Meet the Speakers


The 2026 CBAO Convention brings together respected voices from banking, business, advocacy, and leadership to share insights that matter to Ohio’s community banks. Meet the speakers joining us this year and get a preview of the conversations shaping the convention. Additional speakers and session details will be announced in the coming weeks. Check back often for updates as we continue building an exciting Convention lineup.

 

KEYNOTE

Angela Gargano

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Keynote Speaker

Wednesday, 7/29 at 9:15 AM | Keynote Session

Be the First - How to Take Bold, Intentional Steps Through Uncertainty and Redefine What's Possible

Angela Gargano takes the stage for a keynote experience that’s equal parts empowering, energizing, and transformative. A 6x American Ninja Warrior, Miss Fitness America, and biochemist-turned-performance coach, Angela shares the hard-earned lessons behind her journey from tearing her ACL on national television to rebuilding her life, career, and confidence from the ground up. Through raw storytelling, science-backed strategies, and her signature RIGHT™ Framework, she helps audiences break through fear, perfectionism, and uncertainty to take bold, intentional action. You’ll laugh, reflect, and leave equipped with practical tools to navigate change, build momentum, and redefine what’s possible. Bonus: She’ll probably have you believing your biggest breakthrough is closer than you think.

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Angela Gargano

Angela Gargano is a keynote speaker, 6x American Ninja Warrior, Miss Fitness America, 3x Covergirl biochemist-turned-coach, and founder of a global movement that’s helped thousands of women accomplish what once felt impossible—starting with their first pull-up.

After tearing her ACL live on national television, Angela didn’t just recover, she redefined herself. She turned a career-halting injury into a comeback story, launching a six-figure business rooted in resilience, adaptability, and bold action. She now brings that same battle-tested mindset to organizations and audiences worldwide.

Her signature RIGHT™ Framework helps individuals and teams break through fear, perfectionism, and burnout—teaching them how to navigate change, take aligned action, and build sustainable momentum even when things feel uncertain.

With a background in biochemistry and gymnastics, Angela brings both science and soul to her keynotes. Her talks are known for blending raw storytelling, contagious energy, and practical, actionable tools that leave lasting impact.

Angela’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Women’s Health, and Oxygen Magazine, and she’s spoken on stages across industries—from healthcare to tech to high-performance leadership.

Whether she’s leading a room full of executives, entrepreneurs, or high-achieving women, her mission is clear: to help people stop waiting for clarity and start creating it.

What if it all goes right? Angela is here to show you how.

Tom Evans, CFA

Senior Consultant with HUB | Taylor Advisors

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Thursday, 7/30 at 2:45 PM | General Session

Net Interest Margin Expansion: How to Pull Ahead of Your Peers

In today’s competitive banking environment, improving profitability while balancing risk is no easy task. In this interactive session, Tom will explore how community financial institutions can strengthen net interest margin performance and identify opportunities to outperform their peers. Using current peer data and real-world balance sheet comparisons, he’ll break down key metrics including cost of funds, earning asset yields, liquidity positioning, and overall profitability trends. Attendees will gain practical insight into how their institution stacks up both regionally and nationally—and where opportunities for improvement may exist. Through live surveys and discussion, Tom will also examine how different balance sheet management philosophies shape strategy, risk tolerance, and long-term performance.

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Tom Evans, CFA

Tom is a Senior Consultant with HUB | Taylor Advisors, working with institutions across the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest regions. He began his career as a Financial Institution Examiner with the FDIC where he worked with banks in the Southeast region and was an instructor in areas regarding ALCO for new FDIC hires. He then worked for a life insurance asset manager where he covered commercial mortgage and asset backed securities. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, is a member of the Louisville CFA society, and received his BSBA in Finance and Accounting at the University of Kentucky.

