Great Banking with Community Care

Michael has been with First Federal since 2009. He enjoys volleyball, darts and boating.

Rick has been a bank CFO since 1990. His focus is on customer and community service. He has worked for a number of Community Focused Banks (both stock and mutual) in Ohio with various responsibilities in lending, IT, retail, and finance. His focus is on finding the right solution for the customer. Rick is a Certified Public Accountant and has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management both from the University of Akron. He holds board positions in charitable organizations in Northeast Ohio. His hobbies are housing rehabilitation, woodworking, and skiing.

Heather Houser brings over 20 years of leadership experience in operations, training, and project management to the First Federal Savings of Lorain team. With a strong foundation in business strategy and employee development, she plays a key role in helping the bank grow and evolve while staying true to its community-focused mission.

Throughout her career, Heather has led high-performing teams and overseen complex projects with a steady hand and a clear eye for improvement. She has a talent for identifying areas that need attention—whether it’s a process, a system, or a team—and guiding them toward lasting, measurable success. Her leadership style is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and a deep respect for the people she works with.

Heather holds an MBA, with a focus on Leadership, and a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, along with extensive experience in IT integration, change management, and employee training. She is especially skilled at building practical solutions that help teams work more effectively and organizations operate more smoothly.

As COO, Heather is focused on strengthening the bank’s internal operations, supporting its employees, and ensuring it remains a reliable and trusted financial partner for the community.

Katie has been in banking since 2010 and has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Economics from Cleveland State University. She enjoys golfing, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.

Heidi has been in the banking business for over 20 years. She enjoys reading, gardening and being out on the water.

Sharon started in banking many years ago as a part time teller and has held every position in the branches and in retail leadership. Sharon joined First Federal Savings of Lorain as the Retail leader in September 2018.  In her free time she enjoys spending with family and friends.

Matt started his banking career in 2005. During his tenure, Matt has worked in various banking areas including mortgage originations, operations, quality assurance, compliance, and risk. His experience includes officer roles overseeing Corporate and Operational Compliance, CRA, Fair and Responsible Banking, CMS, and Risk programs. Matt’s non-profit experience includes committee and board membership for financial education, financial wellness, literacy, and affordable housing non-profits. In his spare time, Matt enjoys golfing, music, and spending time with his family.

Rachael has been a Lorain resident for the majority of her life. She began working for First Federal in 1994. Rachael has worked in a number of different areas within the Bank. She was a loan originator for nine years, a credit underwriter for two and has held her current position since 2009. Rachael enjoys spending time with her children, boating and fishing, scuba diving, gardening and reading.

Lisa is a lifelong resident of Avon, Ohio and has been in mortgage banking for over 35 years, 25 of those proudly servicing First Federal of Lorain’s customers. Positions and experience include AVP of Originations, Secondary Market Manager, Sales Manager and Loan Originator. Over the years, Lisa has been involved in many industry related organizations including local building and realtor associations.

In her spare time Lisa enjoys riding and taking care of horses, skiing, reading and spending time with her husband, two children and their growing families.

Chris has been with First Federal for over 25 years and holds a Bachelors of Accounting degree from Indiana Wesleyan University.    While not working, she enjoys reading various types of literature and spending time with her daughters and her family.

For over 20 years, Melissa has been in the banking industry holding leadership roles in loan operations, marketing, retail banking and district management. In her current role at First Federal of Lorain, she oversees the Loan Servicing Operations.

Melissa earned her bachelor’s degree in business marketing at The Ohio State University. She has been involved in many community organizations as a volunteer, chairperson, or board member.

Melissa enjoys traveling, hiking, or relaxing on the beach with a good book.  However, her best times are spent with family and friends.

Becky has over 20 years of banking experience. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business from Kent State University and an Accounting and Business Administration – Management Associate of Applied Business. She enjoys spending time with family and close friends, pool, traveling and riding her bike.