Podcast | 07.21.26

BISA Portfolio Podcast: Spotlight on the BISA Membership Committee — Why Membership Makes Us Stronger

by: BISA Staff

In this episode of the BISA Portfolio Podcast, hosts Jane-ellen Porter (BISA President) and John Olerio (Immediate Past President) sit down with Dan Bonano of Franklin Madison and Jonathon Allen of Westcom Financial, co‑chairs of BISA’s newly organized Membership Committee. Their conversation explores how BISA can deepen year‑round engagement, structure its subcommittees for maximum impact and better demonstrate the real‑world business value of membership across banks, credit unions and service providers. They also reflect on how BISA has shaped their own careers through mentorship, community and networking, and why every member has a role to play in growing the association’s reach and relevance.

Tune in to learn:

• How the new Membership Committee is structured around four key subcommittees — recruitment, retention and satisfaction, engagement and programming, and member services and benefits — and what each is setting out to accomplish.
• Why clarity of value and relevance are central challenges today, and how BISA is reframing membership as a way to solve concrete business problems rather than simply provide events and content.
• What it takes to create year‑round engagement beyond the annual conference, including more targeted programming, clearer communication around benefits and more frequent touchpoints between in‑person events.
• How BISA is working to attract and retain the next generation of leaders, from leveraging the Rising Stars program to building a more digital‑first engagement model.
• Practical ways members can get involved right now — by volunteering for subcommittees, contributing content and inviting colleagues into the community, using conference energy as a launch pad for deeper engagement throughout the year.

Listen to the episode below or listen and subscribe on Spotify or Apple.

Transcript

Jane-ellen Porter 
Hello, everyone, and welcome to this episode of the BISA Portfolio Podcast, recording live here before the BISA in-person Board meeting here in Chicago. I'm Jane-ellen Porter, the current BISA president, and to tell you just a little bit more about myself, I am with Wilmington Advisors at M&T Bank. I'm a regional manager and a market leader. I have been part of BISA for many, many years, too many to give a number, but it's definitely 20-plus, and have been part of the Board and the Executive Committee and different committees over the years for a very long time as well. So, I'm joined today by my co-host, John Olerio, who's our immediate BISA past president, who's been walking this journey with me for the last few months, and also joining us, we're excited to say, are our BISA Membership Committee Co-Chairs Dan Bonano and Jonathon Allen. So, welcome everybody.

John Olerio 
Thank you, Jane-ellen. I am John Olerio, and I am Senior Vice President and Head of Wealth Management at Lighthouse Credit Union in beautiful Dover, New Hampshire. And it's great to be here for this podcast today. We are here today to talk about the value that BISA has had for all of us over the years, and to discuss the vision of the membership committee and subcommittees. Membership fuels our association, and this committee, to me, is always the most important committee that we have. I love all the other committees, and I might whisper to them that they are also important. But since no one else is listening, except Dan and Jon, I will tell you, you are the best committee by far. Before we get started, I want to encourage everyone listening to please subscribe to this podcast on the app you're listening to now, and if you enjoyed it, please share it with your network. I would love for Dan and Jonathon if you could introduce yourselves.

Dan Bonano 
Thank you, John. Yeah, my name is Dan Bonano. I lead the bank division at Franklin Madison. Very excited to be here and very excited to be co-chairing with my friend Jon, Jonathon, the Membership Committee here at BISA. BISA has meant a lot to me professionally, and I'm really excited and passionate about helping it grow. I've spent over 30 years in the banking industry, and over 20 years now at Franklin Madison.

Jonathon Allen 
Thanks, Dan. I'm Jonathon Allen. I'm a senior vice president at Wescom Financial, based in Southern California. I've been with the organization for nine years, and I oversee wealth management, insurance services, as well as the credit union's deposit strategy. Like Jane-ellen, I've been involved in BISA for a number of years. I think it goes back to 1998 when I first became a sales manager at a large regional bank, and then I joined the Board back in 2020. I, too, have worked for several large banks in my 30-plus years in wealth management, and not only has the BISA been very rewarding for me, but also the work that we're able to do, and some of the committee work. So glad to be here. Thanks.

Jane-ellen Porter 
Great. I think we're going to roll into asking you guys some questions. But first, a question for all of us: How and why has BISA made such an impact on our careers?  I'll start. Having been involved for so many years, I was very early in my career when I joined BISA. Through networking — which, at the end of the day, I think our members would say is one of our biggest value-adds — I had the opportunity to meet people like all of you around this table, as well as other program leaders throughout my career. I developed meaningful mentor relationships and built a network of colleagues I could call when questions came up. How are you dealing with this situation? What are you seeing in your organization? COVID was also a testament to how we all pulled together as an industry to continue moving forward for our clients. I've said this before on the podcast, but it really demonstrated the strength of this community.  I'll say that those relationships and networking opportunities have been tremendous difference-makers in my career, and I think others would say the same. I'm going to go back to John.

