About Our Speakers

Kirk Bado 
Editor, The Hotline

Kirk is the editorial force behind National Journal’s campaign coverage. He directs campaign coverage, edits National Journal’s twice daily political newsletters, and leads a team of correspondents covering the day-to-day political news from races all over the country. Through his daily Spotlight column, Kirk places the news in context, explaining what it means now and what comes next. His ability to distill fast-moving developments into forward-looking insights makes him a trusted voice on today’s most pressing issues.

Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Kirk brings the same sharp analysis he delivers in National Journal’s widely read newsletters to his presentations. Having traveled extensively to cover campaigns and connect with voters, he brings firsthand insights from the trail into every talk. His reporting blends on-the-ground perspectives with a deep understanding of Washington, offering audiences both the human stories behind the headlines and a clear-eyed view of the political forces shaping the future.

He began his career in local news at the Nashville Tennessean, where he quickly rose through the ranks covering everything from crime and sports to statehouse politics. His reporting on the culture of sexual harassment in the state legislature led to the first lawmaker’s expulsion since the Civil War, establishing his reputation for investigative rigor early on. He went on to work at USA Today, Reuters, and the Arizona Republic before joining The Hotline as a campaigns correspondent covering the House of Representatives and redistricting.

Now editor of The Hotline, Kirk continues to provide forward-looking political analysis. He has also contributed to the 2026 edition of the Almanac of American Politics and appeared as a recognized elections authority on C-SPAN, NewsNation, and WTOP radio, while also hosting the National Journal Radio podcast. His extensive on-the-ground reporting and clear-eyed perspective make him a trusted guide to the people, policies, and pressures shaping Washington.

Wade Barnes
Managing Director, Financial and Professional Services, Hartman Executive Advisors

Wade is an indispensable asset to his clients who benefit from his extensive experience working in the banking industry and expertise in using technology to solve issues ranging from operational inefficiencies and regulatory challenges, to cyberthreats. At Hartman, he works alongside financial and professional services executives to create and execute technology roadmaps and data strategies to drive growth and innovation. Wade is a highly effective, multi-disciplined leader who thrives on identifying opportunities and creating strategies for businesses to build market share and increase overall profitability.

Wade has spent most of his career in banking, starting as a teller and advancing through the ranks to the C-suite. Before Hartman, Wade was the Chief Marketing Officer at Howard Bank. In this role, he championed the importance of using technology to source new clients and expand relationships with existing clients by defining the customer journey and personalizing the banking experience. He also created and led a corporate discipline for product development, including a FinTech initiative, with a focus on processes for highly efficient internal operations and enhancements to the customer experience. Wade also held senior management roles in retail banking, marketing and e-commerce at 1st Mariner Bank, where he leveraged technology to automate business processes and used data analytics to drive strategy and execution.

Rob Blackwell 
Chief Content Officer and Head of External Affairs, IntraFi

Rob is a veteran financial journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering banking, regulation, and financial innovation. He previously served as editor-in-chief of American Banker, where he reported extensively on Congress, federal regulators, and the Federal Reserve. In his current role, he engages with bank leaders nationwide on policy developments shaping the industry. He also hosts Banking with Interest, a top-ranked banking podcast featuring conversations with policymakers and industry leaders.

Tom Cherry
President & CEO, C&F Bank
2025-2026 VBA Chairman

Tom Cherry is President and Chief Executive Officer of C&F Financial Corporation and C&F Bank.  His career with C&F began as Chief Accounting Officer in 1996 followed by Chief Financial Officer from 2004 through 2016.  He worked for Price Waterhouse LLP prior to its merger with Coopers and Lybrand before joining C&F.

Tom was named President of C&F Bank in 2014, appointed to the Boards of Directors of C&F Financial Corporation and C&F Bank in 2015, and became Chief Executive Officer in 2019.  He currently serves on Boards of Directors for the Virginia Bankers Association, Bankers Insurance, and the Old Dominion University Athletic Fund.  Tom received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University in 1990 and a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of William and Mary in 2002.

He and his wife Amy enjoy many activities with friends near their home in Williamsburg Virginia as well as spending time with their family on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Tisha Edwards
President & CEO, Maryland Bankers Association

Tisha Edwards is a mission-driven executive with more than two decades of experience uniting the reach of public service with the agility of the private sector to drive access, equity, and opportunity for Marylanders.

Edwards was named President and CEO of the Maryland Bankers Association (MBA) and officially began her tenure in April 2025. Edwards also serves as Executive Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association. In her role at MBA—the leading advocate, trusted partner, and premier resource for Maryland banks and the banking industry—she is focused on advocating for the industry, deepening bank and community engagement, expanding financial education, while growing the Association’s visibility and impact across the state.

