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.

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Wi-Fi Information

Wi-Fi information will be available here.

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 & 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 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
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	All Levels, All In: A Bank Leadership Panel 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
1:15 – 2:15 pm	Hot Topics Roundtable [Bankers Only] 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 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 WorkshopMelissa 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
5:30 – 6:30 pm	Networking Reception Reception Sponsored by Equifax
6:30 pm	Dinner on Your Own
8:15 pm	Emerging Leaders Lounge 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
9:00 – 10:00 am	Leadership Lessons for Emerging Leaders from America’s Top Performing Banks 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.
10:00 – 10:30 am	Washington Update 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.
10:30 – 10:45 am	Networking Break
10:45 – 11:45 am	Embracing Fear & Failing Forward Jacob Brown Speaker, Coach & Author Session Sponsored by College Ave 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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Overnight Parking
Self-parking – $18.00 
Valet parking - $28.00 

Daily Parking
$6.00 – $12.00

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

 

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.