Program | Conference for Community Bankers

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Ask the Experts Breakfast

ABA has 200 in-house staff experts on call to help members with any challenge or question. During this session, you’ll have a chance to meet ABA’s experts to ask questions or offer feedback on topic areas including: ABA’s advocacy priorities, cannabis banking, ESG, the economy, DE&I, cybersecurity and fraud, payments, Bank On, political engagement and more. We’ll provide breakfast, and you can choose which discussions to join.

7:15 AM – 6:30 PM

Registration

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM

Coffee and Conversation

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

General Session

The View from the Fed: Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman

Gov. Bowman will deliver opening remarks and then sit down for a conversation with ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols on a range of issues important to community banks.

• Hon. Michelle Bowman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System
• Rob Nichols, President and CEO, American Bankers Association

Keynote: How to Hit the CHANGE Button

Learn the best-kept secrets for initiating, dealing with and leading through change—not only in the best possible way, but also in a way that will lead toward extraordinary engagement, motivation and performance. Transform the way you lead yourself and others toward their goals through rapid and oftentimes unexpected changes. Leave this motivational experience with the best, practical tools for professional and personal growth through challenge and change.

• Dr. Michelle Rozen, Exceptional Leadership Through CHANGE Expert

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Coffee Break in the Marketplace
Sponsored by MeridianLink 

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Educational Session

• Inflation Strikes Back: The Implications for CRE

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Peer Exchange Sessions

• Board Member Exchange
• CEO Exchange by Asset Size
• CFO Exchange
• Emerging Leaders Exchange
• Payments Exchange 

11:15 AM – 2:30 PM

Guest Program Tour: Chocolate Kingdom

The personal chocolate tour guide will take you on a journey beginning with uncovering the origins of the cacao tree, strolling through the sweet history in a one-of-a-kind-museum, stopping to enjoy the mystical river of chocolate and ending with visiting a made-on-premises chocolate factory. There is plenty of tasting along the way! Learn the art of writing with chocolate so you can decorate your own chocolate piece. Cost: $170/person.

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

General Session: Lunch and Learn

Community Banks and the P2P Payment Boom

• Al Ko, CEO, Early Warning Services
• Moderator: Rob Nichols, President and CEO, American Bankers Association

Fighting Fraud: Trends to Watch

• Paul Benda, SVP, Operational Risk and Cybersecurity, American Bankers Association
• Devon Marsh, APRP, Senior Director, ACH Network Administration, Nacha
• Peter Tapling, Managing Director, PTap Advisory, LLC

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM

Dessert in the Marketplace
Sponsored by Zelle

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Educational Sessions

• Faster Payments Are Here and Now: RTP and FedNow
• Fostering a Culture of Inclusion, Growth and Development
• Making Business Decisions: The Accountants' Perspective
• Outlook on the Economy: Cloudy or Sunny Skies Ahead?
• Reshape Your Innovation Strategy   

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Peer Exchange Sessions

• CRE Lending Exchange

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Educational Sessions

• Community Banks and Payments Innovation 
• From Open to Networked: Automating Your Bank’s Future
• Meet the Federal Regulators
• Tapping Into Alternative Sources for Talent 
• What's Trending for Debit, Credit and Digital Expectations
• Cybersecurity and Your Core System

4:00 PM – 4:45 PM

Innovation Showcase

This fast-paced networking session delivers hard-hitting insights from industry providers in just five minutes. Presenting companies are CFM, CorServ, KlariVis, nCino, Quilo, S&P and Summit Technology Group.

4:45 PM – 5:30 PM

Ancillary Receptions (Invitation Only)

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Reception in the Marketplace: Welcome to Seussville 

"It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how.”
Attend our Dr. Seuss gathering
You’ll be sure to say “WOW”!
See balloon art, take photos and so much more
Oh the bankers you'll know on the Marketplace floor.
Networking is great with providers and peers
You might even win some free souvenirs!
Enjoy this reception—a nod to the past.
Come for the fun, and make connections that last.

