PROFILE: Katrina Green

Working to make FEI Louisville more welcoming and diverse

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first in a series of profiles featuring FEI members, FEI sponsor partners and chapter leadership.

Would you give us a snapshot of your background? Hometown, any early influences, how you got to Louisville (if you moved here from another city or state), your current professional position and role? 

I grew up in Borden, Ind., which is a very small town. My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents all lived in Borden along with almost everyone else I knew. Both of my grandmothers were very strong women and encouraged me to go after what I wanted. My maternal grandmother worked outside of the home but somehow found the time to cook and sew, and to volunteer as the treasurer at her church. My paternal grandmother worked in the home and taught me some valuable life skills. One of which was to be very dependent and stand up for myself. She never learned to drive so she was very dependent on her husband. They were very different women but taught me so much!

I recently started a new chapter in my career. I am currently the Finance Director for Silver Creek Leather located in Jeffersonville. After experiencing breast cancer last year, I made the decision to put my mental health first and find a position that gave me balance in my life.

What motivated you to pursue a career in finance? Why did you decide to join FEI?

Upon graduating from high school, I decided to pursue a career in Fashion Merchandising. I worked for several years in retail but then decided to try something else. While pursuing a major in business at Indiana University Southeast, the accounting classes came easy for me due to my understanding of cash flow and inventory grained while working in retail. I had an accounting instructor take notice and encouraged me to major in accounting.

A female friend invited me to an FEI event and encouraged me to join. I was at a point in my career when I was making a change and needed to broaden my network. I realized it would be a great way to make those connections in the finance arena along with adding to my skills as I pursued a CFO role.

You recently became a part of chapter leadership to help make FEI a more diverse organization. Tell us about the importance of this effort and what you want to accomplish. 

I worked for a company where I was the first female promoted to a director position. I’ve been the minority in the board room several times in my career. It is very intimidating and overwhelming to be part of a team when you don’t look or think like everyone else in the room.

My goal is for FEI to be a support system for everyone. A place to make those connections and build relationships with those that don’t always look and think the same. 

Educating the next generation of business leaders (or how to get a cool volunteer gig with paid travel)

By BILL STOUT

Are you familiar with AACSB? If not, you should get to know them because there’s a potentially rewarding volunteer opportunity available that combines “doing good” and “travel.”

AACSB International (the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business) is the leading worldwide accreditor of business schools, with more than 1,000 in the US and internationally..

Around here, Bellarmine, EKU, KSU, Morehead, Murray, NKY, UK, UofL, WKU, and IU Southeast are all AACSB accredited.

AACSB’s goal is to connect educators, students and business to “create the next generation of great leaders” – providing opportunities while helping the schools continuously improve, inspiring innovation and quality and maintaining high standards.

AACSB recruits volunteers from accounting firms to join accreditation teams, and increasingly, from industry. It’s a cool gig.

While there’s no compensation, all trip expenses are covered, including travel to and from the school, accommodations during the visit, all meals, airport parking, etc., and sometimes, great hotels. 

The benefit to you is getting an inside view of how the next generation of business leaders are being developed. And through your advice, you can have an impact on the school’s programs, helping that school do their best. I assure you, it is a rewarding experience.