Thursday, Sept. 23 - 9:15 – 10:30
General Session: Innovative Banker Panel – Terrace Room
Moderated by Wayne Miller, Executive Director, The Venture Center
For entrepreneurs in financial technology, or fintech, Little Rock is in the big leagues of business accelerators. Preserving and enhancing that reputation is the role of Venture Center Executive Director Wayne Miller, a mission he has executed with aplomb. Miller, who came to the organization in 2017, oversaw the 2018 iteration of the nonprofit group’s 12-week startup program including knitting together a coalition of mentors and support from Fortune 500 Fidelity Information Services, local business leaders and entrepreneurs.
From the success of the fintech accelerator, Miller negotiated a partnership with the Independent Community Bankers of America to launch the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator. That cohort, a first-of-its-kind community bank-focused fintech accelerator program, has the aim of helping community banks directly engage and partner with early stage fintech companies focusing exclusively on product development.
Prior to coming to Little Rock, Miller was CEO of Enovative Technologies, LLC, a private equity-backed medical device manufacturer in Bishopville, Md., and was COO of a $45 million transportation and logistics company with more than 1000 vehicles, five facilities and staff of 1,500.
In all, he’s worked with 12 startup technology companies in health care, cybersecurity, advertising and internet consulting, as well as taught entrepreneurship as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and serves on a variety of boards of directors.
Paul graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Business Economics, and recently completed the Western Bankers Association Executive Development Program. He frequently shares his cybersecurity expertise at community events to help prevent fraud and financial crime in the local area and has been invited to present to industry groups including the FDIC.
For entrepreneurs in financial technology, or fintech, Little Rock is in the big leagues of business accelerators. Preserving and enhancing that reputation is the role of Venture Center Executive Director Wayne Miller, a mission he has executed with aplomb. Miller, who came to the organization in 2017, oversaw the 2018 iteration of the nonprofit group’s 12-week startup program including knitting together a coalition of mentors and support from Fortune 500 Fidelity Information Services, local business leaders and entrepreneurs.
From the success of the fintech accelerator, Miller negotiated a partnership with the Independent Community Bankers of America to launch the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator. That cohort, a first-of-its-kind community bank-focused fintech accelerator program, has the aim of helping community banks directly engage and partner with early stage fintech companies focusing exclusively on product development.
Prior to coming to Little Rock, Miller was CEO of Enovative Technologies, LLC, a private equity-backed medical device manufacturer in Bishopville, Md., and was COO of a $45 million transportation and logistics company with more than 1000 vehicles, five facilities and staff of 1,500.
In all, he’s worked with 12 startup technology companies in health care, cybersecurity, advertising and internet consulting, as well as taught entrepreneurship as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and serves on a variety of boards of directors.
- Paul Abramson, EVP, Chief Technology Officer, American Riviera Bank
Paul graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Business Economics, and recently completed the Western Bankers Association Executive Development Program. He frequently shares his cybersecurity expertise at community events to help prevent fraud and financial crime in the local area and has been invited to present to industry groups including the FDIC.
- Karla (Nikki) Almazan, FVP, Director of Information Technology, EH Private Bank
- Eric Brady, Chief Technology Officer, Nano Banc