Hoosier Banker 7 major, the IBA is inching closer to getting a program implemented. The academic world moves at a different pace than business undertakings, due to multiple channels of input and review, yet solid progress is taking place as your IBA team continues to form relationships with academic partners statewide. It’s important to find ways to bring future talent to tomorrow’s bank environment, but also to nurture current talent. There are many impressive young bankers now serving in Indiana banking, and there are now about 300 banking professionals who are members of the IBA Future Leadership Division. This spring the FLD hosted its annual Day at the Statehouse, and I had the opportunity to attend. From what I observed throughout the day, I am highly impressed with the emerging leaders of IBA-member banks. FLD members are eager, inquisitive and working hard to serve their customers and communities. They represent the future, and they give me confidence that the future of banking will continue from a position of strength and stability. All of this programming mentioned in this column – FLD Day at the Statehouse, the Indiana Banking Internship Program and the Mega Conference – are only three examples of how the IBA helps build better bankers. Please consider how you can take advantage of IBA offerings to build your team and your future. HB NOTABLE QUOTES Bank Community Service on Twitter The Friendship State Bank • @BankFriendship • March 14 Scholarship Application Deadline is Friday, April 5. Will you help us spread the word? We’re awarding 9 - $1000 scholarships to local high school seniors demonstrating a commitment to community service. STAR Bank • @STARFinancial • March 15 As a community bank, STAR is dedicated to creating a positive quality of life for those who live, work and play in our backyard. It is a privilege to sponsor the @NoblesvillePark 2019 - 2021 Summer Concert Series. Centier Bank • @CentierBank • March 18 A few members of the Centier team were out helping the @ MealsonWheelsIN raise funds at their 18th annual Dine with the Chefs Gala! Each year the event raises $70,000 to help feed those in need in NWI. #nwindiana German American Bank • @_GermanAmerican • March 29 Our Washington State Road 57 office is hosting a Friends for Animals Pet Food Drive April 1-5. We are accepting pet food items & monetary donations for Daviess County Friends for Animals. Stop by our office located at 560 S. State Road 57 in Washington, IN to drop off your donation! Ossian State Bank • @OssianStateBank • April 1 Staff from Ossian State Bank presented Jon Sherburne, Ossian Volunteer Fire Department, with a $1,500 donation for the Annual Pancake and Sausage Breakfast scheduled for Saturday, April 6th. Follow IBA Twitter @indianabankers Twitter Andrew J. Briggs Chairman Indiana Bankers Association First Senior Vice President for Business Development Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Archbold, Ohio CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The theme of the 2019 IBA Mega Conference is: “Building Better Bankers.” As I write these words, Mega has not yet taken place, but it may have already happened by the time you are reading this. Either way, I sincerely hope that Mega has fit into your 2019 plans. If not, please consider coming to Mega next year. There’s no more convenient way to catch up on what bankers need to know to build skills and be better bankers. At the Mega Conference, in the span of only two days (three, for those in the golf outing) attendees have access to nearly 50 educational sessions covering a dozen different functional areas of banking. Then there are the lunchtime keynotes, the Mega Celebration and the chairman’s suite for quality networking. You can’t beat the value of attending this event. Mega represents just one of the distinguishing traits of the IBA. I’ve been active with this Association for many years, and I’ve always felt that IBA membership more than paid for itself. Its value became more apparent, though, when I started serving on the board and saw close up how much the IBA offers its members. At this point, the IBA staff is nearly halfway through the Association’s three-year strategic plan, tackling five “pillars” of ambitious goals. All of the endeavors point to the same end: building better bankers. Whether advocating for an environment conducive to banking, or setting up programs to bring in new talent, the vision of the IBA goes far beyond its three-year plan. One strategic plan pillar that would have been unheard of just a few years ago, but is extremely relevant today, is “Next-Gen Bankers.” This means bringing the best and the brightest of new talent into the industry to ensure its long-term strength and viability. Thanks to the leadership of Clay Ewing of German American Bank, who served as 2018 IBA chairman, the Association has developed a two-pronged approach to bringing tomorrow’s professionals to banking: set up a working internship program, and create a banking major at an Indiana university. Step one, the IBA internship program, is set up and ready to implement. This summer begins the rollout of the inaugural Indiana Banking Internship Program, matching high-caliber Indiana college students with IBA-member banks. For this first year, we are starting out with a small group of students, allowing IBA to carefully monitor and assess strengths and weaknesses of the programming. This pilot-program approach sets up the IBA for the ability to review and successfully build upon the initiative for increased participation next year. Step two of Clay’s initiatives, creating a banking major, is making impressive headway. While it can take years to create a new university
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