John Olerio 
Jonathan talked about starting as a sales manager, and I also started my BISA journey as a regional sales manager at Webster. I came to my first conference wide-eyed and was immediately struck by the amount of talent in the room. It was truly humbling because I walked in thinking I knew a lot, and I quickly realized how much I still had to learn.  What amazed me most was how willing people were to share their knowledge and experiences. Everyone genuinely wanted to see one another succeed. That spirit of collaboration and support made a lasting impression on me, and it was the moment I knew I would be part of BISA for a very long time. Looking back, I'm incredibly grateful for that experience.

Jonathon Allen 
John, I'm thinking back to those early years, and I think when you and I first met, we were participating in a BISA-sponsored tennis event.

John Olerio 
I killed you.

Jonathon Allen 
Did you? I don't remember it that way.

John Olerio 
I don't think so. I don't think I've ever won a game. It was a competitive and friendly match, but yeah, that was a really enjoyable time.

Jonathon Allen 
And here we are, still working together after all these years, which is exciting, too.

What you just said, John, really resonates with me. When I was asked to step into a leadership role, I had previously been a financial advisor, and as we all know, there wasn't a playbook for sales management or serving as a regional director back in 1998. So I immersed myself in BISA. I attended conferences, got to know peers from organizations of all sizes across the country, and quickly learned that we were all dealing with many of the same challenges: recruitment, compensation plans, retention, and gaining support for our investment programs within our banks.

What I realized was that I wasn't alone. Everyone was facing similar issues. Through those networking experiences, I developed deep friendships and professional relationships that have lasted to this day. I'm still very close with many of those individuals, and several have become mentors and trusted industry colleagues. The experience has been incredibly rewarding, and it continues to motivate me to give back whenever possible and help bring the next generation of leaders into the association, remembering what it was like when I stepped into leadership nearly 30 years ago.

Dan Bonano 
Yeah, I'm going to echo what Jon said. When I first came into BISA, everyone's willingness to be open, share their experiences, and help guide me made a lasting impression. I knew right away that this organization felt like home and that I would be a member for a long time.  As I mentioned earlier, I've been in the industry for more than 30 years, spending most of my career working with large financial institutions. When I returned to Franklin Madison about five years ago, though, I found myself in somewhat unfamiliar territory. People weren't quite sure what to do with me or where I fit.  At that point, I was having conversations with John — back when you were at Webster, John — and with Jim Fujinaga, who was at Hancock Whitney at the time. Both of them pointed me toward BISA and said, "This is where you need to be. The people you need to connect with are part of this organization."  That was about four years ago, and since then I've built so many great relationships and benefited from countless networking opportunities. But more than anything, it's the friendships that stand out. Coming from a slightly different perspective as a service provider rather than someone working directly at a bank or credit union, the experience has been incredibly meaningful.  I often tell people that BISA is a fantastic organization. If you're not a part of it, you're truly missing out.

John Olerio
So all of us have shared that BISA has had a great impact on our careers and on so many others. And I think we all realize that when we started in BISA, there were leaders at BISA who helped us to get started. And so I think all four of us have continued to want to give back and also try to be strong leaders within this association. I think we all want this organization to continue to grow and only to get better, so that we can just deepen all the things that we do, that the networking opportunities we do, the strength of resources available to our community. So, with that context in mind, Dan and Jonathon, what are the current goals of the membership committee and the unique roles of the subcommittees that are going to help us to grow the way we know we can and want to?

Jonathon Allen 
Dan, why don't I go ahead and take a stab at this? Under the leadership of the board, the goal of the membership committee and the creation of the subcommittees is really to better the association. As John, I think you alluded to earlier, healthy association membership is really the key, and part of that is recruitment. So one of the subcommittees is called recruitment. Another one is retention and satisfaction. So not only have we done a wonderful job over the many decades that the association has been around in establishing relationships with financial institutions and our partners, but we also want to make sure that we retain them and that they're satisfied and that they're getting the content and the programming that they're looking for. So that's, I think, first and foremost, growth of the association and retention of our current association members.

