THANK YOU TO OUR PORTAL SPONSOR – VCDC!

As the only Virginia-based tax credit equity fund, they have been creating high-performing equity funds for over 30 years that prioritize the diverse needs of their investor and development partners, as well as the communities in need of affordable housing and economic development opportunities. Through their efforts, they have facilitated and managed 59 equity funds, directing funding to the construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing and economic development real estate projects across Virginia and in surrounding states. VCDC is a VBA Endorsed Provider

VCDC Contact:
Bernard Rogers, Director of Equity Funds & Investor Relations
brogers@vacdc.org | (804) 297-3005
www.vacdc.org

Women in Banking Conference Location

Hermitage Country Club
1248 Hermitage Rd
Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103

2023 Women in Banking Conference Agenda 

All sessions are in the Virginia Room. Lunch will take place in the Founders Room and Jefferson Hall, and refreshments will be available in the Square Pre-function throughout the event.

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.       

Registration

8:30 – 8:40 a.m.       

Welcome and Announcements
Breakfast sponsored by VCDC

8:40 – 9:40 a.m.       

Talking 9 to 5: Strategies for Effective Communication 
Cathy Nestrick, American Bankers Association

While not all women communicate in the same way, we explore how people make assumptions about women’s confidence, competencies, and leadership styles when we talk and write in styles most often associated with women. Gender, socioeconomic upbringing, race, ethnicity, culture, and generation all impact how we communicate and understand each other from informal conversations to presentations. Participants will learn strategies to overcome incorrect and harmful assumptions that we make about each other so that we can “see” and “hear” each other in a more equitable way.

9:40 – 10:00 a.m.     

Networking Break/Headshots  
Break sponsored by VCDC                                       
Headshots sponsored by Select Bank

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.   

Why Women are Positioned to Thrive in a Rapidly Changing Banking Industry
Ally Akins & Emma Metzler, Capital Performance Group, LLC

Women have unique talents that make them especially capable of leading in this time of great disruption to established business models in banking. Women have long been underrepresented in traditional power structures (which still exist in many banks). But here is a surprising twist: those barriers to leadership positions have actually helped to shape how women lead. Women lead in different ways than men – ways that are now in high demand as companies struggle to adapt to changes in workforce profiles, customer demands, and the digital marketplace. Generally, women tend to lead in ways that are more collaborative and empathetic and tend toward group problem-solving versus individual problem-solving. These leadership characteristics (and others we will discuss) are well suited to the wave of challenges facing the industry today, including the need for greater transparency, more customer‐centric business models, and the rapid rise of millennials in the workforce.

11:00 – 11:20 a.m.    

Networking Break/Headshots
Break sponsored by VCDC

11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.   

Leading for Today and Tomorrow
Dr. Melissa J. Furman, Career Potential LLC

Banking leaders have been navigating uncertain times for over a year and many changes have occurred at an accelerated pace. As a result, leaders need to evaluate their leadership abilities to continue to successfully lead their organizations through this new era of uncertainty and constant flux. This engaging and interactive session will provide recommendations and strategies for navigating ongoing challenges such as recruiting talent, retaining talent, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and workforce development to name a few.

12:20 – 1:30 p.m.     

Lunch | Headshots 
Lunch sponsored by FHLBank Atlanta
Headshots sponsored by Select Bank

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.       

Dare to Care™: How Leaders Inspire & Influence with Emotional Intelligence 
Sylvia Baffour, Professional Speaker

Join Sylvia Baffour as she unveils her groundbreaking Dare to Care™ EI Framework which will empower you with practical tools for immediate impact. Transform your leadership approach, cultivate robust relationships, and achieve outstanding business outcomes. This is the opportunity to unlock your full potential and ignite unparalleled passion within yourself and your team. 

2:30 – 2:50 p.m.       

Networking Break | Headshots
Break sponsored by VCDC                                       
Headshots sponsored by Select Bank

2:50 – 3:50 p.m.       

