The State of Banking Symposium
Paragon recognizes that the current banking climate is uncertain and possibly concerning to consumers and stockholders alike. In order to ease some of the panic and fear that has gripped the banking industry, Paragon hosted The State of Banking Symposium to address concerns head on.
Customers, shareholders, and the general public were invited to a breakfast meeting on August 7 at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens to hear from a panel of hand-picked financial experts. Panelists included Don Berge, President of MarketGraphics Research Group; Jim Reber, President of ICBA Securities (Independent Community Bankers of America); Doug Southard, Founder of Southard Financial; and Philip Smith, President of Gerrish McCreary Smith. Paragon President and CEO Robert Shaw moderated with opening comments, followed by each panelist addressing the industry situation from their expertise; then the panel fielded questions from audience members. Paragon hopes to have made a positive impact on the Memphis banking community by leading this event.
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| State of Banking Symposium panelists, from left to right: Don Berge, Jim Reber, Doug Southard, and Philip Smith. |
Featured Panel Guests
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Don Berge, President of MarketGraphics Research Group, Inc.
Don Berge is the president of Market Graphics of Memphis, a research firm that tracks the local real estate market and home-building trends. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, and he is also a licensed real estate appraiser and broker. He has many years of experience in real estate and construction lending for financial institutions and he is a member of Memphis Area Association of REALTORS (MAAR) and Memphis Area Home Builders Association (MAHBA).
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Jim Reber, President of ICBA Securities
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) represents 5,000 community banks of all sizes and charter types throughout the United States. Jim Reber has served as President of ICBA Securities since 2005, and he has background auditing financial institutions as well as providing securities advice, portfolio structuring consultation, and trade execution services. He is a CPA and a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), and he received his BS degree from Christian Brothers University.
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Philip Smith, President of Gerrish McCreary Smith
Philip Smith is President and a member of the Board of Directors for the law firm Gerrish McCreary Smith as well as its affiliated bank consulting firm, Gerrish McCreary Smith Consultants, LLC. The legal and consulting practice specializes in all matters that are important to banks and other financial institutions. He received both his BS and his MBA from The University of Memphis, and he is also a graduate and former faculty member of the Barret School of Banking.
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Doug Southard, Founder of Southard Financial
Doug Southard is the founder of Southard Financial, a firm that has specialized in business valuation, investment banking, and financial consulting since 1987. He holds Doctor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration Degrees from Indiana University and he is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is often called upon as an expert witness in local, state, and federal court cases involving business valuation. |
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