The Lending & Credit Conference provides the perfect balance of educational and networking opportunities through a combination of general sessions and peer group discussions.  With a variety of sessions that address the most pressing issues facing lending and credit professionals, this educational event will help you navigate today’s economic and regulatory environment and prepare you for opportunities that lay ahead.

Agenda

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

6:00 p.m.  Welcome Reception (Colony Foyer)
Sponsored by College Ave 

*Dinner is on your own – Enjoy the evening!

Thursday, october 23, 2025

8:00 a.m.  Registration | Continental Breakfast
Registration Sponsored by College Ave
Breakfast (Colony Room E) Sponsored by FHLBank Atlanta 

8:30 – 8:45 a.m.  Welcome | Announcements | Sponsor Introductions (Colony Room ABCD)

8:45– 9:35 a.m.  Commercial Real Estate Update Mark Franceski | Zelman | A Walker & Dunlop Company (Colony Room ABCD)

This session will cover US and Mid-Atlantic (DC, Baltimore, Richmond, Hampton Roads) commercial real estate trends, including housing and multifamily. The session will go beyond headline news and dig into topics using public and proprietary data to provide insights for the current situation and future outlook for our region and the US. Topics include  macroeconomy, housing markets, capital markets, investment trends, demographics, and forecasts. 

9:35-10:35 a.m.  Community Banks Have Tailwinds, But Face Disruption from Competition, Consolidation Zain Tariq | S&P Global Market Intelligence (Colony Room ABCD)

Community banks are balancing a shifting funding landscape, resilient credit trends, and rising competition from credit unions. Deposit growth remains uneven, increased regulatory scrutiny kept a lid on commercial lending for several years, and credit unions are gaining ground in select markets. Yet, earnings momentum, benign credit quality, and a friendlier M&A backdrop keep the outlook constructive.

10:35– 10:55 a.m.  Networking Break (Colony Room E)

10:55 – 11:55 a.m.  Business Owner Panel (Colony Room ABCD)

• Richard Gdovic | Verizon
• Vernon Geddy | Old City BBQ
• Kathy Gray | Creative Critters Learning Center                                     

11:55 a.m. – 12:55 p.m.  Lunch (Allegheny Room)
Sponsored by Spotts Fain 

12:55 – 1:40 p.m.  Exhibitor Solutions Showcase (Colony Room ABCD)

1:40 – 1:45 p.m.  Stretch Break

1:45 – 2:40 p.m.  AI, Trust, and the Future of Scalable Lending Georgina Merhom | SOLO (Colony Room ABCD)

Community banks are under pressure to grow lending without growing headcount at the same pace. AI is often sold as “automation magic,” but the real opportunity is much more fundamental: AI makes financial processes explainable.

Explainability is the missing link in today’s lending ecosystem. It turns data entry, underwriting, and compliance into processes that can be trusted, shared, and reused across institutions. In this talk, SOLO CEO Georgina Merhom will show how AI can help banks:

• Trust the data their staff and customers provide
• Trust the decisioning processes they and their peers run
• Trust the contributions of non-bank partners, without compromising risk standards

The result: a lending model that can scale beyond the four walls of a single institution, letting community banks compete with scale players while staying rooted in relationship banking.

2:40 – 3:00 p.m.  Networking Break (Colony Room E)

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.  Industry Update Matt Bruning  | Virginia Bankers Association (Colony Room ABCD)

3:30 – 3:45 p.m.  Networking Break (Colony Room E)

3:45 – 5:00 p.m.  Roundtable Session (Colony Room ABCD)

Please note, this session is for bankers only.

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.  Cocktail Reception (Colony Room E)

Dinner is on your own – Enjoy your evening!

Friday, October 24, 2025

8:00 a.m.  Continental Breakfast (Colony Room E)

8:30 – 8:35 a.m.  Announcements (Colony Room ABCD)

8:35 – 9:25 a.m.  Economic Update Ryan Price | Virginia REALTORS® (Colony Room ABCD)

9:25 – 10:25 a.m.  Navigating Niche Lending – A Panel Discussion (Colony Room ABCD)

Panelists:

• Matthew Senter | Agri-Access
• Steve Farbstein | PACE Equity
• Stacy Litke | Green Check 

10:25 – 10:40 a.m.  Networking Break (Colony Room E)

10:40 – 10:50 a.m.  Sponsor Drawings (Colony Room ABCD)

10:50 – 11:50 a.m.  Closing Keynote – Executive Presence Ace Callwood | Envoy (Colony Room ABCD)
Sponsored by Tranzon Key 

Pressures on leaders are growing as they navigate their organizations through new terrain toward unpredictable futures. The importance of executives and rising leaders to be grounded, healthy, and rested to make critical decisions becomes evermore important. In this session, we provide the guide. 

