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For the last 13 years, the Community Bankers Conference, created by SNL Financial, has been the premier forum at which influential executives, board members, investors, technology providers, and advisers put forward their visions, views of the strategic issues facing community banks, and actions for success.
Through panel discussions, networking events, and one-on-one conversations, you'll walk away with solutions for today and a vision for tomorrow. Discuss strategy, differentiation, and performance, while listening to in-depth presentations and networking with peers. In addition, celebrate the Top Community Bank winners and enjoy a unique opportunity to learn from the best.
Elevated deposit costs and fixed-rate loans originated in a lower interest rate environment dampened banks’ net interest margins in 2024. While 2024 proved to be a challenging year, reasons for optimism emerged late in the year. The Fed’s pivot to lowering interest rates and the ushering in of a new Presidential Administration presented opportunity for margin expansion and reduced regulatory burden. However, sentiment toward the banking sector has changed since new tariffs announced by the Trump administration surfaced and fears of credit slippage or even an economic downturn have emerged. The impact of new trade policies on the economy and bank profitability is uncertain. But one thing will never change – community banks continue to serve as the anchors of financial access and wellbeing in their communities, so we look forward to engaging in substantive conversations around the strength of community banking.
Now is the time for community bank executives to meet with their peers and most trusted advisors in the industry to gain insight into how to best position their institutions for success going forward. Join S&P Global Market Intelligence for an information-packed event focusing on the outlook for future profitability and different ways that community banks can respond to the market forces that continue to reshape the industry.
Join us in May to gain important insights as you take steps to move your business to the next level.
Panels include bank executives providing practical views and insights on performance metrics and growth opportunities.
Hear from prominent thought leaders and investors in the financial services industry and talk with them one-on-one at the conference.
Banks from Market Intelligence's Top Community Bank rankings are in attendance, giving you an opportunity to gather ideas from other successful executives.
Meet new prospects, reconnect with peers and partners, and get networking opportunities you won't find virtually.
Engage with S&P Global Research analysts to share ideas and perspectives.
Well-attended, but not too big. The entire event offers a great exchange of information, is well organized and executed, and focuses specifically on community banks.
*Agenda is subject to change.
American Bankers Association
Executive Vice President, Risk, Fraud and Cybersecurity
Paul Benda is the senior vice president for risk and cybersecurity policy at ABA. Paul joined the association in 2018 and leads initiatives in cybersecurity, physical security and information security practices, and chairs the ABA Fraud Coordination Group. In addition, he acts as a media spokesman for ABA and the banking industry on these issues. He currently helps coordinate ABA’s response to the coronavirus pandemic focusing on operational issues and return to normal operations strategies. His past experiences include leadership positions in the Department of Homeland Security where he was head of research and development and in the Department of Defense where he was a DARPA Program Manager, and designed security systems for the Pentagon. Paul started his career in the U.S. Air Force and transitioned to the private sector where he worked as a consultant for Booz Allen before returning to government service.
McDermott + Bull Executive Search
McDermott + Bull Executive Search
President
Brandon Biegenzahn is the President of McDermott + Bull Executive Search, one of the largest executive search firms within the Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Recruiters list, as well as one of Forbes’ “Best Executive Recruiting Firms.” McDermott + Bull is a full-service retained executive search firm serving businesses throughout North America and Europe to identify and recruit executives for permanent and interim roles.
The firm serves clients throughout the entire corporate life cycle through consultative advisory services that include:
Brandon holds dual roles as President of the firm and Chair of the Financial Services Practice Group. As President of McDermott + Bull, Brandon leads the market-facing side of the business, including the strategic buildout of the firm’s team of Managing Directors. As chair of the firm’s Financial Services Practice Group, he is a partner to an array of financial services firms including community and regional commercial banks, private banks, investment banks, credit unions, investment managers, and fintech companies. His clients include the likes of Guggenheim Partners, Green Dot, Houlihan Lokey, Columbia Bank, Moelis & Company, Envestnet and Farmers & Merchants Bank..
