Joan Netzel.

• Position: SunTrust Bank VP - Brief Article

A fine arts major. A black belt in Karate. Managing a human resources project? Joan Netzel's training and career path seem an atypical combination for a financial executive. She holds a degree in fine arts, to which she added a business management major and certified public accountant designation, and more recently she's added human resources experiences. Joan says she learned early on that -- although she had interest in the fine arts -- the best way to earn a living was through a practical discipline. Her diverse experiences seem well-suited for integrating her many roles.

Name: Joan Netzel

Title: Vice President, Audit Project Manager

Company/Industry: SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, Ga., the ninth largest U.S. bank, serving markets primarily in the Southeast and Washington, D.C.

Born: Wausau, Wis., Aug. 13, 1951

Spouse: John Gronwall

Children: Through marriage: Heidi, 25; Jeff, 18

Education Summary: Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Wisconsin 1973; Bachelor of Business Administration, management with accounting emphasis, University of New Mexico, 1980; Certified Public Accountant

Career History: 1980-82, Public accounting, auditor, Fox and Co. in Albuquerque, N.M.; 1983-92, controller, then CFO, New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (NMMFA), Albuquerque, N.M., a quasi-governmental organization that issues mortgage revenue bonds for low and moderate income housing. "I was involved in all aspects of issuing and managing public market debt instruments for over $1.3 billion over nine years. I then moved to Atlanta -- along with other outplaced CFOs due to industry consolidations -- and became (in 1994-98) controller of Scitrek, a science museum, and got involved with managing human resources for the organization. Then I took the position three years ago as internal auditor with SunTrust Bank, Atlanta."

FEI Chapter: Atlanta; Charter member of New Mexico Chapter; Chairperson for FEI's Committee on Benefits and Finance (CBF) 2001-2002; FEI Executive Committee member and National Leadership Board

Leisure Pursuits: "Some of my activities include golf (which I've played for about 20 years); alpine skiing (that I combine with annual family visits to Colorado); running (down these days to just a few miles a month); travel (mostly U.S., but now, with my new partner, we plan to visit Italy and more of Europe); and...