The Texas Bankers Foundation announces the 2026 Emerging Leader honorees

(AUSTIN) - The Texas Bankers Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association, is proud to announce the 12 recipients of the 2026 Emerging Leader Awards. Nominated by their bank's president, CEO or board chairman, these rising leaders were selected for their professional excellence, commitment to service and meaningful impact on the banking industry.

"We are proud to recognize this year's class of Emerging Leaders," said Chris Furlow, president & CEO of the Texas Bankers Association. "These honorees are already making a difference in their banks and communities, and they reflect the strength, character and promise of the next generation of Texas banking leadership."

Launched in 2019 by the Texas Bankers Foundation in partnership with TBA's Bank Leadership Council, the Emerging Leader Award celebrates bankers who exemplify the integrity, professionalism and dedication that define Texas community banking. To be honored, nominees must have between five and 20 years in banking, work for a TBA member institution and be nominated by their bank's president, CEO or chairman.

The recipients of the 2026 Emerging Leader Award include:

• Sarah Bacon, senior vice president, accounting officer, First Financial Bankshares, Inc., Abilene
• Steven Booker, director of human resources, marketing and senior vice president, Texas Bank, Henderson
• Will Carpenter, senior credit analyst, Grandview Bank, Burleson
• Jacob Cates, senior vice president, lending and branch manager, Community Bank & Trust, Waco
• Justus C. Corley, senior vice president, commercial and healthcare group manager, Woodforest National Bank, The Woodlands
• Thomas "Tommy" Gabriel, vice president, wealth management officer, WestStar Bank, El Paso
• Maria Hambright, vice president, deposit operations manager, North Dallas Bank & Trust Co., Dallas
• Brittany Hudnall, executive assistant to president/CEO, First Liberty Bank, Liberty
• Brad McGuire, senior marketing director, Commercial Bank of Texas, N.A., Nacogdoches
• Kelly Preston, senior vice president, HR director, FirstBank Southwest, Amarillo
• Julisa Trujillo, vice president, recruiter, Austin Bank
• Adam Wright, senior vice president, lending and branch manager, First United Bank

This year's honorees represent a broad cross-section of Texas banking, including lending, credit, operations, compliance, human resources, marketing, wealth management, community engagement and executive support. Their work reflects both the strength of today's community banks and the promise of the next generation of Texas banking leadership.

For further information about the Texas Bankers Foundation, visit https://www.texasbankers.com/Foundation and check out the May / June issue of Texas Banking Magazine, the official publication of the Texas Bankers Association, which includes a special feature on the 2026 winners.

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Founded in 1885, the Texas Bankers Association is the largest state-based banking association in the U.S. TBA advocates for roughly 400 member banks in Austin and Washington; trains more than 20,000 bankers annually; provides nationally recognized community bank services; and invests in Texas communities through financial literacy, scholarship and charitable activities.