Brandon is a corporate attorney by trade having practiced with Sheppard Mullin, and Buchalter in their corporate finance departments. As corporate counsel, he advised his clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, asset-based financing, and real property purchase and sale transactions.
In addition to his work at McDermott + Bull, Brandon is a frequent guest lecturer on the topics of leadership and career development at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business’ Executive MBA program, and at Penn State Dickinson Law. He is a member of the California Coast Chapter of YPO. And he currently sits on the Mission Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, and Penn State Dickinson Law’s Board of Advisors.
Brandon received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California and his Juris Doctorate from Penn State Dickinson Law. He lives in Coto de Caza, California with his wife, Alexa, and their sons, Bowen and Beckett.
Leaderology
Leaderology
Vice President, Business Development
Sam is the Vice President of Business Development at Leaderology, where she oversees the sales function and leads a sustainable growth strategy. She works cross-functionally to ensure client success and is passionate about helping leaders lead authentically by leveraging their strengths and leadership values to create meaningful impact.
Prior to her role at Leaderology, Sam served as the Regional Director for the U.S. Central region at Gallup and led the executive coaching center of excellence at Brainard Strategy. She has a diverse background in leadership development and coaching, consistently focusing on empowering others to reach their full potential.
Sam's academic research has been featured in prominent journals, including Biology of Reproduction, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, and Stem Cells. Her professional writing has also appeared in Forbes and TEDx publications. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in Developmental and Cell Biology from the University of California, Irvine.
Piper Sandler
Piper Sandler
Chief Balance Sheet Strategist and Head of Depository Fixed Income
Scott Hildenbrand serves as chief balance sheet strategist and head of depository fixed income at Piper Sandler.
Previously, he was a principal and chief balance sheet strategist of Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. He headed the balance sheet analysis and strategy group, working with financial institutions on balance sheet strategy development, which includes interest rate risk management, investment portfolio strategy, retail and wholesale funding management, capital planning, budgeting, and stress testing. Hildenbrand also worked closely with the firm’s investment banking group to identify and develop strategic opportunities for clients involved in mergers and acquisitions.
Hildenbrand previously worked in Sandler O’Neill’s interest rate products group, focusing on developing and implementing structured wholesale funding strategies for financial institutions. He spent his first four years at the firm in the asset/liability management group. Prior to joining Sandler O’Neill in 2004, Hildenbrand worked as a financial analyst in asset/liability management at Tower Federal Credit Union in Maryland.
Hildenbrand joined the Financial Managers Society Board of Directors in 2021. He also serves as treasurer on the board of directors for Liam’s Room, a non-profit organization that focuses on pediatric palliative care, a specialized approach to medical care for children with serious illnesses.
He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and seminars. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from Loyola College in Maryland and a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in accounting and finance from Gettysburg College.
Hovde Group
Hovde Group
Managing Principal, Head of Investment Banking
As Managing Principal & Head of Investment Banking, Kirk Hovde is responsible for leading the firm’s investment banking practice, as well as evaluating the financial and strategic options of financial institutions. In this capacity, Mr. Hovde performs financial analyses and valuations of banks and thrifts, assists in the facilitation of M&A transactions and capital offerings, and assesses the impact of national and regional trends on the financial services industry. Mr. Hovde is also a member of Hovde Group’s Management Operating Committee, which is tasked with the day-to-day management of the firm and implementation of the longer-term strategic plan and vision.
Prior to joining Hovde Group, Mr. Hovde was with Deloitte & Touche LLP in Chicago, Illinois, where he provided assurance services to both public and private clients in a broad array of industries. These services primarily consisted of regular financial audit and Sarbanes-Oxley attestation engagements, but also included special projects for acquisitions and divestitures. Mr. Hovde, a native of Chicago, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, double majoring in Accounting and Finance, Investment & Banking, from the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois, has his series 7, 24, 63 and 79 FINRA licenses and has passed Level II of the CFA Program.
