April 27-28, 2026

April 27-28, 2026

BHCA Spring Seminar

2026 Spring Seminar - Theme - Updated
Register Today

Plus

You're cordially invited to celebrate the BHCA's

Leadership Luncheon

Tuesday, April 28 at 12:00 pm

You're cordially invited to celebrate the BHCA's

Leadership
Luncheon

Tuesday, April 28 at 12:00 pm

Register Today

American Innovation: Banking on Independence

American Innovation: Banking on Independence

As the United States of America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary this summer, the Bank Holding Company Association is focusing on American Innovation. Our country’s unique system of community banking has made great prosperity possible over the course of 25 decades. We have proven that you can Bank on Independence when it comes to financial services which help people to realize their hopes and dreams.

The BHCA Spring Seminar for 2026, set for Monday-Tuesday April 27-28 at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Edina, Minn., offers more sessions than ever, with five general session presenters and breakout sessions on both days. Plus, we conclude with our fourth annual Awards Luncheon where we celebrate the industry’s emerging talent, as well as its validated best and brightest.

The Spring Seminar opens with in-the-know commentary from Dr. Jim Bullard, the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis who now serves as the Dean of the Business School at Purdue University. He will share insight into the Federal Reserve and its political dynamics that may or may not result in changes in interest rates this year. 

Don Morgan, the president of the Bank of North Dakota, follows with an exclusive introduction to the Roughrider Stablecoin. As one of the first banks to offer its own payment stablecoin, Morgan will describe why the bank is getting involved in this new payments rail and what he believes it might mean for the community banking industry. Rick Geloff, Chief Innovation Officer at the Bank of ND, will follow up with a detailed breakout session on the technology behind it all. 

One of the most important markets for community banks — small and medium-size businesses — is the subject of a report on what business owners want from their bank, presented by Sandy Hanson, an analyst with the highly respected Barlow Research firm. 

A veteran of the banking industry speaking circuit, Roxanne Emmerich joins us with insights gleaned from her work with top-performing community banks all over the country. Independence, Emmerich notes, is earned by superior performance and she shares some of the factors that contribute to durable advantage at successful financial institutions.

Breakout sessions include a primer on new IRS tax rules related to income from agricultural loans, wire fraud, payment systems risk, capital allocation strategies and AI excellence. 

We conclude with our annual Awards Luncheon, where communications expert Shannon GaNun describes the qualities of a “Guiding Leader.” The Georgia Southern University professor’s message should resonate with mid-career professionals as well as industry veterans. 

As always, the seminar features built-in networking time, including our Monday evening reception. This is the perfect meeting for any bank owner or officer looking for additional insight into the industry’s most contemporary issues and opportunities. Please plan to invite colleagues to join you, if not for the entire seminar, then at least for our high-energy Awards Luncheon.

The BHCA Seminar — Your Best Two Days in Banking!

Register Today

EARLY BIRD DRAWING!

Register before April 1 in order to qualify for a special “early bird” drawing for free attendance to a future BHCA event. Also, reserve your room at the Westin Galleria Hotel by April 10 in order to obtain the discounted room rate. 

Monday

Day 1 | April 27 Collapse

 

Noon
Buffet Lunch

1:00 - 1:50 p.m.
Perspectives on the current economic landscape
Dr. James Bullard, Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue University; former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Summarizing the outlook of the U.S. economy, Dr. Bullard anticipates the Fed will cut interest rates once in 2026, and that this will likely occur later in the year. He believes the economy will accelerate due to fiscal policies such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act coming into effect. But, an increase in investment in artificial intelligence technology by corporations is driving concern about an AI bubble. Dr. Bullard will take audience questions as he fills in the details during this opening session.

2:00 - 2:50 p.m.
Introducing the Roughrider Stablecoin: Entering the age of digital currency
Don Morgan, President, Bank of North Dakota

Bank of North Dakota and its core banking services provider, Fiserv, have developed the state’s own stablecoin, named the Roughrider, putting North Dakota on the leading edge of digital currency backed by real assets. President Morgan explains how it all happened.

