(5-29-26) The Community Bankers Association of Ohio proudly congratulates this year’s graduates of the Barret Graduate School of Banking, held May 17–22, 2026, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Graduates completed a rigorous three-year program designed to strengthen their leadership and technical expertise in community banking. Through more than 130 hours of classroom instruction, participants gained an expanded knowledge base in areas such as asset-liability management, strategic planning, lending, and overall bank management. The program culminated in an intensive bank simulation during the third year, allowing participants to apply their knowledge in a dynamic, real-world environment.

This year, Ohio celebrates three graduates of the program:

  • Brad Brookhart, The Peoples Bank Co – Coldwater
  • Bailey Tenney, Farmers State Bank
  • Matthew Ward, Heartland Bank

These individuals join an impressive network of banking leaders across the country. Over the past 10 years, more than 50 bankers from Ohio have graduated from the Barret Graduate School program, further strengthening community banking leadership throughout our state.

CBAO is proud to support continuing education opportunities that help develop the next generation of community bank leaders, and we commend all participants for their commitment to professional growth and excellence in banking.

Barret Graduate School session – Memphis, Tennessee