Wells Fargo Middle Market Banking announced that it has named 30-year banking veteran Terri Bethel to lead its Southern Ohio teams as regional vice president.

Bethel oversees a team of experienced commercial lending professionals with offices in Dayton and Cincinnati, that delivers Wells Fargo’s localized lending approach to privately held, middle-market companies with revenues of $20 million and higher. The bank’s Middle Market Banking offices provide more than 80 Wholesale Banking services to clients in industries, such as agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, distribution, and technology.

Middle-market companies drive the economy in the Central U.S. and nationally, reporting average year-over-year revenue growth of 6.3 percent, according to the National Center for the Middle Market. Strong growth in the technology, wholesale, retail, and distribution industries — key industries for Southern Ohio middle market businesses — were among the top in revenue growth for 2016.

“Terri excels at guiding Middle Market Banking teams with integrity, diligence, and commitment to helping companies grow,” said Marybeth Howe, Great Lakes division manager for Wells Fargo Middle Market Banking. “With a decade of Wells Fargo experience, Terri understands the financial needs of our Southern Ohio clients and will help drive their continued business growth.”

Bethel launched Wells Fargo’s Dayton-area Middle Market Banking operations in 2007, leading the team to double-digit, year-over-year loan growth for the past 10 years. Her new role expands her responsibility to include all of Southern Ohio. Prior to banking, Bethel held sales and sales management roles in the consumer products industry. She holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.

Active in the community, Bethel serves on the Alzheimer’s Association-Miami Valley Chapter and CityWide Development Corporation boards. She chaired the 2017 Dayton Walk to End Alzheimer’s and co-chaired the American Cancer Society Greater Dayton Golf Classic. Bethel also serves as Great Lakes diversity ambassador for Wells Fargo’s Middle Market Banking Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Like Bethel, more than 1,000 Wells Fargo team members live, work, and support customers in Ohio, volunteering 6,800 hours and donating $188,000 in 2016 in communities statewide. Wells Fargo donated more than $480,000 to 130 Ohio nonprofits and schools that same year.