Executive Development Institute for Community Bankers^®

My decision to attend GSBC’s EDI program has been one of the most rewarding of my career. The program’s content built around leadership and community banking have been extremely effective in my development as a member of our executive team. Our organization benefited starting with my first session as the projects are not just academic, but real-world and bank specific exercises that we were able to apply immediately. Access to faculty that is comprised of top industry experts and executive coaches is an invaluable resource. The most rewarding aspect was the extended network I gained through our cohort of peers who, over a 19-month period, also became friends.

The Executive Development Institute has assisted me with taking a more holistic approach to banking and leadership development. Being able to communicate and collaborate with like-minded professionals and staff has made for a tremendous experience and has already started to impact decisions within our institution. I am looking forward to the future sessions where I can continue to build and develop my skills for the future of our organization.

If you have C-suite aspirations, I highly recommend this program. The instruction is world-class. Faculty and coaches offer classroom instruction and practical exercises that benefited me as a leader and had a positive impact on our bank’s performance, our customers, our employees and the communities we support. A vital part of this program is also getting away from the day-to-day operations of the bank, spending time immersed in learning with and from peers who are facing the same challenges and opportunities. My classmates will be a valuable network for me for years to come.

As I started my new role as President & CEO, I wondered if I would have the time for EDI. Enrolling was the best first decision I made. The time out of the bank is small in comparison to the benefits. The CEO mentor and coach that are assigned from day one have proven to be very valuable relationships. The instructors are leaders in their industry, and they make every classroom minute count. The networking with peers has solidified that we are all faced with succession management, leadership development and profit improvement challenges at our banks. I can say without hesitation I have learned and implemented several new ideas. The structure of the school is exactly what I was looking for and the instructors and staff have exceeded my expectations.

EDI has delivered new and innovative ideas to our bank, and has resulted in tremendous growth for me personally. As a result of the projects, our bank has implemented several strategies that will improve our bottom line, and we have been able to begin steps critical to succession planning. The coaches, mentors and instructors are some of the best resources in the industry, and have provided great insight into leading and managing people at the bank. GSBC is truly a first-class organization, and I would strongly recommend this program.

EDI offers an excellent opportunity for individuals aspiring to executive level banking positions. The program is geared towards promoting personal growth and enhancing leadership skills, as well as providing opportunities to network with other bankers with the same aspirations. Working with a personal coach and a bank CEO mentor is unique to EDI, and is what makes this program a customized experience!

After two sessions, I began working on a project that saved my bank more than $100,000 a year. I was promoted and named to the bank’s board of directors shortly after that.

I love the structure of the EDI program. I was only out of the bank for 12 days over the course of 19 months and the time spent with instructors, coaches and fellow attendees was incredibly valuable in terms of sharpening leadership skills and fostering new and innovative ideas. In addition, the projects between sessions are meaningful and provide real results that add dollars to the bottom line–no case studies or theories. I would highly recommend this program.