Florida Banking May 2023

STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

ADVOCACY THE "FBA WAY"

BY ALEJANDRO “ALEX” SANCHEZ, FBA PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

T he Florida Bankers Association is an association that advocates, fights, and speaks up for our industry in a strong, educated and personal way. As I look back over my tenure as the third CEO of this great organization, I can rest easy that I will be passing on the leadership of a respected and active group to my successor. I will pass this great tradition to my successor, just as John Milstead (our second CEO) did to me, and as did Floyd Call (our first CEO) to John. This handoff of the baton will occur later this year. What I will stress to my successor is to conduct a strong advocacy program for the FBA; you cannot email it in. A strong advocacy program is built by personally engaging the elected officials one on one and/or with our bankers’ presence. You cannot execute or maintain a successful advocacy program while sitting in the comfort of your home, office or pool. The FBA walks the hallways of Congress in Washington and the hallways of the state capital to make a difference for you and our industry. Yes, we sometimes use the modern technologies of Zoom and Teams for our briefings, and these platforms add a different but positive element to our advocacy program. Emails and phone calls are also effective tools. But the best technique for successful lobbying is walking the hallways of Congress and wearing out the shoe leather. In my communications to you over the years, I have always included photographs to not only tell you what we were doing but also to show you. When the FBA Chair, leaders, and team go to Washington, it is all about actively engaging members of Congress in conversation to explain our issues and position. I want you, the reader of my emails, to feel like you had a seat in those conversations as we advocated for the banking system. The building of relations with elected officials is key to a successful advocacy program. When you walk the hallways of Congress as often as the FBA does, you are sending

several messages to elected officials: First, your presence in Tallahassee or Washington shows that you are engaged, concerned and involved. Secondly, walking those Capitol hallways strongly communicates to our elected officials that we are informed about what’s going on. Finally, our time walking the hallways sends the message that folks back home, where the votes are, are watching and listening. The COVID pandemic has ushered a new era of advocacy for some — doing it from the comfort and ease of their home or office. That is not the FBA way. A successful advocacy program shows members that you can fight for them whenever and wherever, including in an alleyway and perhaps getting bloodied in the

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