Sponsored by .BANK Registry, MHP Team, Pannos and ServisFirst

7:15 AM – 3:45 PM

Registration

7:30 AM – 8:15 AM

Power Breakfasts

Join us for breakfast 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. Breakfast will be served from 7:15 am to 7:45 am.

• Cooking up a Digital Transformation: The Recipe for Success
• Digitize to Optimize: Accelerate Revenue and Thrill Customers with End-to-End Solutions
• Innovative Ag Lending Tools for Community Banker

8:15 AM – 10:00 AM

CoreConnection

Many bank leaders mistakenly believe their existing core platform provider relationships prevent them from innovating to achieve profitable growth. The latest ABA Core Provider Survey points to success stories of bankers who profitably realigned their technology strategies to better serve their bank strategies. Hear the survey results and learn from bank leaders solving the “unsolvable” core platform challenges.

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Guest Breakfast

10:00 AM – 11:15 AM

Coffee Break in the Marketplace
Sponsored by Crowe

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Educational Sessions

• A Forward-Thinking Approach to Lending
• Examining the Fine Points of Insurance
• Insights on Core Providers and Innovation
• Management Methods and Best Practices for Mortgage Operations
• Payments Fraud: Prevention Tools and Tactics
• Structuring Your Balance Sheet

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

Power Lunches

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.

• Compensation Strategies to Retain Key Talent
• Get the Most from Your Data with System Integrations
• Is Your Disaster Recovery Plan Ransomware Ready?  
• Relationship Banking in a Digital Era 

1:15 PM – 2:15 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.

Sponsored by Q2.

• Steve Bartels, Senior Director, Solutions Consulting, Q2
• James Christensen, President and CEO, Gateway Commercial Bank
• Carlos Fernandez, President and CEO, Pacific National Bank
• Michelle Gross, President, State Bank of Bement
• Neil Stevens, President and CEO, Oconee State Bank
• Master of Ceremonies: Luanne Cundiff, President and CEO, First State Bank of St. Charles

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Educational Sessions

• Advancing Economic Inclusion
• Cybersecurity Planning and Lessons Learned 
• Payments with Commercial and Consumer Success 
• Preparing for Data Collection on 1071 Implementation 
• Rising Rates and Managing Your Bond Portfolio
• Making Fintech Partnerships Work

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Closing General Session

Keynote: Get Gutsy – Harness A Breakthrough Mindset 

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour is America’s first Black female combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. After her military service, FlyGirl revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant and author of Zero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. Learn how to get gutsy, and build a sustainable inner force that results in accomplishing significant goals. 

• Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour, America’s First Black Female Combat Pilot, Former Marine and Cop

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

MDI Partnership Summit Reception (Invitation Only)

5:15 PM – 6:15 PM

A Toast to Community Banking

As the 2023 Conference for Community Bankers comes to a close, take this final opportunity to have those vital in-person conversations with your peers, and the vendors that caught your eye. Lock in your lifelong network, so you can rely on your connections year-round, year after year.

February 15
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The inaugural MDI Partnership Summit is designed to bring midsize and regional banks together with MDIs to better serve communities of color and low- to moderate-income communities across the country. Learn more.

MONDAY

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Inflation Strikes Back: The Implications for CRE
CRE is not immune to inflation, as increased expense growth is affecting NOI, and Fed actions to combat inflation are increasing interest rates. Increasing interest rates and slowing or negative NOI growth will have an effect on CRE valuations and the coming wave of loan maturities, as inflation strikes back. 

• Brian Bailey, CRE Supervisory, Regulation and Credit Division, Federal Reserve Board of Atlanta

Monday

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Meet the Federal Regulators 
Join the federal regulators to explore the top issues facing banks today, and into 2023. Learn how to approach your next regulatory exams for asset quality and discover the issues that face banks in their exams.

