In 1978, the Women’s Bank of Denver became one of the nation’s first banks founded by women and dedicated to serving their financial needs. Its creation is part of a long legacy of women shaping Colorado’s banking landscape — making their mark as founders, executives and board members in institutions of every size across the state.
Today, the women at the helm of Colorado banks continue that legacy, guiding their organizations, strengthening local communities and inspiring the next generation of bankers. In this issue, we are proud to highlight a group of exceptional female leaders who are driving the industry forward.
Gabby Hodgson
President, Bank of America Colorado
Greater Denver Market Executive and Managing Director, Merrill Wealth Management
Gabrielle “Gabby” Hodgson serves as president of Bank of America Colorado, where she connects clients, teammates and communities to the full capabilities of the Bank of America franchise. This work entails driving integration across eight lines of business and leading strategies to strengthen local relationships, expand market presence and deepen client engagement.
Gabby also serves as market executive for the Greater Denver market of Merrill Wealth Management, where she leads teams of financial advisors and professionals who deliver goals-based wealth management tailored to clients’ priorities, including retirement, education and legacy planning.
Before assuming her current role, Gabby served as associate market manager and later as market executive for the Western Pennsylvania market. She joined Bank of America in 2018 following an 18-year career as a sales executive with asset management firms, including Goldman Sachs and Vanguard.
Gabby is committed to community leadership. She recently served on the board of the American Heart Association of Denver and is currently on the Development Committee for the Food Bank of the Rockies.
Outside the office, Gabby enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, Chad, and their children, Otto and Tatum.
Aimee Love
Colorado Market President, First Interstate Bank
As president of First Interstate Bank’s Colorado market, Aimee Love brings nearly two decades of experience in banking, commercial real estate finance and strategic leadership. Known for her relationship-driven approach and ability to build high-performing teams, she has established herself as a respected voice in Colorado banking and a champion for clients and colleagues alike.
Aimee’s career spans leadership roles across regional financial institutions, where she has guided teams through both periods of rapid growth and challenging market cycles. Her work has included leading one of Colorado’s top-performing CRE banking teams, advising on complex debt and equity structures, and supporting developers, investors and communities with thoughtful, long-term financial solutions.
In her current role, Aimee focuses on empowering bankers across the state, ensuring they have the clarity, tools and confidence to deliver exceptional outcomes. She believes that when teams feel supported and clients feel understood, strong results naturally follow. Her leadership style is rooted in collaboration, transparency and a deep respect for the people behind every business and every deal.
Her commitment to community is evident in her work, supporting local development, engaging in affordable housing initiatives and volunteering alongside colleagues. She holds a personal passion for efforts that support children and youth, particularly in underserved communities.
Aimee continues to inspire by showing what’s possible when strong strategy meets authentic relationships. Her dedication has earned industry recognition, including being named a CREW Women of Influence Trailblazer nominee and a BisNow Denver Dealmaker of the Year honoree. She is helping shape the future of banking in Colorado while championing the next generation of women leaders in the industry.
Jennifer Luce
Executive Vice President, FirstBank, now part of PNC
Jennifer Luce serves as executive vice president at FirstBank, now part of PNC, where she leads the South Metro market and oversees the growth, profitability and operations of a $2.4 billion market with 10 branches and more than 120 employees. With more than 27 years of experience in banking and financial services — including 25 years with FirstBank, now part of PNC — Jennifer has built a career focused on relationship banking, commercial lending and leadership development. She manages a team of 20 officers and has played a key role in growing loans by more than $220 million annually while supporting continued deposit growth across the market.
In addition to her work at FirstBank, now part of PNC, Jennifer is deeply involved in industry and community leadership. She serves on the board of the Colorado Bankers Association and was appointed to the Colorado Secure Savings Program in 2023. She is also active with Commercial Real Estate Women Denver, where she currently serves as president, and the American Cancer Society (Metro Denver).
Jennifer is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School and earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She was recognized as an Outstanding Woman in Banking in 2024 and received the Banker of Distinction award from the Colorado Bankers Association in 2018.
Niki Stotler
President and CEO, High Country Bank
Niki Stotler is the president and chief executive officer of High Country Bank in Salida — one of the state’s longest-standing community banks, originally chartered in 1886. She is passionate about preserving the relationship-driven model of community banking while helping rural Colorado communities grow and thrive.
She believes strong leadership is rooted in humility, collaboration and empowering others to succeed. “Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room — it’s about lifting others up and creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders to thrive,” says Niki. Through her leadership, she is committed to strengthening Colorado communities and shaping the future of community banking.
Gretchen Wahl
Regional Vice President, Commercial Banking, FNBO
As regional vice president of commercial banking at FNBO, Gretchen provides strategic leadership across four community commercial banking teams. Her focus is on strengthening client relationships, driving sustainable growth and developing high-performing teams.
Her responsibilities include overseeing commercial banking teams, establishing market development strategies and ensuring exceptional service delivery that aligns with FNBO’s commitment to community banking excellence.
With a collaborative leadership approach, she guides her commercial banking professionals in delivering FNBO’s comprehensive suite of financial services, including credit facilities, treasury management and specialized industry solutions across its regional footprint.
Gretchen brings over 30 years of diverse banking experience to FNBO and her teams. She has a Bachelor of Science in management from Penn State University and has completed the Stonier Graduate School of Banking through the American Bankers Association.
Her dedication to her profession and clients has been documented through several honors, including recognition as a Top 50 Business Leader and a Woman Who Lights the Community. She is also a Leadership Boulder graduate and served on the Colorado Economic Development Commission. Currently, she serves as co-chair of the Boulder Chamber Economic Council, co-chair of Boulder Together and board member of the Colorado Bankers Association.
“Through strategic partnerships with our customers, we foster business success that strengthens our community. This collaborative approach creates shared value — benefiting our bank, empowering local businesses and enhancing the vitality of the communities we serve,” says Gretchen.
