Event & Class Speakers
If you would like information on any unlisted speakers, please contact a Professional Development Associate.
Dianne Barton, is President of Performance Solutions, inc. (PSi), training and consulting company that specializes in providing solutions to the key challenges facing banks today in attracting and building relationships with their customers. PSi's training programs are designed to “close the gap” between the banks’ needs and employees' skills. Her trademark “real world” scenarios give attendees insight into the practical application of new skills and knowledge. Dianne is a well-respected facilitator and presenter and has spoken to banking audiences across the country for over 30 years. Her training and consulting expertise in strategic planning, leadership, deposit and consumer regulatory compliance, retail growth strategies, performance management, as well as sales culture development is recognized as providing “real world solutions” by both regional and community banks. Before starting Performance Solutions in 1983, she held senior positions with BankSouth Corporation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the John H. Harland Company. Dianne is a graduate of Georgia State University and is on the faculty of several national and state banking schools.
Lisa Berry is a Senior Banking Consultant and Principal with Warren Averett, one of the largest CPA firms in the southeast, with more than 36 years of experience in the financial services industry. As a consultant for PSI and Warren Averett, Lisa conducts and facilitates training from the frontline to the board room
Mike Burke brings three decades of law enforcement, retail loss prevention and training experience to your event. After a 20-year career, Mike was tapped to lead the first Homeland Security Training Center in Iowa. He went on to work with some of the largest retailers in the country to prevent theft loss before bringing his wealth of experience to SHAZAM’s community institutions. His timely and comprehensive presentations are an invaluable resource for organizations looking to tackle issues like card cloning, skimming fraud, robbery prevention and elder fraud.
Anetria Connell is a Vice President at ProBank Austin . Prior to joining the firm, she served as legal counsel to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions which regulates depository, non-depository, and securities entities. Her primary responsibility at the Department was the Dodd-Frank Act, whereby she assessed its effect on federal and state law and provided information and training to examiners and staff. In addition to her regulatory experience, Ms. Connell practiced business, real estate, and banking law. She graduated from The George Washington University Law school in 2004 with honors, and is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Kentucky.
Christie Drexler is the Senior Consultant and Facilitator for Performance Solutions, Inc., a bank training and consulting company that specializes in providing "real-world" solutions to the key challenges facing banks today in developing the team and building profitable relationships. Christie has over 26 years of experience in the financial industry for community, regional and national banks. Her experience has been expansive to include beginning as a Management Associate, successfully navigating both retail, real estate, operations, treasury services, commercial banking careers and serving as Chief Retail Officer, Market and Division President. Christie is a passionate facilitator and coach with a focus on developing leaders.
Patrick Dix As a former news anchor, Patrick brings his story-telling approach to audiences on a variety of topics. From working with the media, to crisis communications, to the latest issues in the payments industry, Patrick provides commentary to help audiences understand complex topics and delivers easily digestible takeaways they can use at their institution. Patrick leads SHAZAM’s strategic partnerships with more than 70 industry organizations and trade associations, supporting their advocacy efforts and ensuring community financial institutions have a strong voice in the payments industry.
Carol Dodgen is the owner of Dodgen Security Consulting. Since 1998, her company has been providing services for businesses, financial institutions, and government entities to include training, ATM lighting inspections, and security assessments. Before forming her company, Carol served as the security training officer for Compass Bank. She earned her Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and spent several years as an adjunct criminal justice instructor with Jacksonville State University. Carol is a nationally recognized speaker who has provided training for over 100,000 corporate, manufacturing, utility, law enforcement, and security personnel over the past 25 years. Carol earned her CPD (Crime Prevention Designation) and provides instruction on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Workplace Violence Prevention and Response, Robbery Prevention and Response, and Personal Safety. Carol recently produced her 2nd video training program entitled “Robbery: Plan. Prevent. Prevail.” which provides training for employees of financial institutions in proper robbery procedures. In 2009, Carol was appointed by the governor to serve on the newly formed Alabama Security Regulatory Board and served for 6 years as vice-chair of this board which regulates the security guard industry in the state.
