CFO Conference & Ethics Session
The 2026 CFO Conference & Ethics Session is the premier gathering designed exclusively for Chief Financial Officers and senior financial management professionals in the banking industry. Hosted by the Virginia Bankers Association & Maryland Bankers Association, this dynamic event delivers the insights, connections, and strategies you need to lead with confidence in today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Whether you’re navigating complex regulatory demands, evaluating new technologies, or preparing your institution for future growth, this conference equips you with the tools, perspective, and network to succeed.
Agenda**
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
| 11:30 – 2:00 p.m. | Lunch & Learn with Brown Edwards (additional fee) Sponsored by Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P. |
| Brown Edwards welcomes all attendees to join them for an interactive, “working” lunch session demonstrating real-life AI use cases from a comprehensive “CAMELS” perspective. Attendees will be provided lunch and a $10 Starbucks gift card for starting the conference off early! Presenters will include Brown Edwards bank professionals and Virginia community bank peers. | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Registration for Ethics Session |
| 3:00 – 4:40 p.m. | AI Ethics 2026 | Clare Levison Separate Registration Required This course satisfies the annual two-hour Virginia Board of Accountancy (BOA) Ethics requirement. |
| 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception Sponsored by Piper Sandler LLC |
Thursday, August 20, 2026
| 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. | Registration | Continental Breakfast Breakfast sponsored by FHLBank Atlanta Coffee Station sponsored by Elliott Davis |
| 8:00 – 8:15 a.m. | Welcome & Sponsor Introductions |
| 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. | Rates Will Surprise You, Your Balance Sheet Shouldn’t Scott Hildenbrand | Piper Sandler LLC |
| In this session, Scott Hildenbrand, head of depository markets and strategy at Piper Sandler, challenges institutions to shift their focus from predicting the Fed to actively managing their balance sheet exposures. Exploring the intersection of balance sheet management, M&A, and capital markets, Scott will highlight how banks are taking the offensive by rethinking their playbooks. Attendees will learn how to differentiate between yield curve risk and interest rate risk, and how to execute actionable strategies, from downside hedges to structured alternatives, that build true earnings resilience. Supported by recent M&A and capital markets case studies, this session will provide a clear view of how to position your institution for enhanced profitability, mitigated risk, and greater strategic flexibility. | |
| 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. | Networking Break |
| 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions |
Ahead of the Curve: Accounting, Tax & Regulatory Issues Shaping Community Banking Brandon Driver & Joe Musumeci | YHB CPAs & Consultants |
| Community banks continue to face a fast-moving environment where accounting standards, tax developments, and regulatory expectations directly affect profitability, capital planning, risk management, and strategic decision-making. This session will provide a practical update on the key accounting, tax, and regulatory matters most relevant to community banks. Rather than focusing only on technical compliance, the discussion will connect recent and emerging developments to the decisions bankers are making every day. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the issues that may affect financial performance, examinations, governance, and long-term planning—along with practical insights to help their institutions stay prepared, responsive, and ahead of the curve. |
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| 2026 Mid-Year SEC Update – Major Reforms and Expected Outcomes Susan Ancarrow & Greg Parisi | Troutman Pepper Locke |
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| The Securities and Exchange Commission has recently proposed major reforms to the securities offering and public company disclosure frameworks. This session will focus on these proposals and their potential and likely impact, as well as best practices for banks in light of the SEC’s recent enforcement and comment letter activities and the current disclosure and compliance environment. | |
| 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Networking Break |
| 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. | Top Strategies to Thrive & Beyond Brett Rawls | PRI |
| During this session, Brett Rawls will explore key strategies that drive success in high-performing community financial institutions and provide clear, practical insights on how these organizations grow profitability, enhance customer relationships, embrace technology, and improve efficiency. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable ideas to strengthen their institution’s performance, increasing non-interest income and controlling non-interest expenses to compete effectively in today’s market. Key Learning Objectives:
