Last week, CBA held its annual joint convention and bank counsel seminar at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point. More than 300 attendees from across the state congregated to participate in sessions and discussions, and hear from several keynote speakers, including an opening address from Bill Taylor, founding editor of Fast Company Magazine. CBA’s regulatory panel, moderated by Bill Haraf, managing director of Promontory Interfinancial Network, featured representatives from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve and the California Department of Business Oversight. The CBA was also pleased to have a second keynote address delivered by Dr. Patrick Bettin, senior lecturer at the Michael G. Foster School and Business and adjunct associate professor at the University of Washington. Dr. Christopher Thornberg, economist and founding partner of Beacon Economics, closed the convention on Saturday with his economic outlook for California and the nation.

The convention is also the time when the association marks the changing of the board leadership. CBA president and CEO, Rod Brown, thanked outgoing chair Jeff Ball, president and CEO at Friendly HIlls Bank, for his chairmanship this past year. We truly appreciate the service that Jeff Ball provided on behalf of the association. Rick Sanborn, president and CEO of Seacoast Commerce Bank, becomes CBA’s next chairman for the 2014-2015 term.

During the convention, the CBA also recognized its Committee Member of the Year, an annual award presented to a member of its many committees who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to the banking industry. David Lauer, senior company counsel with Wells Fargo who has served on CBA’s State Government Relations Committee since 1987 and the Trust and Investment Services Committee, where he currently serves as chair, since 1989, was this year’s honoree. CBA also presented a prestigious legal award, the Frandzel Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the bank legal profession by an outside counsel This year’s award was presented to Mark Aldrich with Aldrich, Bonnefin & Moore. Special recognition was also given to Tom Phelps, founding partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, for his distinguished career serving California’s banking community. Phelps has been an active participant with the CBA for many years serving on both the state and federal government relations committees.

Finally, the association would like to thank all attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and staff who made this year’s event a success! Please save the date for our 2015 annual convention and bank counsel seminar, which will be held May 7-9, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach.