Leadership Conference
The conference designed by Emerging Leaders, for Emerging Leaders.
This conference is designed for emerging banking leaders and members of the Virginia Bankers Association Emerging Bank Leaders (EBL) group. This conference will give Emerging Bank Leaders the opportunity to share ideas and network with peers from across the state. You do not have to be an EBL member to attend.
If you are a bank professional looking to gain new skills and interested in growing and progressing within your banking career, this is the event for you. Every year, attendees hear from leadership speakers and learn ways to engage with the banking industry as they network with individuals from all across Virginia and Maryland.
Conference Agenda
Thursday, November 13
9:00 – 9:30 am - Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:30 – 9:45 am - Welcome and Announcements
2025 VBA Emerging Bank Leaders Chair, Jennifer Gegner, C&F Bank
9:45 – 10:15 am - Industry Update
Bruce Whitehurst, President & CEO, Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association and Virginia Bankers Association
10:15 – 10:30 am - Networking Break
10:30 – 11:30 am - Economic Outlook
Chris Low, Chief Economist, FHN Financial
11:30 am – 12:30 pm - Bank CEO/Bank Executives Panel
12:30 – 1:15 pm - Lunch
1:15 – 2:15 pm - Hot Topics Roundtable
2:15– 3:15 pm - Escaping Imposter Syndrome: Finding Freedom to Lead with Confidence
Ned Pauley, Founder and President, The Signify Group
Nearly every leader has experienced the fear of feeling not smart enough, capable enough, or deserving enough of their position of leadership. The good news is there’s a way to silence this inner critic, and it’s both easier and more important than you know. In this session, you will learn:
- The cause of imposter syndrome
- Why imposter syndrome is detrimental to your influence
- The three key steps to grow leadership confidence.
3:15 – 3:30 pm - Networking Break
3:30 – 5:00 pm - Courageous Communication Workshop
Melissa Laughon, Owner, Catch Your Limit Consulting
Constructive conflict takes courage and is essential to building relationships, high-performing teams, and strategies for success. Explore ways to foster improved interpersonal relationships, meaningful dialogue, increased engagement, deeper commitment, and growth as a leader. In this session:
- Reflect on your role in modeling and facilitating positive conflict
- Explore ways to ground yourself during tough conversations to maintain mutual respect, be open to other perspectives and communicate candidly
- Identify the early warning signs and avoid breakdowns in communication
- Hone your listening skills and leverage constructive feedback to guide you in your leadership journey
5:00 – 6:00 pm - NEW! Spark Presentations & Networking Reception
Friday, November 14
7:45 – 9:00 am - Breakfast
9:00 – 10:00 am - To Be Announced!
10:00 – 10:30 am - Advocacy 101
10:30 – 10:45 am - Networking Break
10:45 – 11:45 am - Embracing Fear & Failing Forward
Jacob Brown, Speaker, Coach & Author
In a world where success is glorified, the true essence of growth often lies hidden within our failures. Jacob unravels the lessons learned from his time in the NFL and the entrepreneurial world, showcasing how embracing setbacks can become our most potent catalyst for growth.
11:45 am - Closing Remarks & Adjourn
Registration Information
| Registration Options | Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| Through October 21, 2025 | $595 | $1,095 |
| October 22-November 11, 2025 | $625 | $1,125 |
| License (up to 10 people) | $5,000 | $5,500 |
EVENT POLICIES
By registering for this event, you are agreeing to the Event Policies.
Event 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 course.
Special Needs
Please share any specific needs that should be considered as we plan for the conference (i.e. hearing impaired, sight impaired, etc). Please contact Chandler Owdom with any details.
About Our Speakers
Jacob Brown, Speaker, Coach & Author
Jacob is a former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur, transformational keynote speaker, best-selling author, and business coach. He is also the co-founder of Varlo, a leading brand in cycling, triathlon, and athleisure fitness apparel. Jacob has faced plenty of challenges – academic setbacks, business hurdles, personal losses, and even homelessness. But with each stumble, he found strength. He learned that failure isn’t the end; it’s a stepping stone.
As a three-time TEDx speaker, Jacob was also named one of the ‘40 Under 40′ in 2015. His insights have been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and Good Morning America. Top brands and institutions like Intel, Meta, LinkedIn, Dallas Cowboys, UPS, Stellantis, University of Notre Dame, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, and Central Michigan University have been captivated by his talks. Jacob’s mission goes beyond motivation.
He promotes a transformative approach to life, advocating for a mental reset and a shift in perspective to discover one’s true calling. His #FailForward philosophy, shared on LinkedIn through motivational posts and in powerful videos, has inspired countless individuals worldwide to turn setbacks into strength.
Above all, Jacob is a devoted family man, loving husband, and proud father of four wonderful children.
Melissa Laughon, Owner, Catch Your Limit Consulting
For 25 years, Melissa Laughon, owner of Catch Your Limit, has been guiding leaders to courageously approach their vulnerabilities … it’s where the magic happens. It’s where strategy and people come together to build a different culture and leadership approach to their business – one that has soul, is inspiring and rewarding, and helps guide and grow leaders at all levels. Whether she’s speaking, guiding or facilitating, Melissa inspires authentic change in leaders.
Chris Low, Chief Economist, FHN Financial
Chris has more than 30 years’ experience tracking US and global economies, financial markets, central banks, and fiscal policy, as well as six years’ experience as a money manager, giving him a unique ability to distill economic events into information useful to investors.
Chris writes daily economic and market updates, weekly economic commentaries, and regular economic forecasts. He is a frequent and popular speaker at national conferences and forums. He is a member of SIFMA’s Economic Committee and the American Bankers Association’s Economic Advisory Committee to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where he has served as Chairman.
Chris has been quoted in Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many other publications around the world. He is a regular on Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and Fox Business Channel and on BBC World Service radio and American Public Media’s “Marketplace.” Chris has been recognized multiple times by Bloomberg as the most accurate forecaster of Treasury note yields.
Chris is a graduate of New York University.
Ned Pauley, Founder and President, The Signify Group
Ned Pauley has served the banking industry for over 20 years, most recently as an Executive Consultant and Director of Organization Development for a prominent customer acquisition firm. He’s presented to banks across the country on topics of leadership, sales, and employee engagement. As the founder and President of The Signify Group, his efforts now focus on assisting leaders and organizations create places where people thrive. He is the author of That Question Book, a resource for creating better relationships through conversational questions, available in 17 different editions. Ned and his wife Kelley reside in Nebraska along with their three married children and spouses.
Bruce Whitehurst, President & CEO, Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association and Virginia Bankers Association
Following a 10-year career in retail and commercial banking, Bruce joined the Virginia Bankers Association in 1993, its 100th anniversary year. He has served as president and chief executive officer of the association since 2007 and was previously executive vice president. Bruce also serves as president and chief executive officer of the Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association, which was formed in July 2024 to combine the Maryland Bankers Association’s and VBA’s organizations and operations.
While at the VBA, Bruce has worked with member banks in a variety of areas, to include government relations, education and training, financial literacy, and partnering with banks in a number of innovative ways to help them enter new lines of business. He also speaks about and on behalf of the industry on a regular basis.
As a banking industry advocate, Bruce is active at the national level. He served on the American Bankers Association’s Regulatory Reform Task Force during the 2008-2009 financial crisis and served as an ABA Board member and chairman of the Alliance of State Bankers Associations in 2012-2013. He has also served on several other committees and councils at the national level.
Committed to serving his community, Bruce is a director of and has chaired United Methodist Family Services in Richmond, VA and the Virginia Council on Economic Education. Bruce received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William & Mary, his MBA from the University of Richmond and is a graduate of the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management.
Hotel Information
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue
Roanoke, VA 24016
We have reserved a block of rooms at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center at the rate of $199/night, plus applicable taxes and fees. To take advantage of the negotiated rate, click here and secure your reservation by October 13.
Overnight Parking
Self-parking – $18.00
Valet parking - $28.00
Daily Parking
$6.00 – $12.00
Sponsorship Opportunities
Interested in sponsoring at this event? Click here to view those opportunities. To view our complete 2025 Sponsor Brochure, click here. Questions? Contact Amy Binns.