Breakout sessions:

Round 1
3:00 to 3:25 p.m.

A look at payment stablecoins as a product for community banks
Rick Geloff, chief innovation officer, Bank of North Dakota

Following up on Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan’s general session presentation, Rick Geloff provides the details of the Roughride stablecoin and how the Bank of ND can help banks participate in the new payments rail.

Opportunities and pitfalls created by ACRES, the new IRS ag lending provision
Kara Cramer, CPA, Forvis Mazars

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added Internal Revenue Code §139L, creating a tax exclusion designed to stimulate lending in rural and agricultural markets. Under §139L, qualified lenders may exclude from federal taxable income 25 percent of the interest income earned on eligible loans secured by rural or agricultural real property. While that’s good news for ag lenders, there are many details to consider. 

Round 2
3:30 to 3:55 p.m.

Examining community banks capital allocation options
Matthew Reader Forgotson, Director, Client Insights & Analytics, Performance Trust

Since 1990, more than 65 percent of FDIC-insured depositories have disappeared. Many of these institutions lost their independence because they misallocated capital. Forgotson will look at some of the common pitfalls and propose alternatives for bankers who choose to protect their communities and potentially accelerate their bank’s mission.

From data chaos to AI excellence: A practical roadmap for financial institution transformation
Nelson Obando, Principal, Wolf & Company

While 74 percent of banking executives recognize data as critical to their success, only 21 percent feel prepared to harness its power. This session cuts through the AI hype to deliver actionable strategies that banks can implement immediately. Drawing from real-world banking implementations and industry research, this presentation provides a clear framework for transforming fragmented data systems into AI-powered competitive advantages.

4:00 - 4:50 p.m.
Winning small business relationships: What matters most
Sandy Hanson, Managing Partner, Small Business Program Director, Barlow Research

Small businesses expect more from their bank than transactions. They expect clear value, responsive service, and the right balance of technology and personal support. Backed by data from Barlow Research, this session explores what small businesses want from their financial providers and how small banks can compete more effectively. Learn how pricing pressure is influencing switching behavior, why digital convenience doesn’t replace relationships, and how proactive outreach strengthens loyalty.

5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Reception

Tuesday

Day 2 | April 28 Collapse

 

7:30-8:40 a.m.
Buffet breakfast

8:40-9:30 a.m.
Case study: A community bank-fintech partnership.
Details forthcoming...

9:30-10:30 a.m.
Performance is the new independence
Roxanne Emmerich, Founder & President, the Emmerich Group 

In today’s banking environment, independence is no longer protected by intent, legacy, or regulation—it is earned through superior economics. As Warren Buffett has shown for decades, only businesses with durable advantage, disciplined capital allocation, and top-tier performance control their future. 

Banks that fail to reach top quartile will potentially surrender independence by default; this session reveals how elite community banks build performance cultures and execution systems that compound franchise value, command premium valuations, and remain independent by choice—not by chance.

10:30-11:00 a.m.
Break

Breakout sessions:

Round 1
11:00 to 11:25 a.m.

Assumed breach in the boardroom: Real-world threat emulation across the portfolio
Sean Goodwin, Principal, Wolf & Co.

Traditional penetration testing is no longer enough to validate an organization’s security posture. This session explores how offensive security has evolved into a critical business tool through assumed breach testing, red teaming, and threat emulation. Drawing on real-world findings from Wolf & Company's DenSecure team, we’ll unpack how CISOs and IT leaders are leveraging threat emulation not just to uncover gaps, but to align cyber risk with business risk.

Asset/Liability Management for the Times
Presented by The Baker Group
Details forthcoming...

