I’m penning my last words for the VACB Community Banker. That is just unbelievable in so many ways. As I search for the right words, I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude. I’m going to run long. Sorry!

The singular impact that so many of you have made on this organization and my life cannot be overstated. We would not have accomplished a single thing without the active engagement of hundreds of you from every corner of community banking in Virginia and beyond.

I’ve done my level best to be an effective catalyst, bringing people together to make progress. The job of the not-for-profit association executive is to bring people with knowledge together with people who need knowledge. Fueled by the strong interpersonal relationships that you have created with me, we’ve done good work together, especially over the last three years, as we took a hard look at our desires for the future.

I have so enjoyed being your advocate. It’s been my honor to represent our member banks, ranging from asset sizes of $57 million to $17 billion, and everywhere in between — in Washington, D.C., in Richmond and in dozens of other venues. Community banking is now certainly a brand. It’s one you have earned and wear very well. It deserves vigilant protection and enhancement.

Although VACB faces challenges similar to those facing the community banking industry at large, we can look on several seeds of hope and promise to grow in the years ahead, including an ever-increasing base of active advocates, an expanded and enthusiastic team of board members, and a solid foundation of member banks who have been supportive and engaged since our founding in 1977.

And just now, we have the added energy of new leadership as Corey Connors steps into the chief staff executive role. Our search committee did a masterful job, investing in a nine-month process, reviewing scores of quality applications and ultimately selecting the candidate who best fit their desires for the future direction of the organization. I am enthusiastically supportive of Corey and look forward to working with him for a short while.

Having emphasized how very important each and every banker member and vendor partner is to the future of the organization, let me now dare to call out two components of our successful mission for special recognition.

First, please reflect on the great and continuing debt of gratitude we owe to the bankers who have led our organization. I’m grateful for every banker who has ever served on our board, but especially grateful for the 12 great bankers who served as chairs while I’ve been president and CEO. Each contributed uniquely to the future of the organization, and none ever evaded the long hours, the tough decisions and the difficult situations that faced them during their year.

Second, I can’t imagine how we could continue this vitally important yet extremely challenging work without the personal, organizational and financial support and engagement of the ICBA. They are an organization that breathes life. From an outstanding leader, Rebeca Romero Rainey, to every member of the staff and every leadership banker from every state, they are people of great energy, great ability and great heart. Each one of you would benefit immeasurably from engaging in every possible way with the people and the programs of the ICBA.

And so, VACB marches on. Each of you adds your share of energy, ability and heart to build on what you’ve done, and you continue to be the strong voice for community banks in the Commonwealth. May God bless the VACB and each one of us.