Katie Mattis Sarver leads Bell Bank's efforts to assist neighborhoods, minority-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations in financially underserved areas in the newly created role of community development officer.
Mattis Sarver joined Bell in August after two and a half years as an executive team member and senior vice president for corporate partnerships with the Minnesota United Football Club and Allianz Field.
Mattis Sarver works with Bell's executive leadership, its outreach task forces and community leaders to develop relationships in local markets to help increase bankability for businesses and individuals and support minority homeownership. Neighborhoods damaged in protests following George Floyd's death and hard hit by COVID-19 are a focus.
"All of this that's happened in our world made me really think about what truly is important," Mattis Sarver said. "This opportunity with Bell presented itself and it seemed like the perfect fit."
Before joining Bell, Mattis Sarver got to know the bank as a customer and in representing Minnesota United in its partnership with Bell, which sponsors a stadium gate.
Mattis Sarver, a Hamline University graduate, was twice named Major League Soccer Executive of the Year for corporate partnerships, once with Minnesota United and earlier with the Real Salt Lake soccer club. She also has worked with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx in partnership and community relations roles.
"Katie's role is to lead our efforts in fostering new community relationships through listening, building trust and finding ways to take action together," Bell president and CEO Michael Solberg said in a news release.
Fargo-headquartered Bell, which is independently owned, has more than $8.2 billion in assets and operates in North Dakota, Minnesota and Arizona.
