First National Bank of River Falls Elects Three New Members to Board of Directors
Chairman, President & CEO Jeff Johnson announced that First National Bank of River Falls has elected Melissa Herskowitz, Christian Wurm, and Olivia Barris to the bank’s Board of Directors. The three new directors continue the long-standing tradition of Smith family representation on the Board, reflecting the family’s enduring commitment to the bank and the River Falls community.
Melissa (Wurm) Herskowitz, daughter of Mike and Sandy (Smith) Wurm, was born and raised in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. Growing up, River Falls was her home away from home, where she spent countless hours with her grandparents, David and Donna Smith. She has many fond memories of the bank, including visiting her great-grandmother, who lived in the bank’s upstairs apartment, and attending River Falls Days each summer.
Melissa earned a degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Denver. Following graduation, she spent 16 years in San Diego, where she began her career in pharmaceutical sales and raised her two daughters, Makenzie and Madeline. She has been with Medisca for 19 years, serving in a variety of sales and leadership positions. After returning to Mahtomedi in 2019, Melissa became increasingly involved with the bank and the River Falls community. She recently accepted a new position as Director of Strategic Accounts with Leiter’s Health. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, downhill skiing, golfing, fostering dogs, coaching her daughters’ volleyball teams, and cheering them on in their many activities.
Christian Wurm, son of Mike and Sandy (Smith) Wurm, was also raised in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. After graduating from high school, he began his career in automotive electronics before joining San Diego-based startup FieldLogix, where he worked in field service, operations, and product development.
Christian later returned to school, earning a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California San Diego in 2016, followed by a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2022. He completed postdoctoral research in nitride semiconductor devices before co-founding MONDE Wireless in 2021, a company focused on commercializing advanced semiconductor technology for wireless communications. He currently serves as Senior Process Integration Engineer at MONDE Wireless. Christian has co-authored 32 peer-reviewed publications and conference papers and holds one patent. He and his wife, Aidee, reside in Santa Barbara, California, with their daughters, Fredell and Carlotta.
Olivia (Neir) Barris, daughter of Fran and Patti (Smith) Neir, was raised in Minneapolis but spent much of her childhood in River Falls with her grandparents, David and Donna Smith. Those visits helped foster a deep appreciation for both the community and the bank, and from an early age she dreamed of one day becoming more involved.
Olivia earned a degree in Television Studies with a minor in International Relations from Boston University before beginning a career in television development in Los Angeles. During the next decade, she worked as a development executive with CBS and later with an independent television studio. She and her husband, Cole, eventually relocated to Denver, where they have built their home over the past five years. Following the birth of their daughter, Lily, in January 2025, Olivia chose to devote her time to raising her family. She enjoys skiing, golfing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family and their golden retriever, Bodie.
“We are excited to welcome Melissa, Christian and Olivia to our Board of Directors,” said Johnson. “Each brings a unique combination of professional experience, fresh perspectives and a genuine commitment to the values that have guided our bank for more than 120 years. Just as importantly, they continue the proud tradition of Smith family leadership that has been instrumental in the bank’s success since 1904. I am confident they will help position First National Bank of River Falls for continued success for generations to come.”
