MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is pleased to announce that Sheri Dick, Rachael Gadbois, and Lindsay Monacelli are the 2026 recipients of the Wisconsin Woman of Impact Award. The awards were presented at the 20th annual WBA Women in Banking Conference on April 27 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
“We are thrilled to honor Sheri, Rachael, and Lindsay with this award to celebrate their extraordinary contributions to their colleagues, banks, and communities,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “Each winner embodies the thoughtful leadership and character of what it means to be a woman of impact.”
Sheri Dick, chief operating officer, Forward Bank, Marshfield
Sheri Dick is a forward thinker who always envisions what’s next. She serves as the chair of Forward Bank’s AI Council and spearheaded formal AI governance at the bank. Dick drove measurable adoption of AI through pilot programs, dashboards, and ROI tracking. Beyond her AI initiatives, Dick helped launch the Lean Forward program whose mission is to develop and mentor emerging women leaders. The program is entering its third year and has successfully reached 20 promising employees.
Dick’s influence extends well beyond the walls of her branch. She has appeared as a speaker at the Graduate School of Banking AI Innovation Series as well as WBA conferences. She strengthens the broader banking industry by educating peers on digital processes and enhancing the customer experience.
Dick has served on the UW-Stevens Point School of Business & Economics Advisory Council since 2014, which helps prepare students for real-world careers after graduation. She has been a Marshfield Chamber Ambassador since 2013 and a Rotary Club member since 2009. Dick’s two decades of involvement reflect her selfless commitment to education, community service, and supporting the next generation of leaders.
Rachael Gadbois, co-president and CEO, The Pineries Bank, Stevens Point
Rachael Gadbois has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her nearly three-decade career at The Pineries Bank. She joined the bank in 1998 as one of the six original employees just one year after the bank opened. Over the years, Gadbois has served in virtually every operational role within the bank, including proof operator, teller, and loan officer. In 2005, the bank faced an unexpected vacancy in a loan officer position, and Gadbois stepped forward. To this day, she serves as one of the bank’s premier loan officers for both commercial and residential loans.
Gadbois has played an instrumental role in advancing the bank’s operational integrity. She organized IT-related projects and served as the primary contact for coordinating regulatory audits, reflecting her deep institutional knowledge. She remains actively engaged in industry advocacy and participates in events including WBA’s Capitol Day and the ICBA Capital Summit.
Gadbois regularly engages in community service. She currently serves as the vice chair of the Stevens Point Area YMCA and is leading a capital development campaign planned for this year. Her extensive history of service across nonprofit boards — including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Rotary Club of Portage County, Women’s Fund of Portage County, Portage County Business Council Foundation, and more — reflects a broader commitment to her community. Within her own organization, Gadbois empowers fellow women bankers toward success. She supports her employees to reach their full potential and consistently promotes a family-oriented workplace culture and flexibility, especially for working mothers.
Lindsay Monacelli, AVP-retail loan fulfillment, Peoples State Bank, Wausau
Lindsay Monacelli brings 19 years of experience to her role. Monacelli is known for her astute ability to observe a process once and recognize how to make it better. She has led the implementation of new business rules and improvements within her bank’s loan origination system, integrating about 600 Encompass LOS system enhancements and creating over 60 hours of training videos. She created new procedures, built document interfaces, and learned the core system first so she could train her team later.
Monacelli serves as a valuable mentor to women beyond her own branch. She teaches at the WBA Residential Lending School and serves as a trusted voice on the WBA Women in Banking Advisory Board. She has been honored with the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation’s Excellence in Financial Literacy awards and graduated from the WBA Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow (BOLT) Leadership Academy.
Monacellli is equally committed to her community. In 2025, she volunteered a total of 354 hours. Her service includes leadership roles with Holden Lutheran Church, where she has served as financial secretary, fellowship committee chair, historical committee chair, and audit director for the financial committee. She has also contributed as a 4-H Cloverbud and Exploring leader, youth baseball coach, and Junior Achievement financial literacy instructor. Additional involvement includes work on a mission trip, membership in the Waushara County Farm Bureau, service as treasurer for the Farm Bureau food stand, and participation in the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association. Her extensive volunteerism reflects a deep commitment to education and serving her community.
The WBA Woman of Impact Award was established in 2025 to celebrate WBA members who have made significant contributions and positive impacts in their organizations, communities, and the banking industry.
