Agenda

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast & Registration

8:00 AM – 8:05 AM
Day One Welcome
Michelle King, President, Bank Director
Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director
Bank Director welcomes all attendees to this year’s Bank C-Suite Summit in our hometown of Nashville, TN.

8:05 AM – 8:35 AM
The State of Our Industry
Kevin O’Keefe, Managing Director, Piper Sandler & Co.
In this session, hear the current state of the banking industry and the underlying factors driving change and creating opportunities for banks today.

8:35 AM – 9:05 AM
Harnessing Your Strategic Plan
Crafting and implementing an effective strategic plan for your bank involves thoughtful consideration, careful analysis and a deep understanding of your bank’s internal processes, market dynamics, and competitive landscape.  This session focuses on identifying and aligning your bank’s key objectives with its overall mission, vision and values.

9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Peer Exchanges: Session 1
A highlight of the Bank Director events, during the Summit banker participants are divided by similar titles, roles and responsibilities to candidly discuss and debate various topics and issues facing banks today. All peer exchanges are led by an industry advisor and are conducted in a closed-door, off-the-record setting.

Peer Exchange Topic 1: Technology Focused 

• Digital Strategy
• Talent: Building Your Team 
• Making the Right Investment
• Integration Challenges
• Risk Considerations
• Due Diligence Best Practices

Peer Exchange Topic 2: HRO Focused

• Talent
• Compensation
• Succession Planning
• Developing the Next Talent Pool
• Incentive Compensation – does it align with your strategic plan?
• Creating Your Growth Plan:  What’s Next?

Peer Exchange Topic 3:  Marketing Focused

• Data
• Products/Services
• CRM
• Niche Banking
• Branding
• Competition

Peer Exchange Topic 4: CFO/CRO Focused

• Balance Sheet Management
• Growth Initiatives & Strategy
• Growing Organically
• Competitive Threats
• Making the Right Investments
• Risk Management
• Technology Budget: Impact on the Bank
• IT Risks
• Regulation

10:40 AM – 11:10 AM
Managing the Risks and the Balance Sheet
Speaker to be Announced, IntraFi
Additional Speakers to be Announced
From interest rate risk to unrealized losses and risk oversight, uncover industry insights and expertise about innovative strategies for mitigating risk and managing the balance sheet in today’s dynamic banking environment. This session provides valuable perspectives from industry observers.

11:10 AM – 11:40 AM
Banking Trends & Challenges
Senior executives must understand the nuances of a dynamic banking industry by focusing on the latest trends and the challenges faced by financial institutions of all asset sizes.  This panel discussion explores the increasing adoption of digital banking solutions, the impact of technological advancements and the changing consumer expectations while addressing the challenges posed by cybersecurity, vendor management, regulatory compliance and the rising competition in the digital space.

11:50 AM – 12:30 PM
Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1:   Driving Growth While Strengthening Bank Performance
In today’s ever-changing financial landscape, bank executives play a crucial role in driving growth and improving profitability. This session examines essential strategies and best practices for optimizing financial performance, managing risk and navigating regulatory challenges.

Breakout 2: Succession Strategy Unpacked: Building Your Leadership Pipeline
Dr. Julie Bell, Director, Leadership Advisory, Chartwell Partners
This session gives you valuable strategies and insights into identifying and developing future leaders within your organization. Also, delve into best practices and practical approaches to succession planning, equipping you with the knowledge to ensure a seamless transition of talent within your bank. Whether you want to build a robust talent pipeline or enhance your current succession planning process, this session provides the tools and expertise to drive your organization’s success.

Breakout 3: Embracing Marketing for Strategic Bank Growth
Dan Marks, President, Infusion Marketing Group
Many banks view marketing as a necessary expense rather than a strategic investment. However, in today’s competitive financial landscape, effective marketing is essential for driving growth, building brand loyalty and attracting new customers. This session dispels the myths surrounding marketing and demonstrates its power as a strategic tool for banks. sustainable growth in today’s dynamic environment.

Breakout 4:  The Qualities of a Leader
Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director
What makes a good leader, and what qualities do you need to be a great one? This session focuses on the many characteristics of a leader and which qualities are non-negotiable. Learn what you can do to build on your own leadership qualities.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch

1:30 PM – 2:10 PM
Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1: Addressing Today’s Top Banking Risks
Speaker to be Announced, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
In this session, we examine the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, operational risk and compliance requirements facing the banking industry. Gain practical knowledge and actionable recommendations to safeguard your institution against emerging risks and ensure long-term resilience.

Breakout 2: Talent Development & Retention
Dara Klein, Managing Director, Kaplan Partners
Explore strategies for attracting top talent, fostering employee development and curating an environment that encourages long-term retention. This session highlights two bank human resources leaders who share their experiences navigating the complex dynamics around retention and talent management as keys to supporting your bank’s continued growth and success.

