Issue 3 • 2022 9 JOHN W. ANDERSON EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT NEW MEXICO BANKERS ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: NMBANKERS.COM Continued on page 10 The New Mexico Bankers Association 110th Annual Convention was a huge success. A special thanks to all who attended the convention September 15–16 at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. The event began with an opening cocktail party and a vendor’s event. I want to personally thank our vendors and sponsors for their support and generosity. The education sessions were incredibly informative. Pete Trevisani, owner and president of the New Mexico United Soccer Club, discussed his inspiration for starting the team, the early days of being a gritty startup, the unbelievable support from the state, the success of the first season, the togetherness that helped the team survive 2020 and COVID-19, and what the future holds. All I can say is buy your season tickets now. Brooke Ybarra, Vice President, Innovation Strategy, American Bankers Association, provided a framework for understanding various digital assets, including traditional cryptocurrency, stablecoin, and central bank digital currency. She discussed how banks are engaging in the cryptocurrency ecosystem and reviewed key regulatory developments. Frankly, Brooke’s presentation was so informative that even I finally understood the basic elements of cryptocurrency. Barbara McAneny, MC, CEO, NM Oncology & Hematology Consultants, provided her thoughts on the failure of our attempts to reform our health care “system.” Dr. McAneny was the President of the American Medical Association and served on its board for 10 years. She discussed why the Affordable Heather Care Act (Obamacare) missed the mark, why the private practice of medicine may not survive, and what is at stake. She posed the question, “Can we reform our health care system, or is it too late?” And she provided some ideas that, in her mind, could potentially make a huge difference in the state of America’s health care system. Needless to say, Dr. McAneny knows health care inside and out and was a huge hit as a speaker. The theme for the convention was “Top Gun – Feel the Need . . . The Need to Succeed”. Thanks to Jay Jenkins, we were lucky enough to have an actual Top Gun pilot as our keynote speaker. What an honor and treat that was! Edward “Stevie” Smith had a 22-year career as a Naval Officer and Strike Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy. He served as the Commanding Officer of the Navy Fighting Weapons School, TOPGUN, STRIKE, and Strike Fighter Squadron 34. His staff tours include instructor at the Navy Fighter NMBAs 110TH ANNUAL CONVENTION The theme for the convention was “Top Gun – Feel the Need . . . The Need to Succeed”. Thanks to Jay Jenkins, we were lucky enough to have an actual Top Gun pilot as our keynote speaker.
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