Program | Conference for Community Bankers

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast with Experts

8:00 AM – 10:15 AM

General Session

Make Culture Your Competitive Advantage

Today’s standout organizations know that culture – your employer brand and your company brand – can be the differentiator in the competition for top talent. Hear from the architect of LinkedIn’s dynamic culture and learn how they’ve gained competitive industry advantages. 

• Steve Cadigan, Talent Strategist and Culture Expert, Cadigan Talent Ventures, LinkedIn’s First Chief HR Officer

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

Coffee Break in The Hub

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Guest Breakfast

READY IS A LIE

Be inspired to push beyond the paralysis of perfectionism and embrace the power of taking action before feeling fully prepared. This session will equip you with practical strategies to overcome self-doubt, reframe fear as an opportunity for growth and take decisive steps toward your goals.  

• Arika Pierce Williams, CEO, Piercing Strategies  

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Education and Peer Exchange Sessions

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

Power Lunches (RSVP Required)

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM

Dessert in The Hub
Sponsored by Crowe

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Educational and Peer Exchange Sessions

Topic: Board Governance 
Leave Nothing Unspoken: Risk Appetite  

The worst risks are reactive rather than proactive and can lead to de-risking for fear of breaching unspoken guardrails. Learn about a clear risk appetite statement that gives management permission to operate within parameters – empowering boards and bank leadership to make decisions to balance risk versus avoid it. 

• Jeff Marsico, President, Kafafian Group  

Topic: Operations
Practice Proactive Resiliency

Maintaining operational continuity during natural disasters, severe weather, cyber incidents and IT disruptions is crucial to preserve the integrity of the nation’s payment system and to reinforce customer trust in the banking system. Having robust business resumption and contingency plans enable both the board and management to navigate emergencies effectively. Learn about proactive resilience planning that includes robust crisis management plans. 

• Tracy Hall, Senior Manager, Business Continuity, Crowe 

Topic: Profitability and Finance
Avoid the Common Pitfalls of Bank M&A 

In this session, our panel of experts will delve into the dynamic regulatory landscape shaping mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector. From compliance requirements to risk management frameworks, we'll explore the key considerations and emerging trends that are influencing the future of bank M&A transactions. Gain valuable insights into regulatory challenges, opportunities, and best practices to successfully navigate this complex terrain.

• Brendan Mulvey, Senior Managing Director, Regulatory Compliance, Mortgage, and Operations Solutions, Treliant   

Topic: Technology 
Unleash Artificial Intelligence: A New Era in Banking

Ignore AI and fall behind. Banks that weave AI into their offerings will perform better than those that don’t. If that trend continues, banks will grow customer trust and lifetime customer value. AI has the potential to unleash dramatic cost savings, improve lead generation, risk management and new product development. In this session, learn about the future of core banking vendors, open banking and more AI strategies.

• Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights and Advocacy, Engage fi 

Topic: CRE Lending
Understanding Debt Yield, NOI and CAP Rates as Tools for Commercial Lending

This session will focus on the importance of adjusting and reviewing underwriting changes. We’ll discuss why debt yield, net operating income and capitalization rate components are important to use as underwriting/risk factors.   

• Lacy Cross, SVP, Commercial Banker, Movement Bank  
• W. Andrew Holden, CCIM, Division President, Park National Bank 

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM

Educational and CEO Peer Exchange Sessions

Topic: Board Governance 
Address Current Banking Challenges: The Board’s Role 

Effective leaders need to challenge conventional ways of thinking and empower their teams to identify their role in achieving business objectives. It is crucial for leadership to be agile and diverse to navigate the financial services industry. Get an overview of emerging industry challenges and how diverse boards can address them effectively.

• Jennifer Docherty, Co-Founder, Board Chair, Bank On Women 
• Virginia Varela, Head of Community Banking for SoFi Bank, N.A, and Board Member, Bank On Women  

Topic: Human Capital 
Up-Skill Employees in the Age of Digital Transformation

While most banks have significantly invested in digital transformation for the benefit of customers, they are still struggling with how to best up-skill and re-skill their employees.  This panel will share how banks can implement digital solutions to increase the effectiveness of their employees, increase employee engagement and retention and drive performance.  

• James Bywater, Senior Vice President, North America, SeeEverything  

Topic: Profitability and Finance
Reimagine ALCO 

The Fed pivot has begun. What comes next? Will economic forces keep the Fed from cutting rates as aggressively as the market anticipates? Regardless of the outcome, we have reached a pivot point in balance sheet management which will have a lasting effect on deposit and loan pricing.

• Joe Kennerson, Managing Director, Darling Consulting Group
• Eric Poulin, Director, Darling Consulting Group 

Topic: CRE Lending
How to Lend and Meet Community Reinvestment Needs Successfully

Rates are dropping, and banks are looking to grow CRE portfolio and meet the need for community development loans. Learn where these opportunities exist and how to provide affordable housing solutions in your market.  