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| 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30 – 1:15 p.m. | Exhibitor Solutions Showcase |
| 1:20 – 2:20 p.m. | The Evolution of Tokenization and AI in Banking Chris Nichols | Southstate Bank, N.A. |
This session will focus on the latest evolution of thinking and strategy as it pertains to tokenized deposits, Stablecoin and the use of enterprise AI. We will not only say a bunch of impressive buzzwords, but will provide actionable strategy and tactics. Some key takeaways will include:
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| 2:20 – 2:35 p.m. | Networking Break |
| 2:35 – 3:35 p.m. | Ready, Set, Integrate: CFO Readiness for Successful Mergers & Acquisitions Josh White | Elliott Davis |
| For CFOs, successful mergers and acquisitions mean more than identifying opportunities— they require readiness, discipline, and leadership. Transaction success hinges on proactive planning, operational excellence, and clear communication. In this session, you will recognize key early questions to address readiness, post-deal goals, advisor engagement, and stakeholder impact. We will identify strong accounting practices—such as audit-ready data, normalized risk ratings, and integrated purchase accounting workbooks—to support defensible, efficient transactions. Leaders who champion strategic intent and disciplined execution position their institutions to seize opportunities, strengthen balance sheets, and deliver sustainable growth in a dynamic market. | |
| 3:35 – 3:45 p.m. | Networking Break |
| 3:45 – 4:15 p.m. | Industry Update Matt Bruning | Virginia Bankers Association |
| 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. | Regulator Panel Jeff Burgess | FDIC Amanda Edwards | OCC Logan Hudgins| Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Ron Prillaman | Bureau of Financial Institutions Michael Sprouse | Office of Financial Regulation |
| 5:15 – 6:45 p.m. | Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P. |
Dinner is on your own. Enjoy your evening!
Friday, August 21, 2026
| 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast Coffee Station sponsored by Elliott Davis |
| 8:30 – 8:35 a.m. | Announcements |
| 8:35 – 9:35 a.m. | Market & Economic Outlook Craig Dismuke | Stifel |
| The White House’s economic and geopolitical agendas continue to upend rather placid outlooks for the economy, inflation, and the path forward for interest rates. Last year was defined by trade policy uncertainty, this year by geopolitical conflict – two exogenous shocks which remain unsettled. Despite the uncertainty, a resilient consumer and the AI investment cycle have continued to drive positive economic growth. However, higher input costs and the energy shock have compounded concerns about inflation which has already been above the Fed’s target for five consecutive years. As a result, investors have now abandoned their expectation that the next move from the Fed will be a rate cut. In this presentation, we will address the crosscurrent of factors affecting the outlooks for growth and interest rates. | |
| 9:35 – 9:50 a.m. | Networking Break |
| 9:50 – 10:00 a.m. | Exhibitor Drawings Must be present to win! |
| 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Closing Keynote – Oppositioning: One Surprising Strategy for Innovation and Differentiation David Rendell | Keynote Speaker Sponsored by VCDC |
| What can tiny houses, Spartan races, knuckleball pitchers, unibrows, Snapchat, and Minecraft teach us about creativity, innovation, and differentiation? We all know that innovation and differentiation are essential, but developing and implementing truly unique ideas seems very difficult, and most fail to become more creative and distinctive. The solution is surprisingly simple. An unusual method for finding unconventional ideas that will dramatically improve your ability to stand out and produce an endless supply of original breakthroughs. You’ll go from unconventional to unforgettable to unstoppable. |
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| 11:00 – 11:10 a.m. | Stretch Break |
| 11:10 – 12:10 a.m. | Banker Roundtable This session is for bankers only. |
| 12:10 p.m. | Conference Adjourns |
**Speakers and topics subject to change.
Meet the Speakers!
Susan Ancarrow | Troutman Pepper Locke
Bio coming soon!
Matt Bruning | Virginia Bankers Association
Matt joined the Virginia Bankers Association in December 2010 and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As part of that role, he serves as the chief lobbyist, representing the Virginia banking industry at the Virginia state and federal levels, leading VBA BankPAC political efforts, and coordinating grassroots advocacy. He also oversees VBA’s member relations, including bank outreach and engagement, education and training, communications, and product and solution offerings.
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.
