Events

2021 Regional Bank Conference

Overview
Program
Speakers
FAQ's
Sponsorship
Event Photos
Venue & Accomodations

This Event is Open Exclusively to all Regional Banks and Event Sponsors Only.

We’re excited to once again offer the BAFT Regional Bank Conference. It’s a conference created by regional bankers exclusively for fellow regional bankers.

This conference is exclusively for those who are employed by a regional bank, asset size of $250B USD or less. BAFT member and non-members who qualify as a regional bank are invited to register for the conference.

Program

September 16, 2021
September 17, 2021
September 16, 2021 - Networking Reception

7:00PM CDT

Opening Reception

Join us for light snacks and drinks with fellow attendees until 8:30PM CDT. Reception will be held at the outdoor patio of the Hyatt Rosemont. Hotel details below.

Hyatt Rosemont
6350 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: (847) 518-1234

Please note: BAFT does not have any room blocks reserved for this Conference. However, if you have a late arriving flight on Thursday, September 16, we encourage you to book at the Hyatt so you can easily join the reception upon arrival.

Sponsored by

September 17, 2021 - Plenary Session

8:30AM CDT

Welcome

Tom Beube
Senior Vice President & Director, International Services
Wintrust Financial Corporation

Lelia Savory
Senior Vice President, International Department & Product and Servicing Manager
First Horizon Bank

8:45AM CDT

Synergies through Collaboration

Get the perspective from both a Fintech and a regional bank on why partnerships are necessary, and how each are developing strategies to build and measure partnerships.

Moderator

Michael Salerno
Vice President, Global Banking
First National Bank of Omaha

Panelists

Tom Loffredio
Head of Business Development
Derivative Path

Patrick Hennelly
Executive Vice President, Capital Markets
Wintrust

9:30AM CDT

Product Roadmap for Working Capital & Trade Solutions

This panel discussion will cover upcoming product roadmap challenges for Regional Banks and some of the necessary corresponding technology solutions.

Speakers

Brian Anderson
Vice President, International Banking
Finzly

David Berse
Managing Director
LiquidX

Lelia Savory
Senior Vice President, International Department & Product and Servicing Manager
First Horizon Bank

Shalako Wiener
Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking & Trade Finance Practice Leader
BankUnited

10:15AM CDT

AM Break

10:30AM CDT

Open Forum #1

Open discussion on topics that are top of mind or cover unanswered questions from this morning’s sessions. This is an open exchange amongst speakers and attendees. Attendees are requested to submit topics of interest to be discussed prior to the event.

Facilitators

Tom Beube
Senior Vice President & Director, International Services
Wintrust Financial Corporation

Michael Salerno
Vice President, Global Banking
First National Bank of Omaha

Lelia Savory
Senior Vice President, International Department & Product and Servicing Manager
First Horizon Bank

11:15AM CDT

BAFT Update

Shawn Haynes
Vice President, Operations
BAFT

11:30AM CDT

Strategies to Maintain a Strong Team in the New Age of International Banking

Panel discussion around the crucial topics of attracting, retaining and training trade, FX and payments staff of all generations amid the changing environment.

Moderator

Amy Sahm
Senior Vice President & Manager, International Department
Fulton Bank

Panelists

Steven Bash
Senior Vice President & Head of International Banking
City National Bank

Tom Beube
Senior Vice President & Director, International Services
Wintrust Financial Corporation

Katherine Zaveri
Vice President, Global Payments
StoneX Group

12:30PM CDT

Lunch/Networking Break

Sponsored by

1:30PM CDT

Optimizing your RMA Portfolio

Panel discussion to both identify the challenges and review the various tools and best practices for managing and growing your RMA portfolio.

Speakers

Brian Gordon
Senior Vice President & Manager, International Banking Group
Commerce Bank

Dan Moran
Solution and Security Architecture
SWIFT

Amy Sahm
Senior Vice President & Manager, International Department
Fulton Bank

Paul Warfield
Senior Vice President, Product Group & Manager, Global Advisory Solutions
Huntington National Bank

2:30PM CDT

Open Forum #2

Open discussion on topics that are top of mind or cover unanswered questions from this afternoon’s sessions. This is an open exchange amongst speakers and attendees.

Facilitators

Tom Beube
Senior Vice President & Director, International Services
Wintrust Financial Corporation

Michael Salerno
Vice President, Global Banking
First National Bank of Omaha

Lelia Savory
Senior Vice President, International Department & Product and Servicing Manager
First Horizon Bank

3:30PM CDT

Wrap Up

3:30PM CDT

Closing Reception

Celebrate the end of the conference and kick off the weekend with another round of networking! Enjoy some light snacks and a drink (or two).

Sponsored by

Speakers

September 17, 2021
September 17, 2021 - Regional Bank Conference
Brian Anderson
Brian Anderson
Vice President, International Banking
Finzley

Brian Anderson is Vice President, International Banking Development at Finzly. Brian has spent his career introducing innovative fintech solutions to International Bankers in Global Payments, Foreign Exchange and Trade Finance. With over 30 years’ experience in business development and product management at financial technology companies like Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg, and Finzly, Brian brings deep domain expertise in foreign exchange, international and domestic payments, treasury management, trade finance and other markets.

Steven Bash
Steven Bash
Senior Vice President and Manager
International Banking and Trade Finance
City National Bank

Mr. Steven Bash is senior vice president and manager of City National Bank’s International Banking & Trade Finance department. He oversees the bank’s trade finance, trade services, supply chain programs, international credit and portfolio management, risk mitigation, global correspondent banking, and trade advisory services.  Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership roles with other global financial institutions, including a posting as Managing Director, Hong Kong Branch for CoreStates Bank from 1989-1992. He served as an appointee to the U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Finance Advisory Council (TFCA.), a nonpartisan group of 20 private sector individuals, working on recommendations to increase access to export financing for U.S. small and medium size companies from 2016- 2020.  Mr. Bash is a past president of the Bankers Association of Finance and Trade (BAFT).

David Berse
David Berse
Managing Director
LiquidX

David Berse is Managing Director at LiquidX, a global provider of technology solutions for trade finance and working capital. David has considerable corporate banking experience, having spent the 12 years prior to joining LiquidX developing and structuring innovative transaction banking and liquidity solutions. David was previously a Sales Director at Bank of America, helping multinational corporations optimize working capital, improve liquidity, and increase treasury efficiency by devising global trade finance and cash management solutions. Previously, David managed a team of cash management sales specialists at Deutsche Bank, focused on structuring cash management, liquidity, and FX solutions for global multinationals. Prior to that, David served various roles at J.P. Morgan, including a Treasury Services Advisor and a Liquidity Solutions Specialist. David has his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers and his MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Tom Beube
Tom Beube
Senior Vice President
Wintrust Financial Corporation

Mr. Tom Beube is Senior Vice President and Director of Wintrust Financial Corporations International Services Group. The Wintrust International Services Group supports the bank’s commercial and retail bank customers for all activities involving cross border trade finance, Foreign Exchange payments and hedging strategies, global payments, Standby letters of credit and cross border guarantees. Mr. Beube joined Wintrust 10 years ago after spending 14 years with ABN AMRO Bank and 3 years with Bank of America. While Chicago is his home, Mr. Beube has had assignments in Hong Kong, Detroit and Shanghai during his time with ABN AMRO.

Brian Gordon
Brian Gordon
Senior Vice President & Manager, International Banking Group
Commerce Bank

Brian Gordon started his banking career at National Bank of Commerce in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1989 while attending the University of Nebraska. In 2000 he joined Wells Fargo (via acquisition) where he focused his calling in the 7 states surrounding Missouri as a business development officer for the Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank. He then joined Sovereign Bank in the Mid-Atlantic & New England markets to build from scratch a structured trade finance group. Before returning to the Midwest to join Commerce Bank, he was with HSBC in New York City as an international business development officer covering CT, NJ, NY, PA, MD, VA, and Washington DC.

