Community Bank Leadership Academy

 “I believe the CBA Leadership course is relevant at all stages of your career. It has helped me to recognize and understand my own style and to see areas where I can improve. If you are new to a leadership position the knowledge gained from the program, correctly applied would provide an opportunity to succeed in your position and be ready to grow into the next one. I would recommend the program to anyone willing to take a hard look at themselves and be ready to be a better leader.”

Angelia Alfred, American Commerce Bank

Jamie Arnold, BankSouth

"When BankSouth pointed out the CBA Leadership Scholarship & program to me, I thought why not. I had no idea what to expect and really wasn’t sure it was for me. I do not have direct reports, how am I to be a leader?? My bank elected me as one of 4 to attend the 2024 Academy. I knew the speaker for the first 3 sessions and Love her. What I found after that first session was, excitement on what was to come & more questions. How I would apply this to my life and what Does leadership mean to me? Over the next sessions I gained so much knowledge, peers and friendships. The networking and ability to have like minds in the room is priceless. I gained the understanding that anyone can be a leader. I learned Leadership is hard and with groups and programs like this one, it feels attainable and critical for success."

Amy Everett, BankSouth,
IT Systems Engineer
Class of 2021

“This leadership class has been a beneficial time of self-reflection on both a professional and personal level. I am closing out this course with an immense understanding of different leadership styles, and how those around me respond to those techniques. The curriculum exposed my leadership strengths and weaknesses for the benefit of my team and other relationships in my life.”

Jonathon Guthrie, The Peoples Bank

“This is, by far, the best training I’ve ever attended. The program has been so well thought out and organized. I feel I’ve flourished as a leader and as a person in general. All aspects of my life have been touched and enhanced. I attribute so much of my recent success to this Academy. I’ve been able to take lessons learned here and apply them to situations at my bank to make positive changes. I would recommend this Academy to any aspiring leaders.”

Stephanie Jordan, SunMark Bank

"This leader class has been a huge blessing for me.  I have grown both personally and professionally.  I have been able to now overcome obstacles that I had feared before.  This class has been exciting, interesting, informative, engaging, and challenging.  It has taught me to self reflect.  I feel that I have made a huge step forward by attending this class.  Everyone that has the opportunity, should take this class.  It has also taught me that change and growth is good.  This is the best class I have attended, ever. 
CBA is the absolute best!"

 Bonnie Kitchens, The Citizens Bank of Cochran
Class of 2024

 "CBA’s Leadership Academy was not your ordinary leadership-training course, and far exceeded my personal expectations! Not only was the training material valuable and engaging, the trainers and attendees brought the program to another level! Early on, the training staff had compelled group participation without us even knowing it, and this not only allowed our leadership skills to blossom, but also, created networking friendships that we know will last a lifetime. The trainers were focus driven and spent time relating techniques to real life situations for both work and personal life.
The program was very much about self-reflection, and putting into play, the changes we can make to better our teams, our overall workplace, and ourselves."

Ashley Lanier-Elston, First National Bank of Coffee County

“I chose to attend CBLA because I want to grow as not only a leader, but as a person also. By attending these sessions, not only have I learned more about myself, but I have also developed a skill set and acquired tools needed to continue to become a successful leader. Leadership Academy provided us with great speakers, who have coached us and helped with our growth and professional development as leaders and people. I feel I have connected with a network of people that will also help continue my evolvement as a leader, not only in my career, but in my family, and community as well. I recommend this class to everyone. To be able to lead is to be humble, and to have the knowledge that continued growth is ongoing.”

Priscilla A Morris, The Claxton Bank

"Having been in supervisory roles majority of my working career, this class has been amazing to open my eyes to the areas of leadership that I am already strong in from all my past experience.  It has also shown me the areas where I can continue to grow from a supervisor to a strong leader.  I love that I was able to obtain more tools to continue to grow and learn how to communicate and work with others that may view things differently than me.  I look forward to using the lessons and tools personally and professionally. "

Jessy Piscitelli, BankSouth
Class of 2024

"First let me say thank you to Exchange bank for sending me to the Leadership Academy second to Kristi Greer and April Farlow. They both made this program enjoyable. Was scared when I was informed that I would be going to this program, but they made it a fun learning experience.  I would recommend the Leadership Academy to anyone who is looking to be a good leader."

Melissa Prosser, Exchange Bank
BSA Specialist / Internal Auditor & Teller Trainer
Class of 2024