Strategies for Creating Success

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Check In | Grab your gift bag and drop off your donation with Tammy Perkins.

(The conference is located in the event area in the Main Building.) 

Welcome and Group Icebreaker by CFTEA Executive Director, Andrew Lederer

Get to know your table group and others better in this fun and engaging activity.

Taking CFTEA In-House: Soup to Nuts Part 1 with Board Member, Mary Swift and CFTEA Executive Director, Andrew Lederer.

If you’ve ever wondered how to bring CFTEA courses into your organization—and actually make it work—this session is for you!

Join in-house superstar Mary Swift as she shares real-world tips, lessons learned, and the little-known secrets that can take your employee development and recognition programs to the next level.

We’ll break down the differences between in-house and live courses, talk through the real benefits of each, and answer a common question:
Why are some self-paced courses less expensive than in-house options?

This hands-on, interactive clinic walks you through three examples:

• Calming Upset Customers – a smaller course with instructor materials

• ABA Principles of Banking – a full 3-credit course with instructor support

• Steps to Creating a Powerful Personal Brand – a self-paced course with no instructor materials

Bring a laptop or device and work with your table group to build a sample in-house course plan!

We’ll also explore:

✅ How instructors and subject matter experts get qualified
✅ Course hour requirements (and why they matter!)
✅ How to gain manager buy-in to bring learning to your team

You’ll walk away with actionable steps and a clearer path to making in-house learning a reality in your organization!

Buffet Lunch (Enhanced from last conference)

Taking CFTEA In-House: Soup to Nuts Part 2 with CFTEA Executive Director, Andrew Lederer

Thinking about offering CFTEA courses in-house but not sure where to start? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out alone either!

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring professionals who’ve successfully brought CFTEA learning into their organizations. Hear firsthand what worked, what surprised them, and what they’d do differently.

We’re excited to welcome Maureen Golden, CFTEA Board Member from Community National Bank, Jessi Jaquish, CFTEA Board Member from Union Bank, and Emily Frechette, CFTEA Council Member from Partners Bank to the panel!

We’ll also pick up where Part 1 left off and take a closer look at the ins and outs of short credit, long credit, and self-paced courses—so you’ll leave with a clear picture of what’s required and how to get started.

Whether you’re exploring the idea or ready to take the leap, this session is packed with practical insights to help you bring learning closer to home.

Afternoon Break 

Let’s Talk: Your Questions, Shared Wisdom with Board President, Nancy Hines

When you registered, we asked what topics you’d love to talk about—and now’s your chance!

This open discussion session is all about you. Whether you have a question, an idea, or just want to hear how others are tackling the same challenges, this is your space to connect, share, and learn.

It’s something our attendees have asked for, and we’re excited to make it happen! You’ll be joined by fellow learning and development professionals, CFTEA board and council members, and other passionate supporters ready to offer insight, experience, and fresh ideas.

Come ready to ask, listen, and be part of the conversation—you never know what gem you’ll walk away with!

Afternoon Break

Leveraging CFTEA Credits for Recruitment and Employee Development – College Certification and Degree (a case study) with Council Member, Meghan Crider

As banks across the nation grapple with a shrinking talent pool and rising workforce expectations, how do you attract, retain, and elevate the next generation of high-performing employees without inflating your budget? Join an engaging case study that explores a proven two-tiered strategy that merges real-world skill development with industry-aligned education.

Learn how VNB’s partnership with CFTEA is not only solving its commercial banking staffing challenges, but creating a replicable model for other financial institutions. Walk away with insights on:

✅ Leveraging credit-transferable training for long-term ROI
✅ Reducing recruitment costs through internal development
✅ Vetting future employees through career readiness programs
✅ How CFTEA’s stackable credentials offer on-ramps to both college degrees and career advancement

Whether you’re launching new talent pipelines or rethinking employee development, this session will inspire you to reimagine what’s possible through intentional learning partnerships. Come prepared to think big, challenge assumptions, and walk away with real tools for real talent development.

Action Plan and Awards with CFTEA Executive Director, Andrew Lederer

It’s time to shine a light on the amazing work happening across our CFTEA community! Join us as we recognize the incredible contributions of our board and council members—and find out who’s taking home this year’s Sapphire Award, Spotlight Award, and Making a Difference Award.

Then, before we wrap up, let’s take a moment to look through the action plan document in your conference packet. What inspired you today? What’s one idea you want to bring back to your organization? We’ll take a few minutes to reflect and jot down some next steps—because learning is great, but putting it into action is where the real magic happens.

Come ready to celebrate, reflect, and leave energized!

Dinner and Entertainment: Balderdash Academy. Details to come.

Dinner provided by Above and Beyond Catering (new and greatly enhanced from last year)! It’s a buffet, so come with your appetite! 

Menu includes: Spinach Artichoke Smothered Chicken, Marinated Steak Tips, Vegetable Lasagna, Red Bliss Mashed Potatoes with butter and herbs, hot vegetables, two salads (one without nuts for allergy issues) and another one of mixed greens, caramelized walnuts, apples, cranberries with maple dressing, Garlic bread sticks & rolls, and finishing with warm apple crisp with homemade whipped cream and whoopie pies! 

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Breakfast Sandwich Buffet and handmade donuts from Congdon’s Donuts!

Let’s Talk AI: What It Means for L&D (and You) with CFTEA Executive Director, Andrew Lederer

AI is everywhere—and it’s quickly becoming a big part of learning and development. In this session, we’re excited to launch CFTEA’s brand-new course: Harnessing AI for L&D!

We’ll give you a sneak peek at what’s inside, including practical starting prompts to help you get the most out of AI tools in your role. But we’re not just talking tech—we’re also diving into how we feel about AI.

How do your personal thoughts about AI influence how you use it—or avoid it? What about your team or coworkers? Let’s explore the human side of AI and how mindset plays a role in how we adopt new tools in the workplace.

Whether you’re curious, excited, or a little unsure—this session is your place to learn, ask questions, and see what’s possible.

Open Discussion: AI in my Organization led by CFTEA Executive Director, Andrew Lederer

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a rapidly evolving force that’s reshaping how we approach learning, communication, and growth. But with limited access, policy concerns, and a flood of information, many Learning and Development professionals are asking: Where do I even start?

In this open, interactive session, CFTEA Executive Director Andrew Lederer invites you to join a real-world conversation about how AI is being explored (and sometimes misunderstood) across organizations like yours. Whether you’re cautiously experimenting or still on the sidelines, this session is a place to ask questions, share wins and roadblocks, and learn from peers in similar roles.

✨ And for those ready to take the next step, we’ll introduce CFTEA’s brand new self-paced course: “Harnessing AI for Learning and Development.” Learn how to use effective prompts with free tools, streamline content creation, and stay ahead—without needing to be a tech expert.

Creating Training Plans and Frameworks with Board Member, Pete Joslin

Ever wonder how other organizations build their training plans—and what they include? You’re not alone! This interactive session is all about sharing ideas and seeing what works across different institutions.

We’ll take a look at a few real-world examples, talk about how training plans are structured, and help you think through what makes sense for your own organization.

Plus, did you know that CFTEA can support your training efforts in ways that might open doors to funding or help you find qualified employees you didn’t even know were out there? Let’s explore how to tap into those opportunities together.

Bring your questions, ideas, and curiosity—this is a great chance to learn from each other and leave with fresh, practical insights!

Morning Break 

Where Do I Go From Here? with CFTEA Executive Director, Andrew Lederer

After a full day of ideas, strategies, and conversations, this final session challenges you to turn inspiration into impact. “Where Do I Go From Here?” isn’t just a question—it’s a call to action.

In this interactive wrap-up, we’ll help you:
✅ Prioritize which ideas to act on first
✅ Identify small, manageable steps to build momentum
✅ Understand where CFTEA can support your journey
✅ Explore how to advocate for development in next year’s budget

This isn’t goodbye—it’s the beginning of something new. We’ll also offer resources and connection points to keep the conversation going after the conference.

So… where do YOU go from here? Let’s chart the course—together.

CFTEA Quarterly Board Meeting

(Non Board Members are invited and encouraged to attend to learn more about strategic planning and function of the board. Board documents will be displayed on the projector.)

Executive Subcommittee Meeting 

The Executive Subcommittee members remain for a final meeting and lunch.