VBA, the American Bankers Association and the Maryland Bankers Association partnered to host the third-annual virtual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit for bankers on September 15, 2022. Five hundred seventy five people attended nationwide from 42 states and Washington DC. This event was an important part of continuing a meaningful dialogue on fostering positive change in the industry. The value-packed program helped bankers master the leading practices for mitigating the systemic barriers that disadvantage marginalized groups in the industry and gave actionable steps to implement change.

“This event provided a safe place to talk about hard issues with knowledgeable people.”
– Summit Attendee

Photos from the 2022 DEI Summit

 

“The DEI Summit was one of the best that I’ve attended. It was particularly helpful in that it provided some financial industry-related perspectives. However, the content was broad and applicable to anyone interested in strengthening and sharpening their DEI competencies and thought processes. Well done!”
– Summit Attendee

2022 Session Information

Opening Session: Recruitment Strategy Panel Discussion

• Alethia Baggett, Chief Human Resources Officer, American Bankers Association
• Nicole Elam, President & CEO, National Bankers Association
• Anthony L. Jenkins, Ph.D., President, Coppin State University
• Moderated by Bruce Whitehurst, President & CEO, Virginia Bankers Association

Non-Traditional Workers: Attracting and Retaining Second Career Workers

• Shibnum Blewett, Project Manager, Strategic Partnerships & Pipelines – I.M.P.A.C.T Diversity Sourcing Team, JPMorgan Chase
• Jim Curran, Financial Know-How Program Manager, Cape Cod 5
• Markeia Johnson, AVP, Primis Works Manager, Primis
• Moderated by Cathy Nestrick,  Senior Director, Women’s Leadership Initiative & DEI, American Bankers Association

All-In: No Limits Q&A

• Jonathan Zur, President & CEO, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC)
• Moderated by Tamika Brewer-Johnson, Head of Teammate Engagement/Senior Vice President, Atlantic Union Bank 

DEI Framework: Essential Components of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

• Naomi Mercer, Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, American Bankers Association

Multicultural Banking: Making Yourself Matter to Multicultural Consumers

• Karla Fernandez Parker, Managing Director, Sensis Texas

Managing Your Team: Leading a Diverse Workforce

• Karen Hinds, Founder and CEO, Workplace Success Group

Conscious Inclusion: Why Conscious Inclusion Matters

• Richard H. Harvey Jr., Esq., CRCM, CAFP, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Director of Compliance Risk, Beneficial State Bank

Closing Keynote: Beyond the Image of Diversity – How to Create a Culture of Inclusion

• Dima Ghawi, Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach and Author