Working through the six core fatigues – physical, emotional, social, mental, inactivity, purpose – we define how they arise and strategies for addressing them. From time management, delegation, ring-fencing interactions to simple (and non-preachy) tips on diet, movement, and sleep. We share manuals for designing executive lives that provide for delivery of world-class work, sustainably and teach the tools to negotiate that life design being a reality. Not a perfect life, but an optimal life with full, realistic, awareness of the tradeoffs to get there. 

Meet the Speakers & Panelists

Matt Bruning joined the Virginia Bankers Association in December 2010 and currently serves as Executive Vice President for Government & Member Relations. In that role, he represents the Virginia banking industry at the Virginia state and federal levels, oversees the VBA BankPAC and coordinates grassroots advocacy. He also coordinates VBA’s member relations efforts, including bank outreach and engagement as well as the endorsed provider program.

Prior to joining the VBA, Matt served as Legislative Liaison in the Policy Office of Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell. He also worked as the Policy Director for Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell. He recently served eight years on the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens Board of Directors, including as a member of the Executive Committee and Co-Chair of the Horticulture, Education and Engagement Committee.

Matt received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Leadership Studies and Political Science from the University of Richmond in 2003. He is a graduate of the VBA’s Executive Leadership Institute and the VBA School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia. He lives in Glen Allen, Virginia with his wife Jennifer and daughters Charlotte and Caroline.

Ace Callwood – Ace Callwood is a facilitator and executive mediator at Envoy. He began his career building high-growth tech companies and teaching university entrepreneurship and innovation. Today, his work with organizations around the world focuses on bringing people together to increase meaningful interaction, exchanging ideas to solve complex problems, and creating openness to communicate across boundaries and navigate conflict.

Steve Farbstein has more than 30 years of financial and professional services experience and is widely known throughout the region as a principled, measured, and thoughtful leader. Prior to joining PACE Equity, Steve was the Chief Revenue and Development Officer at Blue Ridge Bank and was previously Head of Mortgage Banking at Park Sterling Bank and StellarOne Bank.

Steve is the former Chair of the Mortgage Executives Committee at The Virginia Bankers Association and The Richmond Mortgage Bankers Association. He also served as the National Chair for The March of Dimes National Volunteer Leadership Council where he has volunteered for more than 30 years.

Mark Franceski is a managing director of research and securities at Zelman & Associates, based in Bethesda, Maryland. In his role, he is responsible for leading multifamily industry and REIT research for the firm. He has nearly 20 years’ experience as a commercial real estate market research expert and data strategist specializing in the multifamily sector.

Prior to Zelman, Mr. Franceski served as executive director of multifamily analytics at global brokerage Avison Young and spent 10 years as head of research at Bozzuto, a national mixed-use investor, developer, builder, and operator, where he focused on market research, business intelligence, and data analytics.

Mr. Franceski earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Washington and Lee University and his master’s degree in business administration from George Mason University. Outside of the company, he serves as adjunct faculty for Georgetown University’s master’s in real estate program, teaching real estate market research and analysis. Mr. Franceski lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and four children.

Richard Gdovic is a Software Engineer, Accountant, Serial Entrepreneur, investor, and race-team owner and driver. He leads ComServe Wireless (Verizon Authorized Retailer), WindStax Energy (microgrids with vertical-axis wind, solar, and storage), and Precision Performance Motorsports. Rick has engineered 300+ acquisitions, built national retail footprints, and now scales renewable-energy projects while running a multiple championship winning race car team and driver-development program across NASCAR and sports cars.

