2025 Convention Speakers

Patrick Dix – Emcee
As vice president of client and association engagement, Patrick leads SHAZAM’s Speakers Bureau, providing valuable and timely education on issues facing banks and credit unions. SHAZAM’s Speaker’s Bureau delivers some of the highest-rated content and training at more than 100 meetings and conventions annually. Patrick also supports SHAZAM’s advocacy efforts at the state and federal level to ensure community financial institutions have a strong voice in the payments industry. Patrick joined SHAZAM as vice president of public relations and has served as vice president of strategic alliances prior to moving to his current role. Before joining SHAZAM, Patrick spent 25 years as a broadcast journalist, including 16 years as the senior morning news anchor at the NBC affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa.

Crystal Steinback, Mills Marketing	Claire Quigle, Mills Marketing

Treating Your Website Like a Branch…Because it is!
Your website sees thousands of visitors (or more) every single day, far more than your physical branches, but do you know why? Learn what data your team should be collecting and analyzing from your website and how it can assist with strategic growth decisions.

Learning Takeaways:

1. Provide a deeper understanding of how to leverage website data
2. Explore real world case study example(s)
3. How to measure and optimize website date to maximize marketing investments
   

AI & Community Banking: Innovation, Insight, and Responsible Implementation

Amy Mounts, RESULTS Technology  – Moderator; Panelist – Jill Druse, OSBC; Patrick Dix, Shazam; Josh Dunlap, RESULTS Technology; Carey Ransom, BankTech Ventures; Banker, TBD

CBA of Kansas proudly presents a distinguished panel of leaders in artificial intelligence, banking technology, and government regulation, coming together to discuss the rapidly evolving role of AI in community banking. Attendees will benefit from thought-provoking conversations on the state of AI in banking, practical solutions tailored for community banks, and actionable strategies for implementing AI responsibly and effectively.

This dynamic panel will delve into the latest industry trends, address critical ethical considerations, and share insights on leveraging AI to elevate customer experiences and improve operational efficiency. With dedicated time for audience questions, you’ll have the unique opportunity to connect directly with leading experts and gain valuable perspectives. Don’t miss this chance to learn, engage, and be inspired by the best minds in the industry!

Jill Druse, OSBC	Patrick Dix, SHAZAM, Inc.	Josh Dunlap, RESULTS Tech.	Carey Ransom, BankTech Ventures

Larry Williams

Passing the Torch: Turning Knowledge into Wisdom for Bank Succession

When seasoned leaders step away, banks risk losing more than operational expertise; they risk losing the wisdom that has built and sustained relationships, reputations, and respect within their communities. This Session will offer practical tools and a clear checklist to help leaders capture and pass on that wisdom in lasting ways. We’ll examine mentorship and shadowing practices that build confidence in successors, along with cultural norms that make knowledge sharing a natural part of daily work. Designed for C‑suite leaders, this session will show how to future-proof your bank by making wisdom transfer the cornerstone of succession planning.

Frank Berndt

State - level Update on the Community Banking Landscape
Frank will discuss the community banking landscape at a state-level, including key trends, recent developments, and nuances between markets. Additionally, he will review the community banking M&A environment, at a nationwide and local level, including transaction value, deal pricing and valuation trends, recent transactions, nuances across geographies, and publicly traded bank valuations. In addition, Frank will provide an overview of recent legislative changes on the federal level and how they may affect the state banking and M&A environments moving forward.  

Devin Henderson

What Else is Possible? 

Break through mental barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible when leaders and teams hit a ceiling—whether at the peak of their success or when they’re facing new challenges—there’s one question that changes everything: What else is possible? Through powerful illusions and hard-won insights, Devin reveals how asking this simple question breaks organisations free from the mental chains that threaten to keep their potential locked away. Audiences learn practical frameworks that help them expand their thinking, reimagine what’s achievable, and defy limitations to pursue goals they once thought impossible. Because when they decide to ask, "What else is possible?" And never stop asking, something greater is always within reach. 

Audiences will gain:

• The tools to ignite untapped potential, spark resilience, and drive transformation. 
• The mindset to conquer obstacles that once held them back.
• Renewed confidence to turn adversity to their advantage.
• A deeper understanding of how to create a culture of possibility—at home, at work and beyond.

Brian Laverdure

Digital Assets & Community Banks: What You Need to Know

Join ICBA’s digital assets regulatory expert, Brian Laverdure, for a session that dives into the latest legislative and regulatory developments in Washington, D.C. Brian will bring attendees up to date on payment stablecoin rulemaking and other important actions by prudential and market regulators.

David Herndon

The State of Banking in Kansas

David will explore the current financial landscape of State Banks in Kansas, emphasizing both the challenges they face and the opportunities that exist within the banking industry. His discussion aims to offer a comprehensive analysis of the factors shaping these banks and the potential avenues for growth and adaptation in a fast-evolving market.

Jack Hopkins

ICBA Update

Jack E. Hopkins is the immediate past chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), the only national organization that exclusively represents community banks. He also serves as president and CEO of CorTrust Bank in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Hopkins holds many leadership roles at ICBA. Active at the local level, Hopkins served as president and chairman for the Independent Community Bankers of South Dakota from 1999 to 2001. A third-generation community banker, Hopkins learned the business from the ground up and has devoted his professional career to improving the financial lives of the customers CorTrust Bank serves. He brings that same passion and dedication to his many roles at ICBA, continuing his work over the last 25 years advocating on behalf of community banking.