• Carmen D. Holly, Lead Financial Institution Policy Analyst, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation 
• Pete Martino, Senior Examination Specialist, Division of Risk Management Supervision, FDIC
• Beth Nalyvayko, Bank Examiner, Commercial Credit Risk, Bank Supervision Policy, OCC 

TUESDAY

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

A Forward-Thinking Approach to Lending
The economic climate, alternative loan types and changing trends in office space and retail utilization have had a significant impact on the CRE industry. Learn innovative approaches to CRE lending that adapt to these dynamic trends.

• Lacy Cross, SVP, Commercial Banker, Movement Bank
• W. Andrew Holden, CCIM, Division President, Park National Bank
• Moderator: Kraig Sutherland, SVP, Chief Lending Officer, 1st State Bancshares

Tuesday

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Preparing for Data Collection on 1071 Implementation 
Join our expert panelists for a discussion on how to begin preparing to address data collection and fair lending implications on loans to small businesses, as we wait for the CFPB to adopt regulations and publish a final rule on 1071. Early preparation will be key as we discuss ways to guide your financial institution as it relates to 1071 data collection.

• Anurag Agarwal, President, RiskExec 
• Patti Joyner, CRCM, President & Founder, Financial Solutions
• Kitty Ryan, SVP & Senior. Counsel, Fair and Responsible Banking, Regulatory Compliance & Policy, American Bankers Association

Sunday

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Developing the Next Generation of Leaders 

Identifying, training and investing in the next generation of leaders are key measures in ensuring the future prosperity of your bank, while providing retention, engagement, mentoring and growth opportunities for high-potential employees. Hear insights from the one of the program leads on Chick-fil-A®’s  Leadership Development Program, an integral component of the company’s success. Grooming leaders at every level is at the root of the restaurant’s ability to deliver a consistently high-quality customer experience. 

• Andre’ Kennebrew, Director, Lifeshape; Former Senior Principal Program Lead, Leadership Development Program, Field Operations, Chick-fil-A

Engage Your Employees 

In addition to compensation and benefits, employees want a sense that their work has purpose and contributes to the bank’s overall mission and bottom line. Hear from bankers who’ve fostered a culture of engagement, while improving operations. 

• Harold M. Horvat, President, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Centreville Bank
• Neil Stevens, President and CEO, Oconee State Bank
• Moderator: J. Timothy “Tim” O’Rourke, CCP, Managing Director, Pearl Meyer 

Monday

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Fostering a Culture of Inclusion, Growth and Development 

An inclusive workplace culture benefits both employers and employees by promoting productivity, collaboration and innovation, and engagement, retention and professional development, respectively. In this type of culture all employees are accepted, valued and treated with respect, while having the opportunity to contribute and grow. Hear purposeful, concrete ways to foster an inclusive workplace culture that leads to increased efficiency and new ideas to help your business thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

• Andre’ Kennebrew, Director, Lifeshape; Former Senior Principal Program Lead, Leadership Development Program, Field Operations, Chick-fil-A 

Monday

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tapping Into Alternative Sources for Talent 

Where are you looking for the new talent you hope to hire at your bank? Join us to learn about workforce development programs that can help you hire mothers and other caregivers, former military personnel and other non-traditional employees. These programs are scalable for banks of all sizes, and they support employees who are onboarding after time away from the workforce or a career in another industry, or following a successful career in the military.

• Markeia Johnson, Assistant VP and Primis Works Manager, Primis Bank 
• Sheryl McDevitt, VP, Talent Management, Mascoma Bank
• Catherine Nestrick, Senior Director, Women’s Leadership Initiative and DEI, American Bankers Association
• Laura Newstead, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank

Monday

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Faster Payments Are Here and Now: RTP and FedNow 

Faster payments in the form of The Clearing House Real Time Payments® network has been in place for years. The FedNow platform will go live in mid-2023. Banks need to provide an option for customers to receive faster payments, or else they will move to a bank where they can. Your bank needs a strategy and plan to generate revenue through originating faster payments. Hear the strong business case for adopting the FedNow Service and The Clearing House’s RTP^® network. 

