This September marked the conclusion of my first year as President & CEO of VACB. When I look back on these past 12 months, I find myself reflecting on what I have learned. The clear throughline: I very much see VACB in the same ways that you see your banks. Yes, we may be small, and we all wear multiple hats during any given workday. But we are driven by a mission that outweighs our scale. Our success depends on the clarity of that mission, the value of what we offer, and our ability to remain relevant to those we serve.

That parallel came into focus during my conversations with you. You spoke openly about what it means to compete as community banks in a system dominated by size and scale. I came to understand that your strength does not come from trying to be larger, but from staying true to your mission: serving customers, building trust, and investing in your communities. VACB operates with the same mindset. Our role is not to be everything to everyone, but to be indispensable to you.

One theme that consistently surfaced was how mission translates into action. For community banks that means being present in your towns and neighborhoods, supporting small businesses and building relationships that last across generations. For VACB, it means carrying your voice into the General Assembly and in Washington, D.C., designing educational opportunities that solve real challenges, and creating connections that foster collaboration among peers. More simply put, it is mission made practical.

Another clear message was that value is not about quantity, but about impact. Your success stems from focusing on products and services that truly matter to your customers rather than offering everything under the sun. That resonated with me because VACB must hold itself to the same standard. The measure of our value cannot be the number of programs we offer. Rather, our value proposition is predicated upon whether those programs make your work easier, your teams stronger, and your institutions more competitive.

Finally, there was a sobering reminder that relevance is never a given. You described the reality of competing daily with too-big-to-fail banks, tax-dodging credit unions, fintech lenders, and an unstable federal regulatory environment. Staying relevant requires constant effort and renewal. VACB faces that same reality. We cannot assume our place in your professional lives. We must earn it by being vigilant in our advocacy, precise in our offerings, and responsive to your needs.

As I close out year one, I am struck by how much VACB and its member banks have in common. We are both proof that small does not mean less. It means personal. It means focused. It means resilient. And it means that our relevance will always be rooted in mission and value, carried out with persistence and purpose. 

Thank you for the great honor of serving this wonderful community. My commitment in the year ahead is to take those lessons forward to strengthen VACB as your advocate, your partner, and your ally in keeping Virginia’s community banks strong and vibrant.