Craig Dismuke | Stifel
Craig Dismuke is a Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist for Stifel’s Fixed Income Capital Markets group. Prior to acquisition, Craig was Executive Vice President and Chief Economist at Vining Sparks. He speaks often at industry conferences on the health of the U.S. economy and expectations for interest rates. Craig has appeared frequently on CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV as well as being quoted often in the financial news. Craig lives in Memphis, Tennessee with his wife, Ashley, and three children. He is actively involved with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Brandon Driver | YHB CPAs & Consultants
Brandon has dedicated his entire career to serving financial institutions, joining YHB after graduating from Virginia Tech with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting. Over the years, he has developed extensive expertise in financial institution taxation, SEC filings and financial reporting, as well as SOX and FDICIA implementation and consulting.
In addition to serving clients, Brandon is a frequent presenter on accounting and regulatory topics. He regularly speaks at industry conferences and delivers quarterly GAAP and SEC updates for YHB, helping financial professionals and firm staff stay informed on evolving standards and industry developments. Brandon also plays an active role in staff development, providing leadership in technical training and mentoring the firm’s assurance team.
Amanda Edwards | Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
Amanda Edwards is the Assistant Deputy Comptroller for the Charlotte/Roanoke Office of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). In this role, she is responsible for managing approximately $25 billion in assets across 28 institutions throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
Amanda began her career with the OCC in 2005. In prior agency roles, she specialized in problem bank rehabilitation, working with many struggling banks during the commercial real estate crisis of 2008. She later became a problem bank specialist in the OCC’s Northeast Region.
Amanda also has extensive experience supervising banks involved with fintech partnerships and she earned a FinTech certificate through the Harvard VPAL program. She takes an active role in preparing candidates for the Uniform Commission Examination (UCE) through her involvement as a UCE evaluator. Amanda is a Certified Fraud Examiner and maintains a Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) industry certification. She is a graduate of Winthrop University.
Scott Hildenbrand | Piper Sandler LLC
Scott Hildenbrand serves as chief balance sheet strategist and head of depository markets & strategy at Piper Sandler. Previously, he was a principal and chief balance sheet strategist of Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. He headed the balance sheet analysis and strategy group, working with financial institutions on balance sheet strategy development, which includes interest rate risk management, investment portfolio strategy, retail and wholesale funding management, capital planning, budgeting, and stress testing. Scott also worked closely with the firm’s investment banking group to identify and develop strategic opportunities for clients involved in mergers and acquisitions.
Scott previously worked in Sandler O’Neill’s interest rate products group, focusing on developing and implementing structured wholesale funding strategies for financial institutions. He spent his first four years at the firm in the asset/liability management group. Prior to joining Sandler O’Neill in 2004, he worked as a financial analyst in asset/liability management at Tower Federal Credit Union in Maryland.
Scott joined the Financial Managers Society Board of Directors in 2021. He also serves as treasurer on the board of directors for Liam’s Room, a non-profit organization that focuses on pediatric palliative care, a specialized approach to medical care for children with serious illnesses. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and seminars. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from Loyola College in Maryland and a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in accounting and finance from Gettysburg College.
Logan Hudgins | Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Logan Hudgins is an assistant vice president in Community and Regional Safety and Soundness Supervision at the Richmond Fed. In his role, Logan has responsibility for a portfolio of community financial institutions, including state member banks and holding companies, located in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland. Logan also has responsibility for the operational teams that support supervisory work for the community and regional supervisory teams. Logan has been with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond for 15 years. During this time he’s served in a variety of roles for both the Richmond Fed and the System, all within community and regional supervision. Prior roles include leading the System’s examiner commissioning program for community bank examiners, serving as the Central Point of Contact for a regional state member bank, and supporting institutions and examination teams as a market and liquidity risk specialist. Logan earned his undergraduate degree in finance from Virginia Commonwealth University, holds an examiner commission, and has been a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder since 2016.
Outside of work, Logan enjoys spending his time with his wife and three young kids watching school plays, attending sporting events and coaching soccer, fishing the Chesapeake Bay, and working on home renovation projects.