• Keith Gray, VP Strategic Partnerships, The Clearinghouse
• Connie Theien, Senior Vice President, Payments Industry Relations, Federal Reserve System 
• Moderator: Stephen Kenneally, SVP, Payments, American Bankers Association  

Monday

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Community Banks and Payments Innovation 

How are innovative community banks setting payments strategy and approaching payments differently from other banks? Three bankers will share their strategies to reduce friction points for customers by taking a page from fintech’s playbook. Learn how a new payments strategy can help your bank meet both its own financial needs and create better customer experiences. 

• Christopher Richards, First EVP/Chief Banking Services, The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank
• Donald J. Seeterlin (DJ), Chief Innovation Strategy Officer, Chesapeake Bank 
• Julieann Thurlow, ABA Chair-Elect; President and CEO, Reading Cooperative Bank
• Moderator: Stephen Kenneally, SVP, Payments, American Bankers Association

What's Trending for Debit, Credit and Digital Expectations 
Learn more about the debit and credit card payment trends and influences that are in-market and on the horizon. Discuss digital and physical card payment developments including digital wallet innovation, cardless transactions, P2P developments and Buy Now Pay Later programs. Learn how to engage with cardholders to generate revenue growth, stronger and more profitable consumer connections and operational savings.

• Jorge E. Esteban, Vice President, Southeast Region, Community Financial Institutions, Visa
• Erin Pruss, Vice President, Credit, North America, Mastercard
• Steve Sievert, Vice President, Marketing, Discover Debit
• Moderator: David Keenan, Senior Vice President, Card Products, Fiserv

Tuesday

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Payments Fraud: Prevention Tools and Tactics

Every security step to reduce payments risk and combat crime triggers innovation by criminals. Hear expert insights into the newest tools and methods for detecting payments and check fraud. Discuss strategies and tactics to reduce risk and mitigate fraud across the various payment types. 

• Paul Benda, SVP, Operational Risk and Cybersecurity, American Bankers Association 
• Devon Marsh, APRP, Senior Director, ACH Network Administration, Nacha
• Peter Tapling, Managing Director, PTap Advisory, LLC 

Tuesday

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Payments with Commercial and Consumer Success

How do blockchain, payments hubs, network optimization and other capabilities enable bankers to compete in a quickly evolving payments ecosystem? This session will delve into the consumer and commercial payments landscape with a focus on fintech, real-time payments, regulation and blockchain. Attendees will gain insight into the tools and opportunities that can help banks adapt to this ever-changing environment while minimizing regulatory impacts on growth.  

• Tony DeSanctis, Senior Director, Cornerstone Advisors
• John Venzon, Managing Director, Cornerstone Advisors 

Monday

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Outlook on the Economy: Cloudy or Sunny Skies Ahead? 

As the world crawls out of the pandemic, it is facing serious economic headwinds—higher inflation and rising interest rates, a major correction in stock prices and threat of recession. Are we headed for a hard crash or soft landing? Will the Fed be able to tame inflation? How will geopolitical issues affect the economy? Hear prospective 2023 forecasts and reflections on key economic indicators from leading economists both within and outside of the banking industry. 

• Simona Mocuta, Chief Economist, State Street
• Erik Lundh, Principal Economist, The Conference Board
• Moderator: Sayee Srinivasan, Chief Economist, American Bankers Association 

Tuesday

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Management Methods and Best Practices for Mortgage Operations 

This session will provide you with a top ten list of strategic initiatives that all bank mortgage divisions should be implementing in 2023. These specific and actionable suggestions will help you and your team focus on what will increase revenues, control costs and better manage risk, not only in 2023—but for every year thereafter. 

• Michael D. McAuley, Principal, Garrett McCauley 
• Patrick Ervin, EVP, Independent Bank

Tuesday

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Structuring Your Balance Sheet

After a period of unprecedented liquidity, the tide has quickly shifted. Banks are forced to do an about face as liquidity runs off and management has to deal with an inverted yield curve. This session will feature strategies to respond to these exceptional circumstances.  

