The VBA Leadership Conference 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. This webpage houses all of the information you need to know leading up to and during the event.

thank you to our portal sponsor!

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 62 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

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

 

Wi-Fi Information

Wi-Fi Sponsored by Bearing Insurance

Network: Hilton Honors
Promotional Code: leadconf25

Roster

You can view the Leadership Conference roster here!

Agenda, Session Information & Session Materials

Materials can be accessed using the password Leadconf2025.

Thursday, November 13
9:00 – 9:30 am	Registration (Crystal Court) & Continental Breakfast (Crystal-Roanoke Foyer)
9:30 – 9:45 am	Welcome and Announcements: Crystal Ballroom A-C 2025 VBA Emerging Bank Leaders Chair, Jennifer Gegner, C&F Bank
9:45 – 10:15 am	Industry Update: Crystal Ballroom A-C Bruce Whitehurst, President & CEO, Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association and Virginia Bankers Association During this session, Bruce will discuss top industry trends, including economic conditions, fraud prevention, AI and workforce development. He will also review top federal regulatory and legislative issues, as well as provide a preview of the 2026 General Assembly session. View Bruce's Slides Here!
10:15 – 10:30 am	Networking Break: Crystal-Roanoke Foyer
10:30 – 11:30 am	Economic Outlook – Crystal Ballroom A-C Chris Low, Chief Economist, FHN Financial As the U.S. economy continues to show strength, underlying challenges persist—particularly in employment and inflation. While growth remains resilient, job creation is sluggish, and inflation, though elevated, is expected to ease as the impact of tariffs diminishes. These mixed signals have led to growing divisions within the Federal Reserve, with policymakers split on the appropriate path forward. This session will explore the Fed’s dual mandate, the factors driving internal disagreement, and the implications for monetary policy in the year ahead. Attendees will gain insights into why policy is likely to remain modestly restrictive and how this environment could foster continued economic expansion alongside a gradual decline in inflation. View Chris' Slides Here!
11:30 am – 12:30 pm	All Levels, All In – A Bank Leadership Panel: Crystal Ballroom A-C Zach McGill, First National Bank Taylor Quicke, Citizens Bank & Trust Co. Dorothy Welch, First Bank, Virginia Moderated By 2025 VBA Emerging Bank Leaders Chair, Jennifer Gegner, C&F Bank
12:30 – 1:15 pm	Lunch: Crystal Ballroom DE Sponsored by American Bankers Association
1:15 – 2:15 pm	Hot Topics Roundtable [Bankers Only]: Crystal Ballroom A-C The roundtable discussion is your opportunity to focus on the most pressing issues you face in your bank and in your position today.
2:15– 3:15 pm	Escaping Imposter Syndrome – Finding Freedom to Lead with Confidence: Crystal Ballroom A-C 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. View Ned's Slides Here! That Question Book
3:15 – 3:30 pm	Networking Break: Crystal – Roanoke Foyer
3:30 – 5:00 pm	Courageous Communication Workshop: Crystal Ballroom A-C 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 View Melissa's Slides Here! View Melissa's Handout Here!
5:30 – 6:30 pm	Networking Reception: Peacock Alley Sponsored by Fiserv
6:30 pm	Dinner on Your Own
8:15 pm	Emerging Leaders Lounge: Club AKA Looking to gather with fellow attendees after dinner on your own on Thursday? We will meet in the Club AKA space at The Hotel Roanoke for food, fun and networking!

Friday, November 14
7:45 – 9:00 am	Breakfast: Food Available in Crystal – Roanoke Foyer with Seating in Crystal Ballroom DE
9:00 – 10:00 am	Leadership Lessons for Emerging Leaders from America’s Top Performing Banks: Crystal Ballroom A-C Mary Beth Sullivan Managing Partner, Capital Performance Group Ally Akins Principal, Sales and Marketing Practice Co-Leader, Capital Performance Group Each year, CPG partners with American Banker to identify and rank the top-performing banks in the U.S., uncovering the key drivers behind their success. One of the most consistent and powerful factors is leadership. High-performing banks share leadership-driven cultures that foster excellence, resilience, and adaptability. This session is designed for emerging leaders who want to learn from the best. We’ll explore the leadership characteristics that distinguish top-performing banks—especially in today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape. Participants will gain insights into how successful leaders build cultures rooted in accountability, transparency, and communication, and how they align their teams around a shared vision for success. These lessons will help rising leaders shape their own leadership approach and drive meaningful impact within their organizations.   View Ally and Mary Beth's Slides Here!
10:00 – 10:30 am	Washington Update: Crystal Ballroom A-C Frank Pigulski Vice President for Congressional Relations, American Bankers Association Frank will discuss the current bank policy landscape with a focus on the U.S. Congress, including what has happened so far in 2025, as well as what we expect for the balance of the 119th Congress. He will also present ways for emerging leaders to get involved in advocacy at the federal level. ABA Be An Advocate Roadmap
10:30 – 10:45 am	Networking Break: Crystal – Roanoke Foyer
10:45 – 11:45 am	Embrace Fear & Fail Forward: Crystal Ballroom A-C Jacob Brown Speaker, Coach & Author Session Sponsored by College Ave In today’s fast-moving world, fear of failure is one of the biggest barriers to innovation, progress, and effective leadership. Jacob Brown, a renowned leadership keynote speaker, helps audiences reframe failure as fuel, not defeat. Blending real-world stories with practical leadership strategies, Jacob challenges teams and leaders to embrace discomfort, take bold action, and build a culture where growth comes from learning, not perfection. Attendees will walk away with a fresh mindset, tools to lead with resilience through uncertainty, and a powerful framework to create workplaces where failure is normalized, trust is strengthened, and people feel empowered to show up fully. This isn’t just a motivational speech. It’s a mindset shift – built for leaders, teams, and organizations ready to stop playing it safe and start building cultures that win.
11:45 am	Closing Remarks & Adjourn: Crystal Ballroom A-C

