Keynote Speakers

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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

OPENING SPEAKER:

"Letting Go: The Myth of Worklplace Retention" 
Jack Stahlmann

Most organizations treat retention as the ultimate metric of success. But what if the obession with keeping employees is costing you more than turnover itself? In this keynote, Jack flips the script: etention isn't about holding on, it's about developing talent so fully that peoples thrive - whether they stay or eventually move on. With humor, stories, and actionable strategies, Jack shows why so-called retention perks like free soda Friday or foosball tables don't work, and what employees really want: managers who care, listen, and invest in their growth. And here's the dirty little corporate secret: The cost of disengaged employees is much higher than the cost of brining on new ones. When you invest in growth - even if people eventually leave - you create stronger teams, a healthier culture, and a pipeline of talent that never funds dry. 

Jack Stahlmann brings Hollywood storytelling to the corporate world. With a background as an actor, producer, director (and a waiter) Jack infuses his keynotes with humor, authenticity, and real-world insight.  But after spending over a decade as a speaker and consultant, peeking behind the curtain of companies, associations, and banks, he uncovered a surprising truth: most organizations are addressing workplace retention all wrong. So, he set out to change that—developing a proven formula to reframe retention from the inside out.


CLOSING SPEAKER:

"The Human Advantage: How Novel Experiences Build Happier Teams and More Loyal Banking Relationships" 
Elle Benson

In a rapidly changing financial landscape, the true differentiator is happiness. This keynote highlights how novelty supports emotional wellbeing, innovation, and trust. Elle Benson shows how community banks can leverage new experiences, not big disruptions, to create meaningful moments that strengthen teams and foster lasting relationships. 

Elle Benson is a keynote speaker, author, and renowned national consultant specializing in helping organizations  transition to greater impact and build capacity. She founded Nonprofit Leadership LLC to support the social sector and brings extensive experience in organizational development, executive transition, strategic planning, leadership development, and board governance.

Benson holds an MBA in organizational change and a BA in business, with certifications in BoardSource and group facilitation. Her TEDx talk, “A Crash Course in Learning to Laugh,” and her books Cultivate Your Happiness: Mama-to-Be and Cultivating Calmness in Children focus on mindfulness, happiness, and practical strategies for everyday wellbeing.


General Session Speakers

Joe Burns

Jon Burns is an Assistant Vice President in the Community and Regional Bank Group within Supervision and Regulation at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He oversees supervisory teams responsible for a portfolio of State Member Banks and Bank Holding Companies. Jon joined the Atlanta Fed in 1997 as an Examiner and has held positions of increasing responsibility at the Bank. He has experience across portfolios from community banking to the GSIB supervisory program and within the Risk function. Jon was recognized in 2009 for outstanding contributions to the supervision of highly complex and problem institutions with the William Taylor Award for excellence in bank supervision. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Math and Economics from Lafayette College, Easton, PA, and is a CFA charter holder.

Kevin Vaughn

Kevin Vaughn is the Deputy Commissioner for Supervision with the Department of Banking and Finance (Department).  In that role, Kevin oversees banks, credit unions, and trust companies chartered by the Department.  Kevin has been with the Department for 16 years and has also served as Supervisory Examiner, Supervisory Manager, and Director for Supervision.  Kevin is currently a member of the CSBS Information Technology Committee and State Examiner Review Team committees.   

Prior to working with the Department, Kevin had over 10 years of experience in various roles at financial institutions.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of West Georgia and is a graduate from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.  He is also a Certified Examinations Manager.




Tharon Johnson

Tharon Johnson is the founder and CEO of Paramount Consulting Group, a full service, bipartisan government affairs and communications firm based in Atlanta, serving clients in the corporate and political sectors. Paramount Consulting Group specializes in government affairs, lobbying, campaign strategy and communications. Leveraging deep relationships from across the aisle, the firm supports clients through a variety of complex needs, providing strategic guidance and solutions that drive results

A nationally recognized political strategist and trusted community leader, Tharon appears each week on Fox 5 Atlanta’s longest-running public affairs program, “The Georgia Gang” and on 90.1 WABE-FM’s popular “Political Breakfast” podcast, ranked among the top 40 political podcasts nationally. He is also the author of the award-winning column “Red, Blue, and You,” which can be found monthly in Georgia Trend magazine.

Tharon advises elected officials at the highest levels of government. Most recently he served as a senior advisor to the Biden-Harris campaign in the battleground state of Georgia. He has served at senior levels of federal, state, and local campaigns, including for President Barack Obama, Congressman John Lewis, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Congressman John Barrow and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.




Brian Robinson

Brian Robinson owns Robinson Republic, a communications consulting firm that specializes in public affairs messaging throughout the state of Georgia. His clients include corporations, issue advocacy groups, chambers of commerce, public officials and political campaigns. Robinson Republic assists clients with message development, issue advocacy, media training, media relations and crisis management. He is a weekly political commentator in metro Atlanta media’s leading outlets and national cable news channels. He’s cohost of WABE’s Political Breakfast and a panelist on Fox 5’s Georgia Gang. He writes a column on politics in each edition of Georgia Trend magazine and is often quoted in leading national publications as an expert on Georgia politics.

Prior to opening his own business, Robinson worked as deputy chief of staff for communications for Gov. Nathan Deal. Before that he served seven years on Capitol Hill in the Georgia delegation.