Alston & Bird
Alston & Bird
Partner
Mark Kanaly is co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Corporate Area, which includes its Corporate & Securities, Finance, Financial Services, Health Care, and Real Estate groups. Previously, Mark served as chair of the firm’s Partners Committee and chair of the firm’s Financial Services & Products Group. He represents corporate clients, with a focus on players in the financial services arena. Mark assists these companies with mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, public and private capital raising transactions, corporate governance, and a host of related regulatory matters.
Throughout the economic cycle, Mark has worked on some of the most innovative and recognized transactions in the country. Additionally, he regularly counsels boards of directors regarding strategic planning, regulatory entanglements, and internal corporate governance matters.
Mark is a nationally recognized speaker on various corporate topics, and his comments are regularly covered in the business press. Mark is listed as a leading attorney for Banking & Finance: Regulatory in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America , for his work in Banking & Finance, Corporate, and Securities/Capital Markets Law, as well as being listed as Atlanta “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in Financial Services Regulation Law for 2025.
Darling Consulting Group
Managing Director
Joe is a Managing Director at Darling Consulting Group, where he works directly with senior management teams on building customized balance sheet strategies to improve earnings and manage risk. Joe strives to be an expert in overall Asset Liability Management and educates ALCOs in the inevitable balance of regulatory accountability and financial performance. Joe speaks at numerous industry associations reaching thousands of bankers every year. He is an expert at helping bring clarity to the complex and delivers a high level of energy to his ALM presentations.
Joe has been with DCG since 2005, where he has benefited from working with nearly a thousand ALCOs throughout the country on ALM and strategic initiatives. He lives in Boxford, MA with his wife and two daughters and has been an active member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Joe is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in finance.
KSK Investors, LLC
Founder and CEO
Ken King is the Founder and CEO of KSK Investors, LLC (“KSK”). Before founding KSK, Ken served as a Managing Director in Investment Banking for Bank of America (“BofA”), covering regional and community banks across the Southeastern United States. Ken focused primarily on Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets. Ken also served on the bank’s Charlotte Market Leadership team representing the Corporate and Investment Bank.
Before covering Southeastern regional banks, Ken was a Managing Director in BofA’s Industrial Corporate Bank. His responsibilities included managing the bank’s middle market and large corporate industrial companies across capital markets, credit, and treasury management products.
During his tenure at BofA, Ken served an integral role in integrating BofA and Merrill Lynch Canada during the banking crisis in 2008 and 2009.
Ken began his BofA career in 2005, after prior roles with Wachovia and Andersen Business Consulting.
Ken received his MBA from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in Chapel Hill, NC, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from NC State University in Raleigh, NC.
ConnectOne Bank
ConnectOne Bank
Managing Director, C&I Lending
In March of 2025, Chris re-joined ConnectOne Bank as the Managing Director of the Bank's C&I Commercial Lending business in the Florida market. In his new role, Chris will be responsible for growing the Bank's various business lines, including Small Business, Commercial, Middle Market, and Corporate, throughout the State of Florida.
Prior to his current role, he was the CFO of Wonder Food Group, Inc, an industry leading food manufacturer. Under his leadership, the firm experienced rapid growth from $60 million to $350 million in annual revenue. In this role, he led the finance, accounting, real estate, M&A, legal, human resource, and corporate strategy divisions. He oversaw the daily financial operations, capital structure, and managed relationships with professional vendors including banking, legal, insurance, 401(k), trust, and estate. In addition to ensuring the financial strength of the Company and efficiency of daily operations, he led strategic initiatives and managed the firm's mergers/acquisitions pipeline.