Dan Bonano 
Yeah yeah, exactly. And then two of the other subcommittees that we also are including are the engagement and programming subcommittee, and really their focus is going to be on enhancing membership experience overall through more relevant content and programming. And then the fourth subcommittee that we have as part of our membership committee is the member services and benefits subcommittee, and they're really focusing on improving communication, promoting benefits, really kind of expanding the year-round offerings.

Jane-ellen Porter 
Great, that's super helpful. You've really laid out how we've broken membership into the areas that matter most. It's not just about bringing in new members — it's also about keeping existing members engaged and excited to participate in the different opportunities and initiatives across the organization. We've certainly seen that happen over the past several years, with increasing engagement and participation not only from our members, but also across our various committees and subcommittees. When you think about some of the biggest barriers to engagement for both current and prospective members, what are they? And how is the Membership Committee working to address those challenges?

Dan Bonano 
I guess, and there may be some overlap between what Jonathon and I have to say here, but I guess I see really three key barriers to engagement. I think the first is competing priorities because everyone at this table and everyone in our industry is very, very busy. So even if you know they do see the value of BISA, it's really kind of tough to make time for that deeper involvement and engagement with the organization. The second might be the clarity of value, and this is especially important for prospective members. I think you know BISA. We can do a better job of showing not just what BISA offers, but why it matters. So we really need to show them how membership can help them grow, build relationships and really even solve real business challenges today. And then the third one, as I see it, is relevance. You know, BISA has a really diverse group. We've got banks, we've got credit unions, we've got service providers like myself, and that's just at this table, right? So we need to make sure that we have the breadth and the focus that we are delivering value to all those different groups, and our membership committee is really kind of focused on addressing those barriers. We really want to use the kind of data and feedback from the existing members to better understand how we can improve as an organization, and then again, kind of how we can create meaningful year-round engagement for that membership group.

Jonathon Allen 
Yeah, I think you touched on an important element of year-round engagement. I think for many years the association has been viewed as running the annual conference, and that's the pinnacle of what we do. And you know, 800 folks coming converging on Hollywood, Florida, to enjoy not only the content and the training that's involved there, but also the networking. But what do we do in the interim? We obviously have a regulatory and compliance summit as well, and so that not only meets the needs of some of our compliance or regulatory folks, but one of the focuses of the subcommittee work is also making sure that we're providing value-added content throughout the year, and looking at our current programming and what could we do to many ways supplement the content that's available on the website through more engagement of financial institutions and product partners. So I think that's you know, Dan touched on this. I think there are competing priorities. We also have day jobs, and so for folks to be involved in the association, it's important that they think about our association beyond just the conference and the regulatory summit as well.

John Olerio 
That's great stuff. I want to stay on engagement for a second from a somewhat different perspective in really looking at today's digital age and also looking at younger professionals in our industry because I know that's where we really, I think, want to make sure we can ensure the engagement that we can ensure that we get people to to join like we joined 20 years ago and but join today and and be involved for 20 years. How can we strike a balance in today's digital age of being able to show young professionals the benefit that we can offer both from live to live, voice to voice,and face to face, old-fashioned networking, but also be relevant in digital interaction with our members from the association to them, and for them to one another that we can foster.

Dan Bonano 
Yeah, I think that's a really important question today. As you said, it's critical not only for the growth of the organization, but also for its continued development and long-term success. We need to attract younger members, and I don't think younger professionals are necessarily skeptical of associations. Rather, they evaluate them differently. Today, information is everywhere. Whether it's LinkedIn, podcasts like this one, or the many AI tools available, people can access information almost instantly.  Because of that, if we want younger professionals to see value in BISA, we need to offer something they can't easily find elsewhere. A few things come to mind. First, there's community. BISA provides meaningful relationships with peers, mentors and industry leaders. Younger professionals gain access to conversations, perspectives and connections that they might not otherwise have. Second, there's growth. We're all focused on helping members develop their skills, expand their leadership experience and take advantage of opportunities that can accelerate their careers. Most importantly, though, we can't forget that we need to meet them where they are. In many cases, that's through digital channels. We need to be telling our story through short videos, podcasts like this one, testimonials and other forms of digital content. We need to engage with people where they're already spending time, listening and learning.

Jonathon Allen 
I think one of the best examples of this, John, is our Rising Stars program. Many of our listeners may already be familiar with it or may have participated themselves. Through that group, we're learning a great deal about how emerging leaders want to engage with the association, and those insights have sparked some thoughtful work within our subcommittees.  One of the key takeaways from the Retention and Satisfaction Subcommittee is that we need to build a new engagement model. We need to strengthen our outreach throughout the year and take a fresh look at how members interact with BISA. I believe that model will become much more digitally focused going forward. We're still in the early stages of that work, but it's an important priority.  We also recognize that engagement goes beyond programming. Enhanced communication is equally important. That may include video testimonials, greater use of social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram and even TikTok, and other ways to share the value of the association more effectively.  As Dan mentioned, we need to meet people where they are. Much of the work our subcommittees are doing is focused on identifying the next generation of leaders, understanding what's important to them and determining how they want to connect, engage and collaborate with their peers.

Jane-ellen Porter 
So one piece of this that's important is is our collective responsibility here. Yes, the membership committee has great initiatives planned, but how can all members spread the word about BISA and get more involved?

Jonathon Allen 
One thing we've talked about is the fact that people are usually feeling great at the conference, right? It's such a valuable experience. You're taking in great content, building relationships, networking with peers and colleagues, and spending time with people who understand the challenges and opportunities in our industry. What we need to do is leverage that enthusiasm while people are there. We should encourage attendees to get involved and sign up for volunteer opportunities, including participation in our subcommittees.  I think back to when I was first asked to participate in a subcommittee before I was on the board. I felt honored that a board member approached me and said, "You have a voice in this industry and valuable experience. Would you be willing to help with membership-related initiatives?" I immediately said yes. It turned out to be a terrific opportunity, not only to give back to the association, but also to connect with professionals across the country through calls, meetings and collaborative projects. It gave me a chance to help share the value that BISA provides and to build relationships with people I might not have met otherwise. I believe there are many members who would welcome the opportunity to get involved if they're simply asked. Committee participation often requires only a few hours a month, and I think most of us can find that time when we recognize the value it brings. That's one of the best ways we can increase participation across the association — by having those conversations and inviting people to contribute. It may be as simple as setting up a table outside a general session, providing a one-page overview of the various subcommittees, explaining their charters and asking, "Would you be interested in helping?" Sometimes all it takes is a personal invitation.

Dan Bonano 
Yeah, I agree. Jane-Ellen, you used the word collective, and I think that's so important because this really is everyone's responsibility. It's not just the responsibility of the leadership, the board, the Executive Committee or the Membership Committee. It's the responsibility of every BISA member to help spread the word and share the value of the organization.  Thinking about your question and how BISA helps people, I've had a tremendous experience myself. A few years ago, I became involved with the Conference Committee, which gave me the opportunity to engage more deeply with the organization. From there, I was able to bring a colleague onto the Rising Stars Committee, another onto the Content Committee and another into a different volunteer role.  As a result, we've expanded involvement within my own organization, brought in new perspectives and helped make the association even stronger. That's one of the great benefits of engagement — it creates opportunities not only for individuals, but for the broader membership as well.  To reinforce what everyone has said, getting involved beyond simply attending the annual conference is incredibly important. Whether it's volunteering, mentoring, joining a committee or contributing content, those activities create value for both the individual and the association.  All of those efforts are critical to ensuring that BISA continues to grow, evolve and remain relevant — especially as we work to engage and develop the next generation of industry leaders.

Jane-ellen Porter 
One way everyone listening can help is by getting involved. There are many volunteer opportunities within the association. We've talked about the Membership Committee and its subcommittees, but there are plenty of other committees and volunteer roles as well.  We also welcome contributions from members across the industry. Whether it's writing an article for Portfolio, participating in a podcast, sharing your expertise, or inviting a colleague to attend a conference, there are many ways to support and strengthen the association.  As we're having this conversation, my wheels are already turning. Maybe we need some kind of committee competition at the conference — a friendly challenge to see which committee can recruit the most volunteers. Or perhaps we should take a cue from youth sports and set up sign-up tables outside the general sessions, where committee members can connect directly with attendees and encourage them to get involved.  The reality is that there are a lot of people who want to contribute. We do our best to reach out, ask people to participate and be proactive about identifying volunteers, but we can't connect with everyone.  So don't be afraid to raise your hand. If you're interested in getting involved, reach out to one of us. We'd love to hear from you and help you find a role that's a good fit.  So, John, I'll turn it over to you.

John Olerio   
Well, again, thank you, Dan and Jonathan. Just great insights today from both of you, and we wish you well in your efforts this year for membership. And when we have that dance off that Jane-ellen wants to have, I decided it has to be a dance off for the committee chairs. My money is definitely on the two of you. I've seen both of your moves, and the other committee chairs don't have a prayer. So again, I encourage everyone to listen to and subscribe to the Portfolio Podcast on your favorite app. And until the next time, each of you have a great day. Thank you.