This conference, where women take the lead, encourages professional development and leadership in your bank, while also promoting the importance of fostering relationships and inspiring women to reach their career goals and aspirations.

IBA Women in Banking Awards
Award winners will be announced at the IBA Women in Banking Conference on Friday, October 3, 2025 in Springfield. 
Link here to nominate a colleague to be honored in 2025 for one of these awards:

- IBA Woman of the Year
- IBA Woman on the Rise
- IBA Women of Impact

Making "The Ask". The task of asking your supervisor to register/attend can sometimes be daunting, but we've made it easy. You can get your supervisor's approval with this easy-to-use memo.

Download 2024 Brochure

2024 Program

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Thursday, October 17, 2024
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m Registration
Support Susan G. Komen: Raffle for a Cure
12:30 p.m. Welcome & Introductions
Jenifer Snook, Senior Vice President of Consulting Services, Haberfeld
12:45 pm. –1:45 p.m. Currency Connections: Building Networks for Workplace Cohesion & Client Rapport
Laurie Guest, CSP, Customer Service Expert, Keynote Speaker and Author
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Elevating Your Strategic Vision: Empowering Women Leaders in Banking
Catherine Nestrick, Vice President, Women’s Leadership & DEI, American Bankers Association
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Professional Development, How the Fed Can Help
Megan Kahlenberg, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Finding Your Voice: Speaking Up and Advocating for Yourself
Jonelle Marie Carter, Speaker, Author, Personal & Professional Development Coach
5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Dutch Treat Dine-Arounds
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. River Road Duo Hospitality Suite

Friday, October 18, 2024

Friday, October 18, 2024
7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.Yoga to Support Illinois Bankers PAC
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Networking Breakfast
8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Managing Your Career
Leslie Drish, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Honoring Excellence: Women in Banking Award Ceremony
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Break
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Permission to Pause – Transforming Pressure to Inner Peace & Outer Performance
Nadene Cherry, Corporate Speaker & Meditation Leader
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Why Mentoring Matters
Kathryn Spitznagle, Professional Coach, Women’s Mentor, Podcast Host & Author
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Networking Lunch – Raffle Winners Announced
1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. Power Sessions – Attendee Choice

1) Cybersecurity: From Exposed to Empowered
Carla Stone, CEO of TechGuard Security

2) Elevate Your Impact: Understanding Industry Challenges
Jenifer Snook, Senior Vice President Consulting Services, Haberfeld
1:45 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. Power Sessions – Attendee Choice

1) Combatting Financial Exploitation and Cyberfraud
Robin Gutheridge - CAMS, CRCM, Director, Wipfli LLP

2) Building a Culture that Fosters Curiosity
Anne Schutt, VP of Business Development, Midwestern Securities
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CLOSING SESSION - It's Up To Us: Being A Woman In Banking
Natalie Bartholomew, The Girl Banker

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2024 Speakers

Snook

Jenifer Snook

Senior Vice President of Consulting Services

Haberfeld

Guest

Laurie Guest, CSP

Customer Service Expert, Keynote Speaker and Author

Nestrick

Catherine Nestrick,

Vice President, Women’s Leadership & DEI

American Bankers Association

Kahlenberg

Megan Kahlenberg

Assistant Vice President

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Carter

Jonelle Marie Carter

Speaker, Author, Personal & Professional Development Coach

Drish

Leslie Drish

Director, Diversity and Inclusion

Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

Cherry

Nadene Cherry

Corporate Speaker & Meditation Leader

Spitznagle

Kathryn Spitznagle

Professional Coach, Women’s Mentor, Podcast Host & Author

Stone

Carla Stone

CEO

TechGuard Security

Gutheridge

Robin Gutheridge, CAMS, CRCM

Director

Wipfli LLP

Schutt

Anne Schutt

VP of Business Development

Midwestern Securities

Bartholomew

Natalie Bartholomew

The Girl Banker

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2024 Session Info

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Currency Connections: Building Networks for Workplace Cohesion & Client Rapport

Laurie Guest, CSP, Customer Service Expert, Keynote Speaker and Author
In today's fast-paced business environment, success hinges not just on financial acumen but also on the strength of our networks. This session delves into the vital role networking plays in fostering a cohesive work environment and building lasting relationships with banking clients. This interactive session is packed with actionable insights and real-world examples, designed to help professionals harness the power of connection to drive their organizations forward.

Elevating Your Strategic Vision: Empowering Women Leaders in Banking

Catherine Nestrick, Vice President, Women’s Leadership & DEI, American Bankers Association
Join us for an engaging session designed for women bankers looking to enhance their strategic perspective—a critical leadership skill where women can excel. Discover practical techniques and insights on how to leverage your existing strengths to drive business growth and expand your influence. Together, we’ll explore successful strategies that empower you to become a visionary leader and make a lasting impact in your organization.

Professional Development, How the Fed Can Help

Megan Kahlenberg, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis offers a number of programs and material to help individuals develop and explore new information on a wide variety of topics pertinent for financial professionals. During this presentation, you will hear from AVP Megan Kahlenberg with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis on what she has learned through her tenure with the Fed, the crucial role that mentors play in professional develop and the programs and resources offered by the Fed to help you grow in the banking profession.

Finding Your Voice: Speaking Up and Advocating for Yourself

Jonelle Marie Carter, Speaker, Author, Personal & Professional Development Coach
This session focuses on developing the confidence to express your thoughts, feelings, and needs in any situation. Whether in personal relationships, at work, or in social settings, you'll learn how to communicate effectively and assert yourself. Through practice and self-awareness, you'll build the courage to use your voice and advocate for what you want and need.