Zach Duke is the Founder and President of Cybersecurity firm Finosec. Under his leadership, he leads the vision of the company to help financial institutions navigate the complexities and burdens of cybersecurity. Zach has over 20 years of experience in helping community banks manage information security and cybersecurity. He has held positions in technical, product management, business development, and leadership at network services company Safe Systems and Gladiator Technology until its acquisition by Jack Henry and Associates INC. Zach has a passion for community banks, and he has taught numerous banking topics related to technology strategic planning, cybersecurity, and compliance. Duke is on the advisory board of Management Information Systems at the University of Georgia, and he is the immediate Past President of the financial technology user group, The Association for Financial Technology (aftweb.com). Duke received his BBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia. His unique background and presentation style allows him to be able to communicate complex topics in ways that keep the audience engaged and informed.
April Farlow has spent over 15 years motivating audiences to get out of their comfort zone, speak up and represent their values. As a corporate trainer, April has taught over 20,000 individuals and honed her skills to motivate hard to reach audiences. She has ranked in the top 1% of facilitators out of 3,000 for Dale Carnegie Training.
April delivers! On topics such as vision development, self-confidence, presentation skills, and leadership, she has led to measurable behavioral change impacting the bottom line in multiple industries. Organizations who have heard from April include UPS (United Parcel Service), CDC (Centers for Disease Control), Federal Home Loan Bank Atlanta, Home Depot, Kroger Company, Spanx, Chick-Fil-A, Wal-Mart, Magic Wand Foundation, Abbot, and Mitsubishi Electric.
While speaking at a conference for foster youth in 2009, April was moved by the students in the audience. From this experience, April founded, Lydia’s Place, a non-profit serving young adults who have experienced foster care or homelessness. Today, she serves as the President of Lydia’s Place and is an advocate for the voice of young people in their transition to independence.
April lives in Athens, Georgia with her husband and four girls.
April delivers! On topics such as vision development, self-confidence, presentation skills, and leadership, she has led to measurable behavioral change impacting the bottom line in multiple industries. Organizations who have heard from April include UPS (United Parcel Service), CDC (Centers for Disease Control), Federal Home Loan Bank Atlanta, Home Depot, Kroger Company, Spanx, Chick-Fil-A, Wal-Mart, Magic Wand Foundation, Abbot, and Mitsubishi Electric.
While speaking at a conference for foster youth in 2009, April was moved by the students in the audience. From this experience, April founded, Lydia’s Place, a non-profit serving young adults who have experienced foster care or homelessness. Today, she serves as the President of Lydia’s Place and is an advocate for the voice of young people in their transition to independence.
April lives in Athens, Georgia with her husband and four girls.
Janet Leung, SVP and Manager, Advisory Services, PCBB
Janet Leung has over a decade of experience specializing in financial and risk management. Janet works with community banks to understand credit and rate risk measurement and to improve loan pricing and profitability.
She specifically focuses on:
Janet Leung has over a decade of experience specializing in financial and risk management. Janet works with community banks to understand credit and rate risk measurement and to improve loan pricing and profitability.
She specifically focuses on:
- Relationship profitability management strategy
- Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (ALLL)/ Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) methodologies and measurements
- Loan portfolio stress testing
- Cash flow analysis
- Prepayment speeds
- Credit and rate risk
- Loan pricing
Corrie Hall, Partner, James-Bates-Brannan-Groover LLP. Corrie has successfully represented clients in a hybrid of business, banking, insurance defense litigation and transactional matters. Corrie helped develop the firm’s subrogation practice and frequently consults on subrogation issues. She also has experience working in-house with her clients including a secondment with State Bank and Trust Company.
Corrie’s contributions in support of the local community include serving on the Board of Directors of NewTown Macon and Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law’s Young Alumni Council. She is also an active member or participant in the local Leadership Macon program and the Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Network.
Corrie moved to Macon in 2008 to attend Mercer Law School. Corrie is married to Landon Hall, a Macon native, and together they enjoy living in downtown Macon and attending First Presbyterian Church.