Mr. Linteris previously provided consulting services to businesses with revenues of $20 million+. In 2020, after a 16 year career in banking, Chris founded Chrono Capital, LLC to provide financial and management consulting services. With diverse experience as a CFO and Commercial Banker, he adds value to clients through services in accounting, finance, operations, C&I (Commercial and Industrial) lending, investment real estate, and construction lending, Chris has spent his career consulting with local business owners to provide financing solutions and comprehensive banking services. He is well versed in Microsoft Dynamics, QuickBooks, ADP payroll, employee benefits, 401(k) retirement planning, corporate insurance, and estate planning. For business owners, "Time is money."
Prior to founding Chrono Enterprises, Mr. Linteris served as Vice President/Commercial Loan Officer at ConnectOne Bank. As the Bank’s first C&I lender, he specialized in lending to manufacturers and professional service firms, originating loans of $500 million in New Jersey and NYC.
Prior to ConnectOne Bank, Chris held positions of increasing responsibility at TD Bank after starting his career as a part-time teller. He was formally credit trained through TD Bank's Credit Training Program. Mr. Linteris is a graduate of the Stonier School of Banking and a former board member of the American Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending School in Dallas, TX. He holds a BS in Finance from The College of New Jersey and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in The Boy Scouts of America.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Financial Institutions News Desk Editor, Americas
Joe Mantone is the News Desk Manager for the U.S. financial institutions group at S&P Global Market Intelligence and the author of a quarterly white paper on M&A and equity capital markets activity. He also hosts the new podcast The Pipeline: M&A and IPO Insights.
Joe joined the U.S. FIG team in 2008 and covered investment banks for more than 10 years before moving into his current role. Joe has been working as a business journalist for nearly 20 years and previously worked for The Wall Street Journal and the Crain Communications magazine, Modern Healthcare. Joe is based in New York.
He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Roosevelt University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arizona State University.
S&T Bancorp Inc.
S&T Bancorp Inc.
CEO
Chris McComish has over 38 years of financial service experience, providing executive leadership to consumer banking, commercial banking, and wealth management businesses. He has a strong track record of driving growth and transformation while enhancing customer engagement.
Prior to becoming CEO at S&T Bank in August of 2021, Chris served as senior executive vice president of TCF Bank, leading all consumer banking lines of business as well as business banking and wealth management. Prior to TCF, he served as president and CEO of Scottrade Bank, the banking subsidiary of Scottrade Financial Services, Inc. In addition, he served as the head of personal banking and then as chief operating officer for personal and commercial banking at BMO Harris Bank. He began his career at Wachovia Bank, where he spent over 20 years in various regional and line of business leadership roles.
Chris earned his bachelor's degree in international economics from Ohio Wesleyan University.
Coalition Greenwhich
Head of CCB Banking Analytics
Chris McDonnell is Head of CCB Banking Analytics at Coalition Greenwich. He advises senior management at leading commercial, corporate and investment banks and has nearly 15 years of industry experience consulting with senior executives on key strategic, competitive and market challenges.
Prior to rejoining the Firm, Chris was with Tapestry Networks (Ernst & Young), where he was a Principal in the Financial Services practice group, serving board chairs and other non-executive directors from the world's largest financial services providers.
Chris earned a BA in American Studies from Notre Dame and his MBA from Kellogg.
Certified Realty
Certified Realty
President and Owner
Travis H. McGee is the President/Owner of Certified Realty, Inc. (CRI) that specializes in brokerage services on commercial properties and multi-family projects in the Columbia market. CRI has been in business for over 50 years and has managed as many as 1,000 apartment units. McGee is also the owner of THM Investments, LLC (THM), which owns and manages over 130,000 square feet of commercial space in 15 buildings, all in Columbia. THM is the developing member of multiple complexes in the Columbia market. Apartment projects include The Manor Apartments, The Lofts at 308 Ninth, The Lofts on Broadway, Lofts at Cherry Hill, and Westbury Flats Apartment Homes which are upscale loft-style apartments in the District and west Columbia consisting of 400 residents. THM’s most recent development is the Westbury Village Mixed Use Development of West Columbia. McGee has nearly 20 years of experience in the real estate industry in the greater Columbia market. He is a third generation real estate developer and property manager, and his family has been involved in the industry for over 65 years. McGee and his family are avid outdoorsmen and conservationists whom own and operate multiple agricultural farms and ranches consisting of registered Angus cattle and row crop operations. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Sciences with a Business minor. McGee is the grandson of a banker and he and his family still own and operate a family bank (The Bank of New Madrid) in southeast Missouri today. He is formally a member of The Callaway Bank Advisory Board from 2007-2014 (Chairman 2010-2011). In 2014, McGee was appointed to the Board of Directors of Providence Bank, a position which he held until their merger with First Mid Bancshares in 2021.
