Congratulations on being selected as a Virginia Banking Fellow. The VBA Education Foundation is excited to partner with the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) for the second year of this program. We are looking forward to working with you over the coming months.

On this page, you will find all of the information you need to know during the program. 

Bank Sponsor Information

Thank you to the following Virginia banks for being sponsors of this year’s program. 

Virginia Banking Fellows Sponsored by the VBA Education Foundation	College
Sharon Deaton	Piedmont Virginia
Abilio Gamez	Germanna
Justine Lockhart	Mountain Empire
Barry Pitts	Laurel Ridge
Abigail Sindelar	Tidewater
Carlos Umanzor	Northern Virginia

Bank Sponsored Virginia Banking Fellows	Bank Sponsor	College
Clara Melendez	The Bank of Clarke Foundation	Laurel Ridge
Brooke Loughry	First Bank, Virginia	Laurel Ridge
Tyler Jones	Blue Ridge Bank	Blue Ridge
Teunshea Morris	Atlantic Union Bank	Reynolds
Karen Gomez	Chesapeake Bank	Reynolds
Shonnell Rassier	TowneBank	Tidewater
Roger Hubbard	American National Bank & Trust Co.	Danville

VFCCE Fellows Program General Information & Important Dates

The Virginia Banking Fellows Program is part of the overall VFCCE Fellows Program. Virginia Banking Fellows will have access to the following opportunities through the VFCCE Fellows Program*:

• Program Orientation – September 14-15, Omni Richmond Hotel
• Leadership Discussion, featuring VCCS Chancellor Dr. David Doré and VBA President & CEO Bruce Whitehurst – November 3 at 11:30 a.m.
• VCCS Student Leadership Conference – November 10-12, The Hotel Roanoke
• 1st Community Service Report Due – December 4, 2023
• Winter Program: Annual Legislative Event & Reception – January 23-24, 2024, Richmond
• Virtual Session – Spring 2024
• 2nd Community Service Report Due – April 22, 2024
• Spring Leadership Finale – May 2024, Richmond

*More details about these events will be available later this year. Specific programs are subject to change.

VBA Sponsored Events

Virginia Banking Fellows will also be invited to attend the following VBA events* from September 2023 to May 2024 as a way to learn more about the industry and the career opportunities in banking.

Attendance at all of these events is completely optional! Fellows will hear from the VBA and/or their bank sponsor during the year with more information about the opportunities below and more information on how to register to attend. 

Click on the events below to learn more! Specific event details will be added as they become available. 

• VBA State Legislative Meetings – Fall 2023
  • Richmond – 9/20
  • Danville – 9/25
  • Abingdon – 10/4
  • Harrisonburg – 10/5
  • Northern VA (McLean) – 10/13
• VBA Leadership Conference - November 16-17, 2023, Staunton
• Women in Banking Conference - November 30, 2023, Richmond
• VBA Connect/Protect Experience - March 11-13, 2024, Williamsburg
• VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program – March 2024
• VBA Internship Program - June-August 2024

*Event details are subject to change.

ABA Course Information

As part of the Virginia Banking Fellows Program, Fellows will have the opportunity to take online training through the American Bankers Association (ABA). There are a variety of self-paced course options for different function areas of banking as well as general industry training. 

2024 ABA Course Options

Fellows will select a course to take in the spring of 2024. More information will be sent to Fellows later this fall about registering for these courses. 

Additional Resources: Read, Listen, Watch

be sure to follow the vba on social media!

Resources: read

• As a part of the Virginia Banking Fellows Program, you will receive the bi-weekly VBA Executive Brief, Virginia Banking Monthly, and Virginia Banking Annual. 
• Check out the VBA Newsroom and In the News sections of our website to read about bankers making an impact across the Commonwealth.
• Consider signing up to receive the Virginia Business daily eNewsletter
• Virginia: Banks’ Economic Impact
• Business Etiquette Questions Answered
• The Email You Might Actually Read
• The Right Words - The Power of Keywords Goes Far Beyond Resumes in Driving Your Career Forward

Resources: listen

• 10 Banking Podcasts to Try
• Podcast: A Look at the Virginia Economy
• Podcast: The Girl Banker on Career Advancement and Life Lessons
• Podcast: Breaking Banks
• Podcast: Banking Transformed
• Podcast: Marketing Money

Resources: watch

• Find Your Career in Banking | American Bankers Association (six minute video)
• COVID-19: America’s Banks Respond | American Bankers Association (three minute video)
• The Pursuit of Happyness: the value of a first impression