Corrie’s contributions in support of the local community include serving on the Board of Directors of NewTown Macon and Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law’s Young Alumni Council. She is also an active member or participant in the local Leadership Macon program and the Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Network.
Corrie moved to Macon in 2008 to attend Mercer Law School. Corrie is married to Landon Hall, a Macon native, and together they enjoy living in downtown Macon and attending First Presbyterian Church.
S. Elizabeth Hall, Counsel, James-Bates-Brannan-Groover LLP. Elizabeth focuses her practice on all areas of commercial litigation, with a focus on the representation of financial institutions regarding regulatory compliance, regulatory issues including enforcement actions and licensing, bankruptcy, creditor’s rights, collections, workouts, contract litigation, negotiation, commercial real estate and title disputes.
Prior to joining James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP, Elizabeth was senior corporate counsel for CarMax Auto Finance where she worked for five years focusing primarily on providing legal advice and support for their sales finance company concerning licensing, contracts, and compliance with federal laws, state laws and ordinances. She also has experience in bankruptcy and creditors rights in federal and state court proceedings.
Elizabeth currently resides in Macon, Georgia with her children Jimmy and Libby.
Prior to joining James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP, Elizabeth was senior corporate counsel for CarMax Auto Finance where she worked for five years focusing primarily on providing legal advice and support for their sales finance company concerning licensing, contracts, and compliance with federal laws, state laws and ordinances. She also has experience in bankruptcy and creditors rights in federal and state court proceedings.
Elizabeth currently resides in Macon, Georgia with her children Jimmy and Libby.
Leah M. Hamilton, JD is a Vice President and Senior Consultant with ProBank Austin’s Education Division. She has a broad range of expertise in federal regulatory compliance. With nearly 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, her compliance knowledge spans Lending, Deposits, BSA/AML and Compliance Management. Leah is nationally recognized for her practical compliance advice and her engaging approach to teaching regulatory compliance matters with her quick wit, sense of humor and examples, making compliance an enjoyable educational experience. Where compliance is every employee’s responsibility every day, she provides tools and valuable insight to effectively understand and manage compliance. As a compliance expert, Leah has served as a lead advisor on consent order remediation engagements and management responses to examiner concerns. She is often called upon to assist in potential RESPA Section 8, UDAAP and Overdraft matters. Leah has trained more than 1,000 lenders on TRID and served as a TRID and 2018 HMDA expert for the American Bankers Association. Prior to joining the firm, Leah has served as the Chief Compliance Officer for a $4 billion community bank, a start-up mortgage company and, most notably, for TriComply, Temenos’ compliance division. Additionally, she has served as inhouse counsel and worked for several leading banking software firms. Leah received her Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois University College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree from the University of Texas at Dallas where she majored in law and minored in business management. Leah also serves as a faculty member of Southern Methodist University’s SW Graduate School of Banking in Dallas where she teaches Compliance 101, Fair Lending and the Mortgage Loan Process.
Darla Harms is a Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Trainer. She holds a Master's Degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Leadership and Adult Education and has been a student of leadership for over 22 years. She is a trained John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, and Trainer as well as a trained Mindset Coach from the Arbinger Institute. Darla started her own leadership company six years ago called, Darla Harms Leadership. Since then she has worked with thousands of leaders in Georgia and multiple other States. She has spent thousands of hours coaching, training, and speaking on the subject of leadership and believes leadership is the catalyst for any change we desire in our lives, in our workforce, and in our homes.
Ben Hayden - Ben’s unique background, produces a speaker with one-of-a-kind insights. He’s been a law enforcement official and a bank security officer … and now he helps financial institutions across the country by leading the SHAZAM Secure team. Ben identifies the most critical areas of risk for your institution and allows you to walk away with practical advice and new perspectives in protecting your institution from physical and virtual risks. He helps financial institutions mitigate risks in information technology, cybersecurity, physical security and BSA compliance. Ben holds master’s degrees in computer engineering and information assurance, is a certified anti-money laundering specialist and member of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists. He has additional certifications and extensive training in electronic investigations, digital forensics and active shooter response.
