Nearly 100 members of the IBA’s Future Leadership Division gathered Aug. 1-2 at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel for the group’s premier event, the 2024 FLD Leadership Conference. This was the conference’s first year back on the north side of Indianapolis, offering a fresh venue with the added convenience of free parking.

IBA President and CEO Amber Van Til welcomed the mix of FLD veterans and first-time attendees to the conference, highlighting the wealth of opportunities available through active involvement with the Association. Amanda Morris-Feldman, the 2024 FLD Advisory Board vice president from First Federal Savings Bank, Rochester, followed with additional remarks and introduced the first speakers.

Programming began with Alyce Blum and Lindsay Clarke from Articulated Intelligence, who provided a joint presentation about networking and how to approach it with more confidence and purpose. Attendees then broke up for a networking lunch where they could meet new peers and gear up for the upcoming agenda.

One of the conference’s most popular elements, our speed roundtables, kicked off after lunch. Members were grouped randomly to meet new peers and discuss topics ranging from professional development and workplace culture to technology and more.

The afternoon continued with Nick Arrigo from Haberfeld speaking about strategies to create value and an environment where people and organizations can succeed and achieve results. Michael Clampitt, the 2024 FLD Advisory Board president from North Salem State Bank, provided an in-depth discussion on the benefits of engaging with the Future Leadership Division and encouraged everyone to sign up for free membership. Clampitt then received a plaque in recognition of his service as president of the advisory board and his commitment to promoting the future of banking.

The day proceeded with a second session of roundtables before Lindsay Clarke returned with an insightful conversation on workplace conflict and how viewing conflict as a growth opportunity can enhance productivity and morale.

The evening brought a lively reception and buffet dinner, setting the stage for the FLD trivia competition. Teams, assembled randomly, engaged in a trivia challenge hosted by professionals from Hambone’s Trivia for two hours of fun competition. After a close battle, the winning trivia team took home a gift basket of assorted goodies, an IBA logo blanket and, most importantly, a 2024 FLD Leadership Conference Trivia Night Champion trophy.

The conference continued the next morning with an insightful panel about grassroots advocacy and the importance of engagement. Led by IBA Chief Policy Officer Dax Denton, the panel featured Indiana House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Jeff Thompson, Michael Clampitt and Amanda Morris-Feldman. Panelists provided personal stories and real-life examples where advocacy made an impact and why it matters to their own lives, but also to their bank and community. Rep. Thompson also gave an insider’s view of the legislative process and stressed why bankers need to actively engage in forming relationships and being a source of knowledge for their legislators.

The conference concluded with a final speed roundtable session and a presentation from Olivia Fitchett, a renowned coaching and speaking professional. Fitchett provided a lively discussion on people’s fundamental physiological need for connection and belonging, offering strategies to achieve this result in the workplace and in the community.

Overall, the 2024 FLD Leadership Conference was a resounding success providing immense benefits for attendees as well as their banks. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the banks that prioritized sending their employees to this event.

A special thanks to our sponsors for making this event possible: Amundsen Davis LLC, CLA, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, infotex, Spry and our presenting sponsor, Krieg DeVault LLP.