Friday, October 18, 2024

Managing Your Career

Leslie Drish, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
This interactive session will provide an approach to help you take ownership of your career. Strategies for goal setting, sharpening your skills, building your network, and developing your brand will be shared.

Permission to Pause – Transforming Pressure to Inner Peace & Outer Performance

Nadene Cherry, Corporate Speaker & Meditation Leader
In a fast-paced world where we juggle priorities and make crucial decisions, transforming pressure into inner peace and outer performance starts with taking Permission to Pause. Nadene's approach, which doubled her sales performance in Corporate America, is now shared globally. In her signature Permission to Pause Workshop, she explains why pausing is essential at work, introduces the 3C's (calmness, compassion, and clarity) for better performance, and presents three unique pauses to integrate into your daily routine.

Why Mentoring Matters

Kathryn Spitznagle, Professional Coach, Women’s Mentor, Podcast Host & Author
Whether you lead millennials or work with them on teams, you may be asking how do we best engage, motivate or inspire them? The answer: Your leadership style and approach are key to engaging and retaining them. During this session you'll learn about the top five things millennials want from a boss and a company. You'll also learn coaching styles and proven mentoring techniques that build trust, inspire loyalty and develop leadership.

Cybersecurity: From Exposed to Empowered

Carla Stone, CEO of TechGuard Security
At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to take the information they learned from the presentation and put it into practice. Attendees will have a better understanding of what they can do to secure their bank. They'll go from exposed to empowered, now knowing what they can do to improve their posture and make informed decisions regarding their cybersecurity.

Elevate Your Impact: Understanding Industry Challenges

Jenifer Snook, Senior Vice President Consulting Services, Haberfeld
Every one of you plays a vital role in your financial institution, no matter your position. In this interactive session, we’ll dive into the most pressing challenges facing our industry and explore how they shape your institution. Remember, knowledge is power—it not only builds your confidence but also empowers you to grow and excel in your role.

Combatting Financial Exploitation and Cyberfraud

Robin Gutheridge, CAMS, CRCM, Director, Wipfli LLP
Elder abuse and email compromise fraud are pressing concerns for financial institutions, This presentation explores elder abuse fraud, including financial exploitation, identity theft, and targeted scams, and reveals fraudsters' tactics like phishing, fake charities, and deceptive investments. It also covers email compromise, detailing how cybercriminals exploit email accounts to steal information or trick victims into transferring funds. Discover effective strategies to protect against these critical threats.

Building a Culture that Fosters Curiosity

Anne Schutt, VP of Business Development, Midwestern Securities
Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “Life must be lived, and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” Why is curiosity so important in the workplace? In a Harvard Business Review of 3000 employees, 92% felt that curiosity was a catalyst for job satisfaction, motivation, innovation, and high performance, yet only 24% felt curious at work. In this session, we will help you learn to identify and remove barriers you may have in place that are preventing a curiosity culture so that you can retain and attract talent to your organization.

It's Up To Us: Being A Woman In Banking

Natalie Bartholomew, The Girl Banker
Being a woman in banking means a lot of different things in 2024. We are juggling the balance of our careers and family, dealing with potential burnout, and doing what we can to make strides in a male dominated industry. In Natalie's session, you'll be inspired to advocate for the women on your team, challenged to bring up the next generation of women in banking, and will receive some direct take-aways that you can put into practice immediately after the conference. If we don't do it, who will?

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2024 Attending Institutions

  • Alliance Community Bank
  • American Bankers Association
  • Busey Bank
  • Byline Bank
  • Carrollton Bank
  • Cathcap
  • Central Bank Illinois
  • Dieterich Bank
  • Evolv
  • Farmers State Bank of Hoffman
  • Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
  • Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis
  • First Bank Chicago
  • First Farmers Bank & Trust Company
  • First Mid Bank & Trust, N.A.
  • First National Bank of Waterloo
  • First State Bank and Trust
  • Grundy Bank
  • Haberfeld
  • Heartland Bank and Trust Company
  • Hickory Point Bank & Trust
  • Hoyne Savings Bank
  • INB, National Association
  • Iroquois Federal Savings & Loan Association
  • JT Carter Enterprises LLC
  • Laurie Guest, CSP, CPAE
  • Longview Bank
  • Mentoring Women Millennials, LLC
  • Midwest Independent BankersBank
  • Midwestern Securities Trading Company
  • Nadene Cherry LLC
  • Old National Bank
  • Old Second National Bank
  • Peoples Bank & Trust
  • Republic Bank of Chicago
  • Security Savings Bank
  • Signature Bank
  • Solutions Bank
  • State Bank of Cherry
  • Susan G. Komen®
  • TechGuard Security, LLC
  • The Bradford National Bank
  • The Central Trust Bank
  • The Girl Banker
  • UCB/BancMac - Community Banc Mortgage Corp
  • United Bankers' Bank
  • Village Bank & Trust, N.A.
  • Washington Savings Bank
  • Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., LPA
  • Wintrust Bank, N.A.
  • Wipfli LLP
  • YOUR BANK HERE!

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Additional Details 

Hotel Accommodations

Crowne Plaza Springfield
Address: 3000 S Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield, IL 62703
Phone: (217) 529-7777 (Group Code P7H)

Fee Per Person

IBA Member $345 | Nonmember $495
Special Registration Offer: Register three, and get the fourth FREE!

Questions?

registrar@illinois.bank | 217-789-9340

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2024 Sponsors

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Women in Banking Committee

Passionate about empowering women in the banking industry? Join the Women in Banking Committee and contribute to planning next year's Women in Banking Conference. For questions, contact Lyndee Fein.

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