Doug Hensley has more than 38 years of experience in portfolio, financial and risk management with bank and governmental organizations. Doug is Senior Vice President and group head of the consulting solutions division of PCBB. His areas of expertise include bank profitability and performance, credit and rate risk measurement and management, including loan portfolio stress testing, allowance for loan and lease loss (ALLL) methodologies and measurements and ALCO services. Prior to joining PCBB, Doug was principle of Hensley Consulting, which provided advisory services to banks and municipal organizations, portfolio manager for the City of Phoenix, treasury operations manager at MeraBank in Phoenix, and an accountant with an independent bank.
Craig Hirsch is a Bank Examiner specializing in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing. He is part of the OCC Southern District’s BSA Working Group, performs analyses on FinCEN data for various banks in the Southern District, and frequently participates in interagency meetings with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies. Mr. Hirsch is an instructor for the OCC’s domestic and foreign AML Schools, the FFIEC’s Financial Crime seminar, and has spoken at various industry conferences on a wide range of BSA/AML/OFAC topics. He has written articles on BSA/AML and fraud, which have appeared in national publications. Before joining the OCC, Craig spent over nine years as a consultant in the areas of anti-money laundering, forensic accounting, and financial statement audit. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, Certified Professional in Anti-Money Laundering, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Public Accountant.
Jeffery Johnson, President and founder of Bankers Insight Group, Decatur, Georgia. He is formerly executive vice president and senior consultant at Bankers Management, Inc. He began his career as a management trainee and was promoted to group vice president for South Trust Bank, Atlanta. Johnson also was senior vice president and commercial banking division manager for Citizens Trust Bank, Atlanta. He has taught AIB classes and lending seminars for Georgia, Arkansas, and Tennessee Bankers Associations. Johnson is a graduate of Morehouse College, Atlanta; John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio; and the Prochnow Graduate School of Banking, Madison, Wisconsin. He received graduate certification in bank management from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Teri Laudano is a Senior Consultant at ProBank Austin. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Laudano served in the banking industry in the St. Louis Metropolitan and Lincoln County areas since 1982. She has nearly 30 years as a bank officer and manager of centralized loan administration departments with experience training consumer and commercial compliance, banking laws and regulations. As a Senior Consultant, Ms. Laudano presents ProBank Austin seminars and provides consulting services on regulatory compliance topics with emphasis on lending operations.
Holly Logue has been representing community banks since 1983. Her experience encompasses a wide breadth of banking regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, federal and state court litigation, foreclosures, collections, bankruptcies and creditors’ rights matters. In 2015, Holly became a founding member of Financial Institutions Strategies Group, LLC, a bank consulting firm representing Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) throughout the southeastern U.S. Today, Holly and her partner represent over 50% of the CDFI banks in the country and have successfully obtained some 200 grants totaling $54 million for their clients. Holly earned her B.A. degree from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN and her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law, New Orleans, LA in 1983.
David Luken is a Vice President at ProBank Austin. Prior to joining the firm in 1992, Mr. Luken was senior vice president and general counsel for a billion dollar metropolitan bank holding company. While at ProBank he has served on the faculty of the FDIC's Advanced Consumer Protection School, Bank Operations and Compliance School and the OTS Compliance School. He has also served on the faculties of banking schools conducted by the New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Arkansas bankers associations. Mr. Luken conducts over 100 seminars a year in the areas of lending and deposit compliance, Bank Secrecy Act, internet banking, information security and privacy law.
Paul Lynch is responsible for the placement of all types of state tax credits in Sugar Creek Capital’s 12+ state footprint. With 30+ years of experience in financial services with Stateside Capital, SunTrust, C&S Securities, and Quick and Reilly, Paul works with banks, insurance companies, corporations, and high-income individual in addressing state tax needs as well as CRA issues. Paul holds a finance degree from Iowa State University, is a Certified Funds Manager, has completed his CFP coursework and has held 9 different securities license designations.