• Jose H. Cruz, Senior Vice President, Commercial Team Leader
• Beth Klein, EVP, FirstBank  

4:30 PM – 5:15 PM

Innovation Showcase

5:15 PM – 6:15 PM

Reception in The Hub

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Power Breakfasts

8:00 AM – 10:15 AM

General Session

CoreConnection

Your bank's strength and agility can come from its core relationship. At CoreConnection, hear from the Core Platforms Committee about strong technology strategies, tips, and techniques to help your bank thrive.

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Coffee Break in The Hub

10:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Guest Tour

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Educational and Peer Exchange Sessions

Topic: Profitability and Finance
Get Insights on Tax Reform

The expiration of the major portions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could be the catalyst for a major tax reform event in 2025. Join this session to hear about the potential implications for community banks and your customers.

• Joey Connor, Vice President, Tax Policy, American Bankers Association
• Justin Melvin, Vice President, Congressional Relations, American Bankers Association  

Topic: Human Capital
Navigate the Future: Leadership Insights for High-Performing Teams

In this session, get the knowledge, tools and strategies needed to foster resilience within your organization. Participants will explore the multifaceted nature of resilience in the context of community banking, examining how it affects leadership, team dynamics and overall institutional performance. 

• Arika Pierce Williams, CEO, Piercing Strategies  

Topic: Technology
Plan for Trustworthy and Secure GenAI Use

Along with the promises of Generative AI, there are concerns about the potential risks to organizations. If you plan to scale up your AI strategy and usage, learn how to manage risk, security and compliance. Get insights on how to incorporate AI into your organization’s risk management program in order to unlock its full potential. 

• Dave Kliemann, Cloud Risk and Controls Leader, IBM Cloud 

Topic: Operations 
Get Innovative: Get FedNow

Since its July 2023 launch, FedNow has unlocked a range of beneficial instant payment use cases. While some community banks are still contemplating their operational readiness for nonstop availability and deciding whether to send payments or only receive them, others have embraced instant payments with success. Hear how community banks have worked with their core and service providers for a smooth and secure adoption and implementation process. 

Topic: Board Governance
Posing a Credible Challenge Perspective: The Board's Role

A fundamental responsibility of directors, whether they're board newcomers or veterans, is to pose a credible challenge to management. Learn how directors are harnessing this discipline and carrying it with them through all facets of board service, from training to committees to the board room, and applying it to all topics that may arise, from concentrations to capital to innovation. 

• Debra Cope, Editor, ABA Director’s Briefing 
• George Hermann, Executive Chairman, Windsor Federal MHC
• Rafael DeLeon, Senior Vice President, Industry Engagement, nContracts

Topic: CRE Lending
Latest Trends from CRE Loan Reviews and Credit Management

Today’s management of CRE is continually expanding, so engaging in an in-depth loan review is critical. Learn about recent trends in this area, and how banks can make a difference.  

• Amy Wiles, EVP, Chief Credit and Risk Officer, NBT Bank  
• Ryan Swope, Principal, National Service Leader-Loan Review, Forvis Mazars  
• Moderator: Mike Bauer, SVP & SR Credit Officer, WesBanco   

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

Networking Lunch

Join us for lunch and connect with community banking colleagues from across the country. Learn about innovative new products and services that can take your bank to the next level.

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Break

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Spark!

Spark! is your chance to enjoy heartfelt stories from your peers that are fast, fun and focused. These five-minute presentations will surely ignite your inner leader and inspire you in your career.

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Educational Peer Exchange Sessions

Topic: Board Governance
Navigate Change in an Uncertain World 

New forces in the banking industry range from digitization to AI to the tsunami of regulatory requirements, and they all add up to a need for savvy change management. Learn how boards and management must expand their scope of inquiry, recognize vulnerabilities and opportunities and navigate change. 

• Debra Cope, Editor, ABA Directors’ Briefing 
• Rafael DeLeon, Senior Vice President, Industry Engagement, nContracts

Topic: Human Capital
Get Leadership Insights from CEOs and Emerging Leaders

Join an interactive panel discussion and open forum that addresses leadership challenges, issues and opportunities from both the CEO and emerging leader perspective. Participate in dialogue focused on leadership development, retention and succession planning. 

• Jennifer Jones, Chair, ABA Community Bankers Council 
• Noel Hansen, ABA Emerging Leaders Council Chair  

Topic: Operations 
Educate Customers and Communities about Fraud

Criminals are targeting people of all ages, and losses have risen exponentially across America. Combating fraud requires a multipronged strategy, and consumer education is a critical component. Join this session to hear from the ABA Foundation, the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust and the FINRA Foundation to learn about scam prevention efforts and how to tailor your bank’s messaging to ensure that your educational interventions can reduce susceptibility to fraud.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Closing General Session

5:15 PM – 6:00 PM

A Toast to Community Banking Reception