Edwards has spent her career advancing systems-level change at the intersection of government, education, and the private sector. Her leadership has consistently centered equity, with a focus on removing barriers that have historically limited families from thriving and reaching their full potential. She has held several C-suite roles, including Interim CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Baltimore, President of BridgeEdu, and Founding Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success. In each post, she successfully led organizational growth, policy innovation, and strategic restructuring, while managing multi-million-dollar budgets and aligning teams around bold organizational goals.

In 2021, Edwards served as Chief of Staff to Wes Moore’s Maryland gubernatorial campaign. Following Moore’s election, she was appointed Secretary of Appointments in the Moore-Miller Administration, where she led the process of filling more than 600 state board and commission roles. Her work helped expand representation across Maryland’s leadership landscape and reinforced the administration’s commitment to inclusivity and leaving no one behind.

Edwards’ leadership and impact have earned statewide recognition. In 2025, she became the first Black woman to serve as President and CEO of a state banking association in the history of the industry. In the same year, she was named Alumni of the Year by the University of Maryland School of Social Work (MSW ’00, JD ’01) and was recognized by NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore at its LOUDER event for her outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing mental health advocacy. She has also been honored by The Daily Record as a 2025 Influential Marylander, celebrating her as one of the state’s most dynamic and inspirational leaders shaping Maryland’s future, and was named to The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in 2024.

Edwards serves on the boards of United Way of Central Maryland, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, the USM Board of Regents, and the University of Maryland School of Social Work Board of Advisors. She is also appointed to the Maryland Comptroller’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Council and the Maryland Community Investment Venture Fund Advisory Board.

Madeline Fredin
SVP, Growth & AI Transformation, Alloy Labs

Madeline Fredin is SVP of Growth & AI Transformation at Alloy Labs, where she helps banks create differentiating advantage through collaboration and innovation. Her work spans emerging technologies like AI and digital identity, where she guides members in translating market shifts into actionable strategies and partnerships. Prior to Alloy Labs, Madeline led strategy for Crowe LLP’s financial services consulting practice, with deep expertise in design thinking and new product development. She began her career designing software for credit and commercial lenders. Madeline holds a B.A. in Business/Economics from Wheaton College and is based in Minneapolis.

Shea Gabrielleschi
VP, Relationship Development, Hartman Executive Advisors

As Vice President of Relationship Development for the Financial Services team at Hartman, Shea works directly with executives of midsized financial institutions to help align IT strategies to business goals. Shea is passionate about helping banks and other financial institutions navigate the opportunities and uncertainties that technology brings. He spends time with clients to learn their needs and interests and dedicates himself to building trusting relationships that stand the test of time.

Prior to joining the Hartman team, Shea worked for CRA Partners, a subsidiary of Independent Community Bankers of America, where he helped bank executives across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic invest in local elder abuse prevention programs. In his role with CRA Partners, he was responsible for growing and managing relationships with more than 80 customer accounts across 13 states.

Glenn Grau
Chief Business Development Officer, PWCampbell

As Chief Business Development Officer and a member of PWCampbell’s Planning Committee, Glenn leads the business development team and helps clients reimagine their retail branch networks. Drawing on over a decade of experience in banking, including managing twelve Dollar Bank branches and $2 billion in assets, he combines operational insight with design-build expertise to guide projects from planning through post-construction.

Having worked with hundreds of banks and credit unions, Glenn is an authority on branch optimization, space planning, and strategies to enhance performance, efficiency, and profitability. He holds a BA in Finance, Management, and Accounting, an MBA, and is licensed in commercial real estate. Glenn frequently shares his expertise at industry events across the mid-Atlantic region.

Chris Holt
Executive Vice President & Market President, Orrstown Bank
2025-2026 MBA Chair

Christopher D. Holt is the Executive Vice President and Market President for the Maryland Region at Orrstown Bank, a role he has held since July 15, 2019. With more than 38 years of commercial banking experience—primarily in the Mid-Atlantic—Mr. Holt brings extensive leadership and industry expertise to his position. Prior to joining Orrstown Bank, he spent 21 years with Susquehanna Bank and its successor, BB&T, where he served as Regional President for Maryland. During his tenure, he also held several senior executive roles, including Chief Credit Officer for Susquehanna Bank, and led key areas such as retail banking, commercial banking, and operations.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Mr. Holt is an active leader in the banking and nonprofit communities. He currently serves as a Board Member and Chair of the Maryland Bankers Association, sits on the Board of the Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association, and is a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Board for the Maryland Zoo. He holds a Master of Science in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School in Baltimore, Maryland, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Mary Kelly
Ph.D., CSP, CDR & US Navy Ret., Productive Leaders

Mary Kelly, PhD, is a leadership economist, keynote speaker, and former U.S. Navy commander who helps business leaders make smart decisions in uncertain economic times. She translates complex economic trends, workforce data, and market uncertainty into clear, practical leadership actions leaders can use immediately.

