Sunday, September 20

5-7 p.m.
Reception at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown
Sponsored by UMB Bank

All are invited to join us for an evening of networking, food and music as we kick off this year’s convention with a reception at the Des Moines Hilton Downtown. A casual evening of fun and catching up with friends awaits!

Monday, September 21

7:30 a.m.
Legislative Symposium & Breakfast

Start convention with this welcome message and overview of the association’s priorities and accomplishments. We will also award Legislator of the Year and honor our top BUILD contributors.

A Look at the Political Landscape with Guy Benson
Sponsored by Bell Bank and Stifel
Rising Fox News star Guy Benson – a regular on network shows, ranging from Special Report to Gutfeld – offers insightful and entertaining analyses of America’s political moment, with an emphasis on past and future elections, the Trump administration, and relevant Congressional battles. Guy Benson is a Fox News Political Analyst, host of the nationally-syndicated Guy Benson Show, and a Senior Columnist at the Washington Examiner.

9 a.m.
Exhibit Hall Opens

10 a.m.
Opening General Session

IBA Convention Welcome
Adam Gregg, President & CEO, Iowa Bankers Association
Start convention with this welcome message and overview of the association’s priorities and accomplishments. We will also award legislator of the year and honor our top BUILD contributors.

IBA Chair Address
IBA Chairman, Abe Tubbs, President & CEO, Ohnward Bancshares
Abe Tubbs shares his insights and reflections as this year’s IBA chairman.

ABA Address
ABA Chair Elect, Catherine Owen, Chair and CEO, State Holding Company, Little Rock, AR
Cathy Owen is currently Chair, President & CEO of State Holding Company, which is the holding company for Eagle Bank & Trust Company, Little Rock, AR. She is also Executive Chair of the bank, which is 107 years old, $503 million state bank, with 13 branches in central Arkansas, and Mortgage Loan Offices in Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Cathy will share her insights as incoming chair of the ABA.

11 a.m.
Leadership – Challenges and Choices with Andrew Card
Andrew Card He was the longest-serving White House Chief of Staff in the past 50 years, has been at the epicenter of U.S. politics. From his critical leadership during the 9/11 attacks to his deep expertise in geopolitical analysis, crisis management, and leadership, Card brings a distinctive perspective on the current presidential administration and Congress. The true test of a leader is their record of accomplishments.  In the Oval Office as U.S. Presidents and world leaders laid out their vision and agendas for their respective nations, he discusses how he leveraged both strategy and execution and the vital skill of negotiation to orchestrate domestic, foreign, homeland security and anti-terrorism policy and how the same strategy can apply to your organization’s business challenges. Using his own personal three “P’s” of decision-making, Card demonstrates with concrete examples how to forge the consensus so vitally necessary for an organization’s vision or agenda.

Noon
Celebration of Banking Lunch
50-Year Bankers, James A. Leach Leadership Award, and current IBA Leader Recognition
Sponsored by SHAZAM

Join us for this all-convention lunch, where we have a Celebration of Banking. Everyone is invited to this year’s lunch where we will recognize what makes Iowa banking outstanding – bankers. This year’s lunch will showcase the annual James A. Leach Leadership award recipient and the 50-year bankers who have provided the backbone for a vibrant industry. We will also celebrate our leaders who are Iowa’s banking future. Following lunch, dessert is available in the exhibit hall.

1:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

Developing a Talent Pipeline
Kelsey Breeze, Director of Human Resources, SHAZAM
Financial institutions across the country are struggling to recruit and retain talent. Are you looking for an established pipeline of entry-level candidates? What if we told you about a great way to find future employees and grow your own talent? It’s a recruiting tool that allows you to test-drive the talent your organization needs, effectively manage your workflow, and help grow your business to accomplish future objectives. In this session participants will learn how to develop talent partnerships and create a program that mutually benefits their company and community.

Has Your Fraud IQ Kept Pace with Your Fraud Risk?
Matt Storlie, Senior Manager, Wipfli
With over 30 years of experience in business and accounting, fraud examinations, data analysis, internal audit, and IT systems, Matt Storlie assists clients with forensic services, internal investigations, computer forensics, e-discovery and litigation readiness, and fraud risk assessments.  As one of the firm’s subject matter experts on data analytics, he utilizes his deep experience with IT systems, internal controls, and data analytics to develop proactive, risk-based anti-fraud models and programs, and is a certified data analyst of IDEA® software.”

Growing Revenue for Community Banks
Brett Rawls, Profit Resources
Interchange income has long surpassed overdraft revenue as the number one source of deposit-based noninterest income. But have you maximized its potential at your bank? In this session we’ll dive into how to increase interchange income, reduce processor expenses, and establish your debit card as a profitable product. We’ll share relevant community bank interchange benchmarks so that you can measure your program’s success and recognize whether or not you have an opportunity to impact your bottom line.

Your Actionable Roadmap to Practical AI Value-
Pat Lapomarda III, Arkatechture
This session provides a strategic roadmap for community financial institutions to transition from raw data collection to actionable insights, ultimately driving revenue growth and operational efficiency. While global banks invest billions to fragmented customer experiences, community banks have the advantage of high-quality, relationship-driven data. The presentation outlines a four-part framework: 1) understanding the ROI of refined data, 2) benchmarking performance against peers, 3) leveraging specific AI use cases for marketing and product teams, and 4) preparing for AI adoption through data modernization and governance. Attendees will learn how to shift from seeing AI as a purely technological challenge to a strategic initiative that compounds value through a “Virtuous Cycle of Data,” turning trust into smarter, faster digital services.

2:30 p.m.
Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Cookies & popcorn sponsored by Kirk Gross Company

3:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions Repeat

4:15 p.m.
Chairman’s Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by Bankers’ Bank, Data Business Equipment, Forvis Mazars, and Turnkey Associates

Join your fellow bankers at a reception to honor IBA Chairman Abe Tubbs. Located in the Exhibit Hall, it’s a great chance to visit with vendors in a casual setting.

5:30 p.m.
Silent Auction Final Bids

Tuesday, September 22

7:45 a.m.
Ag Breakfast
Sponsored by Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines

Iowa’s Economic Outlook and What’s Ahead for Agriculture
Christopher Pudenz, Farm Bureau
Christopher Pudenz is the Economics and Research Manager – Economist at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. He shares an outlook on Iowa’s economy and agriculture. Christopher obtained his Ph.D. in Economics in 2023 from Iowa State University. Christopher’s family has owned and operated a beef cattle feedlot and crop farm in western Iowa for three generations, and this first-hand experience with agriculture inspired him to pursue higher education in Agricultural Economics. 

9:30 a.m.
Exhibit Hall Opens

10:30 a.m.
General Session

IBA Chair Address
IBA Chair, Melissa Spurgin, First Iowa State Bank, Albia
New IBA Chair Melissa Spurgin shares her goals for the upcoming year.

11 a.m.
Closing session
Sponsored by SHAZAM

Leading with a Winning Culture On & Off the Court with Lisa Bluder
Lisa Bluder, one of the most successful women’s basketball coaches in history, provides an inspiring analysis of various principles which have defined her career: leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. Drawing from decades of coaching experience, Lisa shares insights on building a winning culture, developing resilient athletes and fostering excellence both on and off the court. As the all-time winningest coach in Big Ten history and the 10th winningest coach in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history, Lisa is a trailblazing leader and an expert in leadership, team development, and building a winning culture both on and off the court. Her ability to motivate and get the best out of her players, including Caitlin Clark, the leading scorer in NCAA history for both men’s and women’s basketball, has solidified her reputation as a transformative coach.

Noon
Adjourn