Mark Miller, CPA

Consultant with HUB | Taylor Advisors

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Thursday, 7/30 at 2:45 PM | General Session

Net Interest Margin Expansion: How to Pull Ahead of Your Peers

With deep expertise in balance sheet strategy and financial institution performance, Mark brings a practical, data-driven approach to one of banking’s biggest priorities: expanding net interest margin in a highly competitive market. Drawing on experience as both a CPA and former CFO, Mark helps institutions uncover opportunities hidden within peer data, profitability trends, and balance sheet positioning. His session will challenge attendees to think differently about liquidity, pricing strategies, and risk management—while offering actionable insights to help move from good to great. Through real-world comparisons and interactive discussion, bankers will gain a clearer understanding of how top-performing institutions are pulling ahead—and how they can do the same.

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Mark Miller, CPA

Mark is a Consultant with HUB | Taylor Advisors, working directly with clients to facilitate ALCO Meetings.

Mark began his career in public accounting, auditing private and public financial institutions in the Midwest. Mark joined the team after spending nine years as the Chief Financial Officer for a large residential lender. Mark is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He received his BSBA in Finance and Accounting from Xavier University.

Scott Earwood

Head of Community Banking Division with White Clay

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Friday, 7/31 at 10:30 AM | Breakout Session

No Data, No Future: Why Your Bank's AI and Profitability Strategy Starts with Data

As banks race to adopt AI and strengthen relationship profitability, one truth is becoming impossible to ignore: none of it works without the right data foundation. In this session, Scott Earwood cuts through the hype to explore how banks can transform fragmented information into actionable intelligence that drives smarter decisions, deeper customer relationships, and stronger financial performance. Learn how institutions are leveraging clean, connected data to power accurate relationship profitability, enable AI tools that actually deliver value, and move bankers from intuition-based selling to insight-driven relationship management. Plus, gain a practical roadmap for aligning banker incentives with shareholder value through profitability-based compensation strategies that encourage long-term growth over short-term production.

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Scott Earwood

Scott Earwood, Head of Community Banking Division at White Clay, has 20+ years of experience with both national and community financial institutions. He worked in the retail, business banking, and mortgage lines of business.

Scott has been with White Clay for 12+ years and in 2020 helped build out the standardized version of White Clay’s SalesCenter Software that the Community Banking Division uses to help banks start the journey of building deeper and more profitable relationships.

Ryan Hayhurst

Managing Partner, President with The Baker Group

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Friday, 7/31 at 12:00 PM | Keynote Lunch

2026 Economic Overview and Fed Policy Outlook
Ryan W. Hayhurst brings clarity, insight, and real-world perspective to one of banking’s most pressing questions: what’s next for the economy and interest rates? As president and managing partner of The Baker Group, Ryan delivers a timely, data-driven keynote that breaks down the forces shaping the financial landscape—from inflation and labor market trends to the Federal Reserve’s evolving policy decisions. With decades of experience advising financial institutions nationwide, he translates complex economic conditions into practical strategies banking leaders can actually use. You’ll walk away with a sharper understanding of the macroeconomic environment, greater confidence in navigating uncertainty, and actionable insights to help guide your institution through the year ahead.
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Ryan Hayhurst

Ryan W. Hayhurst is managing partner and president of The Baker Group. Ryan joined the firm in 1991 and now oversees the design and implementation of investment and asset/liability strategies for financial institutions.

He is also integrally involved in the continued development of the firm’s proprietary software designed to assist clients in the management of their investment portfolios and their overall interest rate risk profiles.

Ryan regularly develops and presents educational seminars nationwide, with a focus on investment and interest rate risk management. He is a frequent speaker at financial institution conventions and investment conferences and has served as a faculty member of several national and regional banking schools.

Hayhurst holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Additional speakers and session details will be announced in the coming weeks. Check back often for updates as we continue building an exciting Convention lineup.

Ready to Join Us?

Register today to hear from industry leaders, connect with peers, and be part of Ohio’s premier community banking event.

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"Great energy, the bankers came to the exhibit hall, solid traffic! Loved seeing Aza walking around with the mike and generating energy in the exhibit hall!"

– Kim Weeks, StoneCastle

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