We're Always Recruiting

Derek Eckelhoff | President | Emerging Leaders Section

The Emerging Leaders Section (ELS) of the Arkansas Bankers Association was established to provide leadership training, networking opportunities, and to enhance the banking careers of emerging talent within Arkansas banks. Personally, I can speak with the conference with fresh leadership skills and a new network of idea-sharing peers. More to come from Kami Coleman, ABA VP of Professional Development, about the 2022 ELS Emerging Leaders Conference.

certainty about how ELS has enriched my career through access to some of the best and brightest banking minds in the State of Arkansas. Through trips to Washington DC and access to the ABA Board of Directors and Arkansas banking leaders, I’ve been mentored by some of the more remarkable men and women in our industry. None of this would have been possible without my participation in the Emerging Leaders Section of the ABA. Additionally, the networking aspect has allowed me to connect with my banking peers, and gain knowledge and gather advice on some of the issues facing us as emerging leaders within the Arkansas banking industry.

One of my duties as an ELS officer is to effectively communicate with banks across the state about ELS programs and priorities. In this article, I will share the important issues we’ve focused on as a council.

Currently, the ELS’s immediate focus is on the upcoming Emerging Leaders Conference slated to kick off on October 25, 2022, at the Embassy Suites in Rogers, AR. The primary focus for this conference is to allow emerging talent to gather, share ideas, and learn leadership skills to enhance their banking careers. Through great programming and networking, rising talent throughout Arkansas will come away from

On a macro level, the Council has set three main priorities of focus:

1. Promote Banking as a Career

2. Educating and Promoting Political Advocacy to Emerging Leaders

3. Enhancing the Promotion of the ABA Emerging Leaders Section

The Council has currently assigned action groups to explore, gather information, and provide recommendations to address these priorities. The action groups are split into the State’s three group divisions. Group One is assigned to Promoting Banking as a Career, Group Two is assigned to the Education and Promotion of Political

Advocacy, and Group Three is assigned to the Promotion of ELS and its programming. Anyone reading this article can contribute with ideas and recommendations. If you, or an emerging leader in your bank, want to get involved, please contact me and I will make sure to place them with the contact for their corresponding group.

In conclusion, please encourage the emerging leaders in your banks to get involved with ELS, as these bankers are the future of our industry. The ELS provides the skills necessary to equip emerging bankers in Arkansas to become leaders at their organizations, and in our industry. Also, if you know a current ELS Council Member, thank them for their service and dedication to helping Arkansas banks build great leaders through their commitment to Arkansas Bankers Association and its Emerging Leaders Section. I want to thank the ELS Council for allowing me the privilege to serve as the president for 2021-22, and I look forward to continuing to be of service to our industry and the Arkansas Bankers Association.

Els Executive Committee

DEREK ECKELHOFF PRESIDENT

FIRST SECURITY BANK

Rogers Group 2

LATRECIA BRANCH SECRETARY/TREASURER

STONE BANK

Little Rock Group 1

Els Council Members

AARON BELL

FIRST SECURITY BANK

Jonesboro Group 1

IAN BRYAN

SIMMONS BANK

Russellville Group 2

TAMMY ENGLE

ARVEST BANK

Siloam Springs

Group 2

DUNCAN BELLINGRATH

VICE PRESIDENT

SIMMONS BANK

Hot Springs Group 3

AMBER MURPHY

FIRST FINANCIAL BANK

El Dorado Group 3

BRANDI RAY

FARMERS BANKS AND TRUST COMPANY

Malvern Group 3

TY TEAGUE

FIRST NATIONAL BANK

Little Rock Group 1