Creating Work-Life Balance in an Unbalanced World 
Liz Fletcher Brown, Author & Speaker
Keynote Speaker sponsored by DCMI Mid-Atlantic

In times of uncertainty more is required of us than ever before to balance all our commitments both at work and at home. Liz takes a contrarian view of work-life balance as the very concept assumes that your work and your life are two separate entities and that you somehow must juggle them both to be happy. The true secret to fulfillment is work-life integration. When your work and your life are integrated, it’s easier to keep your balance, no matter how many challenges you have to face. It’s only when we live and lead in alignment with our sense of purpose, our strengths and our deepest values that we experience life at high levels of energy and enthusiasm, and live and work with Full Wattage! Creating a balanced life is not just knowing what changes are needed. More importantly it’s about how to effectively make the changes that are difficult.

3:50 – 4:00 p.m.       

Closing Remarks & Adjourn

Meet the 2023 Speakers

Ally Akins, Capital Performance Group, LLC

Ally Akins is a Consultant for Capital Performance Group, LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in Strategy, Marketing, Distribution Planning, and Risk Management for financial services companies and organizations with a stake in the financial services industry. Ally and the CPG team focus on designing and implementing strategies for growth and improved profitability for banks, thrifts, credit unions, specialized financial services companies, insurance and investment management businesses, payments companies, fintech companies, industry associations, and vendors to the financial services industry. In her time at CPG, Ally has worked on and led a variety of projects, including product redesign, process improvement, strategic planning, and marketing campaign design. She is one of CPG’s main consultants and project managers for the Marketing practice, assisting on projects relating to marketing strategy and planning, product redesign and performance marketing campaigns. Ally brings energy and an eye for innovation to projects at CPG. Always looking for optimizations in productivity and efficiency, Ally loves to help her team by staying organized, motivated, and ready for the next challenge. Ally graduated from the University of Maryland Smith School of Business with degrees in Marketing and Government and Politics. She can be reached at aakns@capitalperform.com or 202-337-7876. 

Sylvia Baffour, Professional Speaker

Sylvia Baffour is an Emotional Intelligence Coach, Professional Speaker and Trainer recently ranked by HubSpot among the Top 15 female motivational speakers alongside the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Mel Robbins. Sylvia has traveled far and wide. She’s visited more than 38 countries, lived in eight and speaks five languages. Her global experiences give her a unique perspective and ability to connect with diverse audiences around the world. In 2014, she ranked among the top 18 speakers at the World Championship of Public Speaking held in Malaysia, where she competed against 35,000 contestants from 126 countries.

For the past 19 years, Sylvia has leveraged tools and strategies from her Dare to Care™ Framework to help individuals and organizations build thriving work cultures with emotional intelligence. Clients who have benefitted from Sylvia’s expertise include Whirlpool Inc., Lockheed Martin, Capital One, Doctors Without Borders, the World Bank and the Department of Defense to name a few. She is the host of an emotional intelligence podcast show and is the author of I Dare You to Care. A book focused on using emotional intelligence skills to inspire, influence and achieve remarkable growth.

Liz Fletcher Brown, Author &  Speaker

Liz Fletcher Brown is passionate about supporting women leaders and emerging leaders to traverse the inner landscape from where they currently stand, to the place where their career or business momentum kicks in and takes flight. She blends hard science and soft skills to empower them to get out of their own way and ignite their brilliance. Through her speaking, consulting, coaching and writing, Liz brings audiences what they need in order to shine, particularly in the midst of the unpredictable environment of the business world today.

Her book “Full Wattage! A Practical Guide to Living an Engaging and Purposeful Life Worth Celebrating” has won numerous awards, including a Silver Medal in the International Readers’ Favorite Book Award, ​and was a finalist in the USA Best Book Award. She is the creator of The Work-Life Integration Model™ and The Undoing Formula​™ and has been featured in the award-winning Speaker magazine. In addition to being a coach and certified counselor, Liz is a past president of the National Speakers Association, DC Chapter. However, it was her first career as a professional dancer that taught Liz the elements of discipline necessary to be successful in life and in business. 