Mary speaks to CEOs, executives, boards, and association leaders on the intersection of economics, leadership, productivity, workforce strategy, succession planning, and organizational performance. Her presentations blend real-world economics, leadership research, and decades of experience leading people through high-stakes environments.

She is frequently selected as an opening keynote speaker because she sets the strategic tone for conferences—helping audiences understand what is happening in the economy, why it matters to their organization, and what leaders must do next to stay competitive. Her programs are insightful, engaging, and grounded in reality, making complex issues accessible without oversimplifying them.

A Hall of Fame professional speaker, best-selling author of more than 20 books, and a recognized authority on leadership and economic trends, Mary is known for delivering high-content, high-energy keynotes that challenge leaders to think differently, plan strategically, and lead with confidence in times of change.

David Kemp
President, Bankers Management, Inc.

David L. Kemp is President of Bankers Management, Inc. (BMI), formerly The Management Group. BMI is a nationally recognized company in financial services training and bank consulting. Prior to forming BMI, he served as Vice President, Director of Credit Services for Cannon Lending Schools, as well as through Banking Association sessions for individual financial institutions.

Mr. Kemp has more than forty years of management experience in consulting, training, credit administration and new business development. Before joining Cannon, Mr. Kemp was Vice President of Corporate Finance with Citicorp North America. He was responsible for Marketing Investment and Commercial Banking Services throughout the southeast. His areas of expertise include commercial lending, consumer lending, portfolio management, real estate lending, workouts, and director responsibilities. While with Citicorp, Mr. Kemp was assigned to serve as Senior Credit Officer, specializing in financing retail companies. He managed a workout process that saved more than twenty million dollars in planned charge-offs. Prior to joining Citicorp, Mr. Kemp was a Branch Manager and Commercial Lender for First National Bank of Atlanta and Citizens and Southern National Bank. In addition to his banking background, he served as a consultant to small businesses in the area of finance, operations, marketing and sales. Mr. Kemp serves as a visiting professor and guest lecturer to many colleges and universities. He also serves as a board of director for Morris Brown
College. He is the past chairman of the Downtown Development Authority (City of Atlanta’s Board that owned the Underground Atlanta Project). He is also the past president of the Atlanta Urban Bankers Association.

Christopher Olsen
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Olsen Palmer LLC

Christopher Olsen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Olsen Palmer LLC, has been advising financial institutions for the entirety of his career including on more than 150 M&A transactions totaling more than $10 billion in total transaction value. He is the #1 ranked individual bank M&A advisor across the entire U.S. based on the number of such transactions advised upon over the past 5 years, according to S&P Global.

Mr. Olsen holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BBA from The George Washington University. He also completed additional professional studies at Columbia Law School on M&A Law and through the American Bankers Association’s Institute of Banking.

Prior to co-founding Olsen Palmer, Mr. Olsen worked in the investment banking divisions of Morgan Stanley, Houlihan Lokey, and Hovde Financial. He began his career in community banking, first at Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo) then at a 3-branch community bank.

Originally from the Midwest, Mr. Olsen now resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and 2 children.

Cathy Owen
Executive Chair, Eagle Bank & Trust Company
Chair and CEO, State Holding Company
2025-2026 American Bankers Association Chair Elect

Cathy Owen is currently Chair, President & CEO of State Holding Company, which is the holding company for Eagle Bank & Trust Company, Little Rock, AR. She is also Executive Chair of the bank, which is 107 years old, $503 million state bank, with 13 branches in central Arkansas, and Mortgage Loan Offices in Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Owen has remained active in the banking industry, business, and the community. This year, she celebrated her 51st year in banking, having started to work at the bank when she was a teenager, as the shred clerk. She has served in nearly every capacity within the bank, up to and including president and CEO. She served as Chair of the Arkansas Bankers Association (2018-2019) and remains the only female to serve in this position in its 136-year history. This was a particularly tough year, as the Association President became ill and passed away, unexpectedly. She was tasked with not only hiring a new President, but also running the Association in the interim, and working with the new President.

In October 2024 Owen was elected as Vice Chair of the American Bankers Association’s Board. She held several past roles on ABA’s Board and Executive Committee including Chair of the Compensation Committee and on the Membership and Dues Committee, Chair of the Government Relations Council and the Professional Development Council, which she chaired for 5 years. She also serves on the Conference of State Bank Supervisors Bank Advisory Board.

