The SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) Foundation will convene its 157th Assembly for Bank Directors at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, February 1–4 to plan for a successful future, focusing on community banking and new imperatives. The conference will be guided by the industry’s leading authorities on community banks and their competitive edge. On the agenda are critical issues bank boards are facing nationwide, including specific areas of corporate governance, strategic planning and best practices. Extensive Q&A and director engagement will afford you the opportunity to drill down further to gain a complete understanding of what’s expected of today’s boards of directors and their senior management. Recent peer exchanges at our other programs have been transformative.
The Maui Wildfires
You might be wondering if the recent wildfires on Maui will affect plans for the upcoming assembly. After many discussions with the Hyatt leadership, SWGSB representatives are convinced that the best plan is to move forward with the program at the Hyatt Regency Maui. Fortunately, the venue and the immediate surrounding area have not been damaged and there will be plenty of activities, experiences and excursions to enjoy. See just a partial list below. Assembly attendees will not only have a wonderful time together, but will also be contributing to Maui’s local economy and its rebuilding efforts, which rely heavily on tourism. “The men and women—and their families—deserve our confidence at such a critical time,” SWGSB states. “We are certain you agree that we need to be a part of the solution—to help this unique part of America back on its feet.” If you would like to donate to Maui’s rebuilding efforts, please visit the Maui Strong—Hawaii Community Foundation or the Hyatts of Maui Colleague Support GoFundMe page.
The assembly will cover a number of important topics, including:
- Keynote Address, Michelle W. Bowman, governor, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System;
- A Bank Directors Guide to the Economy, Edmond J. Seifried, Ph.D., chief economist, SWGSB Foundation, and professor emeritus of economics, Lafayette College;
- 2024 Economic Forecast, Edmond J. Seifried, Ph.D;
- Courageous Leadership, Michael J. Bacon, founder and managing partner, Rezolvrizk LLC;
- The Evolving Role of Community Bank Directors, Peter G. Weinstock, partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP;
- Asset Liability Management, Emily Hollis, chief executive officer, ALM First;
- When Do Risk Management Mistakes Become Traditions, Michael Cohn, principal, Wolf & Company PC;
- Customer Service Innovations to Watch in 2024, Marci Armstrong, Ph.D., director, Brierley Institute for Customer Engagement, Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University; and
- Customized Bank Performance Reports: Deep Dive into Your Institution and Your Peer Group, Jamie Sumner, partner, Velligan-Blaxall Consultants LLC.
The featured keynote, moderated by Dory Wiley, will include a luncheon (with spouses), sponsored by Commerce Street Capital.
Additional featured participants will include:
- Jill Castilla, president and CEO, Citizens Bank of Edmond, and board chair of the SWGSB Foundation;
- William T. Chittenden, Ph.D., chief academic officer, SWGSB Foundation; and
- Merrill Reynolds, founding partner, Reynolds Williams Group, and managing director, Certified Community Bank Director’s Program.
Oceanfront Chat with Governor Michelle Bowman
The assembly will include an oceanfront chat with Michelle Bowman, governor of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. This in-person interview, moderated by Dory Wiley, president and CEO of Commerce Street Holdings LLC, will cover a number of issues important to community bank directors and their management. Bowman took office as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in 2018. Prior to serving on the Federal Reserve Board, she was the state bank commissioner of Kansas (2017–18). She also served as vice president of Farmers & Drovers Bank in Kansas (2010–17). In addition to her experience in the banking industry, Bowman worked in Washington, D.C., for Kansas Senator Bob Dole (1995–96) and served as a counsel to the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight (1997–2002). In 2002, Bowman was named director of congressional and intergovernmental affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. From 2003 to 2004, she served as deputy assistant secretary and policy advisor to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Ka’anapali is a world-renowned destination located on the West side of the island of Maui, Hawaii. Fortunately, this area was not damaged by the recent wildfires on Maui. With a three-mile stretch of majestic white sand beach and warm, sunny weather throughout the year, Ka’anapali provides the best of the best, with easy access to everything you want to see and do. Enjoy endless water activities such as snorkeling, diving, kayaking, surfing, parasailing, jet-skiing, catamaran sails and more. Land activities include championship golf with spectacular ocean views, world-class shopping and dining at Whaler’s Village, and cultural activities, including Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa’s Drums of the Pacific Luau, which is not to be missed. The Hyatt also features two golf courses, spa and wellness options, a half-acre oceanfront pool, tennis and pickleball, scuba diving, wildlife attractions and Hawaiian cultural experiences (lei-making classes, hula dancing lessons and Hawaiian storytelling sessions).
Here are some of the other activities, experiences and excursions attendees can enjoy:
Whaler’s Village (five- to eight-minute oceanfront walk from the hotel)
Other activities in Ka’Anapali and on the island:
- Zipline Tours
- Beach Olympics/Games
- Surfing lessons, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkel tours
- Boat tours (snorkeling, whale watching during season, sunset tours)
- Helicopter tours
- UTV tours
- Horseback riding
Click here to register for the event. For more information, write, call or email SWGSB, SMU Box 214, Dallas, Texas, 75275; 214/768-2991; [email protected]. Click here to download a brochure with details on the event.