• Robert Biggs, DW Managing Director, Fixed Income Strategies Group
• Jim Edwards, Chief Executive Officer, United Bank
• Sal Inserra, Financial Services Audit Partner, Crowe
• Matthew A. Switzer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Primis 

Tuesday

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Advancing Economic Inclusion 

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play an essential role in mobilizing investments in low- to moderate-income communities. Learn from community development executives about the opportunities to support, uplift and partner with CDFIs to spur greater economic investment and resources to financially underserved communities. Hear about the topics affecting the CDFI industry, the benefits and opportunities of partnership, and learn real examples of how partnerships can enhance your community mobilization and financial inclusion efforts.

• Andy Anderson, President and CEO, Bank of Anguilla
• Marilyn Drayton, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy and Community Impact, Wells Fargo 
• Jeanine Jacokes, Chief Executive and Policy Advisor, Community Development Bankers Association 
• Moderator: Lindsay Torrico, Senior Vice President, ABA Foundation

Monday

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Reshape Your Innovation Strategy

Join your banking colleagues at this panel to hear strategic insights from core providers, and engage in conversations that could reshape your bank’s innovation strategies. Hear from COCC, NYMBUS, TCS and Thought Machine as they discuss community banking, strategy, innovation, third-party integration, contracts and more.

• Jeffery Kendall, Chairman & CEO, NYMBUS
• Richard A. Leone, CEO and Chairman, COCC
• Gareth Richardson, COO, Thought Machine
• Venkateshwaran Srinivasan, Senior VP, TCS and Global Head of TCS Financial Solutions
• Moderator: Donald J. Seeterlin (DJ), Chief Innovation Strategy Officer, Chesapeake Bank

Monday

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Cybersecurity and Your Core System

Learn about the latest in cybersecurity risk, prevention and mitigation best practices. Hear from the experts what to expect from your core provider moving forward.

• Greg Barnett, Deputy CISO, Global Security Services (GSS), FIS Global
• Yonesy Núñez, CISO, Jack Henry
• Rick Van Luvender, Sr Vice President, Head of Cyber Security Client Trust & International Cyber Security Services, Fiserv 
• Moderator: Kimberly Kirk, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Queensborough National Bank & Trust
• Moderator: Jaime Manriquez, CIO, CISO, EVP, Santa Cruz County Bank

Tuesday

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Insights on Core Providers and Innovation

The 2022 ABA Core Provider Survey was conducted to better understand the banker-core provider relationship, and how it can yield success and innovation. Join your colleagues for a detailed exploration of the survey data, and what it means for your bank-and the banking industry moving forward. How can you position your bank to remain competitive and optimize your use of technology?

• Trey Maust, Exec Chairman & Co-Founder, Lewis & Clark Bank
• Julieann Thurlow, ABA Chair-Elect; President and CEO, Reading Cooperative Bank
• Moderator: Russell Davis, Executive Vice President, Member Experience, American Bankers Association

Tuesday

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Cybersecurity Planning and Lessons Learned

With banks facing more cybersecurity threats than ever, strategic prevention and mitigation planning is crucial. Hear from a community bank faced with a real-life cybersecurity event and how its plan was put to the test. Learn valuable lessons and recommendations that will strengthen your own plans.

• Jaye Eubanks, SVP - Senior Operations & Technology Manager, United Bank
• Kimberly Kirk, EVP and Chief Operating Officer Queensborough National Bank & Trust

Tuesday

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Making Fintech Partnerships Work

There are a vast number of new technologies, venture investments, emerging startups and partnerships between entities in the banking industry. In this session, hear from a bank and a fintech on how their successful partnership led to an eventual acquisition, and what they’ve learned about partnering and best practices for effective bank-fintech collaborations.

• Zvika Badalov, VP of Engineering, Peer IQ
• Matthew Gallman, Capital Markets Director – CRE, Cross River
• Moderator: Ryan Jackson, Vice President, Innovation Strategy, American Bankers Association