Banking and Finance Conference

Mark William Streiber is a financial professional registered with FHN Financial Securities Corp. Mark is based in New York, NY and has been in the financial services industry since January 31, 2024. Mark holds the Series 7TO, Series 63, and SIE licenses. Mark's primary focus is on providing investment advice and brokerage services to clients in New York.

David Peterson has inspired countless audiences to rethink how innovation happens in their organization. His insight and actionable content helps leaders foster a culture of innovation that encourages workforce diversity and instills accountability for driving growth. As the Chief Innovation Officer of First National Bankers Bank (FNBB) of Baton Rouge LA, David is a tireless advocate for rethinking the role of innovation in a corporate setting.  David understands the critical need to combat status quo thinking to achieve sustainable profits and competitiveness in any industry. He shares real world strategies and tools to foster a creative mindset, convert creativity into innovation and empowers attendees to be innovative where they are regardless of job function or title.

Peterson’s Innovation Driven Growth (IDG) content focuses on assisting enterprises in igniting enterprise-wide innovation.  Content includes innovation keynotes, workshops and challenges. David’s focus at FNBB is creating an environment where every individual is encouraged to look for innovations that spur growth, regardless of their size. David is a sought-after speaker at financial services regional and national industry events. David is also the author of the best-selling book Grounded: Anchored Management for Strategic Leadership and Effective Decision-Making (Little River Publishing, 2016). His approach to strategic innovation and fun engaging workshops and thinking challenges has been praised by C-Suite executives, entrepreneurs and millennials.

David is the former founder and CEO of Goldleaf Technologies, a leading provider of electronic payments software and a pioneer in the fintech industry. David was also Chief Strategic Officer of i7strategies. He currently serves on the boards of PaymentsFirst, ArgosRisk and softgiving. David is also a serial entrepreneur, having created start-ups in retail and professional services.

Susan Sullivan is senior vice president of congressional relations for the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA). She advocates ICBA’s policy positions with key members of Congress and bank regulatory agencies. Her areas of responsibility include industrial loan companies, fintechs, payments, cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency, cyber and data security, credit reporting, postal banking, consumer lending, and regulatory relief.

Prior to joining ICBA, Sullivan worked for 10 years at the American Financial Services Association in various roles, most recently as director for congressional and political affairs. In this role, she worked to develop strategy and advocate for priority banking and consumer lending issues in Congress and managed the association’s political action committee.

Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and political science from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., and is a certified consumer credit compliance professional. She co-chairs the Financial Services Task Force of Women in Government Relations.

Mary Ivon Montgomery is Client Experience Manager for HORNE. Mary Ivon blends her expertise in people solutions with her background as a marriage and family therapist to build trust, foster collaboration, and elevate team performance. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mississippi and her Masters of Arts in Marriage and family therapy from Richmont Graduate University, and is trained as an ICF Coach.

With a passion for helping clients achieve their business goals, Mary Ivon has years of experience managing relationships, coaching individuals, and facilitating impactful group events.

Steven Cooksey is president and chief executive officer of Great Southern Bank. Cooksey began his career with Great Southern Bank in May 2015 as a Senior Vice-President and soon thereafter became Chief Financial Officer after a successful 16-year career as a CPA and partner with a public accounting firm in Meridian. In January 2020, he was promoted to executive vice president and CFO, and in August 2022, was elected president and chief operating officer of the bank.

Cooksey graduated from Mississippi State University in 1999 and earned his Certified Public Accountant credential in March 2002. In 2023, he graduated with high honors from the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Steven is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Lance is a member of the Financial Services Practice and has over 25 years of experience in public accounting. He currently serves as FORVIS Mazars' southwest region financial institutions tax leader. Lance has extensive experience in the financial services industry and has specifically focused on taxation and consulting services for financial institutions and bank holding companies.
He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is a former member on the board of directors of Alzheimer's Mississippi, Inc. and is a former treasurer on the board of trustees of the Mississippi Nurses Foundation.
Lance is a 1994 graduate of University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, with a B.S. degree in accounting.

Dylan Edwards is Controller for Guaranty Bank. In this business leadership role, Dylan will direct daily accounting operations.

Dylan earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Adkerson School of Accountancy at Mississippi State University. He then spent the first segment of his career in the public accounting sector in Nashville before recently relocating to Madison, Mississippi.

Dylan holds CPA licenses in both Tennessee and Mississippi. He is also active in several professional organizations, such as the Mississippi Bankers Association, American Bankers Association, Mississippi Society of CPAs, and the Tennessee Society of CPAs.

Dylan and his wife Nicole reside in Madison, where they are members of Madison Methodist Church. Outside of work, Dylan enjoys attending MSU sporting events, getting outdoors, and spending time with his Bernedoodle, George.

With 20 years’ experience, Erik Smith serves as the Supervisor of Examinations for the Mississippi Department of Banking & Consumer Finance. Erik has a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking & Finance from the University of Mississippi and a Graduate Degree from the School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He serves and has served on various Committees and Working Groups in his capacity, including the State Examiner Review Team (SERT), Data Task Force, Data Working Group, and Risk ID Team. Erik organized and managed a Large Bank Peer Review Pilot group made up of examiners of large banks in 5 states. The pilot program was successful and is continued by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. The peer group enhances transparency and communication across the states for large bank examinations. Moreover, Erik organized and started the DBCFs Data Analytic Program, which serves as a resource for examiners and industry. When not working, Erik enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, hunting, and playing the guitar.