5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Join us at the Cutting Garden to mix and mingle with attendees and their guests during this exclusive CEO retreat.
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Welcome Dinner
After the reception, we invite attendees and their guests to join us for dinner at the Cutting Garden.
7:15 AM – 8:00 AM
Attendee & Guest Breakfast
Before our sessions and conversations, attendees and guests join us for breakfast at the Garden House North.
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Introductions
Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Laura Schield, President & COO, Bank Director
Michelle and Laura welcome all participants and coordinate introductions of all bankers involved in the Exchange. We review the schedule and tee up our time together.
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Refreshment Break
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
Peer Conversations – Governance
Jim McAlpin, Board Member, Bank Director
Jim moderates a group discussion based on board performance, board governance and process, covering topics such as:
Board Performance
- Board Engagement
- Board Composition
- Board Recruitment
- Board Evaluation
Board Governance and Process
- Board Committees and Membership
- Ensuring Independence from Board Members
- Board Agendas
- Board Meeting Cadence
- Role of the Board vs. Role of the Executive Team
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Refreshment Break
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Peer Conversations – Strategic Investments
Topics like these are discussed during this moderated conversation:
- Aligning Digital Strategy with Overall Strategy
- Adopting and Deploying New Technology
- Technology Budget
- Partnering and Investing Via Accelerators, Incubators, Fintech Consortium and Fintechs
- Promising Technologies at Your Bank
- Your Bank’s Culture of Innovation
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Networking Lunch
Attendees continue off-the-record conversations over lunch at the Cutting Garden.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Peer Conversations – Growth Strategies
This moderated discussion focuses on topics such as:
- Consumer-Driven Growth
- Non-Bank Competition
- Build vs. Buy Strategy
- Alignment of Digital Strategy with the Bank’s Overall Strategy
- Leveraging Digital Platforms to Expand the Bank’s Market
- Innovation Leader at Your Bank
- Digital Currency
- Use Cases for Artificial Intelligence
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Refreshment Break
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Peer Conversations – M&A and Capital Considerations
The following topics are discussed during this moderated conversation:
- Guiding Principles for Capital Allocation Decisions
- Target Hurdle Rate
- Durability of Return
- Sustainability of Return
- Efficiency Ratio vs. Net Overhead
- Accessing Capital
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Wrap-Up
Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Laura Schield, President & COO, Bank Director
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
On-Site Wine Tasting
We invite you and your guest to enjoy an on-site wine tasting in the beautiful Cutting Garden, where we will taste three wines from the Carneros AVA. Officially known as Los Carneros, this renowned cool-climate appellation spans the southern reaches of both Napa and Sonoma counties. Influenced by marine breezes and fog from nearby San Pablo Bay, Carneros is celebrated for producing world-class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines—often noted for their bright acidity, balance and elegance. Its rolling hills, clay-rich soils and signature winds create a distinctive terroir that makes Carneros one of the most compelling cool-climate wine regions in California.
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Networking Dinner
Attendees and their guests are invited to dinner at The Grange.
7:15 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Attendees and guests join us for breakfast at the Garden House North before we begin our second day of sessions and conversations.
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Idea Peer Exchange
We start the day with a chance for CEOs to talk amongst themselves about the challenges they are facing and any ideas they have, in a closed-door, off-the-record discussion. This time is a chance to be completely open with your peers and share anything on your mind.
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Refreshment Break
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
Peer Conversations – Succession Planning, Talent & Culture
This moderated discussion focuses on succession planning, talent acquisition, retention, development and compensation.
- Succession Planning for the CEO and Other C-suite Executives
- Filling Key Roles – from Inside and Outside
- Is the Talent You Have, The Talent You Need?
- Recruiting Talent
- Developing Talent
- Characteristics of Ideal Candidates
- Other Talent, Culture and Compensation Challenges
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Refreshment Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Peer Conversations – Risks
The group has a discussion around general risks, IT risks, reputational risks and regulation:
- Top Three Risks for Your Bank
- Tools Used to Manage Risk
- CTO vs. CISO
- Management of Enterprise Risk
- IT Risks – Cyber Risk, Cybersecurity, Ransomware
- Vendor Risk
- Reputational Risk
- Top Three Regulatory Compliance Challenges
12:00 PM
Boxed Lunch for Attendees and Guests
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Activities at Stanly Ranch
Choose one of the following options:
Winery Experience – Round Pond Private Group Tour & Reserve Tasting
Guests are invited to experience an unforgettable wine journey that blends world-class craftsmanship with the rich agricultural heritage of Napa Valley. Rooted in generations of farming tradition, this estate is celebrated for its exceptional wines and artisanal approach to hospitality. The elevated tasting begins with a guided tour of the winery, production facility and vineyards, offering an intimate glimpse into the winemaking process. The experience culminates in the culinary gardens, where guests savor breathtaking views of the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountain ranges. The Reserve Tasting showcases a curated selection of five wines sourced from the estate’s most expressive vineyard plots, capturing the true essence of Napa Valley’s finest terroir.
Spa Treatment of Choice – Massage or Facial
Flanked by a spectacular spa pool with the most mesmerizing views on the property, Halehouse Spa is dedicated to helping guests achieve personal wellness goals by unleashing their full, untapped potential. Within its serene hilltop embrace, leading wellness specialists, medical professionals, and sports experts from around the world tailor individualized programs that incorporate nourishment, hydration, sleep, movement, and targeted treatments to restore the body’s physiological markers and balance mind and spirit. Choose from a 60-minute Biologique Recherche Custom Facial or a 60-minute Swedish Massage.
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Networking Reception
After returning from the afternoon’s activities and having time to refresh, we gather attendees and guests at the Garden House South for heavy appetizers and cocktails.
