers and acquisitions integration. - She also emphasizes aligning people, processes and technology to drive lasting transformation. - Adams is active in community service and financial literacy education.

Between the lines: - The profile frames Adams as a leader who combines technical fluency with people management, which is increasingly valuable as banks modernize operations. - Her emphasis on consistency, curiosity and readiness to learn suggests a leadership model built for environments where change is constant. - The focus on mentorship and advocacy for younger women signals an effort to widen the pipeline of future banking leaders. - The article also positions operational resilience and employee engagement as complementary goals, not competing ones.

What's next: - Adams is expected to continue leading enterprise operations at Old Second National Bank as the bank navigates growth and transformation. - The profile suggests her future impact will likely come from scaling processes, strengthening controls and developing talent. - Influential Women will likely continue featuring leaders whose stories connect professional achievement with broader industry and community impact.

The bottom line: - Adams’ profile presents banking leadership as a blend of execution, adaptability and people-first management, with long-term growth depending on all three.