Florida Banking December 2023

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW AND THANKS TO RETIRING CEO ALEX SANCHEZ

BY JOSE CUETO, FBA CHAIR

E very banker who has the honor of serving as FBA Chair works closely with the FBA president and CEO. It has been a privilege to advocate for our Florida banking industry alongside our fearless leader of 30 years, Alex Sanchez. As his time at the FBA comes to a close, I want to thank him for his service and many contributions to our industry. I have known Alex for more than 15 years and have loved his infectious energy and passion for everything he does. His tireless efforts to cultivate internal and external relationships, to drive member value, and to be a voice for the banking industry were the tenets of his tenure as CEO. Alex has always respected and elevated the role of FBA Chair, giving him or her the opportunity to speak up and to represent the membership in important meetings with legislators and policymakers. Each one of us has been on the receiving end of Alex’s early morning calls; it was his priority to keep us informed and engaged. As we look back on this year, I am proud of the work we’ve done to educate our customers, our representatives, and the media about the safety and soundness of the nation’s banking industry. Highlights of the calendar year included leadership events for FED Governor Michelle Bowman, Senator Rick Scott, and FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg and Vice Chair Travis Hill, our 135th Annual Meeting with keynote speaker Maria Bartiromo, and frequent fly-ins to Washington, D.C. Staying close to bank regulatory agencies is always a top priority for the FBA; more than 400 bankers joined us for our events in January and September to meet FED Governor Bowman, FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg, and FDIC Vice Chair Travis Hill. In June, more than 500 people attended FBA Fest 2023, our celebration of the FBA’s 135th anniversary. Our keynote speaker Bartiromo gave excellent remarks about her career, the economy, national security, and

growth. We are grateful to Alex for nurturing this professional relationship over the years and gaining a national platform to advocate for the industry. The FBA always has its foot on the gas. There is much to look forward to in the new year. The 2024 Legislative Session begins in January, and we need to be ready to support our Government Relations team. We hope you’ll join us in Tallahassee on January 24th for Capitol Day & Night to spend the day at the Capitol discussing important banking and economic issues with Florida legislators. Of course, we are also excited to welcome new FBA President and CEO Kathy Kraninger, who has been chosen to carry on Alex’s legacy and lead the FBA forward. Thank you, Alex, for 30 years of passionate leadership, service, and friendship! If we have learned nothing else from Alex Sanchez, it is that we must have a seat at the table. It is critical for our membership to be engaged and involved. Florida bankers, let’s continue to support our association in 2024.

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