Owen is responsible for the management and oversight of One Financial Centre Real Estate Holdings, and serves on the Boards of Hastings Holding Company, Moon Distributors, and Arkansas Bolt Company.

Owen serves as Past-Chairman of the Baptist Health Hospital Foundation Board, as well as on Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum Foundation Board, Fifty for the Future Board, Arkansas State Fair Association, and the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Board. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum and was named one of American Banker’s 2022 Most Powerful Women in Banking to Watch. In 2023, Owen was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame.

Arkansas Business named Owen a 2023 Contemporary Legend, after she had been named one of Arkansas’ Most Influential Leaders for several years, which retired her from consideration for this ongoing recognition. Owen was named a 2022 – 2025 Arkansas Money & Politics Powerful Woman in Banking, 2022 & 2024 Girl Scout CEO Honoree, and the 2019 Sandra Wilson Cherry Award Recipient in recognition of female leadership and exemplary community service. In 2019, she was Knighted into the Knights of Saint Martin, in Rome, Italy, a knighthood sanctioned by the Pope, in recognition of and focused on promoting equality and service to those less fortunate.

Owen earned her BSBA in Finance and Banking from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and her Graduate Banking Degree from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking, at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. She is also honored to be a National Security Forum Air War College Alumnae, Montgomery, Alabama.

Scott Petty
Managing Partner, Financial Services/Real Estate, Chartwell Partners

Scott Petty leads Chartwell Partners’ Financial Services Practice Team of 12 serving commercial, community, and financial institutions across the country. Scott has established a successful track record of helping bank boards navigate CEO succession/CEO recruiting, board refreshment/director recruiting plus recruiting strategic executive leaders across C-suite positions primarily for mid-cap financial services clients.

Prior to joining Chartwell in 2009, Scott spent over a decade between his tenures with Heidrick & Struggles and Spencer Stuart. Over the course of his time with each firm, he led search practices in banking and general financial services.

Scott frequently presents on financial institution CEO succession, board refreshment and executive leadership topics through various association forums. Scott is an instructor for Bank Director’s Advanced Director Certification Program.

Scott is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and minor in Business Management.

Outside of work, Scott enjoys spending time with his wife and family, fixing up old Toyota FJ40 Land Cruisers, upland game adventures, and mentoring young adult men in his church.

Gary Shook
President & CEO, Community Bankers’ Bank

Gary R. Shook serves as President and CEO of CBB Financial Corp. and Community Bankers’ Bank, serving the Fifth Federal Reserve District (South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia) and contiguous states.

Prior to July 2020, Mr. Shook served as President of Blue Ridge Bank, NA and Chief Operating Officer and Director of Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc; as a Director of Access National Bank and Access National Corporation, President – Middleburg Bank Division; Chairman and CEO of Middleburg Investment Group and Chairman of Middleburg Trust Company. Gary formerly served as Director, President, and CEO of Middleburg Financial Corporation and Middleburg Bank.  Additionally, Mr. Shook was Senior Vice President of Fauquier Bankshares, Inc.

Mr. Shook currently serves as a Director of the Virginia Bankers Association and as the Chair of the VBA Education Foundation and as a member of its Government Relations Committee.  In 2023 he joined the Board of the American Bankers Association, serving as Chair of its Government Relations Committee and on the Board of ABA’s BankPac. Additionally, Mr. Shook serves as a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges and past Director and Audit Chair of Shrine Mont, The Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration and Conference Center.

Mr. Shook holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia. Gary is married to Ann-Rodman Shook, and together they have four adult children and two dogs.

Lucas White
ICBA Past Chairman

Lucas White is past chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), the only national organization that exclusively represents community banks.

President of The Fountain Trust Co., and a partner at White & White Attorneys LLP, White serves in many leadership roles at ICBA, including on the Executive Committee, board of directors, and Federal Delegate Board. He is vice chairman of the ICBA Nominating Committee and a member of the Policy Development Committee. He also serves as Executive Committee liaison for the Digital Assets Committee. White previously served as ICBA Chairman for 2024-25.

A fourth-generation community banker, White is an active member of his community and a trustee of the Booe Inlow d’Arlier Charitable Foundation. He also serves on the West Central Regional Community Corrections Board and is a member of the Covington Business Association. He is a current member and past chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association.

White has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and is a graduate of Indiana University-Bloomington Maurer School of Law, where he was awarded the Order of the Coif.

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. He is also the current president of the Virginia Society of Association Executives board of directors. 

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.