Cravath
Managing Partner, Head of Financial Institutions Practice
Jelena McWilliams is Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office and Head of the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) Practice. She is a former Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Ms. McWilliams focuses her practice on advising public and private companies, financial institutions, fintechs, and early-stage and venture companies on regulatory and corporate matters, as well as on mergers and acquisitions, IPO and other capital markets transactions.
While at the FDIC, Ms. McWilliams managed over 6,000 employees supervising approximately 5,000 banks, including through the COVID-19 pandemic. She participated in interagency negotiations, policy developments and joint agency rulemakings both as agency principal and as a voting member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). Ms. McWilliams chaired the Resolution Group at the Financial Stability Board (FSB); chaired and served on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC); and served on the Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee (FBIIC). She testified before U.S. Congress on numerous occasions and engaged extensively with U.S. and international regulators, including the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and the International Association of Deposit Insurers. She established the agency’s first office of innovation to implement technological advancements through supervisory channels and collaborative partnerships between banks and fintechs. Ms. McWilliams also spearheaded the agency’s effort to develop prudential banking policy on digital assets, including through a “crypto sprint” with the Office of the Currency Comptroller (OCC) and the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), and in collaboration with the President’s Working Group multiagency effort on stablecoins. She envisioned and created Mission Driven Bank Fund, a novel private/public partnership investment fund to support investments in low- and moderate-income communities served by the Minority Depository Institutions and Community Development Financial Institutions.
Prior to her tenure as FDIC Chairman, Ms. McWilliams served as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Fifth Third Bank (FITB) where she managed over 100 lawyers and legal staff, oversaw legal and regulatory matters, and served on the Enterprise Committee and several internal committees, including Management Compliance, Enterprise Risk, Risk and Compliance, Operational Risk, Enterprise Marketing and Regulatory Change. In this capacity, Ms. McWilliams had extensive interactions with numerous federal and state regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the FDIC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Before that, Ms. McWilliams served as Chief Counsel and Deputy Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs where she engaged in oversight of FRB, FDIC, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), CFPB, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FSOC and Office of Financial Research (OFR). She interacted with law enforcement and regulatory agencies, including U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
Previously, Ms. McWilliams served as Assistant Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship where she engaged in oversight of Small Business Administration (SBA) and its lending programs, and served as a principal advisor handling matters related to financial services.
During the 2007–2010 financial crisis, Ms. McWilliams served as a consumer protection attorney at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors where she worked on several rulemakings, including to amend consumer protection regulations under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA) and Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, as well as bank and third party practices related to section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act, which prohibits banks from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices (UDAP).
Ms. McWilliams is a frequent speaker on trends and topics in the financial services sector, including bank regulatory policy, governance trends, digital assets, fintechs and early-stage company regulatory policy. She is a past member of the Economic Council of Washington, D.C., and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation at Southern Methodist University.
Ms. McWilliams was born in Belgrade, Serbia. She received her B.A. with highest honors from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999 and her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 2002.
