Pub. 11 2016-2017 Issue 1

May/June 2016 11 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members.  President’s Message — continued from page 7 Reach Richard J. Baier at the Nebraska Bankers Association at (402) 474-1555 or richard.baier@nebankers.org . Nebraska bankers continue to take advantage of NBA- sponsored educational opportunities. More than 4,200 bankers took advantage of our 36 educational offerings throughout the 2015-2016 fiscal year. With the support of our new vendor, demand for relevant webinar offerings con- tinues to escalate. Based upon feedback from our member banks, your association is in the process of expanding our Young Bankers of Nebraska (YBON) program. Similarly, we offered our inauguralWomen inBanking Conference that was attended by 137 Nebraska bankers. Especially gratifying was that the attendance at this highly rated program included a large number of bankers who had never attended an NBA program. Finally, we restructured our Fall Group Meetings to improve the quality of the program. Attendance for these programs exceeded previous years! Increased marketing, outreach, and special projects con- sumed a significant amount of time and resources over the past year. Based upon member feedback and input, the NBA approved the creation of the NExt Generation Housing Task Force to look at how the banking sector can develop strate- gies to overcome the shortage of market-rate and workforce housing across our state. Likewise, with financial support from the American Bankers Association’s Fund for Economic Growth, the NBA commissioned Dr. Ernie Goss of Creigh- ton University to conduct “The Impact of Credit Union and FarmCredit Subsidies on the Banking Industry and Taxpay- ers in Nebraska.” Finally, the NBA provided scholarships, coordinated internships, and organized bank participation in university job fairs because of the recurring input from members about the need to train and recruit future bankers. Like many businesses and organizations, your NBA is also moving head first into the social media world. The NBA was increasingly active on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn throughout the past year. As of the end of April, for example, the NBA Twitter account hadmore than 453 followers; simi- larly, the NBA LinkedIn site had more than 770 followers. Your NBA leadership also took part in 50 media interviews over the past 12 months. Finally, the NBA Update remains a key communication tool for the organization withmore than 6,600 weekly subscribers. Last, but definitely not least, the Nebraska Bankers Insur- ance & Services Co. (NBISCO) continues to aggressively de- velop a suite of products and services designed to support our member financial institutions. The VEBA health insurance program remains a staple for NBISCOwith 180 participating banks, covering 4,300 employees and 10,500-plus covered lives. This past year, the health plan was expanded to include a new wellness initiative. Expanded insurance offerings included a new whole life insurance product through New York Life and transportable cancer and accident products through AFLAC, a demand from our millennial members. Finally, with changes in the bank bond business, NBISCO spent the last few months of the year securing new and en- hanced partnerships to offer competitively priced bank bond products, coupled with exemplary customer service focused specifically on the banking sector. As the dawn of a new NBA year begins, I want to extend a special thank you to NBA Past Chairman Mike Pate of United Republic Bank in Omaha. Mike has served the NBA admirably. On a personal note, I truly appreciated Mike’s willingness to continually educate me about banking-specific issues, especially as it relates to de novo banks. Mike and I put on a large number of road miles over the past year; as a result, I think we both learned a great deal about the banking industry and Nebraska’s economy—rural and urban. I look forward toworkingwithNBAChairman Jerry Catlett of Bruning State Bank and NBA Chairman-Elect Kris Holoch of Cornerstone Bank in York in the coming year to better position the banking sector for success in our great state.  To learn more about your association’s activities and priorities over the past year, please refer to the 2015-2016 NBA Annual Report at http://bit.ly/2015-16NBAAnnualReport. Nebraska banks provide innovative financial solutions to the communities they serve. We are here to enhance your success. Loan Documentation and Negotiation Loan Participations Bank Mergers and Acquisitions Succession Planning for Owners Commercial Litigation Regulatory Consultation and Compliance Loan Default Remedies and Bankruptcy Representation Real Estate Purchase, Sale and Leasing General Business Representation Nathan J. Gurnsey (402) 437-8534 Andrew B. Koszewski (402) 437-8531 Frank J. Mihulka (402) 898-7413 Michael D. Matejka (402) 898-7409 Jill D. Fiddler (402) 437-8532 Daniel R. Carnahan (402) 898-7433 www.woodsaitken.com Omaha Lincoln Denver