Joe Musumeci | YHB CPAs & Consultants
Joe has more than 20 years of experience providing tax and advisory services to financial institutions, engineering firms, trusts, estates, and closely held businesses. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and his Master of Business Administration with an accounting concentration from Loyola University Maryland. Throughout his career, Joe has developed extensive expertise in income tax accounting, business and individual tax planning, and advising clients on complex federal and state tax matters.
In addition to serving clients, Joe is a frequent presenter on tax and financial institution topics. He regularly speaks at industry conferences and educational programs, sharing practical insights on evolving tax regulations, accounting for income taxes, and issues impacting the banking industry. Joe is also committed to advancing the profession through leadership and education, serving on the MACPA State Tax Committee and helping clients and peers navigate an ever-changing regulatory environment.
Chris Nichols | SouthState Bank, N.A.
Chris Nichols is President of Institutional Banking for SouthState Bank, a $68B publicly traded regional bank. In addition to capital market activities, Chris supports innovation, artificial intelligence, digital assets, loan pricing, asset-liability management, open banking, payments, and fintech investing for the Bank. Chris produces the popular Banker-to-Banker blog and is a frequent host on The Community Bank Podcast.
Greg Parisi | Troutman Pepper Locke
With over 20 years of experience, Greg represents financial institutions, fintechs and other financial services companies, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, securities law and exchange compliance, public disclosure obligations, corporate governance, regulatory, and commercial matters. Greg often serves as principal outside counsel for his clients. Greg leverages his broad experience and pragmatic approach, bringing a wealth of knowledge, business insight and practical problem-solving skills to efficiently manage transactions and advise clients in an evolving legal landscape. He combines his corporate and transactional experience with a robust knowledge of bank regulatory issues to provide valued legal solutions for financial institutions.
Brett Rawls | PRI
Brett brings extensive leadership experience in high-growth financial services organizations, with a track record of driving key strategic initiatives, overseeing business operations, improving bottom line and facilitating change. He has been active for over 25 years in the financial services industry, having spent time at The Federal Reserve Bank, multiple correspondent and commercial bank environments, and consulting in the industry. As a correspondent banker, Brett has worked directly with over a thousand community financial institutions over the last ten years. Additionally, he has established and led Treasury Management and SBA departments; multiple specialty units, including cannabis-related banking, national deposits and loan participation/syndication desks; and helped create and become the first Chief Administrative Officer for a now-$60 billion plus southeastern-based bank.
David Rendall | Keynote Speaker
David Rendall has spoken to audiences on every inhabited continent during the last fifteen years. His clients include the US Air Force, Australian Government, and Fortune 50 companies such as Microsoft, AT&T, United Health Group, Fannie Mae, and State Farm. Prior to becoming a Certified Speaking Professional, he was a Leadership Professor,
Stand-up Comedian, and Nonprofit Executive. In between presentations, David competes in ultramarathons and Ironman triathlons.
David has a Doctor of Management Degree in Organizational Leadership, as well as a
Graduate Degree in Psychology. He is the author of four books:
- The Four Factors of Effective Leadership
- The Freak Factor
- The Freak Factor for Kids
- Pink Goldfish 2.0
Ann Servaes | FDIC
Ann serves as Regional Director of the FDIC’s Atlanta Regional Office. In this role, Ann provides leadership and direction over the Atlanta Region’s examination and supervisory responsibilities, including monitoring and responding to emerging risks within the region, and implementation of policy initiatives.
Ann has been with the Atlanta Region for 14 years and previously served as Deputy Regional Director of the Risk Management Supervision (RMS) Division, RMS Assistant Regional Director covering the Charlotte, North Carolina territory and the region’s Large Bank Supervision Program. Ann’s 31-year career with the FDIC began as an Examiner in the Ft. Worth, Texas Field Office. She subsequently served as a Case Manager in the San Francisco, Kansas City, Chicago and Atlanta regional offices, covering a wide array of financial institutions and diverse markets. In recent years she served as a Supervisory Examiner in the Atlanta Field Office, and Senior Case Manager with Large Bank supervisory responsibility.