SouthState Bank
SouthState Bank
Director of Capital Markets
Chris Nichols is a finance leader with 30 years of banking experience specializing in predictive analytics, marketing, pricing, technology and innovation, risk management and creating superior bank performance. Chris was the former Chief Strategy Officer for CenterState Bank and now Director of Capital Markets for SouthState Bank, a $38 billion, publicly traded community bank based in Florida. Chris sits on the Digital Steering and Enterprise Steering Committees of the Bank and helps manage the PPP effort, innovation and pricing. In addition to strategy, he is responsible for channel transformation and digital banking. He is an active bank investor, small business owner, school instructor, frequent speaker and author on a multitude of banking topics including his new book, “The Successful Lender’s Field Guide.”
Chris is the producer and host of the iTunes podcast, Bank to Bank. Mr. Nichols has held executive and operating positions at several banks, including Bank of America and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. Chris was a co-founder of FinancialOxygen, a banking technology company; and was a forensic accountant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He holds a degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Chris is an active participant in the community as a sworn law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, flight rescue officer and is certified in both search and disaster incident management.
WestStar Bank
President and CEO
David Osborn served as President and Chief Operating Officer of WestStar from January 2016 until his promotion to Chief Executive Officer in January 2022. WestStar is the region’s premier financial services company, servicing the Borderplex area (El Paso, TX; Las Cruces, NM; and Northern Mexico) with more than $3.1 billion in assets. David joined WestStar Bank (then Bank of the West) in 2000.
David has recently completed his 42nd year in commercial banking. Prior to joining WestStar, David worked for JP Morgan Chase for 10 years, where he served a number of roles, including Executive Vice President, Private Banking and Commercial Lending. He began his banking career in 1983 at State National Bank (El Paso, TX) as a Credit Analyst, rising to Vice President, Real Estate Lending, before joining JP Morgan Chase in 1990.
David is currently a Member of the Finance Commission of Texas and a Member of the Board of Directors for the American Bankers Association (ABA). He is the past Chairman and current Board Member at Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare (HCA). He serves as Chairman of the Board for The Borderplex Alliance, serves as a Board Member for the Cardwell Foundation, and is on the Advisory Council for the Texas Tech Rawls College of Business Excellence in Banking program. David is a past Chairman and past Board Member of the Texas Banker’s Association. He is also a past Trustee and past Member of the Executive Committee at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. He was inducted in the El Paso Business Hall of Fame in 2022. David was honored with the 2024 Chaney-Shallenberger Lifetime Award from the El Paso Association of Builders. His past involvement with the El Paso Chamber includes Chairman of the Board (2009), and Board Member from 2000 through 2016. Additionally, he was Chairman of Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Board for El Paso County Hospital.
Stifel Financial
Chief Economist, Managing Director
Dr. Lindsey Piegza is the Chief Economist for Stifel Financial. In her role Dr. Piegza translates economic data and market moving events to assist institutional and private wealth clients in better understanding today’s economy and making thoughtful investment decisions. She specializes in the research and analysis of economic trends and activity, world economies, financial markets, and monetary and fiscal policies. Prior to her role with Stifel, she was the Senior Economist for an investment bank in New York City for eight years consulting clients in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
A highly sought-after speaker across national and international forums, Dr. Piegza is often quoted in the business press. She is a regular guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN and Fox Business, as well as national radio and other business news outlets.
In addition to her role with Stifel, Dr. Piegza is an instructor at the Pacific Coast Banking School (PCBS), a member of the Chicago Federal Reserve Advisory Committee, SIFMA’s Economic Advisory Roundtable Chair, and a well-respected author. She has published numerous academic papers in journals such as the Harvard Business Review and in textbooks from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Dr. Piegza is a member of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), American Economic Association (AEA), the Economic Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of New York. Dr. Piegza was also named a 2019 Women of Influence by the Chicago Business Journal. She holds two degrees from Northwestern University in political science and economics and earned her Ph.D. in economics from the City University of New York.
Dr. Piegza volunteers hosting quarterly regional events for the Stifel’s Women’s Initiate Network (WIN) and is also a volunteer court appointed advocate for abused and neglected children (CASA). A native of Chicago, she is based in Stifel’s downtown Chicago office, and resides with her husband and two small children in Wisconsin.
