Ready to Launch
Training Wheels - January 2025
It feels like 2025 has started with a bang in Virginia – at least in the Greater Richmond area. In the first week alone, we had more snow than we had in all of 2024. Ice from the storm led to power outages (or for me, internet outages) and, as if that wasn’t enough, Richmond experienced a water outage that impacted surrounding counties. This all happened in the days leading up to the VBA/VA Chamber Financial Forecast as we were preparing to welcome more than 570 attendees from across the Commonwealth to the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
As our team discussed canceling, postponing, or moving to a virtual format, I was having flashbacks of 2020 and 2021 and all the “pivoting” we were required to do, both personally and professionally. Since I refuse to go back to “pivoting” in 2025 (I grew to dislike that word), I am now reflecting on the start of this year as the opportunity to strengthen our agility muscles as we enter a really exciting time on the education and training front.
2024 was a landmark year for the VBA and the Maryland Bankers Association as we became the first state bankers associations to merge with the creation of the Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association. And while last year was certainly an exciting time, 2025 is really the joint education & training team’s launch pad. We have spent the past few months mapping out a collective catalog of training opportunities for the upcoming year and are excited to combine resources to bring additional opportunities to members of both state bankers associations. Not only are we adding new trainings, such as the upcoming Check Fraud Webinar Series, but certain event staples from each state will now be available for bankers in both states, opening new opportunities for everyone.
While I am extremely proud of what we have put together, it would be naïve to think this is the complete 2025 catalog or that we will not tweak things as we go along in this first year of merging programs. This is where agility comes into play, and when I will be grateful to have had an early January workout of that muscle.
With more banks to serve, more ideas and potentially new training needs may arise. Just as we added the Elder Financial Exploitation Prevention training last year, who knows what 2025 may bring for Maryland, Virginia or both. I can almost guarantee that new opportunities to support you and your team will be added to our calendar. If you ever have a thought or are experiencing a gap in your bank training needs, please feel free to contact me. I would love to partner, brainstorm and see where we may be able to plug in to support you and your team.
I look forward to seeing you at future MBA/VBA events!