Florida Banking November 2021

KUDOS

FBA Honors 2021 Florida School of Banking Graduates

F or the past 51 years, Florida bankers have been attending the Florida School of Banking (FSB), sponsored by the Florida Bankers Association. Since its’ creation in 1969, 2,940 students have graduated from the FSB, better prepared to contribute to the managerial duties of their institutions. Many of these graduates continued their banking career, rising through the ranks to become presidents and CEOs of numerous Florida banks. Thirty-five senior class students graduated from this year’s program, better equipped to help lead their banks into their financial future. Current FBA Chair and Bank of America’s Senior Public Policy Lead/ President of Palm Beach County Fabiola Brumley addressed the graduates and encouraged them as they left the three-year program. Christopher Perkins , senior vice president of Commercial Banking at SouthState Bank, earned the coveted Florida School of Banking Honor Graduate Award for 2021. This award is given to the student that ranks among the top ten percent academically, exhibits

a true sense of leadership, and actively participates in class throughout the three-year course. The FSB is intended to provide bank personnel at the supervisory and officer level the opportunity to increase their knowledge about the banking industry and the economy. It could not operate without the dedicated industry professionals that make up the governing board of directors. These bankers contribute their talents, skills, knowledge, expertise, and time to assure that this school is pertinent, timely and gives the attending students the tools needed to become assets to their institutions. The industry professionals that make up the 2021 school board of directors are Ginger Martin , president and CEO of American National Bank, Ernie Pinner, active director at SouthState Bank, Jeff Oody , and Susan Blackburn , regional community banking director at Seacoast Bank. The Florida Bankers Association is very appreciative of their efforts and their willingness to serve the banking industry in this way.

The 51st annual Florida School of Banking graduating class.

The Florida School of Banking Board of Directors, from left to right: Virginia Martin, Jeffrey Oody, Ernie Pinner and Susan Blackburn.

The Florida School of Banking Honor Graduate Christopher Perkins (right) with Virginia Martin, CEO of American National Bank.

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