Forbright Bank
President, Digital Banking
Matt Quale serves as President, Digital Banking at Forbright Bank. He holds decades of experience working at the highest levels of the intersection of consumer experience, technology, and financial services.
Previously, Matt served as head of consumer banking, sales enablement, and marketing for Texas Capital Bank and concurrently president of Bask Bank, Texas Capital Bank's direct-to-consumer digital bank, and has served as the interim head of technology. He brings 20 years of expertise in strategic business strategy, sales and marketing, and product development to this role.
Before joining Texas Capital Bank, Quale was chief marketing officer at Brighthouse Financial, a publicly traded consumer financial services company and spinoff of parent company MetLife. He led the launch of the Brighthouse Financial brand in 2017 and established, formed, and directed the company's marketing group. He also was head of U.S. retail marketing at MetLife from 2013 to 2017, where his team supported annuity, life, and disability insurance products across various channels. He also led cross-sell initiatives for MetLife's Premier Client Group, looking to deepen product relevance with existing customers.
From 2010 to 2013, Quale worked at American Express in two roles: vice president, Sales Strategy and Enablement for Global Merchant Services and vice president, Strategy, Office of the Vice Chairman (COO). While at American Express, he played a crucial role in defining the merchant services business's strategic plan and redefining the CRM capabilities and organizational responsibilities to drive efficiency for the sales organization.
Quale's experience in strategy, brand management, and marketing is derived from his work for internationally recognized companies such as WebMD, McKinsey, ConAgra, Coca-Cola, and General Mills. He has transformed multiple organizations through strategic initiatives to create high-performing teams and deliver profitable revenues.
Quale holds a bachelor's degree in history from Princeton University and an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California in Los Angeles.
Woodbine Development Corporation
Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer
T. Dupree Scovell is the managing partner and chief investment officer at Woodbine Development Corporation, a full-service real estate company that specializes in hospitality. He got his start in the hotel business at the age of 16, working as a dishwasher at Hyatt Regency Dallas. In 2011, Dupree joined Woodbine and expanded its footprint with the opening of a West Coast office in Los Angeles before returning to Dallas in 2019. Currently, he and his brother, King, work together as managing partners to lead the team, cast vision and provide strategic direction for the company. Dupree is also responsible for Woodbine’s acquisition platform and capital markets efforts, as well as overseeing Woodbine Legacy Investments, a private equity fund dedicated to the acquisition and development of upscale select-service and full-service branded and boutique hotels throughout the United States.
Prior to joining Woodbine, Dupree spent five years working for Trammell Crow Company in Dallas, where he focused on retail and mixed-use development projects. He was named one of “Tomorrow's Newsmakers” by the National Real Estate Forum and was listed among “40 Under 40” by the Dallas Business Journal, which spotlights local executives for their professional and civic contributions to the local community. Early in his career, he was recognized by Dallas CEO magazine as one of the “Top 30 Real Estate Professionals Under 30.” Recently, he was named one of the Dallas CEO magazine's 500 most powerful business leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Dupree earned four bachelor’s degrees from Texas Tech University and two master’s degrees from Stanford, including a M.Ed. from the Stanford Graduate School of Education and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Beyond real estate and hospitality, his passions include supporting public education, racial reconciliation and organizations that prevent human trafficking.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Director of FIG Research
Nathan Stovall, with 17 years' experience covering the banking sector, is a principal analyst for the FIG Research offering of S&P Global Market Intelligence. His primary responsibilities include covering and analyzing financial institutions, with a focus on the banking industry.
He is the author of the banking blog, Street Talk, and host of the podcast by the same name. His in-depth analysis of the banking industry, including a focus on community banks, can be found on SPGMI's Research & Analysis feature, which includes historical and forward-looking performance figures.
