Inclusivity in the C-Suite
Mary Ann Scully, Former Board Chair and CEO at Howard Bank, questions the lack of female and minority executives in banking and challenges today’s financial institutions to make it a strategic priority.
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Podcasts -
Podcasts 
The Journey from CEO to Board Member
Bill McNabb, former Board Chair and CEO at Vanguard, explores his storied past and shares his personal philosophy on picking the right talent, setting expectations, and building high-performing teams.
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Videos 
Alan Kaplan Wins AESC Award of Excellence 2022
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Podcasts 
Reinventing the Business of Banking
Frank Sorrentino, Board Chair and CEO at ConnectOne Bank, reveals how he went from real estate developer to bank CEO by putting client service before profits and addressing a critical need in community banking.
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Articles Evaluating Your CEO’s Performance
By: Jack Milligan, editor-at-large for Bank Director February 16th, 2022 If a core responsibility of a bank board of directors is to hire a competent CEO to run the organization, shouldn’t it also review that individual’s performance? In Bank Director’s 2021 Governance Best Practices Survey, 79% of responding board members said their CEOs’ performance was reviewed […]
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Podcasts 
Navigating Rapid Change in the Board Room
Ruby Chandy, Board Member at DuPont and Ametek, delves deep into discussion on how to pivot during the pandemic, sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and reap the benefits of board service.
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Articles A Conversation with Alan Kaplan: Regular Board Evaluations Foster Steady Strides in Governance
Alan Kaplan, founder and CEO of executive search and board advisory firm Kaplan Partners, has advice for board members when it comes to evaluations: Fear not. In recent Directors Briefing interview, he outlined why evaluations are an essential part of good governance, and should not be viewed as a threat to incumbent directors. Excerpts follow. […]
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Podcasts 
Banking in the Digital Age with Mary Ann Scully
Mary Ann Scully, Board Chair and CEO at Howard Bank, discusses the consolidation of community banks, deregulation, the need for scale, and innovation opportunities in banking.
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Podcasts 
Lessons Learned
Reggie Davis, President of Banking at Flagstar Bank, reflects upon his leadership in the financial industry, and how to think differently, break convention, challenge racism, and embrace change.
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Podcasts 
TSR: Talent, Strategy + Risk
Bill McNabb, former Board Chair and CEO at Vanguard, redefines TSR (total shareholder return) as he examines the future of corporate leadership in environmental, social, and governance responsibility.
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Articles Wealth & Asset Management Industry Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Outlook
An AchieveNEXT survey of the wealth and asset management industry reveals a substantial gap between the level of DE&I performance in the industry and leaders’ perceptions of their own enterprises’ progress. In the survey, conducted in late spring 2021, in conjunction with Kaplan and MMI, more than 60 executives and advisors in the wealth and […]
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Articles The Definition of a Great Board: 2021 Edition
The role of a board member of any organization is constantly evolving. Economic cycles, leadership transitions, market dynamics, competitive changes, governance activists, and even political shifts can impact board composition and best practices in corporate governance seemingly out of the blue. Then add the unexpected challenges of a global pandemic, and the environment changes quickly […]
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Articles Culture Building in a Telecommuting World: What’s the New Normal for a Post-Coronavirus Workplace?
By: Sharon J. Lorman, The Kafafian GroupJeffrey P. Marsico, The Kafafian Group Podcast Show Notes: On this episode, our guests share their insights on how banks are returning to work, some of the benefits and risks associated with “work from home”, and how to promote your culture when a sizeable part of your workforce is remote. […]
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Articles Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Banking…Room for Improvement!
