Nearly 100 Virginia bankers and industry partners joined us in Staunton for the 2023 VBA Leadership Conference on November 16-17. This annual event is designed for emerging banking leaders and members of the Virginia Bankers Association Emerging Bank Leaders (EBL) group, giving attendees the opportunity to share ideas and network with peers from across the state. 

A Special Thank You to the 2023 EBL Chair Amy Mellinger, Powell Valley National Bank!

Thank you to Amy Mellinger, Powell Valley National Bank, for serving as EBL chair over the last year and for presiding over this year’s event. You can learn more about Amy in her Virginia Banking Monthly Q&A here.

“The best word to describe this conference is EMPOWER. Each session made me feel empowered to be better. The theme was perfect and I enjoyed the self reflection it provided and the actionable items to move forward!”
-2023 Conference Attendee

Pictures From the Event

Session and Speaker Information

Economic Outlook
Kartik Athreya, EVP & Director of Research | Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Bank CEOs/Bank Executives Panel

• Litz Van Dyke, Carter Bank & Trust
• Todd Hall, First National Bank
• Jennifer Knighting, First Bank, Virginia
• Moderated by Amy Mellinger, Powell Valley National Bank

Understanding Your Why
Sam Poole, Senior Vice President/Chief Retail Officer | Chesapeake Bank

The 5 Buckets Principle: The Science of Work-Life Balance
Heather Dunning, Speaker | Anthem EAP

Compounding Influence: How to Sell Your Ideas, Grow Your Influence & Earn the Right to Be Heard By Decision-Makers
Alyson Van Hooser, President & CEO | Van Hooser Associates, Inc.

It’s Your Career: Grab the Wheel and Let’s Go Places!
Paul Carney, EVP, Chief HR Officer | Carter Bank & Trust

A Leader Worth Following
Chris Barras, Speaker | Second Story Partnership

Thank You to Our Sponsors!