Round 2
11:35-Noon

Blockchain technology and wire fraud
Carole Crawford, President, Saturn Partners

International and domestic wire fraud involving blockchain technology holds a lot of risks for banks. The irreversible nature of digital asset transfers and the speed of these transactions increase risk of fraud for banks substantially. Crawford will discuss the issues, including phishing, BEC, off-ramp conversion of stolen funds and smart contracts.

A writer's encouragement: Why you should preserve your legacy
Tom Bengtson, Author, Publisher, NFR Communications

As business and community leaders, bank officials have stories worth preserving. You owe it to your family, colleagues, community, and yourself to preserve your legacy. Bengtson, the author of two memoirs as well as hundreds of banker profiles, shares thoughts on how to conserve your story in a way that will speak to those around you and your family for generations to come.

Noon to 12:45 p.m.
Awards luncheon

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.
The Guiding Leader: Lead with confidence and humanity
Shannon GaNun, Author, Professor, Georgia Southern University

Driving results in today’s workplace requires far more than authority or technical skills—it requires the ability to guide people effectively. In this uplifting and energizing keynote, Shannon shares a powerful shift in how we think about leadership: from controlling people to guiding their potential. Drawing on personal stories, 30-plus years of communication experience, best practices research, and the remarkable results she’s seen inside teams and organizations, Shannon reveals what happens when leaders choose alignment over assumption, curiosity over certainty, and empathy over enforcement to guide their teams.

2:00 p.m.
Adjourn
See you at the BHCA Fall Seminar Oct. 5-6, 2026!

Speakers

Dr. James Bullard_300x300_RGB
Dr. James Bullard
Economist

Dr. James Bullard

James “Jim” Bullard, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and one of the nation’s foremost economists and respected scholar-leaders, was chosen in July 2023 as the inaugural dean of the reimagined Daniels School of Business at Purdue University. Bullard, who took the reins as the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean on August 15, 2023, is charged with inspiring, further developing and implementing Purdue’s reimagined approach to a top-ranked business school across undergraduate, graduate, executive and research programs, preparing tomorrow’s business leaders and entrepreneurs in the Daniels School that is grounded in the principles of free enterprise, free market economy in generating opportunities and prosperity, and in the hallmarks of a well-rounded Purdue education and with a particular emphasis on tech-driven, analytics-based business success. To further reflect and to maximize the impact of Bullard’s unique, national leadership experience, he also serves as Special Advisor to the President of the university, reporting to President Mung Chiang in that capacity. Bullard is also a Distinguished Professor of Service and Professor of Economics in the Daniels School. Serving 15 years as the sitting president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Bullard earned significant praise and accolades for his long-standing leadership and innovative thinking as part of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in guiding the direction of U.S. monetary policy. A noted economist and scholar, Bullard had been the longest-serving Federal Reserve Bank president in the country and ranked as the seventh-most influential economist in the world in 2014. His scholarly impact has been based on research-based thinking and intellectual openness to new theories and explanations. That allowed Bullard to be an early voice for economic change, helping the Federal Reserve deftly navigate complex economic landscapes such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial crisis during his tenure. Before becoming president in 2008, Bullard served in various roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, starting in 1990 as an economist in the research division and later serving as vice president and deputy director of research for monetary analysis. For 15 years, he directed the activities of the Federal Reserve’s Eighth District, which branches into several states, including an extensive portion of southern Indiana. While serving on the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee, Macroeconomic Advisers named Bullard the FOMC's second biggest mover of markets in 2010 behind Chairman Ben Bernanke and the biggest mover of markets in 2011 and 2013. Born in Wisconsin, Bullard grew up in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and received his doctorate in economics from Indiana University in Bloomington. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in economics and in quantitative methods and information systems from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Don Morgan_300x300_RGB
Don Morgan
Bank of North Dakota

