Meredith Thomas’ career path is anything but traditional. With a degree in creative writing and early experience as a kindergarten aide, she never planned on a future in banking — let alone in construction equipment finance. Yet since joining 1st Source Bank in 2021, she has quickly become an essential contributor, known for her cross-functional expertise, leadership and relentless drive to improve how things work.
Thomas began her journey in the bank’s operations department, gaining hands-on experience with the systems and structures that underpin the business. That foundational knowledge became a launchpad. She transitioned into sales support and, by 2024, was promoted to a supervisory role. Today, as a Sales Support Supervisor, Thomas plays a central role in the success of her team and the broader organization.
Her work isn’t limited to supporting customers and loan officers. She’s also deeply embedded in the operations, credit, accounting and CRM teams, bridging gaps between departments and aligning efforts across the bank. “I never expected to work at a bank,” Thomas says. “But my desire to learn new things pulled me in. I’ve developed specialized skills that allow me to contribute to projects that benefit the entire bank.”
One of Thomas’s most notable strengths is her ability to translate past experience into current value. She points to her time as a kindergarten aide during the pandemic as a surprising yet powerful influence on her career. “I learned how to build engaging, flexible training methods,” she explains, “and how to communicate effectively with people in different locations. Those skills are just as important now that I’m working with colleagues across the country.”
Thomas takes the most pride in being promoted to management. “It meant a lot to me that both my manager and coworkers had confidence in my knowledge and leadership,” she says. That recognition validated the culture she has worked hard to build — a culture rooted in curiosity, self-sufficiency and continuous improvement.
Her professional mission is clear: leave things better than she found them. Whether she’s improving workflows or coaching her team to take initiative, Thomas aims to create lasting impact beyond her own role. “I try to foster a culture of proactivity,” she says. “I don’t want to be the only one pushing for innovation — I want to inspire that mindset in others too.”
That mindset has paid off. She has helped teammates pursue continuing education and supported their transitions into new roles, multiplying the value she brings to the company.
Tom Reilly, Construction Equipment Division President at 1st Source Bank, puts it simply: “Meredith is the Inside Sales Team leader; she and her team support our field reps and is a major factor in their success. Meredith’s experience in Operations is invaluable to our clients so that we can approve and fund loans efficiently and exceed their expectations. I consistently hear from our clients how much they enjoy working with Meredith and I echo the praise of our clients that Meredith is awesome to work with.”
In a field where process matters and people matter more, Thomas has found her place — and made it better.
“If you are just starting out in equipment finance, look around for your niche. Equipment finance is its own ecosystem, and there are a wide variety of roles requiring an even wider variety of skills. Push yourself to explore different jobs and find the area that suits your personality where your talents are valued.”
– Meredith Thomas