During his tenure, he has regularly covered and participated on the conference circuit, moderating panels and webinars focused on major issues facing banks. He has spoken as industry events as well, offering updates on bank fundamentals, market conditions and forecasts for what lies ahead. He has been quoted in a number of trade publications and the national press, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times and has appeared on Fox Business News and NPR's Planet Money.
Nathan holds a Bachelor of Arts degrees from Washington & Lee University, where he majored in business journalism
Stephens
Stephens
Managing Director, Head of U.S. Depositories and Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets
Scott Studwell is Managing Director, Head of U.S. Depositories and Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets at Stephens. Mr. Studwell joined Stephens in April of 2015 as the Head of the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) Equity Capital Markets division, which oversees both public and private capital raises for Stephens’ clients. Mr. Studwell was previously a Senior Managing Director and Head of Equity Capital Markets Origination and Execution at Sterne Agee, Head of the US Equity Capital Markets business at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, and a Vice President at Bear Stearns & Co in the Equity Transactions Group. Mr. Studwell, since 2004, led the execution efforts on over 100 bookrun transactions for Financial Institutions, including, IPOs, follow-ons, bought deals, accelerated bookbuilds, confidentially marketed offerings and private placement transactions. Mr. Studwell earned a B.S. in Business Administration, Salve Regina University.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Senior Analyst, FIG Research
Zain Tariq manages a team of research analysts at S&P Global Market Intelligence and produces data-driven research. The team is primarily responsible for providing data insights on the U.S. financial and real estate industries. He has covered the banking space for over eight years including regulatory changes, financial trends, branch footprints, and M&A. Prior to joining S&P, Zain collected experience as a finance officer and accountant for multiple organizations.
Zain completed his ACCA in 2018. In addition to the ACCA, he completed BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University in 2011 and MSc in Finance from BPP Business School in 2013.
White Clay
White Clay
Founder and CEO
Mac Thompson, Founder and President, White Clay
Mac Thompson is founder and CEO of White Clay, a fintech company that builds deeper and more profitable relationships.
Thompson’s more than 25 years of banking experience includes leadership roles with Bank of America, Chase, and regional and community banks where he specialized in growing revenue, improving customer experience, and increasing shareholder value.
He teaches courses on Bank Pricing, Profitability, and Data Analytics at the ABA’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking School at Wharton.
With great passion for his community, he has served on the boards of several organizations, including Actors Theatre, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Story Avenue Park, Transylvania University, and The Fund for the Arts.
$595
Clients
$895
Non-clients
$1,595
Clients
$1,995
Non-clients
$150
Current clients include any firm that currently subscribes to products/services offered by S&P Global Market Intelligence, excluding other conferences and training classes. The standard rate applies to attendees who are not bank officers or bank directors of an FDIC-insured financial institution, such as board advisors/observers, investment bankers, correspondent and wholesale bankers (even if part of an FDIC-Insured Financial Institution), attorneys, accounting firms, and other vendors and service providers. S&P Global reserves the right to verify your company profile and adjust your registration rate, if necessary.
Guest registration includes access to the Community Bankers Conference cocktail receptions, afterparty and dinner only. A guest is a spouse, significant other or friend who is not in a financial services occupation. A co-worker (even a family member co-worker) or an associate within the financial services industry is not considered a guest and should register as an attendee.
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
4150 N MacArthur Boulevard
Irving, Texas 75038
The group rate at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas is $329 per night plus taxes and fees. The hotel booking deadline is May 2, 2025.
Platinum
Gold
Demonstrate your strengths, raise your company profile, and maximize your ROI as we bring key industry players and decision-makers to you. At the S&P Community Bankers Conference, each sponsor has the opportunity to showcase their products and services and distinguish themselves from the competition. We offer a full range of opportunities and packages and can even tailor solutions to suit your needs.
Contact us to start a conversation about your goals and how you can lead the pack as an event sponsor: Elise Maddaloni elise.maddaloni@spglobal.com