Dr. Melissa J. Furman, Career Potential, LLC  

Dr. Furman is not your typical “academic”. She served as the Assistant Dean and Professor at the Hull College of Business at Augusta University for 10+ years, but her passion for career, leadership, and organizational development inspired her to launch Career Potential, a consulting, training, and coaching organization. Her expertise includes generational diversity, unconscious bias, leadership success, and emotional intelligence. She brings her background in higher education—particularly business, counseling, and psychology—to the conversation to help individuals and organizations achieve success.

Emma Metzler, Capital Performance Group, LLC

Emma is a Consultant for Capital Performance Group, a consulting firm that specializes in Strategy, Marketing, Distribution Planning, and Risk Management for financial services companies and organizations with a stake in the financial services industry. Emma and the CPG team focus on designing and implementing strategies for growth and improved profitability for banks, thrifts, credit unions, specialized financial services companies, insurance and investment management businesses, payments companies, fintech companies, industry associations, and vendors to the financial services industry. During her time at CPG, Emma has worked on a variety of projects including: strategic planning, marketing compliance, risk management, process redesign, market expansion, branch network optimization, value proposition development, voice-of-the-customer research, product redesign, consumer- and business-oriented strategy, digital strategy, sales and marketing integration, and creating and designing monthly industry risk events reports. Emma has become one of CPG’s main consultants and project managers for projects related to distribution, market analytics, risk and compliance.

Emma is always ready to take on the next project at CPG, bringing an eye for analytics and problem solving along with her. She aims to work hard and help her team by staying organized, motivated, and efficient. Emma started with the firm in 2019 after graduating from the University of Maryland (UMD), where she received her B.S. in Finance with a focus in Global Consulting. She can be reached at emetzler@capitalperform.com or 443-966-1889.  

Cathy Nestrick, American Bankers Association

Cathy is the Vice President of Women’s Leadership and DEI at the American Bankers Association where she provides guidance, thought leadership, and resources for member banks. Cathy came to ABA after she transitioned from a legal career, first as a law partner in a Midwest firm where she represented banks and other businesses, and later as the Vice President and General Counsel of a global manufacturing company where she also founded the first Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hanover College, a law degree from Indiana University, and a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida. Cathy co-founded the Parity Podcast focused on the equitable advancement of women.

Wi-Fi Information

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available at Hermitage Country Club. To access the Wi-Fi, simply join the ‘hccguest’ Wi-Fi network. A password is not necessary.

Headshot Schedule, Sponsored by Select Bank

Thank you to Select Bank for sponsoring the headshots at this year’s conference.

 

Session Materials & Attendee Roster

Session materials will be posted as they become available from the speakers.

Download the current roster here.

2023 Session Materials

All materials are password protected. To access, please use the password 2023WIB.

• Talking 9 to 5 - Cathy Nestrick
• How Leaders Inspire & Influence with Emotional Intelligence - Sylvia Baffour
• Why Women are Positioned to Thrive in a Rapidly Changing Banking Industry - Ally Akins & Emma Metzler

VBA Event & Cancellation Policies 

VBA EVENT POLICIES

By registering for this event, you are agreeing to the VBA Event Policies.

CANCELLATION POLICY

All cancellations will be charged a $25.00 administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 72 business hours before the program will be charged a $75.00 administrative fee plus any additional fees associated with the training. Substitutions are allowed prior to the beginning of the conference.

SPECIAL NEEDS & AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES NOTICE

If you have special needs that may affect your participation in this event, please contact Kristen Reid to discuss accommodations.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Bankers Insurance
Zachery Kephart, CIC, CLCS, VP of Sales Strategy and Business Development
Email | (540) 904-7572
www.bankersinsurance.net

As one of the largest insurance agencies in the country, Bankers Insurance clients enjoy access to hundreds of insurance carriers with best-in-class pricing. Their commitment to excellence, professionalism, and personalized service has earned them a trusted reputation among clients and partners in the industry with one of their largest specialties being financial institutions. Contact them today to discuss complete insurance packages for your home, auto, business, and employee benefits needs.
VBA Endorsed Provider

 

Capital Performance Group
Mary Beth Sullivan, Managing Partner
Email | (202) 422-5262
https://capitalperform.com

Capital Performance Group, LLC (CPG) is a management consulting firm specializing in serving the financial services industry. CPG delivers strategy, marketing, delivery planning, and finance and risk management consulting services. CPG’s success is built on long-term client relationships, customized approaches and practical solutions that deliver tangible results. Their professionals bring deep experience, as both practitioners and consultants, to every engagement.

