March’s AML Professional of the Month  was awarded to Elizabeth (Liz) Owen, CAMS. Owen is the vice president Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) officer at Avidia Bank, a community bank located in Hudson, Massachusetts. Her responsibilities include overseeing a group of analysts and high-risk specialists as well as a quality assurance team to meet BSA compliance requirements.

During her career, Owen has led the development of internal programs for high-risk business lines, including money services businesses, payments services businesses and other high-risk business activities. She has also held anti-money laundering (AML) positions at various financial institutions, including Santander Bank, N.A., HarborOne Bank and State Street Corporation prior to joining Avidia Bank in 2016.

Owen has a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University and earned her Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) certification in 2014. She is also a co-founder of the New England Financial Crimes Networking Group—a group comprised of individuals in financial services, law enforcement and consulting looking to share information on financial crimes, money laundering and BSA-related topics.

Do you have a mentor who has actively influenced your AML career path in a positive way? Does someone in your network exemplify excellence in AML? Recognize their commitment: Nominate them for ACAMS AML Professional of the Month.