Ann holds a BBA in Economics and Finance from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
Michael Sprouse | Maryland Office of Financial Regulation
As Deputy Commissioner, Depository Supervision, Michael Sprouse oversees the Office’s supervision and regulation of all Maryland state-chartered banks, credit unions and trust companies, ensuring that the financial institutions are operating safely and soundly for the benefit of all of the citizens of Maryland and adhering to all state laws and regulations. He also manages the Office’s Corporate Activities functions, including inquiries about and response to the formation of new institutions or the undertaking of new activities by existing state-chartered institutions. Additionally, he has oversight of the Office’s administrative and personnel related activities.
Michael has worked in the banking industry in the State of Maryland for over 30 years, primarily focused on lending and loan administration. Prior to coming to the Office, he worked as the Chief Retail Banking Officer at The Peoples Bank located in Chestertown for the last two years, and Senior Vice President of Loan Administration/Consumer Lending at Harford Bank for 16 years prior. Michael was part of the senior management team that helped lead these banks to their strategic goals. He was an active member of the Asset-liability Committee, Marketing Committee, Special Assets/Problem Loan Committee and Officer Loan Committees. Michael’s areas of experience include developing new consumer loan business, enhancing efficiencies and automation in the loan process to provide a customer-centric environment, loan underwriting, collections, new product or procedure enhancements, compliance, personnel management, policy development, risk management, vendor management and loan administration. In both financial institutions, he delivered new loan products to better serve the bank’s customers and enhance the bank’s growth. Prior to these positions, Michael worked at Provident Bank of Maryland as a Consumer Lending Underwriter and at Norwest Financial as a Branch Manager.
Michael earned a B.S. degree in Economics from Towson University and graduated from the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking, which included Wharton School of Business training. Michael also successfully completed the Harford County Leadership Academy and The Maryland Bankers Association Emerging Leader Program. He is a native Marylander and is married with two adult children and a dog.
Josh White | Elliott Davis
Josh works with public and private banks across the United States, assisting with financial statement audits, internal control over financial reporting audits (Sarbanes-Oxley and FDICIA), technical accounting solutions, and advising on M&A. Josh has extensive experience working with SEC filers on SEC reporting, including initial and secondary security offerings. Josh also has experience working with de novo groups for bank formations.
CFO Conference Registration
| Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|
| $675 | $1,175 |
Conference Add-On
Accounting Peer Group: $65 (members); $95 (non-members)
MBA/VBA EVENT POLICIES
By registering for this event, you are agreeing to the MBA/VBA Event Policies and the Privacy Policy.
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations will be charged a $25.00 administrative fee. Cancellations received after August 12, 2026 will be charged a $75.00 administrative fee plus any additional fees associated with the training. Substitutions are allowed prior to the beginning of course.
SPECIAL NEEDS & Americans with Disabilities Notice
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.
2026 Ethic Session – AI Ethics in 2026
Overivew
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the accounting profession, creating new opportunities alongside significant ethical responsibilities. This Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA)-approved ethics course is designed for CPAs to understand and manage the ethical implications of using generative and agentic AI in 2026 and beyond.
Participants will learn why AI ethics matters for CPAs, how AI differs from prior technologies, and where key risks arise, including data privacy, bias, accuracy, transparency, deepfakes and regulatory compliance. The course reinforces that AI is an assistive tool — not a substitute for professional judgment — and examines how core ethical principles apply in an evolving technological environment.
Using real-world examples and case studies, the course provides practical guidance on applying existing ethical and regulatory frameworks, including the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, to AI use. Participants will also learn how to develop and implement an effective AI safe usage policy, covering documentation, validation and staff education. By the end of the course, CPAs will be prepared to use AI responsibly, protect client interests, and meet their ethical obligations in an AI-driven profession.
Registration
A separate registration is required to attend the Ethics session. Registration is $195. Please click here to register!
Hotel Information
Hotel Roanoke
110 Shenandoah Avenue NE
Roanoke, VA 24016
The associations have negotiated a room rate of $209/night, plus taxes and fees. To take advantage of this rate, please click here to make your reservation by July 24, 2026.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Interested in sponsoring and/or exhibiting at the 2026 CFO Conference? Click here for available options. For our complete 2026 Sponsorship Brochure, click here. Contact Amy Binns.