The Resource to Leaders of the Financial Industry

A recognized influencer in the financial services and fintech arenas, Al Dominick has an established reputation for getting difficult things done and helping industry leaders deliver smarter, faster, measurable outcomes on key strategic initiatives. As a partner at Cornerstone Advisors, Al calls on a wealth of industry research and fact-based insights to inspire bank boards of directors, executive teams, and stakeholders to embrace change, improve performance, and drive sustained growth.

Before joining Cornerstone, Al served as chief executive officer of DirectorCorps, which operates various lines of business, including Bank Director, host of the annual Acquire or Be Acquired conference, and FinXTech, a resource specializing in connecting U.S. bank leaders with innovative technology partners. He also hosted “Looking Ahead,” a digital series produced in conjunction with Nasdaq that focused on revealing major industry trends and strategy issues. Al graduated from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., and earned an MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business in College Park, Md.

You can follow Al on Twitter using @aldominick or get connected via LinkedIn.

Bill King founded DirectorCorps, Inc., the publisher of Bank Director magazine and served as chairman until 2014. He has served on the boards of both New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq companies and was chairman of Private Business, Inc. from its founding through its IPO. Until its acquisition by Yahoo, he was chairman of Rivals.com and chaired the 247Sports.com board from founding until it was acquired by CBSinteractive.

Bill serves on the boards of several private companies including DirectorCorps and Journal Communications, and he is active in many non-profit organizations. Bill is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University and holds a JD degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Michelle King is Chief Executive Officer of Bank Director and FinXTech. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the strategy and financial performance of the company. Michelle joined Bank Director in 2011. She is focused on leading the company’s business development and bank services efforts, this includes efforts to reach senior bank executives and board members along with corporate clients and prospective clients. In addition, she frequently meets with CEOs, chairs of the board, c-level executives and members of the board to provide services and support to these officers and directors. Michelle is a member of the Bank Director board and serves on the Executive Committee.

Michelle started her career in 1988 with a small community bank in Franklin, TN. A graduate of the Southeastern Consumer Banking School, Michelle spent much of her career working in the consumer banking division, holding roles in consumer lending and retail banking, and in the bank’s, Bank-at-Work department.

Jim McAlpin has over thirty five years of experience in advising leaders of financial institutions and boards of directors on strategic, regulatory and corporate governance matters. His  corporate governance expertise is based on decades of being in board rooms to assist clients with  mergers and acquisitions, capital and debt issuances, strategic planning and succession planning. Jim has deep understanding of  the duties, responsibilities and fiduciary obligations of  directors and an ability  to explain these duties in plain English. A passion for Jim at this stage of his career is helping good boards become great boards through a process of learning, engagement and intentional choices.

Jim currently serves on the board of Bank Director. He also serves on the boards of two mid-sized banks. He is a nationally recognized speaker at financial industry conferences and contributes regularly to publications on bank and corporate governance related topics. He is  often quoted in banking industry publications.

Jim served as Chairman of Powell Goldstein LLP from March 2004 until its combination with Bryan Cave LLP in January 2009. He subsequently served on the Executive Committee of Bryan Cave until October 2014.

Jim was the leader of the firm’s Banking Practice Group from 2011 until 2022. He received a J.D. from the University of Alabama in 1984, where he was an editor on the Alabama Law Review, and graduated, cum laude, from the University of Alabama in 1981 with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Laura Schield is the Chief Operating Officer & President of Bank Director and FinXTech, and has served in numerous roles with the company since her start in 2010. Her primary focus is overseeing the day-to-day operational functions of the company. She is responsible for leading the planning and production of conferences and events, handling all aspects of human resources and managing the teams responsible for data, circulation, accounting and finance. She also integrates and implements new projects as the company continues to grow. Laura is a member of Bank Director’s board of directors and serves on the Executive Committee.

Prior to Bank Director and FinXTech, she served as the project manager for Global Navigation, a consultancy focused on the needs and interests of members of the boards of companies with interests in the U.S. and China. She spent 10 years at AIG/American General running the company’s community relations before helping to launch GlobalNav.

Laura graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in both Marketing/Sales Management and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management.

Joan Susie is the Chairman of Bank Director. As one of the founding members of the company, Joan helped start Bank Director, FinXTech, Corporate Board Member (which was sold to the NYSE in 2010) and Global Navigation. Joan has long been involved in financial technology innovation. She serves on various boards and mentors fintech and longevity technology start-ups.