Someone once said that “diversity is being invited to the dance; inclusion is being invited to dance”. If this is true, then more banks than ever in New Jersey are dancing! Our industry has had an imbalance for a long time. While a majority of many banks’ employees are often female, those ranks get thinner […]
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Articles Finding the Right Fit with Alan J. Kaplan, Founder and CEO of Kaplan Partners
By Jeremy Weisz, Achieve NEXT Alan J. Kaplan is the Founder and CEO of Kaplan Partners, an executive search and board advisory firm. Alan launched Kaplan Partners in 1994 after beginning his corporate banking career with First Pennsylvania Bank and Meritor/PSFS. Since then, he has built Kaplan Partners into a nationally recognized boutique firm that has […]
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Articles How to Crisis-Proof Your Bank’s Succession Plan
In an ideal world, the departure of a key leader at a community bank would be an anticipated and carefully orchestrated event. A retirement date would be set. The successor would have plenty of time to learn from their predecessor. It would be a smooth transition. But we don’t live in an ideal world. If […]
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Articles Kaplan Partners Highlights Key Third Quarter Success Stories
Despite the dual impacts of the global pandemic and challenging economy, this past summer our firm was quite busy continuing to work diligently on behalf of our clients. Some of our recent success stories: President of Community Banking, Flagstar Bank President & CEO, Community Bank/CB Financial Services EVP & Imminent President & CEO, Bankers Cooperative Group/NJ Bankers VP-Finance, […]
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Articles Diversity AND Inclusion in PACB Leadership…it’s About Time!
Someone once said that “diversity is being invited to the dance; inclusion is being invited to dance”. If this is true, than PACB is finally dancing! After over 140 years serving community banks throughout the Commonwealth, PACB has its first woman Chair, Lori Cestra, EVP & COO of Enterprise Bank in Pittsburgh. This milestone has […]
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Articles Who Sits on Your Board of Directors?
As companies large and small grapple with the business impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, CEOs and their executive teams need all the help they can get. The Board of Directors or Board of Advisors should be one of the primary resources for organizational leaders. But what if that board is not up to the task […]
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Articles Crisis Leadership 101
To view this article in its published format click here <PACB April 2020 – Kaplan (1)> The global pandemic has struck terror into the hearts of nearly everyone. Business leaders and board members are reeling from the rapid impact on their organizations, across public companies, small businesses, non-profit organizations and more. Everyone has been affected. […]
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Videos 
ENTREPRENEURIAL CEOs: DRIVE, DESIRE + INNOVATION
A conversation with Denise Devine CEO of FNB Holdings & Co-Founder of RTM Vital Signs, LLC
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Articles Succession in a Covid-19 World
The global pandemic has struck terror into the hearts of nearly everyone. Business leaders and board members are reeling from the rapid impact on their organizations, across public companies, small businesses, non-profit organizations and more. Everyone has been affected. One of the less discussed impacts, which is shaking boardrooms and executive suites, is the issue […]
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Articles Crisis Leadership 101
I don’t claim to be an expert in crisis management. However, since founding our firm 26 years ago, I’ve met literally thousands of C-Suite leaders and recruited over 100 Presidents/CEOs. So, I have observed a few things along the way. Here are three critical elements of leadership which I view as particularly relevant in these […]
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Videos 
BREAKING THROUGH THE GENDER BARRIER
A conversation with Carol Johnson
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Videos 
GROWING SHAREHOLDER VALUE: FROM STARTUP TO IPO
A Conversation with Jim Deutsch, Partner, Patriot Financial Partners
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Articles Board Governance For The New Year
Business conditions, financial markets and competitive landscapes are always changing. But perhaps there is no arena of business undergoing a more significant transformation at the moment than corporate governance. Whether driven by activists investors, regulators, institutional shareholders, governance gadflies or best practices, corporate governance is in the crosshairs for many organizations today. And in the […]
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Articles Compensation Committee Rebrand
Publicly traded businesses have long been mandated to have a compensation committee which reviews and sets the pay and benefits for corporate executives, and most non-public financial institutions have followed suit. Most “comp committees,” as they are affectionately called, spend the vast majority of their time focused on the institution’s pay practices — including establishing […]
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Videos 
GUIDING BOARD SUCCESSION: REVOLUTION VS. EVOLUTION
A Conversation with Chris Franklin / Chairman + CEO, Aqua America
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Videos 
Turnaround Crisis Management: What’s Required of Today’s Leaders
A Conversation with Trish Wellenbach
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Articles Effective Boards
Board games, team players It’s the stuff of Hollywood drama and CEO nightmares. Dysfunctional boards of directors – at least in movies and bad dreams – can be the source is interminable meetings, uninspired deliberation, corporate gridlock and even hostile power grabs. In everyday business life, however, a board of directors doesn’t have to be […]