Ken Morrison is the Cyber Risk Control Director at Travelers, where he provides subject matter expertise on cyber threats, cyber security, and emerging cyber technology to underwriting, claims, and other teams across the Travelers enterprise, as well as to help Travelers insureds understand and mitigate cyber risks. He is a graduate of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy, where he served in afloat and ashore assignments, including narcotic interdiction. Ken’s experiences in over 35 years of IT and cyber security include being an auditor and investigator for a health insurer, deputy incident response team manager for a defense contractor, and the Information Systems Security Officer and Computer Forensics Examiner for the FBI’s New Haven Field Office
Chris Nelson earned his title as one of the leading industry experts through hardwork and dedication. His path to Vice President of STS Group began on the front line, first as a technician and then mid-level management. Chris has become a banking industry expert as STS Group grew into a regional company providing security equipment and branch automation solutions across the Southeast. Chris consults with financial institutions across the U.S. on new branch technology and has an extensive knowledge of the greatest threats to bank security and how technology can help combat those threats.
Paul Perry has been with the Warren Averrett since 2004 and is a Member and the practice leader of the Security, Risk and Controls Group. Paul and his team focus on cybersecurity, information technology related projects, risk assessments, internal controls, internal audit and control-related projects, including System and Organization Control engagements.
Paul is also the leader of the Firm’s Data Analysis Group, a team of individuals within the Firm who provide data analysis solutions to both internal and external clients. For more than 11 years, he specialized in auditing and assurance services. Paul has extensive experience serving clients in the nonprofit, governmental, financial, insurance and healthcare facilities/hospital industries during this time. Paul has earned the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) certification. This credential is awarded to CPAs who possess both information technology and business expertise.
Paul is also a published author, columnist and regular speaker on topics such as data analysis, internal controls and information technology. In the last three years, Paul has performed more than 40 external presentations on a wide variety of technology and control related topics to groups including the ASCPA, HFMA, IIA and ISACA.
Paul is also the leader of the Firm’s Data Analysis Group, a team of individuals within the Firm who provide data analysis solutions to both internal and external clients. For more than 11 years, he specialized in auditing and assurance services. Paul has extensive experience serving clients in the nonprofit, governmental, financial, insurance and healthcare facilities/hospital industries during this time. Paul has earned the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) certification. This credential is awarded to CPAs who possess both information technology and business expertise.
Paul is also a published author, columnist and regular speaker on topics such as data analysis, internal controls and information technology. In the last three years, Paul has performed more than 40 external presentations on a wide variety of technology and control related topics to groups including the ASCPA, HFMA, IIA and ISACA.
Jackie Rolow has been a vital part of the SHAZAM Network for the past 25 years. She started as a part-time human resources (HR) clerk and receptionist in 1992 and worked her way up to her current role as executive vice president and chief talent officer.
Jackie leads the charge to establish and enhance solid HR management practices and retain top industry talent. She plans and coordinates all corporatewide HR functions, consistent with the strategic direction set by the company. Jackie manages information and recordkeeping systems that protect the legal rights of employees, applicants, former employees and SHAZAM. She also collaborates with managers to help them achieve their goals.
Jackie is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which provides the most current and comprehensive resources to HR professionals. She holds the Senior Professional Human Resource (SPHR) designation. She’s also a member of the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals.
In 1992, Jackie graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with a bachelor’s degree in business management and an emphasis in training and development. In 2002, she received her master of education degree in organizational learning and development from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Jackie leads the charge to establish and enhance solid HR management practices and retain top industry talent. She plans and coordinates all corporatewide HR functions, consistent with the strategic direction set by the company. Jackie manages information and recordkeeping systems that protect the legal rights of employees, applicants, former employees and SHAZAM. She also collaborates with managers to help them achieve their goals.
Jackie is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which provides the most current and comprehensive resources to HR professionals. She holds the Senior Professional Human Resource (SPHR) designation. She’s also a member of the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals.
