4 minute read
Professional Development in Action
Brett Graham VP – Loan Officer Eagle Bank Heber Springs Matthew Gill VP – Compliance/BSA/ Bank Security Legacy National Bank Springdale Brad Yaney SVP – Portfolio Assessment and Credit Training Simmons Bank Little Rock We asked Arkansas bankers for feedback on ABA’s Professional Development events, and here’s what they said...
How many ABA Professional Development events have you attended? What types of events? BG: Probably around 6 - 8 per year… I have been to compliance, BSA, and lending-related events. MG: I can’t even begin to count how many events I have been to. I have been to security conferences, BSA conferences, compliance conferences, Basic Lending School, and Young Bankers/Emerging Leaders Conferences. BY: Over a span of 12 years, I have likely attended 10-12 events. Primarily, the events have centered on the lending function: Analyzing Financial Statements, Commercial Lending Academy, Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, etc. I have also attended the Emerging Leaders’ Conference and Day at the Capitol event several times.
Which Professional Development event has been most beneficial to you professionally? BG: The multi-day compliance schools… They cover a wide array of topics that we can apply to multiple areas of the bank. MG: Being involved with the Young Bankers/Emerging Leaders has been most beneficial to me both personally and professionally. I have met many bankers from across the state that I otherwise would have never met. I still keep in contact with many of these to bounce ideas off of, and to see how other banks handle certain scenarios. I have met people that work for both really small banks and some of the largest banks in the state. Not all banks do things the same way. It is nice to be able to call someone and get a different perspective. BY: The most recent Allowance for Loan and Lease Loss event I attended in 2014 likely provided me with the most up to date, applicable information I could take back to my bank and apply in a relative short period of time. I’ve had an opportunity to join Dr. Dominick on the panel of the Commercial Lending School on several occasions and that has also provided me with some good insight from lenders of varying experience levels.
Aside from topic-specific training, what have you taken away from these events? BG: The ability to network with other bankers across the state… These relationships are crucial for the banking environment right now. MG: I have made many contacts and many life-long friends from around the state. BY: The interaction you have with peers at the events is very valuable. It’s a good opportunity to meet new people who work in the same industry, but more specific, it provides an opportunity to learn best practices.
How have ABA Professional Development events impacted your career? BG: They have allowed me to be able to make informed decisions appropriate for our bank during challenging regulatory times by having the exposure to seasoned professionals and other bankers at these events. MG: The banking world is always changing and the ABA is always looking for new and relevant topics for their events; they always strive to get the best speakers available for each topic. BY: The events have provided me with a level of continuing education at a value which my employer considers fair. The instructors and peers that I’ve been able to meet and become friends with have been valuable resources for many questions that have arisen over the year. These opportunities have assisted me in growing and developing within my own organization.
How have you been able to implement information garnered at ABA Professional Development events in your bank? BG: By sharing with management what is learned and being able to apply it at our bank. MG: Attending ABA events is a great way to learn something new or just to get a refresher course. I always come back to the bank and look at how we do things. Then I will see how the information I learned from either the
speaker or another banker can be implemented to make us a better bank. BY: The majority of the events address real-life situations that bankers are encountering and the instructors offer practicable feedback and solutions that we can implement. If I can tell management that the new thoughts or ideas we are discussing were developed from an ABA event, I believe that adds to the credibility.
What else should Arkansas bankers know about ABA Professional Development? MG: It is nice to have a banking association that truly cares about not only the banks, but the bankers as well. It is obvious they want the banks in Arkansas to succeed but they also want the bankers to succeed. If you have an employee that shows any drive at all and you think they might go far in your organization, I highly recommend getting them involved with any ABAsponsored event. BY: Like most businesses, I’m sure most all banks are very cost conscious right now and trying to gain efficiencies. I think that the ABA offers valuable training and development courses that are easily assessable to most bankers across the state and are offered at reasonable prices when compared to other professional development opportunities.
5Conferences Most-attended Seminar: BSA/AML Compliance Management with 77 bankers in attendance 40 Seminars with an average overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 5,000 + Arkansas bankers participated in Professional Development events in 2014 ...were you one of them?
61 Speakers from across the country
306 Webinars Highest-rated Seminar: Appraisals & Evaluations with a rating of 4.9 out of 5
including 7 Arkansas-specific topics
94 Graduates from 5 ABA Schools
Top 3 Speakers: Patrice Konarik with a rating of 5 out of 5