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Videos 
BECOMING THE BEST CEO: JOURNEY TO THE BOARDROOM
A Conversation with Carol Johnson
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Videos 
PIONEERING WOMEN: SHIFTING THE PERSPECTIVE
A Conversation with Denise Devine
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Videos 
ECONOMIES OF SCALE: THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY BANKS
A Conversation with Jim Deutsch
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Videos 
BUILDING BETTER BOARDS: Culture, Community + Commitment
A Conversation with Trish Wellenbach
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Videos 
TRANSFORMATIVE TRANSACTIONS: REENGINEERING STRATEGIC GROWTH
A Conversation with Chris Franklin
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Articles Strategies for Winning the War for Talent
Talent Shortage Strategies A decreasing unemployment rate, an aging baby boomer workforce, and the rise of technology and the gig economy have all been cited as reasons for the current talent shortage. But as the war for talent gets even more challenging, there are strategies that companies and private equity firms can employ to ensure […]
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Articles Why Directors Should Not Fear Board Evaluations
In governance circles today, the conversations about board performance continue to advance. <To view the Article in its published format, click here: Why Directors Should Not Fear Board Evaluations > Governance advocates, proxy advisors and institutional investors encourage varying approaches to evaluating directors, assessing board effectiveness, and raising the bar on expectations for director contributions […]
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Articles 7 Things Bank Boards Should Focus on
The world of corporate governance today has a brighter spotlight on boards of directors than ever before. <To view the Article in its published format, click here: 7 Things Bank Boards Should Focus on> The world of corporate governance today has a brighter spotlight on boards of directors than ever before. While bank regulatory relief […]
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Articles Seven Secrets of Succession Success
A well-orchestrated plan of succession and leadership continuity reassures employees, investors and communities One of a bank board’s most vital responsibilities is overseeing the plan of succession for the CEO. Whether driven by a looming retirement or change in the incumbent’s personal timeline, a well-orchestrated plan of succession and leadership continuity reassures employees, investors and […]
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Articles Does Your Bank Have A Dream Team
Assessing Your Bank’s Leadership Team is the Foundation of Successful Succession Planning <To View the Article in its published format, click here: Dream Team Article A 8-2017> Many bank Boards of Directors and CEOs are proud of their bank’s executive team. And rightly so! Yet frequently those feelings of pride dissolve into uncertainty when the […]
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Articles The Bank Director of the Future: Diversity of Experiences and Skill Sets Matter
While the requirements needed in a bank leader today continue to evolve, the same can also be said for bank directors. Boards of directors today are under more scrutiny than ever before, whether from governance advisors, shareholders, Wall Street analysts, activist investors, community leaders and customers. Even mutuals and privately held institutions face more visible […]
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Articles The Bank Executive of the Future: Agile and Focused on Talent
Today’s bank leader remains under more pressure than at any time since the financial crisis. Tangible skills still matter, such as commercial credit experience, risk management and strategic planning. Nevertheless, the real challenges may lie in developing the key leadership requirements for institutional success, and in the navigation of the managerial challenges which lie ahead. […]
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Articles Meet the New Bank Executive
Today’s bank leader is under greater pressure than at any time since the financial crisis. While the crisis itself was a hot mess, the banking climate remaining in the aftermath of the Great Recession has likely altered the course of the industry for decades to come. The two most vital ingredients today for a bank’s […]
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Articles Inside the Chief Financial Officer Role
Alan Kaplan, Kaplan Partners, USA Founder and CEO How would you describe the outlook for the CFO function in the US? The CFO function has always been a critical role in organizations, but in the post-crisis era the finance function has taken on additional significance for a variety of reasons. During the financial crisis, a […]
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Articles What to Look for in Your Next CEO Part II
Selecting your bank’s next chief executive officer remains the board’s single most important responsibility. The risk of selecting an underprepared or inadequate leader is high, and can impact the bank’s strategic direction, reputation and ultimately, its viability. As highlighted last month, there are many critical banking industry skills needed in a leader today. In addition, […]
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Articles What to Look for in Your Next CEO: Part I
Selecting a chief executive to lead your institution is a bank board’s single most important responsibility. Everything flows from this decision, including the bank’s strategy, reputation, the ability to attract critical talent, investor and employee confidence and the credibility of the board itself. Selecting an underprepared or inadequate leader—no matter how well liked or how […]