In 1992, Jackie graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with a bachelor’s degree in business management and an emphasis in training and development. In 2002, she received her master of education degree in organizational learning and development from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Jim Rumph is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and has over twelve years of experience in technology audit and internal controls consulting. Since joining PKM in February of 2006, he has performed information technology general controls and security assessments for a variety of financial services companies and now leads these projects for the firm’s largest and most complex clients. Jim is a frequent speaker and trainer on Information Security topics and privacy, and has developed IS programs for a number of organizations. He manages both assurance and consulting engagements for financial statement audits, Service Organization Control reports and Sarbanes Oxley compliance in a wide range of complex information technology environments in a variety of frameworks including Control for Information and Related Technology (CoBIT) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), as well as industry-specific best practices. Jim is also a member of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).
Aaron Scicluna brings a unique ability to integrate technology, process, and strategic thinking to everyday business challenges. He is an entrepreneur and innovator, with over 15 years of experience in the financial technology industry, solution design, and business development. He has been an invited speaker at multiple technology and other industry conferences and has been a member of the board of directors for both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Aaron leverages this experience to elevate Finosec’s business practices and lead the team in product development. He has a passion for helping financial institutions reach the next level by enabling high performance teams and streamlining process and technology.
Bob Shellenberger was born and raised in Florida, lived in Tampa Bay most of my life. I began my mortgage career in 1984 as a representative of Merrill Lynch Mortgage. I worked in that capacity, and moved into management with several firms, including Chemical Mortgage, Firstate Financial Savings Bank, and as a managing partner in Midvally Mortgage. I entered wholesale lending in the late 90’s and was an AE, then regional Sales Manager for National City Mortgage thru their demise. I joined Crescent a dozen years ago, and was promoted to National Sales Manager, approximately 6 years ago. I have travelled over 1 million miles with Crescent and visited every State in the USA representing the company
John Sillay is originally from Marietta, Georgia. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and then moved to Macon to attend the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in 2013. While at Mercer University, John worked part-time for the legal department of a large community bank headquartered in Macon. After graduating law school, John served as in-house counsel for this community bank and transitioned to private practice in 2016. Prior to joining Adams │ Hemingway, John was an Associate at James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP, focusing his practice on providing financial institutions and other businesses with robust legal services with respect to mergers and acquisitions, litigation, real estate, finance, corporate governance, and navigating the regulatory landscape. John has extensive experience working with executive management, front-line staff, and other business advisors to ensure that his clients are able to mitigate risk while continuing to provide exemplary service to their customers.
Philip Smith is the President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Memphis-based law firm of Gerrish Smith Tuck, PC, and its affiliated bank consulting firm, Gerrish Smith Tuck Consultants, LLC. Mr. Smith's legal and consulting practice places special emphasis on bank mergers and acquisitions, financial analysis, acquisition and ownership planning for boards of directors, strategic planning for boards of directors, regulatory matters, bank holding company formations and use, securities law concerns, new bank formations, S corporations, going private transactions, and other matters of importance to banks and financial institutions. He is a frequent speaker to boards of directors and a presenter at numerous banking seminars. He received his undergraduate business degree and Masters of Business Administration degree from the Fogelman School of Business and Economics at The University of Memphis and his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at The University of Memphis. He is authoring a monthly electronic newsletter, The Board Chair Forum Newsletter, which discusses key topics impacting financial institutions and, specifically, the role of the Chairman. Mr. Smith is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Barret School of Banking where he has been a member of the faculty. He has also served as a member of the faculty of the Pacific Coast Banking School, the Colorado Graduate School of Banking, the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and the Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking.
Drew Stelling has spent the majority of his career assisting community banks and has been an integral member of The Burke Group since its founding. Prior to joining The Burke Group, Drew worked at Morgan Keegan, where he focused primarily on the Financial Institutions investment banking group. Drew also spent time in the Specialty Finance and General Industrials investment banking groups of Raymond James following its acquisition of Morgan Keegan. Drew received a BBA in Finance from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. Drew is also licensed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as an Investment Banking Representative (Series 79) and a Uniform Securities Agent (Series 63).