Don Morgan

The North Dakota Industrial Commission named Don Morgan President and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota at its meeting on July 2, 2024. Morgan succeeded Todd Steinwand at the only state-owned bank in the country. Morgan, a certified public accountant, has worked in the banking industry for more than 25 years and most recently served as chief executive officer and bank president for Starion Bank, a $1.9 billion community bank with 16 locations in North Dakota and Wisconsin. Morgan joined Starion in 2012 and in 2014 became a member of Starion’s Executive Committee. A Wyoming native, Morgan earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with an accounting minor from University of Wyoming and a master’s in accounting from the University of Phoenix. The Bismarck-based Bank of North Dakota has assets of more than $10 billion. BND’s profits are utilized to support loan participations with partner financial institutions and to support disaster recovery programs. Profits may also be used to support legislatively directed loan programs and capital transfers to the general fund. Excess earnings are retained and accumulated to fund capital.The Bank’s mission “to support agriculture, commerce and industry” has not changed since its earliest days in 1919.

Sandy Hanson_300x300_RGB
Sandy Hanson
Barlow Research

Sandy Hanson

Sandy became a Managing Partner at Barlow Research in 2020. She is responsible for the ongoing development and management of the Small Business Banking Program. Sandy has over 15 years of experience studying small business banking behaviors and working to support our clients’ initiatives with the Voice of the Small Business customer. In addition, she has extensive experience with custom research in the small business and middle market business segments. Sandy also serves as the Treasurer of the company. Sandy received her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and her Master’s of Science in Applied Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, listening to live music and traveling.

Roxanne Emmerich_300x300_RGB
Roxanne Emmerich
The Emmerich Group

Roxanne Emmerich

Roxanne Emmerich is the founder of The Emmerich Group, a nationally recognized firm that helps community banks move into the top 5 percent of industry performance. She also leads the Institute for Extraordinary Banking, home of the Bankys(tm), where the strategies and disciplines of America’s best-run banks are studied and taught. Most recently, Roxanne launched the Performance Advantage Fund, which invests in underperforming banks and applies proven performance systems to turn them into rock-star performers—driving higher valuation, stronger economics, and long-term independence.

Shannon GaNun_300x300_RGB
Shannon GaNun
Georgia Southern University

Shannon GaNun

Shannon is a keynote speaker and workshop leader on a mission to empower business professionals to communicate more clearly, lead more confidently, and intentionally grow their Organizations. Known for her down-to-earth humor and real-world insights, Shannon has 30-plus years of experience working with leaders to deliver clear, compelling messages that get results. Shannon is an instructor at Georgia Southern University, teaching public speaking classes to undergraduates and communication and leadership classes to professionals. Her education includes a Master of Arts in Professional Communication and Leadership from Armstrong State University (now Georgia Southern University) and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. When she’s not keeping her mind in peak condition via her communication and leadership training, Shannon tries to keep her body in peak condition through running, weightlifting, and teaching yoga, Pilates, and group fitness classes.

Pricing

Full Seminar

$675 per person

  • $950 per person - non-member
Register Today
Best Value

Full Day | Monday ONLY

$385 per person

  • $525 per person - non-member
Register Today

Full Day | Tuesday ONLY

$350 per person

  • $450 per person - non-member
Register Today

Sponsors

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Hotel

The Westin Edina Galleria
3201 Galleria, Edina, Minnesota, USA, 55435
Tel: +1 952-567-5000

The BHCA Spring Seminar takes place at the Westin Hotel, which is part of the Galleria in Edina, Minnesota. This is a top-flight hotel located in a vibrant part of the Twin Cities, less than 10 miles from MSP Airport. Walk to the shops and restaurants of the Galleria or visit Southdale Mall across the street. Connect with colleagues in our vibrant, upscale hotel lobby, including Prelude Bar. Whether you’re exploring the food, culture, or arts scenes, you’ll always be able to make the most of your time at the Westin Edina Galleria Hotel.

The BHCA has negotiated a special rate ($259) on rooms at the Westin if you make your hotel reservation by April 10. But don’t wait until the last minute to reserve your room as attendance at our last event was so strong that our hotel room block sold out!

Book Your Room

Scenes from the 2025 Fall Seminar

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