Main Sessions
Clark Oakley is a lifetime community banker having started his career in banking at the age of 16. Clark was exposed early on to the day-to-day business implications of running a bank from the customer-facing aspect to the operational infrastructure necessary to provide the services consumers demand. As the Chief Operating Officer at Wilson Bank & Trust (WBT), a Tennessee-based community bank managing more than $4.5 billion in assets, Clark is responsible for the day-to-day operations and ensuring that all the systems, resources, and people are in place to achieve the strategic and business goals of the company.
George has over 20 years of consulting and technology experience. In his current role, George is responsible for growing and delivering the infrastructure practice in the Texas and surrounding regions. He leads a team with a wide range of technology disciplines to solve complex business and technology challenges. Strategic area of focus/expertise include IT Managed Services, business continuity and disaster recovery, strategic technology roadmaps, and outsourced chief technology/information officer services.
Elia Blankenship provides advisory service on strategic and operational initiatives. She advises Financial Institutions on organizational structure, strategy, business process improvements and banking systems. Elia has more than 20 years of experience in financial institutions holding corporate officer and manager roles for regional and community banks. As a member of the Financial Institution Advisory team, Elia’s extensive background in managing diverse operations departments and retail offices …
Geri Forehand is a Certified Professional Consultant to Management and is President and CEO of Forehand Strategy Group, LLC. He previously served as National Director of Strategic Services for Sheshunoff Consulting + Solutions and Executive Director of the Affiliation Program. He has over 35 years of financial institution experience through his employment as a banker and a consultant. He has served as a director for several community banks and is qualified by banking regulatory agencies to perform mandated management and board reviews, as well as strategic planning, capital planning, and profit planning.
Erik Skovgard has spent 28 years in community banking. Erik successfully led an organization that grew rapidly and was a pioneer in culture, innovation, and FinTech. He has weathered regulatory challenges and built a robust infrastructure in governance, risk management, Human Resources, and information security.
General Session
Dr. Seifried is Professor Emeritus of Economics and Business at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He also serves as the Executive Consultant for the Sheshunoff CEO Affiliation Programs, and Chief Economist for SB Value Partners. Dr. Seifried is also the dean of the Virginia and West Virginia Banking Schools and currently is on the faculty of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking.