With temperatures mainly hovering in the 60s and 70s, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) annual convention may not literally qualify as “the hottest show in community banking,” but the abundance of industry professionals, knowledgeable speakers, entertainment and overall energy throughout the event did its tagline justice.
ICBA Live 2017, held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio, minutes from the city’s famous River Walk, included a vendor expo and events intended to be informational, entertaining, inspiring and networking catalysts.
Informative workshops took place in the “education zone,” covering a wealth of regulatory compliance topics related to cybersecurity advancements, the future of fintech and what it means for banks, automation, third-party risk, fourth-party risk, what community bankers should look out for in the short-term and the long-term and one workshop titled “Bigfoot is Alive: And Other Shocking News for Community Bankers.” It also included a host of business-oriented sessions about best practices in board governance, effective leadership habits and tips for branch and brand development.
As it is as much a networking event as an educational one, the convention included numerous opportunities for bankers to exchange information. During roundtable discussions, bankers from various-sized entities conversed at tables designated for entities of specific capital levels, anchored by ICBA moderators who facilitated the discussion. Participants had the opportunity to laugh and trade stories of success, frustration and constructive tips pertaining to each other’s unique situation.
The opening general session featured remarks from ICBA President and CEO Cam Fine, followed by a deep dive into how overcoming stress and the fear of failure – much the way a Navy fighter pilot must do when trying to land on an aircraft carrier at night, with a margin of error next to zero – can lead to success in a volatile business environment. Former F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot Carey Lohrenz, the first female combat pilot in U.S. history, provided her thoughts on the matter from a perspective of personal experience, and promoted her book Fearless Leadership. All proceeds from the book’s sales will be donated to charitable organizations geared toward helping military veterans.
The second general session included speeches by ICBA Chairwoman Rebeca Romero Rainey and twin NASA astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly, who also are retired U.S. Navy captains.
The convention tried to embrace the Texas atmosphere. The expo hall included some Southwest-themed décor, and during the welcome reception, attendees were treated to a live country music performance, accompanied by line dancing with performers dressed as if they’d just stepped out of the Old West. That was not the only musical performance of the convention, which also included a late show on the second-to-last night with a handful of singer/songwriters and a performance by “Big & Rich” on the final night of the convention.
We’ll be providing coverage from sessions and interviews conducted during the show. Stay with Dodd Frank Update over the next few weeks for more insight into community banking and compliance today.