Women in Banking October 2-3, 2025 Register Celebrate 25 years of empowering women in the industry at the Women in Banking Conference! Join us October 2-3 for inspiring sessions, meaningful connections, and a special awards ceremony recognizing trailblazing leaders in banking. Conference Brochure IBA Women in Banking AwardsAward winners will be announced at the IBA Women in Banking Conference on Thursday, October 2, 2025. 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 Raffle for a Cure, Honoring Amy SaleAs part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Women in Banking Committee is proud to support Susan G. Komen through our annual Raffle for a Cure, held in loving memory of our dear colleague and friend, Amy Sale. For over 20 years, Amy was a beloved part of the IBA team — welcoming bankers, supporting events, and brightening every room with her warm smile and kind heart. Her behind-the-scenes dedication made a lasting impact on our members and organization. Help us honor Amy’s legacy by:• Donating a raffle basket with items your fellow lady bankers will love• Purchasing raffle tickets onsite: 5 for $10 or 15 for $20All proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen, advancing the fight against breast cancer. Join us in celebrating Amy’s spirit and making a difference together. Location Info Crowne Plaza Springfield3000 S Dirksen Pkwy. Springfield, Illinois 62703Get Directions Exhibit/Sponsor Download Here Thursday, October 2 Thursday, October 2 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Registration 10:30 a.m. Welcome & Introductions Emcee: Anne Schutt, Vice President, Business Development, Midwestern Securities Trading Company 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Cultivating Happiness: Practical Tools for Lasting Joy Elle Benson, Keynote Speaker Discover how to bring more joy and positivity into your life in this inspiring session, which shares practical,science-backed strategies that anyone can use to boost well-being and create lasting happiness—at workand at home. Learn how small shifts in your mindset and daily habits can make a big difference and find outhow humor can help you manage stress, adapt to change, and build resilience. Walk away with easy-to-usetools and real-life examples that will help you feel happier, more fulfilled, and ready to thrive. 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Networking Lunch 12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions - attendee choice• Top 10 Areas for Leadership Development - Anne Schutt, Midwestern Securities• The Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback - Amanda Sandner, Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries 1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions - attendee choice• Managing Up: It’s OK to Manage Your Boss - Amanda Sandner, Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries• Powering Through: Time Mastery & Productivity - Nellie Schlacter, evolv 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Economic Outlook 2025: What Bankers Need to KnowKathleen Navin, Senior Business Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Take an engaging and practical look at the economic forces shaping banking in 2025. This session will breakdown complex national and regional economic trends into clear, actionable insights that matter for your bank,your customers, and your community. Learn what the latest data means for your business decisions, discoveremerging risks and opportunities, and gain a better understanding of how an evolving economic landscapecould impact your institution. With a relatable style and deep expertise, this session is a must-attend foranyone looking to navigate the road ahead with confidence. 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Honoring Excellence: Women in Banking Award CeremonyThe Women in Banking Award Ceremony will recognize outstanding achievements by honoring women who are making significant contributions to the banking industry. These accolades celebrate leadership, influence, and impact across the industry. 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Networking Reception 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Dinner (on your own) 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Hospitality Suite with Entertainment Friday, October 3 Friday, October 3 7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Optional Activity - Women’s Self Defense 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Breakfast Session How to be Customer Obsessed While Still Driving Shareholder Value Laura Hamilton, SVP Equity Sales, Performance Trust Learn how to turn market complexity into opportunity. In this session, you’ll get a clear, strategic framework for balancing customer obsession with financial performance. We’ll break down key banking industry trends into practical insights you can use—helping you sharpen your business acumen, improve cross-functional alignment, and drive sustainable growth. Walk away with tools to make smarter decisions, protect your bank’s independence, and lead with confidence in a competitive landscape. 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. PANEL – The Power of Women in Banking: Stories of Impact and Leadership• Denise Ward, Senior Vice President - Human Resource Officer, Central Bank Illinois • Ashley Speed, Vice President, Grundy Bank• Elizabeth Okey, Vice President - Community Impact, Wintrust Financial Corporation • Courtney Olson, SVP, Managing Director of Business Banking, First Bank Chicago 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. From Surviving to Thriving: Refresh & Reboot with Mental Fitness Joyce Marter, LCPC, CSP®, Psychotherapist and National SpeakerThis session offers a refreshing and inspiring opportunity to break free from the grip of chronic stress andembrace true resilience. Harness the power of daily mental fitness practices, helping you shift along themental health continuum from struggling or surviving to genuinely thriving. Discover the benefits of simplemindfulness techniques that can be used right away. You’ll leave with a practical toolkit of mental fitnessexercises and valuable mental health resources, ready to strengthen your capacity to cope with challengesand achieve greater success both at work and at home. Refresh, reboot, and reclaim your well-being withstrategies you’ll use for a lifetime. Speakers Speakers Elle Benson Author, Consultant, Keynote SpeakerNonprofit Leadership LLC Laura Hamilton SVP Equity Sales Performance Trust Joyce Marter, LCPC, CSP® Psychotherapist and National Speaker Kathleen Navin, CBE Senior Business Economist Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Elizabeth Okey Vice President - Community ImpactWintrust Financial Corporation Courtney Olson SVP, Managing Director of Business BankingFirst Bank Chicago Amanda Sandner Chief People OfficerLand of Lincoln Goodwill Industries Nellie Schlacter Director of Strategic Partnershipsevolv Anne Schutt Vice President, Business DevelopmentMidwestern Ashley Speed Vice PresidentGrundy Bank Denise Ward Senior Vice President - Human Resource Officer Central Bank Illinois Event details Event details Hotel Accommodations Crowne Plaza Springfield3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield, ILRoom Rate $125 plus tax | Good through September 17, 2025Online ReservationsGroup Code: D7B (217-529-7777, Option #1 for Reservations) Fee Per Person IBA Member $345 | Nonmember $495Special Registration Offer: Register three, and get the fourth FREE! Questions? education@illinois.bank217-789-9340 Sponsors Sponsors Sponsorship opportunities available! Please contact Robin at rlane@illinois.bank. Top 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. Learn More Back to Listing
Location Info Crowne Plaza Springfield3000 S Dirksen Pkwy. Springfield, Illinois 62703Get Directions Exhibit/Sponsor Download Here