 

DCMI Mid-Atlantic Inc.
Val Riccardi, Principal
Email | (855) 383-3264
www.dcmima.com

DCMI Mid-Atlantic Inc. is a real estate due diligence consulting firm specializing in the comprehensive assessment of existing real estate and new construction. Their services include property condition surveys, environmental assessments, detailed cost analysis, progress monitoring inspections, construction management, and owner representation on commercial, multi-family, single-family residential, and land development projects.  DCMI is a WBENC and SWaM-certified Class A Contractor serving national lenders and community banks throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

 

DDI Technology, an IAA company
Tammy Webster, TRS Account Manager
Email | (803) 808-4918
www.dditechnology.com

DDI Technology is a leading electronic title and registration technology firm providing title administration and processing services for vehicle dealers and lenders. DDI Technology is a proud member of the IAA, Inc. family of companies and focuses on delivering superior products, professional service and hi-touch customer service for all areas of vehicle title management.
VBA Endorsed Provider

 

Dudley Resources
Chip Jones, Senior Advisor
Email | (804) 873-8593
https://www.dudleyresources.auction/

Dudley Resources provides Flexible Remarketing Solutions, empowering clients with the ability to put the focus back on banking. Their firm offers over 40 years of experience supporting Regional Banks and Institutional Sellers with asset management services and programs which enable their clients to achieve maximum values across an array of asset classes. Their services include A/R collection servicing and purchasing, Senior Accredited (ASA) approved appraisals, online and simulcast auctions for real estate, machinery & equipment, vehicles and all business assets, proprietary surge pricing platforms, trustee & repo services, foreclosure sales, note sales, and buyout options. Equipped with industry leading technology, knowledge, and experience to provide the best customer service in the business. Dudley Resources….a resource to banks offering dependable and reliable results for all your asset remarketing needs.

 

FHLBank Atlanta
Dan Brenton, Senior Relationship Manager
Email | (404) 858-6008
https://corp.fhlbatl.com/

FHLBank Atlanta is a cooperative bank that offers competitively priced financing, community development grants, and other banking services to help member financial institutions make affordable home mortgages and provide economic development credit to neighborhoods and communities.

 

VCDC
Bernard Rogers, Director of Equity Funds & Investor Relations
Email | (804) 297-3005
www.vacdc.org

As the only Virginia-based tax credit equity fund, they have been creating high-performing equity funds for over 30 years that prioritize the diverse needs of their investor and development partners, as well as the communities in need of affordable housing and economic development opportunities. Through their efforts, they have facilitated and managed 59 equity funds, directing funding to the construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing and economic development real estate projects across Virginia and in surrounding states. 
VBA Endorsed Provider

 

Virginia Housing
Frank Webster, Business Development Officer
Email | (804) 762-3078
virginiahousing.com

Since 1972 Virginia Housing has worked to provide quality, affordable housing to the citizens of Virginia. They offer mortgages, down payment and closing cost assistance and free homebuyer education to first time homebuyers. When it comes to helping you serve your community and meeting CRA requirements, they’re a banker’s best friend!

 

Virginia REALTORS®
Leslie Frazier, Senior Vice President of Community and Industry Relations
Email | (757) 418-2625
https://virginiarealtors.org/

Virginia REALTORS^® is the largest trade association in Virginia. They work on behalf of the real estate industry, allowing REALTORS^® to help Virginians buy, sell, and own property. Virginia REALTORS^® represents around 37,000 REALTORS^® engaged in residential and commercial real estate. They serve as an advocate for homeownership and represent the interests of property owners in Virginia. Their members go beyond licensure by joining their organization and pledging to a higher standard of education and service.