Vernon Geddy is an Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor and Developer. His previous career was working for a local commercial real estate company, RJS and Associates for about 9 years, where he brokered deals in office, warehouse, hotel, retail/restaurant and land. He developed and rehabbed commercial retail and office projects for the principles within the company. Vernon currently owns and operates Old City Barbeque, Old City BBQ Food Truck and The Shuck Wagon. The restaurant has been operating since 2017 with 35 employees and $2.8mm in annual revenue. The Food Trucks started operating in the fall of 2020 with 10 employees and hold a contract in the Newport News Shipyard serving over 50,000 people annually with an annual revenue of $1.25mm. He currently has a new restaurant in development in the preconstruction phase that is slated to open in fall of 2026 in Newport News. When the restaurant opened in 2017 he won best new restaurant and was awarded a 15 under 50 for community impact in 2021.

Kathy Gray - Bio Coming Soon!

Stacy Litke is the VP of Banking & Financial Services. She has oversight into all banking related activities at Green Check Verified. Her decades of experience in the financial services industry has been from the perspectives of Community Banker, FinTech Leader and Technology Consultant. In her role at Green Check, Stacy has shaped best practices for banking the cannabis industry through working with more than one hundred-thirty financial institutions as they work to evaluate and implement cannabis banking programs, conversations with regulators and examiners, and supporting Green Check’s direct to CRB financial services platform.

Georgina Merhom is the founder of SOLO, a collaborative credit bureau that transforms how first party data is collected, verified, and activated for banks and lenders. Prior to SOLO, Georgina began her career as a researcher and compliance director at the G7 & G20 Information Centre. She then trained as a data scientist and investigative analyst to develop algorithms that detect illicit activity on the dark web. In 2020, Georgina founded Zivmi, Egypt’s first cross-border payments app, in partnership with the National Bank of Egypt, providing invoice factoring to unbanked digital freelancers. She subsequently exited the venture in its entirety to the National Bank. Through her work with unbanked freelancers at Zivmi, Georgina recognized the limitations of traditional credit assessment which led to the creation of SOLO and her advocacy for modern solutions in credit and lending.

Ryan Price has honed his knowledge of Virginia’s economy and housing market in a variety of roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors for nearly two decades. Ryan is the Chief Economist for Virginia REALTORS®, Virginia’s largest trade association, leading a team of researchers that focus on housing market trends in Virginia, and the economic and demographic factors that move the market. Ryan received a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Virginia Tech, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University.

Matthew Senter is Vice President of Lending Relations for Agri-Access, based in Middlebury, Vermont. He serves the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., supporting the agricultural and natural resource lending activities of banks. Matthew has over 30 years of experience in agricultural lending, including direct agricultural/forest products producer financing as well as managing commercial lending & capital markets teams. His specialty is providing creative solutions for the unique challenges of agricultural & natural resource lending. He is a graduate of St. Lawrence University, Thomas College and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

Zain Tariq is a senior analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence and produces data-driven research on the U.S. financial institutions. He has covered the banking space for over a decade including regulatory changes, financial trends, branch footprints, and M&A. Prior to joining S&P, Zain collected experience as a finance officer and accountant for multiple organizations. Zain completed his ACCA in 2018. In addition to the ACCA, he completed BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University in 2011 and MSc in Finance from BPP Business School in 2013.

Session Materials 

The password to view the session materials is LendingCredit2025.

Commercial Real Estate Update - Mark Franceski

Community Banks Have Tailwinds, But Face Disruption from Competition, Consolidation - Zain Tariq

Industry Update - Matt Bruning

Economic Update - Ryan Price

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 Michele Dunn with any details.

Hotel Information

Williamsburg Lodge
310 S England St
Williamsburg, VA 23185

Parking

Attendees spending the night at the hotel will receive a parking pass upon check-in. Parking for overnight guests will be reduced to $15/night (normally $25).  For attendees not staying at the Lodge, will pay using the hotel’s parking app. Directions for using the app and current rates are displayed in the parking area.

Attendee Roster

Click here to see who is attending!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

 

 

Apex Commercial Capital
Ronald Simms, Commercial Account Executive
rsimms@apexcommercial.com | (804) 738-2535
www.apexcommercial.com

Apex Commercial Capital is a direct, nationwide lender focused on providing alternative financing solutions. They offer commercial mortgages to customers throughout the United States who are unable to, or do not wish to, obtain that financing through banks or other traditional lenders.

