Dana Chapel joined the banking world in 1989 as a part-time teller at New England Savings Bank. She worked hard and earned several promotions at the bank, which later became part of Citizens Bank, until she found herself in a back-office job in the training department, where she missed being able to work with and help customers.

Lynn K. Giroux came to Essex Savings Bank 15 years ago as manager of human resources and branch administration.

When Mary Reynolds first joined Rockville Bank, she was tasked with processing loans for a woman who was not only the top loan officer in the office, but one of the top loan officers in the country.

As an energetic force behind the revival of Waterbury’s Palace Theater, Sandra Senich considered it the perfect location for one of the most important occasions of her life: her wedding ceremony.

“When Filomena is determined to get something done, she gets it done,” said Bobbie Bartucca, who has firsthand experience trying – and – to resist the passion, commitment and energy of Filomena Soyster.

Deborah L. Stevens, vice president of special assets and special assets manager at Liberty Bank, says helping people get to the other side of a problem loan can be challenging, but also very rewarding.

It was a baptism by fire, recalls Shirley Theriault. As mortgage underwriting standards first loosened in order to attract business, and then tightening after the financial crisis, Theriault has used her sense of action-reaction dynamics to bring a sense of consistency to underwriting. Her four nominators for this year’s Women of FIRE Awards consistently recognize her acumen.

Deborah Bochain jumped into an advertising director’s position at Middletown’s Liberty Bank out of college after just nine months of management training.