Steckel and Phillips Graduate from IBA Leadership Institute

Lisa Steckel, CSR Supervisor in Waukon, and Caty Phillips, Vice President and Human Resources Officer, successfully completed the Iowa Bankers Association Leadership Institute on June 5, 2026, in Cedar Rapids.

The Bank Leadership Institute is a comprehensive program designed for bankers who want to set higher goals and enhance their personal skills for leadership roles in banking and the community.

Twenty-four bankers from around Iowa participated in the 2026 Leadership Institute. Session topics included strategic thinking, DiSC profiles, public speaking, economic development, government relations, fierce conversations, and coaching. In February, the class attended the IBA Management Conference, and in March, they visited the Iowa State Capitol as they learned about the IBA's lobbying efforts.

Attendees completed five sessions, learning essential skills to help them contribute to the success of their financial institutions and communities. The final session for the 2026 Institute included an educational workshop with speaker Coach Kevin Kush, who is known for leading his Boys Town High School football team of at-risk youth to an undefeated regular season. Kush spoke to the group about the eight traits of a quality teammate.

Lisa Steckel, a 12-year employee-owner, shared her experience at the IBA Leadership Institute.

“The information and insights I gained from the Leadership Institute were extremely valuable. They provided a better understanding of effective leadership, and I found the content immediately applicable to my role. Since completing the program, I have started implementing some of the strategies to strengthen communication and improve overall efficiency. I look forward to continuing to apply what I learned to help drive success and enhance the service we provide to our customers.”

Caty Phillips, with five years of experience at FreedomBank, also found the program beneficial. A SHRM Certified Professional with degrees in Psychology and Human Resources Management, Phillips plans to apply the servant leadership and employee engagement principles gained through the IBA Leadership Institute to further strengthen FreedomBank’s culture and support professional growth across the organization.

"The Leadership Institute provided valuable opportunities to learn from other banking professionals across the state while exploring new perspectives on leadership and employee engagement. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent FreedomBank and bring new ideas back to our team."