12 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2019 Conference had its largest turnout ever, with 104 attendees. Drey says that FLD events have helped him grow as a banker: “Attending different Future Leadership conferences, I have listened to a variety of speakers that focus on leadership skills. Over the years I have been able to utilize these programs as an opportunity for personal growth. We have even used some of the speakers in our own organization.” Events such as the FLD Day at the Statehouse demonstrate the FLD’s emphasis on advocacy as a method of building leadership skills while also benefiting the banking industry as a whole. The IBA believes that the most effective advocacy takes place at the grassroots level, when bankers meet face-to-face with their lawmakers to express industry views. For Boardman, FLD events have opened Emily Boardman (center), Crossroads Bank, speaks with Kirby Drey and Melodie Yarnell at the 2018 FLD Leadership Conference. her eyes to how she can make an impact as a banker, especially in the advocacy realm. “I joined FLD after attending a Day at the Statehouse event in 2015,” she says. “I became more aware of the importance of advocacy and how the legislative environment has a direct impact on our roles within our banks.” Boardman continues: “It also became clear to me how little I knew about our state legislative process. Unfortunately, the world is slightly more complex than the ‘Schoolhouse Rock: How a Bill Becomes a Law’ version from elementary school. The IBA event, and events since, have provided great insight for the process that governs our industry.” In the coming year, the FLD advisory board looks to continue building upon the group’s success. “We now have a great group of individuals on this advisory board that Melodie Yarnell speaks at 2018 FLD Leadership Conference at The Alexander. Kirby Drey leads an FLD advisory board meeting. Members of the FLD advisory board convene at the IBA offices in 2018. come from all different areas of the bank and are excited about growing the FLD even more,” Drey says. Overall, Yarnell is pleased with the group’s development during her time on the FLD advisory board. “Growing our membership to nearly 400 members in a short period of time, increasing the importance of advocacy among future leaders, and watching the relationships among our leaders develop and grow are all successes that I’m proud to have been a part of,” she says. Boardman’s goal is for FLD members to stand out in the industry. “I want FLD to be seen as the talent pool to draw on the next level of leadership for each individual financial institution,” she says. “I hope it will be obvious which members of your team have been active in the industry through FLD.” HB
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