EMERGING LEADERS UPDATE I wanted to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the Arkansas Bankers Association and to give my thoughts on the Emerging Leaders Section. Over the past five years I have had the privilege to serve in the Emerging Leaders Section and for the past three years, I have been able to serve on the Executive Committee. I very much appreciate the Arkansas Bankers Association Board of Directors affording me these opportunities and allowing me to help give back to the banking community.
not for the Emerging Leaders Section. Getting a first-hand look of how Washington, D.C. works – and sometimes not – works, will be something that will not only help me in banking but in life in general. It is important for the bankers in the state to develop relationships with our Congressional Leaders and their staff. Most of the staff members are the same ages of the Emerging Leaders Section members and we can use these networking opportunities to benefit the banking industry.
I would encourage any young banker to get involved in the Emerging Leaders Section and to reach out to your group’s Board of Directors members if you have the passion to serve on the ELS Council and Executive Committee. The past several years with the ELS have been very educational as well as entertaining for me. Getting to know the various bankers from across the state of Arkansas and having the opportunities to network with these bankers will be an asset I can use the rest of my banking career. The relationships I have had the chance to build with the amazing Arkansas Bankers Association staff is something else that will be invaluable to me.
Traveling to Washington, D.C. is not the only way to get involved with the Emerging Leaders Section. The ABA schedules a Day at the Capitol every other year to help us learn the workings of the Arkansas State Legislation. Along with several “Coffee and Committee” opportunities while the legislators are in session, these allow us to attend committee meetings on topics that might affect the banking industry. Personally, I have an advantage in attending these since I live and work in Little Rock, but I do suggest those who live outside central Arkansas take advantage of these opportunities provided by the Arkansas Bankers Association. Equally important as getting to know our legislators is getting to know our regulators. That is why the ELS hosts a Day with the Regulators every other year, scheduled for November 16th of this year. It’s a great opportunity to meet face to face with our regulators, and hear what their hot topics are
On top of the relationships the ELS has brought to me, the experiences will be something I will never forget. I don’t believe I would have had the opportunity to attend the Government Relations Summit in Washington, D.C. if it were
ELS PRESIDENT BLAKE FLETCHER SVP / Senior Lending Officer Stone Bank Little Rock
as well as to talk to them about our concerns. Again, I would like to thank the ABA, particularly Mr. Bill Holmes, Barry Jackson, Kami Coleman, and Ava Roberts. It has been a real pleasure getting to know everyone so well and I look forward to continuing to be involved with the ABA.
ABA EMERGING LEADERS SECTION COUNCIL Stone Bank, Little Rock
BLAKE FLETCHER | PRESIDENT
JOHN ANDERSON | VICE PRESIDENT The Malvern National Bank, Little Rock
GEORGE PURVIS | SEC./TREAS. Cornerstone Bank, Eureka Springs
EDUARDO ABRIL | GROUP 4 First State Bank of DeQueen, DeQueen
BURT HICKS | GROUP 5 Simmons Bank, Pine Bluff
BEN RIDINGS | GROUP 2 Bank of the Ozarks, Little Rock
Grand Savings Bank, Rogers
NATALIE BARTHOLOMEW | GROUP 3
BLAKE JOHNSON | GROUP 1 Evolve Bank, Jonesboro
RACHEL SCHWARTZ | GROUP 4 Farmers Bank & Trust, Texarkana
JOHN BOLLINGER | GROUP 3 Simmons Bank, Fayetteville
JAMES LYLE | GROUP 5 McGehee Bank, McGehee
SANDY STARNES | GROUP 2 The Citizens Bank, Batesville
BRANDON GENTRY | GROUP 1 Cross County Bank, Wynne
RYAN MOORE | GROUP 1 Centennial Bank, Jonesboro
HUNTER WINDLE | GROUP 4 The Malvern National Bank, Malvern
ROBERT HARGIS | GROUP 5 The Citizens Bank, Monticello
HUNTER NORTON | GROUP 3 First Security Bank, Fayetteville
WHAT IS THE EMERGING LEADERS SECTION? The Emerging Leaders Section (ELS) was organized by the Arkansas Bankers Association Board of Directors to provide information concerning educational opportunities available for its members. The ELS was established to provide leadership training for young bankers, to enhance banking careers, offer its members the opportunity to learn, network, and be productive members of the banking profession. 6
The Arkansas Banker | October 2017 2017
