Monique Berke
Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc. (“Cornerstone”), parent company of Cornerstone Community Bank, announced the appointment of Monique Prado Berke to its Board of Directors.
Ms. Berke has more than 24 years of experience in consulting and operations in the financial services industry. She currently serves as Vice President of Investment Operations for Unum’s Investment Management Group and is responsible for overseeing non-investment related business operations. Prior to this role, she was Vice President of Human Resources for Global Services at Unum, where she served on a six-member leadership team responsible for the company’s global technology services organization. Before rejoining Unum in 2010, Berke was Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of External Affairs for The Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies. In addition, she ran her own successful business, Berke Coaching & Consulting, for eight years where she served as an executive business coach and strategic planning consultant.
Ms. Berke moved to Chattanooga in 1997 from California via New Orleans. While living in California, she put herself through college and business school at Stanford University, worked for Wells Fargo Bank and headed the board of the largest battered women’s center in San Francisco.
A dedicated community volunteer, she has served on several nonprofit boards including the Lyndhurst Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, and is a past board chair of the Creative Discovery Museum and Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County. She currently serves on the boards of Downtown Chattanooga Rotary and the Slate Foundation. In 2002, she co-founded Aleph Bet Children’s Center, a three-star community preschool. Named a Chattanooga Woman of Distinction in 2008, she is married to Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. They have two daughters, Hannah and Orly.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Monique as a new Director,” said Cornerstone’s President and CEO Frank Hughes. “With her proven leadership abilities, determination and commitment to our community, she will undoubtedly be a tremendous asset to our Board.”