The ICBA LEAD FWD Summit is the premier gathering for mission-driven professionals committed to shaping the future of community banking through visionary leadership.
This year’s program will delve into key community banking strategies, equipping attendees with valuable insights on fraud mitigation, CAMELS ratings, current management and strategy tactics, customer experience management, and using data to make informed decisions.
Whether you're a seasoned banking professional or an emerging leader, these discussions will provide practical tools and strategies to drive success.
Build resilience, adapt with positivity, and navigate change with confidence.
Develop your communication style and strengthen meaningful relationships.
Champion a culture of clarity, accountability, and service.
Lead with insight through a deeper understanding of CAMELS and risk.
Apply forward-thinking strategies to fraud mitigation and foster a culture of vigilance.
Enhance the customer experience with empathy, innovation, and data-driven insight.
Advocate for the mission of community banking to drive lasting, local impact.
Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Learning & Experience Officer, ICBA Education
Learn why investing in our friendships and connections is the #1 thing we can do for our health, well-being, and success. Debunk the top myths and limiting beliefs that contribute to loneliness and stand in the way of closer connections. Take home the key practices, mindset shifts, and actionable strategies that strengthen relationships and resilience, even in times of stress, uncertainty, and change.
Back by Popular Demand! Striving to be a successful leader can be a huge challenge but also inspiring and fulfilling. Accept the challenges head-on by sharing your insights with your fellow community bankers and leave with new, squeaky-clean ideas! During this peer-to-peer small group discussion, you will parse leadership topics including problem solving, innovation, employee engagement, and how to effectively communicate and share information.
Every day, leaders encounter unexpected situations that challenge them to apply their skills in real time. These missions will immerse participants in scenario- and activity-based challenges where they must navigate unforeseen obstacles, think strategically, and collaborate effectively under pressure. Small teams will face dynamic tasks that require critical thinking, decisive action, and clear communication. Success depends on their ability to adapt, leverage each team member’s strengths, and maintain focus in unpredictable circumstances. The experience will conclude with a debrief, allowing teams to reflect on their problem-solving approaches, leadership decisions, and key takeaways for future challenges.
In today’s world, opinions are everywhere including community banking. And while everyone is entitled to an opinion, they are not always correct. Truth exists. This highly energized, engaging and thought-provoking session will separate fact from fiction on hot topics in community banking. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us as we uncover the truth behind the trends and explore what’s real, what’s not, and what’s next in community banking.
Join us for an engaging Q&A session with Lucas White, President of The Fountain Bank and Trust, who has made a lasting impact in the community banking industry through advocacy and action. He will share his experiences of getting involved in the industry, navigating key challenges, and understanding when and how to speak up on critical issues. Through candid insights and real-world examples, attendees will gain valuable perspectives on the power of leadership in shaping both individual success and industry-wide progress. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how action-driven leadership can create meaningful change.
Continue the journey and execute Mission: Nexus 2
This dynamic breakout session will feature three distinguished leaders from different sectors of the community banking industry, each bringing unique insights on the impact of leadership advocacy. Panelists will share their experiences on how engaging in advocacy strengthens not only the industry as a whole but also drives meaningful benefits for banks and individual leaders. Through compelling stories and practical strategies, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how active participation in leadership advocacy fosters growth, influence, and long-term success. Join the conversation and discover ways to elevate your leadership journey through advocacy.
Panelists:
McKinzie Hopkins, Executive Vice President, CorTrust Bank N.A.
Aaron Stetter, Executive Vice President, Affiliate &; Volunteer Relations, ICBA
Change comes with inherent chaos. That chaos doesn’t have to be negative--there’s good in it too! In this uproarious, empowering, and interactive keynote, Pat Dwyer not only shares his hilarious experiences in identifying the chaos, addressing it, owning it and harnessing it for his own betterment, but he lets you discover firsthand tools for the nimble mindset to master it too.
Complete the journey and execute Mission: Nexus 3.
At some point in your life or career, you’ll have to collaborate with someone you dislike—and chances are, it’s already happened. Some people are simply difficult: know-it-alls, passive, aggressive, or passive aggressive. Others are rude, disengaged, quick to blame, or cynical. Don’t let your agitation and irritation with them interfere with your quest to thrive personally and professionally.
Employee retention, the impact of digitalization on banking operations, non-interest income generation, compliance…do these things keep you up at night? Gather in a collaborative exchange of ideas and experiences during this peer-to-peer small group discussion and get a better night's sleep!
Join us for a special segment featuring ICBA President and CEO, Rebeca Romero Rainey, who will share her firsthand experiences from the fast-paced world of lawmaking in Washington D.C. She will offer valuable perspectives on navigating the complexities of policy, decision-making, and collaboration at the highest levels. Through her journey, she will illustrate how her involvement in the industry served as a catalyst for her own leadership growth—shaping her ability to adapt, advocate, and lead with confidence. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the legislative environment, leaving inspired to apply these insights to their own leadership paths.
Explore current check fraud schemes, particularly those related to mail theft, with a specific focus on cyber trends. It is crucial for leadership to understand these schemes and trends in order to appropriately take preventative action. The information presented will help identify risks and outline prevention strategies for financial institutions and their customers. Additionally, the discussion aims to strengthen the ongoing collaboration between law enforcement and financial institutions.
Everyone agrees on the value of mentors - for both mentees and mentors - yet true mentoring relationships are rare. Why? The practical obstacles are hard to overcome. Meanwhile, leaders are overwhelmed and teams are underdeveloped, which is why two-thirds of US employees are disengaged.
One big reason: we still rely too much on extrinsic motivation - rewards and punishments that worked when compliance was enough. But in today’s knowledge economy, what we need is discretionary effort - and that happens when leaders act like mentors. Employees work hardest when they feel genuinely supported in growing their skills and careers. If you want people to hit their metrics, don’t focus on the metrics. Focus on their growth. We’ll show you how.
Elevate your planning activities with actionable insights. Replace planning assumptions with data-driven decisions. This session reveals essential resources—employee surveys, market research, customer surveys, relationship information, and industry data—that help provide a comprehensive view of your bank’s performance and market opportunities. Integrate these tools into your planning discussions to foster robust discussions that drive success. Build a foundation for your bank, staff, customers, and communities need to thrive.
Due to overwhelming love of engaging with your peers we're giving you more time to dive into the minds of your fellow bankers with a "Would You Rather" session. We'll break into larger groups and see where the group splits on leadership topics and more.