Join Us Thursday After Dinner in the Emerging Leaders Lounge!

About Our Speakers

Ally Akins
Principal, Sales and Marketing Practice Co-Leader, Capital Performance Group

Ally Akins is a Principal and Co-leader of the Sales & Marketing Practice area at Capital Performance Group. Ally works on and leads 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.

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, 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.

Jennifer Gegner
2025 EBL Chair
VP, Treasury Solutions Consultant II, C&F Bank

Jenni is a treasury solutions consultant with over 16 years of experience helping businesses optimize cash management, liquidity, and payment strategies. At C&F Bank, she partners with corporate clients to design tailored solutions that enhance operational efficiency and maximize working capital. Known for her consultative approach and commitment to client success, Jenni builds strong relationships and delivers customized strategies aligned with each client’s financial goals.

She holds a Virginia Bankers School of Management certification from UVA’s Darden School of Business and remains at the forefront of treasury trends to provide innovative, forward-thinking solutions. Passionate about financial wellness, advocacy, and education, Jenni served on the American Bankers Association Emerging Bank Leaders Council and currently chairs the Virginia Bankers Association Emerging Bank Leaders and its Steering Committee.

Originally from Wisconsin, Jenni has called Virginia home since 2009. Outside of work, she enjoys giving back to her community and spending time with her husband, two daughters, and their Aussie Doodle. Her favorite pastimes include hiking, biking, watching BRAVO and relaxing at the beach.

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.

Zach McGill
Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager, First National Bank

Zachary McGill is an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager at First National Bank, where he has proudly served for over six years. A graduate of Longwood University, Zachary holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. He is also a student of the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management, Class of 2027. In addition, he serves as a Regional Director and steering committee member of the Emerging Bank Leaders (EBL). In his role with FNB, Zachary is passionate about fostering strong customer relationships, supporting his team’s growth, and helping clients achieve their financial goals. Outside of work, he enjoys visiting wineries, traveling abroad, and spending quality time with family and friends.

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 in creating places where people thrive. He is the author of That Question Book (thatquestionbook.com), 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.

Frank Pigulski
Vice President for Congressional Relations, American Bankers Association

Frank Pigulski is Vice President for Congressional Relations at the American Bankers Association (ABA). In this role, Pigulski engages Democratic lawmakers and their staff on policy and legislative issues affecting America’s banks and the communities they serve. Before joining ABA, Pigulski came from the Executive Office of the President, where he served as Senior Policy Advisor working on investment security and competition issues. Before his time at the White House, Frank was Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where his primary focus was the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS). Frank also served on Capitol Hill for nearly a decade, working for Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), including as his Chief of Staff and as a 2018 Senate campaign advisor, and for Dan Lipinski (D-IL).

Taylor Quicke
President & CEO, Citizens Bank & Trust Company

Taylor Quicke, a graduate of Virginia Tech, began his banking career as a summer teller with Citizens Bank & Trust Company. After earning his degree from Virginia Tech’s College of Pamplin in 2011, he joined the Bank full-time as a management trainee and has since served in a variety of roles across the organization. In January 2024, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer.

Throughout his career, Taylor has been actively involved with the Virginia Bankers Association. He previously served on the Emerging Bank Leaders Steering Committee and is a 2015 graduate of the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management. He currently serves on both the Government Relations Committee and the VBA Benefits Corporation Board of Directors.

Taylor resides in Blackstone, Virginia, with his wife, Brittany, and their three children, Anne Paige, Harrison, and Parker. 

