PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Reconnecting and Celebrating Richard J. Baier, President and CEO Nebraska Bankers Association Over the past few weeks, I have read numerous articles about the growing mental health crisis in America to try and better understand its root causes and learn strategies to help lessen the seemingly pervasive anxiety. COVID-19-related isolation clearly acted as a catalyst for many of our current challenges. The divisive political environment and aggressive social discourse in our country are also contributing factors. Two fundamental coping strategies noted by experts are to reconnect with people in person and to celebrate accomplishments. So, rather than droning on about the tsunami of regulation consuming our industry, let’s find reasons to connect and celebrate! Triumph #1: The NBA Board of Directors recently approved the creation of the Alice Dittman Trailblazer Award for Women in Banking, named in honor of the first female NBA board chair who passed away in 2023. This annual award will recognize and honor a young female banker who has made substantial contributions to her bank, community, the banking industry and the NBA. Plans call for accepting nominations in July 2024, with the inaugural award presented at the NBA Women in Banking Conference on Oct. 22, 2024. Thanks to strong philanthropic support from the banking sector, the award will be presented every year for the next 20 years. For those who knew Alice, it is fitting that this award will honor and celebrate her legacy. She began her career at Cornhusker Bank in Lincoln in 1948, where she held numerous roles, from maintenance director to president, CEO and chair of the board. She loved to see the bank’s customers succeed and its employees thrive. In addition to her work with the NBA, Alice also served as the first female chair of both the Lincoln and Nebraska Chambers of Commerce. She was inducted into the Nebraska Business Fall of Fame in 1996 and was the Lincoln Journal Star Inspire Woman of the Year in 2019. Her service extended beyond organizational leadership to include mentoring young women in business. Watch upcoming NBA publications to learn more about the award nomination process. 8 NEBRASKA BANKER
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