CLEARFIELD – Leanne Kassab has been named “Woman of the Year” by the Clearfield Business & Professional Women’s Club.
Kassab is a graduate of Clearfield Area High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing.
In addition, she has received multiple banking diplomas from the Professional Development Network.
She graduated with honors from the American Bankers Association (ABA) School of Bank Marketing and Management at the University of Colorado, and she earned the Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP) designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers (CIB) in 2003.
She also graduated with honors from the PA Bankers Advanced School of Banking in 2011 and the PA Bankers Commercial Lending School in 2021.
Kassab joined the marketing team at CNB Bank in 1996, and was promoted to assistant marketing director in 2001, marketing officer in 2003, assistant vice president of marketing in 2008, vice president of marketing in 2012 and executive vice president of client experience in 2014, becoming the first woman to become a member of the executive team at CNB Bank.
In 2021, she was promoted to senior executive vice president/chief experience officer.
She has been active in her community, currently serving as president of the Clearfield Arts Studio Theatre (CAST) Board of Directors, where she had previously served as vice president and a member of the Finance Committee.
She also serves on the American Bankers Association (ABA) Bank Marketing Conference Advisory Board.
She served on the Greater Clearfield Chamber of Commerce board from 2011 through 2017, the Clearfield-Curwensville Country Club Entertainment Committee from 2017 through 2021 and coordinated “The Giving Tree” tag donations with CNB Bank team members from 2015 through 2022.
Over the years, she has volunteered at various community events, including the March of Dimes walks, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake, the 4-H Livestock Auction, CRC Beautification Day, the Salvation Army bell-ringing campaign and highway clean-up efforts.
A loyal friend to the animal community, Kassab is also a supporter of The Central Pennsylvania Humane Society and Orphans of the Storm. Last summer, she adopted Heidi, a dog whose owner had passed away.
Heidi was sight- and hearing-impaired and in declining health but has been thriving under the care of Kassab and her family.
The Woman of the Year Award was presented to Kassab during a banquet held in her honor on May 23, at the Copper Cork Event Center in Clearfield, which was attended by members of her family and friends, colleagues, representatives of local clubs and organizations and several past BPW Women of the Year recipients.
Clearfield BPW President, Angela Chew, provided the welcome and closing remarks.
The guest speaker for the evening was Kassab’s sister, Gail Carbol of Nicholasville, Ky., who shared many stories about Kassab’s life, her character, her involvement in the community and her many accomplishments, including not only her achievements on a professional level, but also on a personal level, as a survivor of triple-negative breast cancer.
The Rev. Shayne Lumadue of Curwensville provided the invocation and benediction, and the entertainment was provided by Liam Webster, Noah Webb, Jenna Bowman, Jeremiah Dobo and Theodoro Chitester on behalf of Clearfield Arts Studio Theatre, which performed songs being featured in CAST’s upcoming production of “Cabaret.”
Following the introduction of Kassab as the 2024 Woman of the Year by Kristin Duttry, BPW Woman of the Year chairperson, Kassab took the opportunity to address her guests.
She expressed her gratitude and shared stories about the generosity of her fellow employees at CNB Bank and gave examples of the various ways they support the local community.
She encouraged everyone to become involved by joining local clubs and organizations and volunteering at community events.
Kassab resides in Clearfield with her husband, Scott; her daughter, Paige Spingola; “bonus” daughter and son-in-law, Shannon and Joe Kelly; and grandson, Joe, also reside in Clearfield. She is the daughter of Connie Peoples of Clearfield and the late Barry Peoples.
The Clearfield Business & Professional Women’s Club has been awarding the Woman of the Year Award since 1944. In addition to organizing the annual Woman of the Year Banquet, Clearfield BPW also awards an annual scholarship to a graduating senior who attends Clearfield Area Junior-Senior High School.
Anyone interested in joining Clearfield BPW or attending a meeting as a guest, may send a message through the Facebook page under “Clearfield Bpw” or may contact any current BPW members. Meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at various locations in Clearfield.