Kristen L. DiSanto

Kristen L. DiSanto’s approach to her professional life was set after she got her first job out of college as a personnel assistant at the former Old Stone Bank.
She worked with a woman named Leah J. Szlatenyi.
“She did not simply delegate work to me; she always took the time to teach me the background details and concepts, pointed me toward additional resources, explained why we were taking specific action, solicited my feedback and worked together to achieve goals,” DiSanto recalls. “Investing the time to learn the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ behind various situations helps you to truly learn from them, and enables you to apply what you’ve learned to other situations aiding in professional growth.”
And what success she’s had.
Seventeen years after that first job, DiSanto is now senior vice president of human resources at Westerly-based Washington Trust Co. – Rhode Island’s largest independent bank.
As such, she makes all the human resources-related decisions for the 504-employee financial institution – hiring, firing, salary amounts, bonus payouts, benefit programs and employment policies. Ultimately, she’s responsible for the company’s $42 million annual salary and benefit budget.
DiSanto worked her way up from the inside. After a year at Old Stone Bank and another year at General Cable Corp. as a human resources assistant, she joined Washington Trust as a benefit specialist in 1994. Over the years, she was promoted to assistant vice president and then vice president, before being appointed senior vice president in April.
A University of Rhode Island graduate with a degree in speech communications, DiSanto says Szlatenyi remains the most influential person in her career.
“I believe I am a better employee and a better manager for having worked with her,” says DiSanto. &#8226