 

BHG Financial
Jim Crawford, EVP, Institutional Sales/BHG Board Member
jim@bhg-inc.com
https://bhginstitutionalnetwork.com/VA

BHG Financial is transforming the financial industry; leveraging the power of data, analytics, and the creator of the largest community bank network in the country. Since 2001, BHG has originated more than $19 billion in loan solutions to top-quality borrowers, which community and midsize banks can purchase via the BHG Loan Hub.com

 

Brown, Edwards & Co.
Alan Landes, Partner
alandes@BECPAS.com | (540) 246-3366
https://becpas.com/industries/community-banking/

Brown Edwards’ financial institution professional services help management improve procedures, manage risk exposure, and enhance earnings. As a top 70 firm with over 50 years of banking experience, their team will design a specific program for your organization’s needs while providing best practices and cost-effective outsourced services. They provide a full range of services including internal audits, compliance and regulatory audits, SOX/FDICIA assessments, information technology audits, loan reviews, financial statement audits, and model validations.

 

Business Finance Group
Rick Frank, President & CEO
rfrank@businessfinancegroup.org | (703) 667-5057
www.businessfinancegroup.org

Business Finance Group, Inc. is a U.S. Small Business Administration Certified Development Company (CDC) with territorial responsibilities in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and D.C.. Business Finance Group specializes in 504 lending, an economic development fixed asset financing program of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Business Finance Group, Inc., one of the top 20 CDCs in loan approvals the United States, is the largest 504 provider in the Mid-Atlantic region, with over $5 billion in projects supported since its inception in 1981 and job creation and retention exceeding 45,000 for those projects. Business Finance Group has procured more 504 loan approvals for Virginia projects than any other CDC since the 504 program was introduced in the early 1980’s.

 

College Ave
Brian Reed, Head of Partnerships
breed@collegeave.com | (610) 620-4322
www.collegeave.com/partner

College Ave is a private student loan provider that offers undergraduate, graduate, and parent loans, as well as refinance options. They offer multiple loan options with flexible repayment terms, including competitive interest rates, and features like instant credit decision, a simple, 3-minute application process, no application or origination fee, autopay discount, and best-in-class customer service. College Ave also offers a student loan referral program to assist banks in meeting the higher education financing needs of their customers and generate referral fees while avoiding lending and loan administration.
VBA Endorsed Provider

 

Community Bankers’ Bank 
Jay McNamara, Vice President, Regional Manager
jmcnamara@cbbonline.com | (804) 495-6465

Robert Huff, SVP, Chief Credit Officer
rhuff@cbbonline.com | 804-256-0533
https://cbbonline.com/

Community Bankers’ Bank is a State-Chartered Fed Member bankers’ bank, owned and directed by independent community banks in the Fifth Federal Reserve District and contiguous states. It gives community banks unique and outstanding value through the economies of scale it creates as a bank partner, never a competitor. It provides the products and services that banks need to operate and excel. CBB’s competitive pricing and superior service make it a vital resource for community banks.

 

CRS Data
Alwyn Staley, Partner
abstaley@crsdata.com | (800) 374-7488 ext 150
www.crsdata.com

For over 30 years, CRS Data has been dedicated to delivering powerful, accurate property data backed by superior customer service. Their Financial Suite product is tailored made for financial institutions. Offering public tax records, sales and mortgage histories, property comparables, warranty deeds, interactive GIS plat maps, area demographics. CRS helps banks manage their commercial loan portfolio generate non-interest income and manage risk. They offer the power of clear and current property information to help you generate income and make sound decisions.

 

DCMI Mid Atlantic Inc.
Val Riccardi, Principal
office@dcmima.com | (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.

 

FHLBank Atlanta
Dan Brenton, Senior Relationship Manager
dbrenton@fhlbatl.com | (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.

 

Investors Title Insurance Co.
Norma Carroll, Vice President-Multi State Marketing
ncarroll@invtitle.com | (865) 384-7846
www.invtitle.com

Founded in 1972, domiciled in North Carolina. Licensed in 45 states plus the District of Columbia. As of September 1, 2025 Investors Title Company and its subsidiaries had 696 employees in 14 states. Publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol ITIC. AM Best Rating: A(Excellent) and Demotech A”(A Double Prime) Investors Title has partnered with lenders for 53 years.
VBA Endorsed Provider

 

Multi-State Title Agencies:
Virginia Title Center, LLC
Bobby Fothergill, Vice President/Agency Manager
bfothergill@virginiatitlecenter.com | (800) 468-5811
www.virginiatitlecenter.com

Bankers Title Shenandoah, LLC
Butch Rutherford, Vice President/Agency Manager
brutherford@bankerstitleshenandoah.com | (888) 437-9560
www.bankerstitleshenandoah.com