Shawn Haynes
Shawn Haynes
Vice President
BAFT

Shawn Haynes is the Vice President, Operations and Business Management at BAFT. Mr. Haynes joined BAFT in spring 2017. His primary responsibilities include oversight of BAFT’s regional councils and the association’s educational offerings. Since joining, Mr. Haynes has stood up the BAFT Project Management Office, which connects banks with specific consulting or training needs to industry professionals. Prior to his role with BAFT, Shawn worked as management consultant leading operational-improvement programs for manufacturing, and financial services industry clients.

Patrick Hennelly
Patrick Hennelly
Executive Vice President
Wintrust Capital Markets

Patrick Hennelly leads Wintrust Capital Markets where his responsibilities include loan sales and syndications, institutional loan participations, and client derivative sales. Patrick is involved in Wintrust’s efforts to prepare for LIBOR cessation, and as a member of Wintrust’s ALCO committee, he advises on the firm’s interest rate risk management strategies.  Prior to joining Wintrust, Patrick worked at JPMorgan, where he was responsible for the national middle market derivative sales team. In his 23 years at JPM, he held roles across all client types and worked with debt capital markets, foreign exchange, and commodities.

Tom Loffredio
Tom Loffredio
Head of Business Development
Derivative Path

Tom Loffredio is the Head of Business Development at Derivative Path, Inc. Tom brings nearly 20 years of capital markets experience in foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives sales and trading. Tom spent most of his career at Wells Fargo and covered a wide assortment of clients for interest rate hedging solutions, including bank and non-bank financial institutions. He began the interest rate derivatives sales and trading business for Wells Fargo in Hong Kong and expanded their cash and derivatives offerings in London. Most recently, he marketed fx payment, hedging and workflow solutions at PNC Bank in the United States.

Amy Sahm
Amy Sahm
Senior Vice President and Manager, International Group
Fulton Bank

Amy Sahm joined Fulton Financial’s International Group in 2002 following a long-term career in the Japanese banking and trade industry. She works as department manager, overseeing product development, operations, sales and risk management. The International Group at Fulton is responsible for foreign exchange risk management and all international transactional products and services including Trade Finance for Fulton’s customer base. The International Group primarily serves import / export SME clients within Fulton’s five state footprint. She serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of both the World Trade Center of Harrisburg and the Mid-Atlantic District Export Council supporting the US Commercial Service Export Assistance Center. Amy is a member of the International Business Advisory Board of Elizabethtown College where she mentors students and presents guest lectures on international finance. Amy also holds a Board seat at BAFT as well as a Co-Chair position on the North American Council. In addition to BAFT, Amy is active throughout the North American regional bank network in several international banking industry groups.

Michael Salerno
Michael Salerno
Vice President, Global Banking
First National Bank of Omaha

Mr. Michael Salerno is the Vice President of Global Banking at First National Bank of Omaha where he manages a diverse portfolio of corporate and correspondent bank customers. He consults with trade and treasury management professionals to help define, create, and implement effective trade finance, global payments and international risk management solutions. Mr. Salerno specializes in providing foreign exchange and international payment solutions for financial institutions. He is the Treasurer for both the Nebraska District Export Council and the National Association of District Export Councils.

Lelia Savory, CDCS
Lelia Savory, CDCS
Senior Vice President & Product and Servicing Manager, International Department
First Horizon Bank

Lelia Savory is Senior Vice President, Product and Servicing Manager for the International Department at First Horizon Bank. She has performed various roles in trade services for over 25 years and is now responsible for the team that processes trade finance and foreign exchange related transactions. She is a Certified Documentary Credit Specialist, outgoing co-chair of the BAFT Regional Bank Council, and past Chair of the BAFT Southeast Letter of Credit Committee.

Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Global Trade and Treasury
Huntington National Bank

Paul Warfield’s current role is to expand and grow product offerings within global trade products and global treasury services. He joined Huntington National Bank in June of 2021 and has more than 30 years of international banking experience working with trade services, trade finance, foreign exchange, and correspondent banking. Throughout his career he has been focused on looking for innovative solutions and technology enhancements that provide regional banks with competitive solutions. He is an active member with BAFT working on various committees and is past co-chair of the Regional Bank Council and past Board Member.

Shalako Wiener
Shalako Wiener
SVP Corporate Banking, Trade & Working Capital Solutions Practice Leader
BankUnited, NA

Shalako Wiener, Senior Vice President and Trade & working Capital Solutions Practice Leader at BankUnited N.A. Senior executive for three major banking franchises for the last 15 years, has developed and managed corporate finance products, particularly working capital solutions, in the US and Latin America. For 3 years, he was responsible for the US and Latin America Desk as SVP, Banco Sabadell and served Corporate International Manager at Mercantil Commercebank (now Amerant) for 10 years. Since 2017, he has led the Trade Finance and Working Capital Solutions Practice for BankUnited. Finance manager with extensive experience in the banking, consumer product, legal, medical and finance service industries in the US, Europe and Latin America. Deploying an inclusive leadership style that empowers his team, he continuously adds business value.

Katherine Zaveri
Katherine Zaveri
Senior Vice President
StoneX Payments

Katherine Zaveri is Senior Vice President at StoneX Payments, where she specializes in helping financial institutions, corporates, and development organizations make payments around the world. In 2019, Katherine was the first from StoneX to participate in the BAFT Future Leaders Program. Since then, she has spoken on several BAFT panels, speaking on topics ranging from cross-border payments to the future of the workplace in a post-pandemic world. Prior to joining StoneX, Katherine worked under Ray Dalio at Bridgewater. She has lived and worked throughout Latin America and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

FAQ's

In-Person Attendee Guidelines Related to COVID-19

Your health and wellness is of the upmost importance to BAFT.

To minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure to any of our conference attendees, BAFT and our host, Wintrust Financial Corporation, require all attendees to complete a risk acknowledgement and waiver form upon entering the Wintrust building. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, is required to wear a mask indoors.

In addition, anyone who was outside the US for 14 days prior to the event or those who are not vaccinated are permitted to enter the premises as long as they adhere to the mask requirement and complete the waiver form. Attendees are encouraged to adhere to local guidelines when participating at various outdoor networking receptions. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

*Please note, this event is not open to attendees from outside of North America due to current travel restrictions and indoor attendance has been capped in accordance with local social distancing requirements. 

Sponsorship opportunities for the 2021 BAFT Regional Bank Conference are SOLD OUT!

To inquire about sponsorship for other BAFT conferences, webinars and events, please contact Matt Kaitz at [email protected].

Conference Venue and Hotel Accommodations

The 2021 BAFT Regional Bank Conference will be held in person and hosted at the Wintrust Financial Center at 9700 W. Higgins Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018.

Please note, there is no official block of rooms being held for this event. Hotel reservations are the responsibility of attendees and should be made directly with the hotel. Below is a list of some hotels that are in close proximity to the Wintrust Financial Center.

Chicago Marriot Suite O’Hare
6155 North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: (847) 696-4400

Hampton Inn & Suites Rosemont
9480 W Higgins Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: (847) 692-3000

Hyatt Rosemont
6350 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: (847) 518-1234

The Westin O’Hare
6100 North River Road, Rosemount, IL 60018
Phone: (847) 698-6000

Testimonials

“This event is really a good one, especially for smaller institutions, I hope that BAFT will continue organizing it every year. ”

Conference Attendee

“Being a small regional bank this conference offers invaluable opportunity to visit with similar institutions and share experiences, processes and challenges. ”

Conference Attendee

“I thought the format lent itself to natural networking. it was very relaxed and made it easy to meet everyone. ”

Conference Sponsor

“It was good to have so many regionals together at one time is a smaller setting.”

Conference Sponsor

“Sessions were on topic for my bank's needs and interest. Location is a good central nexus. ”

Conference Attendee


Sponsors