Mary Beth Sullivan,
Managing Partner, Capital Performance Group

Mary Beth Sullivan is the Managing Partner of Capital Performance Group. For more than twenty years, she has led the Strategy Practice at CPG, working closely with Executives and Directors on strategy engagements, helping them to address emerging trends, identify and build new revenue streams, and create efficient operating models to achieve targeted business and financial results.

Prior to forming CPG in 2001, Mary Beth was the Senior Managing Director at Furash & Company, a boutique consulting firm working with banks across the US.  She also served in numerous roles at Chemical Bank in New York (now rebranded JPMorgan Chase), including Project Officer Director for the Retail Bank during the merger of Chemical Bank and Manufacturers Hanover Trust; Head of Financial Planning and Analysis for Chemical Bank’s Retail Bank; and Transformation Team Leader focused on customer and profitability analytics and their applications.

Dorothy Welch
EVP, Director of Program Management, First Bank, Virginia

Dorothy Welch is an experienced financial executive and leadership coach with a passion for helping people and organizations grow. With more than 25 years in the banking industry, she has led across retail, loan administration, strategy, talent, marketing, and operations—earning a reputation for connecting vision to execution and turning complex goals into real results.

As Executive Vice President and Director of Program Management at First Bank, Dorothy leads enterprise-wide initiatives that drive structure, accountability, and strategic alignment. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in authenticity, purpose and resilience, qualities she’s brought to previous roles as Chief Experience Officer, Chief Talent Officer, and Senior Vice President of Strategic Engagement.

Dorothy holds an MBA from Eastern Mennonite University and a BS from James Madison University. She is a graduate of The Executive Program (TEP) at UVA Darden, the Darden Bank Executive Leadership Program, the Virginia Bankers Association Executive Leadership Institute, and the Graduate School of Banking–Wisconsin Human Resource Management School. She also serves on the Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation Board, advancing leadership and learning across the industry.

In addition to her banking career, Dorothy has launched a private coaching practice focused on helping leaders navigate change with confidence, lead authentically, and find fulfillment both in and outside of work.

Bruce Whitehurst
President & CEO, Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association & 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. 

Event Attire

The attire for the entire conference is business casual. The attire for the evening events is casual.

Hotel & Parking Information

The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue
Roanoke, VA 24016

Parking Information

PARKING INFORMATION

Valet Overnight: $28 Overnight

Self-Parking Overnight: $18

 

Valet Daily

$20 Daily

 

Self-Parking Daily

0 – 30 mins Free

30 mins – 2 hr $6

2+ hr – All Day $12

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

 

American Bankers Association 
Caitlin Taylor, Vice President, ABA State Association Alliance
ctaylor@aba.com | (202) 663-5394
www.aba.com

The American Bankers Association (ABA) proudly represents banks of all sizes and charter types across the country. For more than a century, ABA has been the unified voice for the banking industry, advocating for policies that promote growth, developing innovative training and resources, and fostering a strong community of banking professionals. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, ABA helps America’s banks strengthen their institutions, serve their customers, and support thriving communities nationwide.

 

Bearing Insurance
Zachery Kephart, CIC, CLCS
zkephart@bankersinsurance.net | (540) 904-7572
www.bearinginsurance.com

At Bearing Insurance, they deliver the right services, tools, and resources to safeguard our clients along their insurance journey. For over 25 years, they proudly served as Bankers Insurance – building a reputation of trust, reliability, and excellence. This transition to Bearing Insurance marks a new chapter, reflecting their continued commitment to leading, guiding, and collaborating with their clients every step of the way.
VBA Endorsed Provider

 

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

 

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.

 

ePayResources
Yasmin Porcaro, SVP, Member and Industry Relations
yporcaro@epayresources.org | (800) 475-0585 ext. 1203
www.epayresources.org/

ePayResources® has been empowering financial institutions and businesses to be informed, compliant, and competitive in payments for 50 years. As an innovative Payments Association and a founding sponsor of the Center for Payments, they provide emerging and legacy payments expertise, professional development, and industry leadership through education, publications, compliance support, risk management, and advocacy. Their subsidiary, ePayAdvisors™, provides payments audits, risk assessments, and consulting. Follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

Fiserv
Lynne Newton, Relationship Manager, Bank Solutions
lynne.newton@fiserv.com | (757) 938-3879
www.fiserv.com

Fiserv, Inc. is a global provider of financial technology solutions, helping banks and credit unions streamline operations and deliver modern digital services. Known for platforms like Clover and its expertise in payments and core banking systems, Fiserv supports institutions in adapting to evolving customer expectations and competitive pressures across the financial landscape.

 

VCDC
Bernard Rogers, Director of Equity Funds & Investor Relations
brogers@vacdc.org | (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 62 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
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.

 

Dietary Restrictions, Special Needs & Americans with Disabilities Notice

Please send any dietary restrictions or special needs that may affect your participation in this event to Chandler Owdom to discuss accommodations.