10 HќќѠіђџȱ юћјђџ юѦȱ2014 COVER STORY The theme of the 2014 Mega Conference of the Indiana Bankers Association, “Experience the Energy,” paid homage to the massive energy that bankers devote to their customers, communities and careers. ȱȱ ȱȱŗǰŘśŖȱĴȱ ȱȱȱȬ Ĵȱǰȱ ȱȱȱȱĚȱȱȱ ȱ Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Traditionally Mega opens with a Monday golf outing, which this year was rained out. However spirits were anything but dampened, as golfers instead found alternate ways to network via capitol city excursions, plus a chance to meet and mingle in the chairman’s hospitality suite, specially opened for the afternoon. Golf event boxed lunches were promptly donated to Second Helpings, an organization which redistributes food to people in need through social service channels. Tuesday, April 28, Mega educational sessions began with a ǰȱȱĴȱ£ȱȱ learning experience by choosing from an array of 24 quality sessions. Topics represented were Compliance, Directors, Human Resources, Sales & Customer Service and Trust — plus the added track of Retail Banking. Tuesday’s luncheon honored the banks and associate members which are deeply engaged in the Association — winners of the Five Star and Diamond Associate Member awards. Tuesday’s keynote speaker, ȱ ȱ Ĵȱ ȱǻ ǯǼǰȱ recounted the spellbinding saga of “Black Hawk Down” in a moving presentation that reinforced the virtues of patriotism, leadership and duty. At the close of Tuesday’s education ǰȱĴȱĚȱȱȱ Mega Reception, held across the ȱȱȱ ȱ Ĵǯȱ This gathering combined end-ofday networking with a tribute to the associate members whose support makes the Mega Conference possible. ȱęȬȱ ȱ ȱ format was an instant hit. Wednesday, April 29, continued the energy of Mega with a fresh assortment of 24 educational sessions, including a new track: Risk Management. Additional topical areas were Business Lending, Financial Management, Marketing, Operations & Technology and Strategic Thinking. Luncheon presentations on Wednesday highlighted the best ȱ ȱȱȱěȱ through the IBA Maxi Awards. Emcee Tade Powell of First Farmers Bank and Trust Company, Converse, artfully recounted the traits of each Maxi Award winner. Congratulations to all Maxi Award banks, and to MainSource Bank, Greensburg, for winning Best of Show. Also at the luncheon, keynote speaker Rory Aplanalp shared a spirited message of hope through his presentation, ȃ ȱȱ ěǯȄ Another highlight of Mega is the perennially sold-out trade show, which this year featured 84 exhibitors showcasing the best of product-andservice solutions. Last year’s popular exhibit hall game was reprised in 2014 as a double-card game, giving bankers twice the opportunity to win prizes while networking among service providers. We value Mega exhibitors not only for the product-and-service information they share, but for the ęȱȱ¢ȱǰȱȱ with the many other sponsors who make Mega a reality. Thank you to our dedicated sponsors who allow us ȱěȱ ȱȱȱȱȱȱ the Indiana banking community. Thank you, also, to the members ȱȱ ȱȱĴǯȱ Ĵȱȱȱȱ in advance to guide the educational value of the event, ensuring that Mega addresses timely topics presented by quality speakers. Finally, thank you to our members, who come to Mega and other IBA events. IBA is a member-driven organization; you are the reason we come together at Mega and other events. Please plan to join us for next year’s Mega Conference, scheduled for May 11-13, 2015, at the Indiana Convention Center. We look forward to another Mega success. Mega 2014: Experience the Energy яќѢѡȱѡѕђȱ Ѣѡѕќџ ȱ ǯȱ Ĵ, CMP, is vice president-meetings & events of the Indiana Bankers Association. She can ȱȱȱřŗŝȬřŞŝȬşřŞŖǰȱDZȱĴȓ- anabankers.org.
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