Bankers Title, LLC
Robyn Parker, Vice President/Agency Manager
rparker@bankerstitle.com | (800) 830-1414
www.bankerstitle.com

VBA Management Services, Inc. provides management for 4 multi-bank owned title insurance agencies. Member banks earn income in the form of dividends based on their share of ownership. Over $70 million has been distributed to owner banks since 1993. The VBA works closely with Investors Title Insurance Company in Chapel Hill, NC, a company committed to the distribution of title insurance through agencies owned by financial institutions. Their dedication to banks and their superior financial ratings have earned the confidence and trust of the VBA and many of its members. With over 30 years experience, the VBA has helped more than 150 banks and six state banker associations become involved in the sale of title insurance.

 

PCBB
Dennis Falk, SVP/MidAtlantic Regional Manager
dfalk@pcbb.com | 804 944 6265
www.pcbb.com

PCBB believes in the power of local financial institutions to be the catalyst of small business growth and to enable communities to thrive. Our talented team is committed to providing not only the tools and knowledge our customers need to serve their clients, but also the partnership and trust they deserve. With a robust suite of competitive services, PCBB helps community financial institutions maximize revenue, increase efficiency, and manage risk. Ultimately, with an engaged, knowledgeable team that meets and exceeds the needs of our customers, we can drive increased value for our shareholders.

 

RA Business Solutions – Your Equifax Sales Agent
Amy Cardona, Vice President of Sales
acardona@retailalliance.com | (757) 455-9387
rabsolution.com

RA Business Solutions (RABS) is the exclusive Equifax Sales Agent for the Mid-Atlantic region. Their client portfolio includes auto dealers, banks, credit unions, finance companies, and real estate companies. The RABS team, working with Equifax, provides industries leading edge consumer insights and analytics, as well as complete consumer, tri-merge, and commercial credit files.

 

S&P Global Market Intelligence
Ryan Chakalos, Senior Account Manager, Financial Institutions & Partnerships
ryan.chakalos@spglobal.com | (434) 529-2870
www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/industries/u-s-community-banks

In 2016, SNL Financial and S&P Capital IQ joined forces as S&P Global Market Intelligence to deliver the most sector-specific, comprehensive and reliable intelligence in the industry. For community banks, they offer solutions to help you evaluate market opportunities, manage risk and maximize performance. Leverage your internal data as an asset with S&P Global Market Intelligence’s SNL Banker solution, an internal reporting tool for banks. 
VBA Endorsed Provider | MBA Preferred Provider

 

Spotts Fain
Robert Chappell, Attorney, Shareholder
rchappell@spottsfain.com | (804) 697-2000
www.spottsfain.com

Spotts Fain is a Virginia law firm built on a culture of treating their clients fairly, with a focused and firm commitment to representing their clients with strength and integrity. Established in 1988, they offer expertise in creditors/debtors right and bankruptcy, business law, real estate law, litigation, intellectual property, employment law, health care law and more for large and small businesses in Virginia and beyond.

 

Tranzon Key
Bill Londrey, President
blondrey@tranzon.com | (804) 513-0544
www.tranzon.com

For over 25 years, Tranzon Key has been selling real estate through a competitive bid process. Tranzon Key maximizes property value by advertising each property auction to create a sense of urgency and by bringing buyers together to compete for your property.

 

Virginia Housing
Jake Naugle, Director of Homeownership Lending
jake.naugle@virginiahousing.com | (804) 343 5706
www.virginiahousing.com

By investing in the power of home, Virginia Housing transforms where and how thousands of Virginians live and thrive, strengthening communities and the economy. Virginia Housing is celebrating its 50th year of working in partnership with the public and private sectors to help Virginians attain quality, affordable housing. While receiving no state taxpayer dollars, Virginia Housing raises money in capital markets to provide mortgages to first-time homebuyers, invest in developments and innovations in affordable housing, and make homes for people with disabilities and older Virginians more livable. Virginia Housing is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion among its associates, customers and affordable housing partners.

 

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority
Karen White, Regional Lending Manager
karen.white@sbsd.virginia.gov | (804) 715-7308
https://sbsd.virginia.gov/virginia-small-business-financing-authority/vsbfa-programs-eligiblity/

The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s business and economic development financing arm, offering a variety of financing opportunities for small businesses.