Natalie Straus, CRCM is a Vice President and Senior Consultant at ProBank Austin. Ms. Straus provides consulting services in compliance with an emphasis on deposit operations and issues. Additionally, she performs consumer compliance and fair lending reviews as well as HMDA data integrity reviews for clients of varying degrees of size and complexity. She also presents seminars on various regulatory compliance topics for in-house and association sponsored programs and schools. Ms. Straus is a graduate of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia and the American University, Washington College of Law in Washington, DC. She is a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager.
Michael White joined James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP in 2012. He has practiced law in Macon since 1999 with a focus on financial institutions, regulatory and securities compliance, corporation structure and contract litigation. Mr. White counsels financial institutions and their officers and directors on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, de novo bank and holding company formations, corporate governance, board management issues, public offerings and private placements to raise capital as well as including “going private” transactions, regulatory issues including enforcement actions, and shareholder relations.
Mr. White advises financial institutions regarding securities compliance, including the preparation of periodic reports, disclosure requirements, proxy solicitations and insider trading rules. Mr. White also provides counsel to small businesses and financial institutions for Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy, litigation, loan workouts and collections.
Mr. White advises financial institutions regarding securities compliance, including the preparation of periodic reports, disclosure requirements, proxy solicitations and insider trading rules. Mr. White also provides counsel to small businesses and financial institutions for Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy, litigation, loan workouts and collections.
Skip Willcox, Crescent Mortgage Company
Fowler Williams, AMP, CMB President & Chief Executive Officer Crescent Mortgage Company
•Joined Crescent Mortgage Company in 1999.
•Has served as Account Executive, National Sales Manager, Executive Vice President over Sales and Operations and in 2011, Mr. Williams became President of Crescent Mortgage Company as well as a Director on the company’s Board. In 2016 he was named Chief Executive Officer in addition to his role as President.
•He holds the highest designation in the mortgage industry, Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB).
•Past Chairman of the Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA), the grassroots policy, advocacy and lobbying network for the real estate finance industry.
•Board of Directors for Mortgage Bankers Association (National) 2018-2020
•Past Chairman of the Community Bank and Credit Union Network (CBCUN) for the MBA.
•Elected to Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG) of the MBA where he currently leads the Regulatory Clarity Task Force.
•Customer Advisory Board of Freddie Mac.
•Customer Advisory Board for Accenture Mortgage Cadence.
•Recipient of the Schumaker-Buldec award for political action awarded by the MBA.
Prior to joining Crescent Mortgage Company Mr. Williams served as a mortgage loan originator and as a state representative for a national mortgage insurance company. Mr. Williams is domiciled in Atlanta, GA where he has two daughters, Peyton (18) and Nora (15)
•Joined Crescent Mortgage Company in 1999.
•Has served as Account Executive, National Sales Manager, Executive Vice President over Sales and Operations and in 2011, Mr. Williams became President of Crescent Mortgage Company as well as a Director on the company’s Board. In 2016 he was named Chief Executive Officer in addition to his role as President.
•He holds the highest designation in the mortgage industry, Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB).
•Past Chairman of the Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA), the grassroots policy, advocacy and lobbying network for the real estate finance industry.
•Board of Directors for Mortgage Bankers Association (National) 2018-2020
•Past Chairman of the Community Bank and Credit Union Network (CBCUN) for the MBA.
•Elected to Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG) of the MBA where he currently leads the Regulatory Clarity Task Force.
•Customer Advisory Board of Freddie Mac.
•Customer Advisory Board for Accenture Mortgage Cadence.
•Recipient of the Schumaker-Buldec award for political action awarded by the MBA.
Prior to joining Crescent Mortgage Company Mr. Williams served as a mortgage loan originator and as a state representative for a national mortgage insurance company. Mr. Williams is domiciled in Atlanta, GA where he has two daughters, Peyton (18) and Nora (15)