Breakout 3: Using Data Strategically
Speaker to be Announced, Quantalytix, Inc.
Attracting and retaining existing customers is difficult. How do you leverage customer data to enhance bank sales initiatives? During this session, we discuss ways to better use existing data to expand relationships and cross-sell services that bring the most value to the bank’s balance sheet.

Breakout 4: Leading Through Influence
Steve Mellor, Founder & Head Performance Partner, GrowthReady
Critical skills and strategies are needed to lead with integrity, including effective communication, building trust and inspiring others to action. Attendees gain practical insights into becoming more impactful and influential leaders to drive positive change within their teams and organizations.

2:20 PM – 2:50 PM
Strategies for Growth: Point/Counterpoint Debate
John Behringer, Partner, Risk Consulting, RSM US LLP
Kathleen Craig, Founder & CEO, Plinqit
Speaker to be Announced, Q2
A favorite of Bank Director conference attendees, this session pits industry experts against each other to debate the most controversial issues in strategic growth. You don’t want to miss this heated – and informative – session!

2:50 PM – 3:20 PM
Building The Best Team
Thomas Broughton, President & CEO, ServisFirst Bank
Jude Melville, Chairman & CEO, b1BANK
Jeff Sinnott, President & CEO, Vantage Bank
Moderated by:  Michelle King, President, Bank Director
How do you create a high-performing team that drives results and fosters a positive work environment?   In this session, hear from a panel of bankers who focus on strategies for understanding individual strengths, fostering effective communication, promoting collaboration and establishing trust within the team.

3:20 PM – 3:40 PM
Refreshment Break

3:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Peer Exchanges:  Session 2
Building on the first round of peer exchanges, banker participants return to their same peer groups and attend the second round of peer exchange sessions facilitated by industry leaders.

4:55 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Peer & Guest Reception
Sponsored by:  HC3

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:05 AM
Day Two Welcome
Michelle King, President, Bank Director
Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director
As we begin day two of the Summit, Michelle and Laura reveal key findings from this year’s Bank Director research and what is top of mind for most bank boards based on respondent feedback.

8:05 AM – 8:35 AM
Regulatory Update & Impact On The Bank
What are the latest regulatory updates and how do they impact our industry?  During this session, learn about recent regulatory changes and how they influence bank operations, risk management and overall performance.

8:45 AM – 9:25 AM
Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1:  Strategically Balancing Executive Compensation & Benefits
Mike Blanchard, CEO, Blanchard Consulting Group
Matt Brei, President, Blanchard Consulting Group
In this session, we explore the unique challenges HROs in financial institutions face regarding executive compensation and benefits, including executive salary structures, incentive programs, perks, and benefits packages. Gain insights into practical strategies that you can implement to align executive compensation with business goals and regulatory guidelines while ensuring competitiveness and fairness.

Breakout 2:  Developing The Best Brand
Learn the fundamentals of brand development, strategies for building a solid brand identity and the importance of maintaining brand consistency across various channels. Gain valuable insights into enhancing your bank’s brand reputation and establishing a strong market presence.

Breakout 3:  Artificial Intelligence’s Role In Your Bank’s Future
Speaker to be Announced, nCino
Discover how financial institutions can harness the power of artificial intelligence and cloud technologies to develop cutting-edge solutions, modernize customer experiences, improve decision-making processes and fuel business growth.

Breakout 4: Leadership in Crisis
This session explores the key elements of effective crisis management, including risk assessment, communication strategies, decision-making under pressure, and maintaining stakeholder trust.

9:25 AM – 9:40 AM
Refreshment Break

9:40 AM – 10:55 AM
Peer Exchanges:  Session 3
Banker participants return to their previous peer exchange groups for the third round of peer exchange sessions facilitated by industry leaders.

11:05 AM – 11:35 AM
Unraveling the Bank’s Technology Budget:  Understanding Its Impact
Given the digital strategies and amount of money spent by the largest financial institutions, community bank executives need to understand exactly how and where innovative technologies can help win and keep loyal customers, improve operational efficiency and enhance their overall cyber-security measures. By extension, decisions also include how much they might need to spend – and how to address the growing digital skills gap that might prove to be the achilles heel to any well-thought out plan.

11:35 AM – 12:05 PM
Lessons Learned:  From the Branch to the Boardroom
Additional Speakers to be Announced
Mike Sutton, SVP, Head of Retail Banking, Nicolet National Bank
Moderated by:  Naomi Snyder, Editor-in-Chief, Bank Director
Hear from a panel of bank leaders who discuss current banking trends, challenges and opportunities they have faced over their tenure.  They share valuable insights and practical strategies for navigating from the branch to the boardroom.  From innovative technologies to emerging business models, expect to gain valuable perspectives that can shape your bank’s approach for the future.

12:05 PM – 12:10 PM
Closing Remarks
Michelle King, President, Bank Director